EA401-7-FY-LO:
Advanced Acting Methodology and Textual Studies

PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.

The details
2023/24
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
26 April 2021

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
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(none)

 

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Key module for

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Module description

In this class students are required to assess dispassionately and objectively how they appear and what messages their physicality and vocal patterns communicate to audiences.

Strategies are then developed with the acquisition of tools for acting technique, to create an open, ready, energised available physicality and voice, free of unhelpful habits.

Likewise, students are encouraged to move to a psychological attitude of open readiness to work, liberating their imagination towards artistic creative development whilst developing an understanding of professional discipline.

The work will focus on will developing skills so that the actor can communicate effectively. Students will be required to be vocally adept and appear physically plausible when working. Students will develop powers of observation and analysis and gain the vocabulary and skill to break down a text. Improvisation tools and exercises to encourage spontaneity and creativity will open minds as the technical work opens the body.

At the end of the first term students will engage with professional development practice working with directors, writers or other theatre practitioners on new endeavours in development to gain understanding of professional project development models and processes.

In the second term further in depth scene study - context, idea, character, relationship and improvisation into the scenes are supported by animal study and movement work into performance of scenes from play texts.

Module aims

The module aims to:

1. Apply acting techniques, textual analysis and research to performance

2. Integrate technical vocal and movement skills into performance

3. Provide experience of acting in a range of texts

4. Gain an understanding of how to access and use imagination, creativity and technique in order to create communicative performance

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. the practical application of theory through performance
2. the application of analytical technique for text
3. the application of techniques of character from text
4. understanding of how to clarify a text through research
5. application of physical techniques to performance
6. ability to communicate with an audience
7. objective self-awareness of own strengths and weaknesses
8. their appetite and ability to work as a valued team member

Module information

Over two terms students will be given the opportunity to:

1. Experience the pressures of creating roles for radio and TV/film
2. Work under close to professional pressure in creating a role for the media

In Radio, students will create a radio drama under conditions similar to those of the industry. You will be expected to show that:

1. You can put into practice the skill introduced earlier
2. You can produce a professional standard of work under time pressure

In this unit, students will be introduced to:

1. audition, casting, and interview situations for TV/Film
2. sight reading for audition purposes
3. basic problems of listening and reacting, hitting the mark, eye lines, continuity
4. the different types of `shots` (close-up, long shot, etc, etc)
5. integration of acting skills applied with the confines and disciplines of the medium
6. the pressures and problems of location shooting
7. the pressures of non-linear approach to film acting
8. the perception of the actor's persona on camera
9. the need to apply "units and objectives" to screen acting

During an intensive week of work with outside directors and technicians, students will be expected to:

1. create and sustain believable characters on screen
2. work creatively under pressure
3. adapt their previous experience to the technology surrounding them on location under professional conditions

Learning and teaching methods

Supervised and Unsupervised Rehearsals, Presentations, Research, Independent Study, Screenings, Practical Classes, Personal Development Portfolio, Performances, Workshops

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting

Additional coursework information

Continuous assessment through observation of student`s contribution to class work, rehearsal and performance in each of Chekhov, Contemporary Text and Shakespeare. The final module mark will be the unweighted average of the three continuous assessment marks. Particular emphasis is placed on how the individual student progresses from term to term through the module based on their success at demonstrating the learning outcomes.

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Andrea Brooks, email: brooksa@essex.ac.uk.
Andrea Brooks, Ed Hicks, Visiting Tutors, Media Directors and Technicians
For further information please email brooksa

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Prof Anthony Dean
University of Winchester
Emeritus Professor
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
East 15 Acting School

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