Notes from Movement class by Casey

Hi everyone, here are notes that Casey took from our work in Movement class this week. Feel free to add your thoughts, too, and many thanks to Casey. Note the homework reminder:

Movement for the Stage class for September 7th and 9th…

Props should ground you. Sometimes, however, having to interact with them causes us to become “lost” and break character when onstage with them because handling them is so foreign to us. Send props presence. Sending them presence helps allow our movements to be fluid and confidently portray a character’s relationship with the object.

Center work:
Changing your center changes the personality and worldview of the character being portrayed. It also changes what you communicate to the audience about the emotions of the character. Additionally, it actually influences the emotions you feel when you move the center. So, this can be helpful in that when preparing/researching for a scene, you can become inspired (and learn more about the character) by the different way you carry yourself and the gestures you make as a result of having moved your center to different places.

Even though your audience really wants you to do a good job, they won’t always send you (or have, many times) that positive energy that comes from eager anticipation. Therefore, you’ll have to bring it with you by creating and taking your presence on stage. In order to do this, you’ll have to cope with anxiety and develop your awareness which, in turn, will allow you to create presence beforehand – instead of mustering it up after you’re onstage.

The visualizing-light-through-your-fingers, etc-while-pushing-boulders-and-swinging-axes exercises train the mind to focus on emitting presence (energy) while doing something that requires concentration, like acting.

Homework: Observe people’s centers and pick one to show/discuss with the class on Tuesday.

Movie Suggestion: Watch George Clooney's movement in "The American" (now playing). Also, on the Netflix website (if you are a member) you can watch a series of Daniel Day Lewis movies -- he is extraordinary at creating character through physicality. The 'tying his shoes' moment comes about 2/3 of the way in to "A Room With A View" but his movement choices throughout the whole film are terrific.