Spring 2005 Advance Course Information

This information effective for Spring 2005. Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.

Theater Arts

[THEA-021] [THEA-080H]

21. Acting Studio I

Note: Syllabus for Winter 2005

Instructor: Alma Martinez
Office: Theatre Arts Center J-14
Office phone: 831. 459.4918
E-mail: almamar@ucsc.edu (revised 1/03/05)

Course Objective

This course is a workshop format and is designed as an intensive and rigorous introduction to the world of professional acting and performance. Course content will include the following:

• Development of a personal Physical & Vocal Warm-up Technique
• Development of 2 three-minute contrasting Audition Monologues
• Production and performance of a "10 Minute Play"
• Creation of a professional Picture and Resume
• Learning a Cold Reading Technique
• Understanding Theater Production and the Casting Process
• Introduction to Actor's Equity Association (Actor's Union) and money matters

Attendance

Perfect attendance is required and will be recorded at each class session. Unexcused absences will affect the students' grade and, given the workshop format of the class, late arrivals will not be admitted once the class has begun.

Participation
100%-committed participation is mandatory in professional theater and in this acting studio.

Physical Activity
Students must be prepared to participate in physical warm-ups, exercises, scene work, etc. It's highly recommended that students bring a second set of rehearsal clothes, wear soft-soled shoes, and tie back hair.

Memorization
Students will work with a Rehearsal Partner and schedule rehearsals hours to meet and assist each other with blocking, directing, memorization, etc., of monologues and scenes. Assignments will be fully memorized by the due dates listed in the Class Schedule.

Auditions
All students must audition on January 6 and 7 for the department Fall Theater Season.

Advising
Students will meet with instructor for private coaching at least twice during the quarter. Acting is a very personal art form and individual coaching is the optimum way to improve your acting skills. Drama majors, or possible drama majors, are especially encouraged to seek advice.

Coursework

Journal
Students will keep a journal of all ideas, processes, impressions, critiques, etc., that arise throughout the course. They should take special note of their personal process and growth as actors. Journals must be brought to each class and turned in at Midterm and at the end of the course.

Written Assignments
Students will write and turn-in a Scene & Character Analysis and a Physical & Emotional Score for their 2 monologues and the Final Project. They will also write and turn-in a methodology for a personal Physical & Vocal warm-up Technique.

Picture and Resume
Students will create an Acting Resume based on a model provided by the instructor, and arrange to have a black and white 8X10 picture taken. These are due Jan. 26.

Midterm
Students will participate in a mock Casting Process in which they will be asked by a guest panel to present 2 three-minute monologues, a picture and resume, and give a cold reading.

Final Project
Students will produce and act in a public performance of a "10 Minute Play". Production will include finding a venue, creating a simple stage & sound design, gathering props, assembling costumes as well as publicizing the event, inviting prominent UCSC theater and film people and appropriate follow-up.

Rehearsals
Rehearsal outside of class with your scene partner(s) is mandatory. Rehearsal Report Forms will be provided and will be turned in at Midterm and at the end of the course.

Attending the Theater
Students will attend 4 UCSC theater productions, Ken Arok: Tales of Majapahit, The Skriker, Caesar Anti-Christ, and Shakespeare to Go. UCSC performances are free.

Performance Critiques
Students will write a 2-page critique of the performance of one actor in each of the theater performances attended. See Class Schedule for due dates.

Written Work
All written work must have your name, course number, instructor's name, and date on the first page. The work must be typed, double-spaced, edited, have numbered pages, and be stapled together or it will not be accepted.

Props
Please keep all props, costumes, and set pieces to a bare minimum. Real knives, guns or any seemingly or potentially harmful items used as props are prohibited in scenes and in class. The Prop Shop hours are posted on their door by the Scene Dock.

Course Evaluation and Grading

To receive a letter grade of "A," a student must attend all classes, participate in classroom discussions and exercise and scene presentations, attend all the requisite theater performances, and complete all reading and written assignments. Physical and written exercises must show original and creative thinking with an excellent grasp of the ideas and themes read and discussed in class. You will be graded on the basis of your own personal growth and not against other students. A letter grade of "B," "C," or "D" will be based on the degree to which the above requirements are met or not met. A more detailed grade rubric is available upon request.

Ethical Conduct
Ethical conduct is required, and I expect all papers to be in your own words. If it is determined that you have plagiarized, you will get no credit or reduced credit for the course, as well as any college sanctions that UCSC Student Affairs determines, e.g., suspension or notation of student file. Strive for originality and bold creativity in everything you do in this course. This is what will make you a great artist and a highly original human being. Acting work is very personal and requires all students to open themselves up emotionally to achieve the best results in an exercise or scene. Everyone is asked to respect each other's work and refrain from making any negative or insensitive comments, in class or outside of class, to a person who has had the courage to seek deeper levels of emotional expression.

Policies

• Perfect attendance is expected. If you are ill or have an emergency and must miss class, e-mail or call your TA the day before. If you have one or more unexcused absences, are constantly late, or leave class at the break, you may be asked to withdraw from the course.
• Excessive absences (1+) should be discussed with your TA to determine if missed class work can be made up. If arrangements are not made, this will lower your grade, or you may be asked to withdraw from the course.
• An Incomplete is given only in extreme circumstances. Students are expected to complete and/or turn in all work on due dates. An incomplete will only be considered for final exams and not for any work done earlier in the course.
• For your scene work, do not use real weapons (guns, knives, etc.) or toy weapons that can be mistaken for the real thing. The use of these may result in no credit or reduced credit for the course, as well as any college sanctions that UCSC Student Affairs determines.

Academic Accommodation
Students with physical or mental conditions that may necessitate an academic accommodation or the use of auxiliary aids and services in a class must initiate the request with Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC will evaluate the request along with the required documentation, recommend appropriate accommodations, and prepare a verification letter dated in the current academic term in which the request is being made. Please contact the DRC as soon as possible: timely notice is needed to arrange for appropriate accommodations. The DRC is located at 146 Hahn Student Services 459.2089, drc@ucsc.edu.

UCSC Enrollment and Grading Deadlines:

**********

Theater 21 Class Schedule (Winter 2005)
Instructor: Alma Martinez
(revised 1/03/05)

*Syllabus subject to change by Instructor

Week 1
January 5—First day of class
Introductions
Discuss syllabus
Picture & Resume
Present Monologues
Journal: Personal aspirations and class expectations
Handout: "Critical Response Process," Resume Format
Assignment: Schedule photo shoot and draw-up draft of resume

Week 2
January 10
Physical Warm-Up Technique
Discuss "Critical Response Process" article
Present Monologues
Journal: Physical assessment
Due: Hand in draft of Resume

January 12
Physical Warm-up Technique
Vocal Warm-up Technique
Work Monologues
Scene & Character Analysis and Physical & Emotional Score
Journal: Vocal instrument assessment and personal work on monologues
Assignment #1: Write a Scene & Character Analysis and Physical & Emotional Score for 2 min. monologues: 4-page minimum.
Assignment #2: Select Rehearsal Partner and rehearse monologues

Week 3
January 19
Physical and Vocal Warm-up
Work Monologues
Journal: Assess personal work on monologues and physical and vocal work
Assignment: Write a Personal Physical and Vocal Warm-Up Technique
Due: Scene & Character Analysis and Physical & Emotional Score for 2 min. monologues: 4-page minimum

Week 4
January 24
Physical and Vocal Warm-Up
Present Personal Physical and Vocal Warm-up Technique
Due: Turn-in your written Personal Physical and Vocal Warm-Up Technique

January 26
Physical and Vocal Warm-up
Audition Process and Cold Reading Techniques
Journal: Assess your personal strengths and weaknesses in auditions and cold readings
Due: Final Picture & Resume
Due: Turn in Performance Critiques for Ken Arak: Tales of Majapahit and The Skriker

Week 5
January 31
Guest Artist: Shakina "Butoh Theatre" Workshop
Rehearse Audition Process and Cold Readings

February 2: Mid-Term
Mock Auditions (Guest Panelists): Present pix & resume, perform 2 three-minute contrasting monologues and give a cold reading
Journal: Write about your personal response to the Casting process. What went well and what could use more work? Did you see overall improvement in your monologue delivery?
Due: Turn in Rehearsal Report Forms for monologue rehearsals

Week 6
February 7
Physical and Vocal Warm-Up
"10 Minute Play" and basic Theater Production
Assignment: Select "10 Minute Play," scene partners, create a rehearsal schedule and prop list, sketch the costume design concept, describe the sound design (optional), and other tech requirements.
Due: Turn-in Journals

February 9
Production Meeting
Breakout into groups and work "10 Minute Play"
Due: "10 Minute Play" assignment

Week 7
February 14
Production Meeting
Scene Work
Journal: Examine your acting work and the rehearsal process
Assignment: Write a Scene & Character Analysis and an Emotional and Physical Score for your "10 Minute Play"

February 16
Physical and Vocal Warm-up
Production Meeting
Run-through of all "10 Minute Plays"
Work transitions
Journal: Examine your acting work and the rehearsal process

Week 8
February 21
No Class: MLK Day

February 23
Guest Instructor
Introduction to Actor's Equity Association and Money Matters
Physical & Vocal Warm-Up
Stumble-through of all plays with transitions
Journal: Examine your acting work and the rehearsal process in general

Week 9
February 28
Physical and Vocal Warm-Up
Run-Through of all plays with transitions

March 2
Guest Director
Physical and Vocal Warm-up
Run-Through of all plays with transitions
Journal: Examine your acting work and the rehearsal process

Week 10
March 7
Public Presentation of 10-Minute Plays
Journal: Assess your personal experience as an actor and producer in this production. Also, look at your development and growth over the entire quarter.

March 9: Last Day of Class
In lieu of class on this day students will meet with instructor for individual coaching at least twice during the quarter.
Due: 1.) Performance Critiques of Caesar Anti-Christ and Shakespeare to Go and Journal, 2.) Turn-in Rehearsal Report Forms and Scene & Character Analysis and Emotional & Physical Score for "10 Minute Play," and 3.) Turn-in Journal.

Place all assignments in the box labeled "Acting Studio I" located in the Theatre Arts Dept. Graduate Office.

Week 11
Final Exam
March 17, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (TBD)

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For course information, go to the course web site:

http://elsinore.ucsc.edu

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