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 Graphics
BODY
MAGIC
Class Plan #1
Warm Up
(10 minutes)
Stretching is important. Use any stretch
exercise that you have. Most stretches are hard to
describe in writing so until I have photos that can
accompany the instruction I will use a simple one and leave
the individual teacher to use their own repertoire of
stretches.
1) Basic Stretch.
Let your head roll forward and relax. Feel
the weight of your head and a gentle pull in your spine and
back muscles. Let the weight of your head gently pull you
down until you are hanging by your hips. Your knees are
slightly bent as you are looking to let go in the small of
your back. Now the important thing is to ‘let go’ of
your head so that it hangs as a dead weight. Breathe deep
and expand your lower back. Each time you exhale you relax
and ‘let go’ of the tension. Let gravity increase the
stretch. Do not force yourself down further and hold it.
Accept how much stretch you have and don’t worry about the
stretch you don’t have. Continue this process for twenty
to thirty seconds then slowly roll up until you are in line.
This must be done slowly over a thirty to forty-five second
count. You must focus your eyes on a specific spot on the
horizon on the way up. Shake out any tension that has built
up or needs releasing but keep your attention focused out
not in.
2) Vocal stretching. Have the students stand
neutral and yawn gradually working the yawn bigger so that
it stretches the facial muscles. Have them isolate
their face from their bodies so that they don't lose the
neutral position. Then have them let a small sound
come out. With each yawn the sound becomes
louder. (Two or three is fine.) The next step is
to have them let the sound come out soft, but audible, and
stretch it out as long as they can. Emphasize
relaxation in their bodies so that they can feel only the
muscles that need to work and control them. Finally
have them sing their names in 'Opera' by simply extending
the vowel sounds. It is important that they not try to
imitate opera singers but instead use their own voices even
if it breaks up.
3) Soundscapes. Give the class a situation that
they create the sound effects to verbally. For
example, a haunted house, forest, jungle, street sounds,
etc. They should be loud and varied with the class
listening to each other to create different sounds and not
repeating each other.
Exercise
#1
Doors. (3 -
5 minutes)
Have each person get a feeling for the style
by creating a door with their bodies and using sound
effects. They then give the
door an attitude and voice. When the create the door
ask them to give the sound effect and a short phrase or even
just a word that expresses what it's like to be a door. Graphics is the style of
cartoon. The objects can talk and have emotions.
Exercise
#2
Group
Graphics and time pressure. (10 minutes)
Times
are based on there being an average of 3 - 4 groups and a
75 min. class.
Objectives:
1) Teach the students to
perform under moderate pressure.
2) To demonstrate and
choreograph as they discuss in order to increase there
creative productivity.
3) Express their ideas
fully and accept simplicity.
The group work begins with becoming an
object or machine in the kitchen. Divide the class into
groups of 6 or 7. Each group as a whole must co-operatively
become a giant representation of the object.
Each group has one minute to complete two or three objects in
total. Then have them demonstrate and have the other
groups identify each object. When they identify it ask
them to tell you specifically what made it that particular
machine. Was it the sound? The movement?
Emphasize the uniqueness of each groups interpretation of
the same object. If they don't manage to identify it
correctly then ask them what would have made it clear.
Notes:
1) The individual groups
cannot divide themselves up again but must all participate
in each separate machine or object. This is designed
to test their communication skills and co-operation.
There is no time to argue, only to act. I've seen it
work and know it is possible to create three separate simple
objects in one minute.
2)
There is no real person to turn the machine on. An
imaginary person turns them on.
3)
Encourage them to use all moving parts of their
bodies.
Exercise
#3
Interaction
between 'real' people and Graphics.
(35
-45 minutes)
Objectives:
1) The
give and take of focus.
2)
Physical co-operation.
3)
Using vocal sound effects to create atmosphere.
Each group
will now create a two minute piece. Give them 10
minutes for creation time. The theme is a room in
the house. There is one real person who will enter
the room and use as many graphic images as possible.
The piece begins with the person entering their room and
ends with them exiting. All the other group members
will create the objects and furniture in the room.
They do not have to be all one object. They can
become the furniture individually or in pairs, etc.
Each group member should become at least two objects
during the piece. This means they will have to
perform transitions during the piece. They should
make sure they have time to rehearse it at least
once. This gives them actually eight minutes to
create the piece. They then present them to the
class. Discuss and critique each piece.
Notes:
1)
Emphasize simplicity.
2)
The transitions from object to
object must be done smoothly without distracting the
audience. The 'real' person must make their acting
large enough to take the focus when necessary.
3)
Sound
effects should be loud, clear, and create the atmosphere
of the room. We should know the personality of and
how old the 'real' person is from the type of room they
have.
End of
Class #1
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