Reading from the rule sheet: lends legitimacy, but does make this feel formulaic and stiff. Is it stultifying?
FJ sits with the students in the circle, but on one end. He speaks fairly quietly, but no one appears to have trouble listening to him.
The air is agitated, nervous. CS is on the defensive from the word go. Where are the props first years? Dammit.
The system for getting positive feedback first appears chaotic but seems to work anyway. Most everyone is hot and stinky, and the room feels close. Nervous laughter abounds, giving way to mirth.
Okay, what do we actually hope to get out of this exercise? What does it facilitate? Why are we starting with empty waffle? "It was challenging but we all stepped up and did our best and I'm very proud of us" is a horrible "one example of something you were really proud of yourself or your team for on this project". I guess there isn't time to call her out on it.
It might have been helpful to check in with SM, costumes, LX to get a preliminary idea of what those students were doing on this show. Playing favourites, not because FJ is partial to the SC, SA and Props students, but because he knows what they've been up to.
His responses to the students' comments feel genuine. He makes eye contact, listens, and summarises what the student has said, with a querying tone--he's asking if he's understood correctly. His responses are not particularly helpful but they show that he cares and is listening.
MC in TSD got heaped with praise by sound!
Complimenting the info pack LX put together, without prompting: FJ provides positive feedback on students' preparation and paperwork, which I feel is valuable. It wasn't all just running around on the day, on stage.
Lacklustre response to the positive. Concerning response to head TPM student from FJ, decidedly avoiding saying "good job" or anything like it. Interesting. Not exactly tactful, not exactly tactless, but it felt like it stung. She needed more constructive feedback, yes she was difficult, but to hold her separate from the rest of the crowd during the 'positive feedback' bit of the session feels way harsh.
Self-directed discussion sounds on-topic. Fran trusts them to monitor themselves, and they appear to respond well to that. Is DR a team member in this?
Positive feedback is always vague, but as expected negative feedback is pointed. This is a challenge for everyone, it seems. Maybe more clear reminders for idea of what feedback should be?
Valid feedback: yes, that company was a problem. What's your learning from this? Don't use that company again in future. Funny, true. Not particularly helpful per se, but the umbrella idea, "don't maintain relationships with companies that don't do a good job" is meritorious. Maybe not a particularly 'academic' note--a response only an industry-close worker would come up with (and go with).
Clever students are easy to lead.
How do we deal with the telephone game in advance? How do we prevent rumour from supplanting the facts?
Students in department groups for department feedback. Is this the most helpful arrangement? Are the post-it notes contributing significantly to discussion, or are they and the markers a colourful prop? Did the students realise in advance that their responses would not be anonymous?
Letting them speak and express their own learning--do they know what they've learnt?
FJ is now standing at the white board but just as a facilitator--so he can read the post-it notes. Doesn't feel overbearing or teacherly. Still favouring SC with attention and relevant feedback, whereas other departments' feedback is more boilerplate.
RM is an angry young man. He needs some sort of intervention.
Standing up to the directors: how do we provide useful advice to the students when it comes to this most difficult of chutzpah-requiring tasks? Dealing with professionals when you are not really a professional is next to impossible--they can always shoot you down if they want to. How do we improve how we present the students as professionals to the professionals while not leaving them high and dry, or harming the learning environment?
EK is terrified. This is a high-pressure environment if you have something negative to say about someone else, or another department. Too high? Is it so high that some things are going unsaid because the students who need to say them are too nice or don't want to hurt anyone's feelings? What EK wants to say needs to be said: the floor was damaged by carelessness with the Genie lift and the portable floor panels. It needs to be said to Lighting and Sound. She's saying it to everyone and pointedly avoiding eye contact with those students. FJ has an opportunity here to stand up and support her, demand that other departments learn from this.
Organising the sharings: it seems like a few departments are being neglected or aren't part of the "core group" and they're being left to the very end. Could this be a bit more mix-n-match? Or time limits: a few groups, like Props, have very little to do with the other departments, and seem to be waiting a very long time for the opportunity to say not very much to not many people. Seems like a waste of these students' time.
ACTION: improve access to money for TPM students and other budget-holders.
ACTION: test rigid expanding foam with heat to see if it shrinks?
Actor proof is at least a step beyond idiot proof.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Observation: Feasibility for American Clock: 21 June 2018, 11:00-12:00
11:00-12:00 21 June 2018
Room B
In attendance:
TSD: Phil Rowe, Karin Schuck, Paul Zacharek, KG
Course Support: Vanessa Onwuemezi
Faculty: Catherine Alexander, Paul Colwell, Nick Moran, Kathrine Sandys, Peter MacCoy
Director: Gretchen
Students: LH (TPM), KH (D4S)
The students have brought copies of the play along with their notebooks. If they actually crack them I'll eat my hat.
This is a real meeting--everyone is taking notes, not just the students.
Gretchen is making a real effort to include the students in the conversation.
Indeed, the students are conspicuously present. Everyone is speaking to them.
Normal smart-ass comments are kept to a minimum. Even I'm exercising restraint.
LH needs to communicate that thus far she's been left out of correspondence and is not up to date with developments that have occurred without her present. She looks like she knew this was going to come up--her tone is measured. She's annoyed, but doesn't want to rile up the teachers. Eyes keep flicking to NM.
Offer of video editing training--felt accusatory.
"Do you want to take that project on?"
"I don't know how to do that."
"That's not what I asked."
"I mean, yes, that would be amazing, but--"
"A training opportunity could be provided."
It was a reminder of her student-ship: while on the one hand, an on-the-spot teachable moment, it also felt deliberately infantilising. She's trying to participate in this meeting like an equal and you're taking this opportunity to other-ise her, diminish her, remind Us that she's a student. Always an attempt to maintain authority.
Usual blend of conflicting personalities, but now in the presence of Kathy and the students. I'm sure she's clocking everything.
With the students present we all feel the need to communicate more clearly and precisely: we must leave nothing implied or reliant upon previous experience of how we like to do things.
Probably a good thing, really, to invite students along to meetings, as it keeps us from relying on habit or jargon as we go along, which likely contributes to conflict later when we've assumed that others remember "the way we always do it".
PC: maintaining eye contact and an open demeanour with the students at all times. Visually communicating, keeping them included in the conversation.
Positive comment about students not in the room. Very warm! "We have a fantastic stage management team who will be all over that as soon as they're involved."
Costume comment: "we have a few very large actors--proportional, yes--and not quite so--and just, human proportions, really. But they'll likely not fit into anything we can pull from the store. They will likely have an impact on costs." CA was careful, almost protesting too much, to not insult the big guys while they're not in the room in front of the students. Made for a funny moment.
As the meeting progresses the students gain more confidence to speak and ask questions. The tutors speak primarily to the students and the new visiting director. Tone is slightly different, more careful? I can't put my finger on how. Tutors and TSD are a team: we want to inform the director of how we operate; we want to train the students as to why.
WHY MORE ARTHUR THE FUCK MILLER?!!? /endrant
LH's anxiety seems more under control than yesterday. I think PR and PC put her at ease.
PR apologises for bringing up 'boring' topics but the students genuinely hadn't thought about the health and safety implications of what they wanted to do and are furiously taking notes and asking questions. Not boring at all!
We all feel a weird need to nudge the students in some way--provide information and reminders, establish our habits and likes in their heads on the ground floor, I suppose.
The show appears feasible and straightforward. No one is worried. But PC nevertheless can't help teaching. He wants the students to understand the process and necessity of these meetings. "If this doesn't work, or if minds are changed, back to the feasibility stage we go!" He's got a warm and positive attitude and the students are very responsive, but more than anyone PC makes this feel like a meeting with training wheels. I think it has the ability to contribute positively to their professional practice, nevertheless.
Room B
In attendance:
TSD: Phil Rowe, Karin Schuck, Paul Zacharek, KG
Course Support: Vanessa Onwuemezi
Faculty: Catherine Alexander, Paul Colwell, Nick Moran, Kathrine Sandys, Peter MacCoy
Director: Gretchen
Students: LH (TPM), KH (D4S)
The students have brought copies of the play along with their notebooks. If they actually crack them I'll eat my hat.
This is a real meeting--everyone is taking notes, not just the students.
Gretchen is making a real effort to include the students in the conversation.
Indeed, the students are conspicuously present. Everyone is speaking to them.
Normal smart-ass comments are kept to a minimum. Even I'm exercising restraint.
LH needs to communicate that thus far she's been left out of correspondence and is not up to date with developments that have occurred without her present. She looks like she knew this was going to come up--her tone is measured. She's annoyed, but doesn't want to rile up the teachers. Eyes keep flicking to NM.
Offer of video editing training--felt accusatory.
"Do you want to take that project on?"
"I don't know how to do that."
"That's not what I asked."
"I mean, yes, that would be amazing, but--"
"A training opportunity could be provided."
It was a reminder of her student-ship: while on the one hand, an on-the-spot teachable moment, it also felt deliberately infantilising. She's trying to participate in this meeting like an equal and you're taking this opportunity to other-ise her, diminish her, remind Us that she's a student. Always an attempt to maintain authority.
Usual blend of conflicting personalities, but now in the presence of Kathy and the students. I'm sure she's clocking everything.
With the students present we all feel the need to communicate more clearly and precisely: we must leave nothing implied or reliant upon previous experience of how we like to do things.
Probably a good thing, really, to invite students along to meetings, as it keeps us from relying on habit or jargon as we go along, which likely contributes to conflict later when we've assumed that others remember "the way we always do it".
PC: maintaining eye contact and an open demeanour with the students at all times. Visually communicating, keeping them included in the conversation.
Positive comment about students not in the room. Very warm! "We have a fantastic stage management team who will be all over that as soon as they're involved."
Costume comment: "we have a few very large actors--proportional, yes--and not quite so--and just, human proportions, really. But they'll likely not fit into anything we can pull from the store. They will likely have an impact on costs." CA was careful, almost protesting too much, to not insult the big guys while they're not in the room in front of the students. Made for a funny moment.
As the meeting progresses the students gain more confidence to speak and ask questions. The tutors speak primarily to the students and the new visiting director. Tone is slightly different, more careful? I can't put my finger on how. Tutors and TSD are a team: we want to inform the director of how we operate; we want to train the students as to why.
WHY MORE ARTHUR THE FUCK MILLER?!!? /endrant
LH's anxiety seems more under control than yesterday. I think PR and PC put her at ease.
PR apologises for bringing up 'boring' topics but the students genuinely hadn't thought about the health and safety implications of what they wanted to do and are furiously taking notes and asking questions. Not boring at all!
We all feel a weird need to nudge the students in some way--provide information and reminders, establish our habits and likes in their heads on the ground floor, I suppose.
The show appears feasible and straightforward. No one is worried. But PC nevertheless can't help teaching. He wants the students to understand the process and necessity of these meetings. "If this doesn't work, or if minds are changed, back to the feasibility stage we go!" He's got a warm and positive attitude and the students are very responsive, but more than anyone PC makes this feel like a meeting with training wheels. I think it has the ability to contribute positively to their professional practice, nevertheless.
Friday, June 15, 2018
Observation: Farokh Soltani-Shirazi 15 June 11am to noon, 3pm to 3:30
Trafalgar Square: A National Archive.
Nelson's column, 11am
10 MA students from a range of disciplines.
Outdoor, busy space. Noisy. Today there was a fit-up and sound check going on for a concert series that starts tomorrow, so it was more confined than usual. Big, bustling and hot on a clear, sunshiny day. The place is one giant distraction.
F greets each student on his arrival--he arrives last, sweating but in good spirits. They all have looked forward to seeing him. This class only meets occasionally, and is one of a range of secondary modules the MAs can take, so the students who take this class specifically want to be here. This particular class, as well, is optional, and presented just for fun.
The group is engaged and listening, but not bursting at the seams to speak, which is different from similarly-enthusiastic BA students. If asked to respond, they will, but they're not pushy about it, nor do they seem like they have anything to prove.
"James Napier. Google it on your phones while we walk to the other plinth." Passive, casual integration of modern technology. Crazy.
The group circles itself up instinctively, creating a classroom of their walls against the bustle of the city.
Farokh knows his information in the depths of his head, though sometimes title and author recall can be a struggle. Not in a bad way, but he somehow doesn't present the encyclopaedic 'off the cuff' feel of Jess or Sylvan when it comes to recommending books, key concepts, authors, etc.
His enthusiasm is contagious and engaging. The students freely and excitedly give him their undivided attention, even as buses honk and tourists scream.
Many interruptions and loud noises--he acknowledges them, but his students are undeterred.
Well, I spoke too soon. The stage check got to the circus act. It's more than a little distracting for a guy to be leaping three storeys in the air doing somersaults and landing on a springy telephone pole.
Suddenly the tone changed and now it's a class, a lecture even. It felt like a themed tour until now, prompting thought and posing questions but not actually giving answers or feeling like school. But you can feel the energy from earlier, walking around, building itself into a narrative--we're getting to the point.
We've had to turn around--the stage was too distracting.
Identity-creating, national narrative-establishing archives such as this place.
What is history? A nation, by definition, is an imagined community. Wait, who said this? This is an axiom.
All archives are acts of fiction.
All archives attempt to define an origin.
All archives are an act of violence to those who disagree with them.
--Are we referring to something the students have already discussed at length?
"I stole this photograph of my father from my father." Consider your personal archives. What is a thing of yours that reminds you of you?
And again, "Does that make sense?" as punctuation for the session. Please confirm that you understand not only the words themselves, but the meaning I'm trying to convey. Please confirm. No one ever confirms.
"Archive Fever" -- the archive as an act of nostalgia, homesickness even, a desire to return to a place where everything is known. No remembered history is complete or true, but we want it to be so.
Back in the building, in the controlled environment of PK2. The space is sealed, quiet. Everyone looked up, startled, when I came into the room. They're talking in a normal speaking tone, taking turns. One at a time. Strong attention and enthusiasm.
The relevance of the monument as archive seems lost somehow. The students went off into the museum after the lecture to find an archive that spoke to them, but that exercise changed their gear rather abruptly. The third part of the class doesn't feel like it refers to either of the first two.
When FSS speaks again to read and round off the class (and the course) he does so briskly and without ceremony, but the students cling to every word. They're eager to graduate but they'll miss him.
Nelson's column, 11am
10 MA students from a range of disciplines.
Outdoor, busy space. Noisy. Today there was a fit-up and sound check going on for a concert series that starts tomorrow, so it was more confined than usual. Big, bustling and hot on a clear, sunshiny day. The place is one giant distraction.
F greets each student on his arrival--he arrives last, sweating but in good spirits. They all have looked forward to seeing him. This class only meets occasionally, and is one of a range of secondary modules the MAs can take, so the students who take this class specifically want to be here. This particular class, as well, is optional, and presented just for fun.
The group is engaged and listening, but not bursting at the seams to speak, which is different from similarly-enthusiastic BA students. If asked to respond, they will, but they're not pushy about it, nor do they seem like they have anything to prove.
"James Napier. Google it on your phones while we walk to the other plinth." Passive, casual integration of modern technology. Crazy.
The group circles itself up instinctively, creating a classroom of their walls against the bustle of the city.
Farokh knows his information in the depths of his head, though sometimes title and author recall can be a struggle. Not in a bad way, but he somehow doesn't present the encyclopaedic 'off the cuff' feel of Jess or Sylvan when it comes to recommending books, key concepts, authors, etc.
His enthusiasm is contagious and engaging. The students freely and excitedly give him their undivided attention, even as buses honk and tourists scream.
Many interruptions and loud noises--he acknowledges them, but his students are undeterred.
Well, I spoke too soon. The stage check got to the circus act. It's more than a little distracting for a guy to be leaping three storeys in the air doing somersaults and landing on a springy telephone pole.
Suddenly the tone changed and now it's a class, a lecture even. It felt like a themed tour until now, prompting thought and posing questions but not actually giving answers or feeling like school. But you can feel the energy from earlier, walking around, building itself into a narrative--we're getting to the point.
We've had to turn around--the stage was too distracting.
Identity-creating, national narrative-establishing archives such as this place.
What is history? A nation, by definition, is an imagined community. Wait, who said this? This is an axiom.
All archives are acts of fiction.
All archives attempt to define an origin.
All archives are an act of violence to those who disagree with them.
--Are we referring to something the students have already discussed at length?
"I stole this photograph of my father from my father." Consider your personal archives. What is a thing of yours that reminds you of you?
And again, "Does that make sense?" as punctuation for the session. Please confirm that you understand not only the words themselves, but the meaning I'm trying to convey. Please confirm. No one ever confirms.
"Archive Fever" -- the archive as an act of nostalgia, homesickness even, a desire to return to a place where everything is known. No remembered history is complete or true, but we want it to be so.
Back in the building, in the controlled environment of PK2. The space is sealed, quiet. Everyone looked up, startled, when I came into the room. They're talking in a normal speaking tone, taking turns. One at a time. Strong attention and enthusiasm.
The relevance of the monument as archive seems lost somehow. The students went off into the museum after the lecture to find an archive that spoke to them, but that exercise changed their gear rather abruptly. The third part of the class doesn't feel like it refers to either of the first two.
When FSS speaks again to read and round off the class (and the course) he does so briskly and without ceremony, but the students cling to every word. They're eager to graduate but they'll miss him.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Observation: Karin Schuck: Costume Fittings. 10:30-11:30am, 6 June
Bridge Project. This is 2nd year student designer D's first costume fitting and she's nervous. The actors have been through a costume fitting process before, if simplified, because of their work on the mainstage musical the previous term.
Is the garment easy to quick-change? This question applies to each element of the costume, including bracelets and earrings.
Keeping balance in mind at all times--what does the designer want, what does the actor want, what is feasible?
Socks? The question of socks comes up for every student. Are you comfortable in those shoes with no socks? Would you like tights? Would tights look okay? KS brings this question up when the designer doesn't think to. Half an hour later, the student asks the actress for herself if she will feel comfortable in the shoes without socks. Student is learning directly from KS, and fast.
KS encounters the same onslaught of interruptions as I do throughout her taught, supported session. The visitors are respectful and wait their turn. At all times there is a feeling of being in K's space, you need to ask permission before you touch anything.
The designer is treated like a real designer, and KS is a real shop manager. KS's colleagues are likewise professional in their encounters. "D, your next appointment is here. Shall I ask her to wait?" "Yes, please, no more than five minutes. Thank you." "No problem." Everything feels calm. There is pressure, yes, but just of time. Not some authority figure or menace.
Actors are given a private space to change in. It is altogether a safe-feeling space. No one is exposed, or cold, or being judged. The garments selected already fit. This is easy on slender actresses, but everything does look remarkably lovely on them, even beaten-up hats and coats with stains on them. The moment they are in the room they are professional and serious. Interesting. There is no banter, nothing playful or silly.
"You want to wear your own T-shirt? At some point that shirt will need to become a Costume." you can hear the capital letter. Importance emerges, this is not just a shirt. It is a reminder to think: are you ready to part with it? Will you be responsible with it until that point?
Safety concerns: dust, claustrophobia, allergies to fabrics and metals?
It is very, very quiet in here.
Re-set between groups. We go back to zero. Bracelets back in the drawer, shoes back in the boxes. All the garments are tucked away. There is nothing to be tripped over, or jealous of, or any reminders of what has come before. We are ready to start again and pay attention to just you.
"I'm advising her, but I'm also just helping her, entering data, making sure everything is labelled appropriately. I'll provide guidance and prompt her with ideas, but it's not a lecture, I'm not pushing."
"Sorry for holding you. Please send my apologies to your director." "Don't say that!! That extra five minutes was very productive! You undermine your value, and the value of this process when you say things like that. Their time was very well-spent!" (I think D touched a nerve)
K is standing by, listening, waiting for the student to fill in the necessary information and ask the necessary questions herself. Only when it becomes clear that she's not going to does KS step in. It feels professional, but with a bridge to support.
Providing other options that may suit--She has clearly pre-discussed the designer's aesthetic with her and wants to support it without imposing her own ideas too much. Making the students feel important, taking their opinions of their garments into consideration, their comfort, their interpretation of their character. Definitely for actors' learning as well.
K's knowledge of fashion and lines, continuity of the contours of the body and the garment, is evident.
It is interesting, when a fitting is too easy--try it on, yes, this is perfect. The actor feels short-changed, I think. She wants to be fussed over. She wants to play dress-up and put on all the pretty things in the store. So they continue to fuss over her a bit, and discover a few new things in the process.
the characters are 'she', not 'I'. It is very important to keep this distance. We are not dressing you. We, including you, are dressing the character. Safety, comfort and the ability to move are important to you. Aesthetics are about the character, and the designer needs to have control over that.
"Before you marry yourself to it, talk to the lighting designer." Even in this warm, cosy, intimate space, we have to remember the rest of the show out there. There is a clear feeling of distance between Out There and In Here. In Here is a safe place, but we are here for a reason.
Dealing with Nerves: As this is D's first fitting she needs reassurance, and gets it. This actor is ready, calm and very comfortable with her body. "I brought a bra if you think we'll need it, I'm not wearing one today." right out the door. Look how ready for this I am, physically and emotionally. Not a show of dominance, but a declaration that she's ready for whatever. Assertive. But this makes D even more nervous, she's on the back foot. K is at her shoulder immediately, and when the actress pushes her dislike of a garment too far K swoops in to remind her that she's not looking at it properly. "The length of the coat will make more sense with trousers and shoes. Yes, it looks bad with a bare leg and ankle-height socks. But you can't look at it properly like this. Try it with the trousers." Let's do it in order, and sorry but my order is the right order. This is to ensure time is being used efficiently, but also I think to help control the growing power struggle between designer and actor.
Choices are provided, but not freely available. This must be 'pulling' that I've heard about. You may pick one of the two I have prepared for you. I am still ultimately in charge, but you have a sense of participation.
We are very much in K's space. No one touches anything without her permission. It also helps that she's one of very few people who knows where anything is.
Tidiness and order are a huge part of the safety and overall feeling of the space, and the process.
Is the garment easy to quick-change? This question applies to each element of the costume, including bracelets and earrings.
Keeping balance in mind at all times--what does the designer want, what does the actor want, what is feasible?
Socks? The question of socks comes up for every student. Are you comfortable in those shoes with no socks? Would you like tights? Would tights look okay? KS brings this question up when the designer doesn't think to. Half an hour later, the student asks the actress for herself if she will feel comfortable in the shoes without socks. Student is learning directly from KS, and fast.
KS encounters the same onslaught of interruptions as I do throughout her taught, supported session. The visitors are respectful and wait their turn. At all times there is a feeling of being in K's space, you need to ask permission before you touch anything.
The designer is treated like a real designer, and KS is a real shop manager. KS's colleagues are likewise professional in their encounters. "D, your next appointment is here. Shall I ask her to wait?" "Yes, please, no more than five minutes. Thank you." "No problem." Everything feels calm. There is pressure, yes, but just of time. Not some authority figure or menace.
Actors are given a private space to change in. It is altogether a safe-feeling space. No one is exposed, or cold, or being judged. The garments selected already fit. This is easy on slender actresses, but everything does look remarkably lovely on them, even beaten-up hats and coats with stains on them. The moment they are in the room they are professional and serious. Interesting. There is no banter, nothing playful or silly.
"You want to wear your own T-shirt? At some point that shirt will need to become a Costume." you can hear the capital letter. Importance emerges, this is not just a shirt. It is a reminder to think: are you ready to part with it? Will you be responsible with it until that point?
Safety concerns: dust, claustrophobia, allergies to fabrics and metals?
It is very, very quiet in here.
Re-set between groups. We go back to zero. Bracelets back in the drawer, shoes back in the boxes. All the garments are tucked away. There is nothing to be tripped over, or jealous of, or any reminders of what has come before. We are ready to start again and pay attention to just you.
"I'm advising her, but I'm also just helping her, entering data, making sure everything is labelled appropriately. I'll provide guidance and prompt her with ideas, but it's not a lecture, I'm not pushing."
"Sorry for holding you. Please send my apologies to your director." "Don't say that!! That extra five minutes was very productive! You undermine your value, and the value of this process when you say things like that. Their time was very well-spent!" (I think D touched a nerve)
K is standing by, listening, waiting for the student to fill in the necessary information and ask the necessary questions herself. Only when it becomes clear that she's not going to does KS step in. It feels professional, but with a bridge to support.
Providing other options that may suit--She has clearly pre-discussed the designer's aesthetic with her and wants to support it without imposing her own ideas too much. Making the students feel important, taking their opinions of their garments into consideration, their comfort, their interpretation of their character. Definitely for actors' learning as well.
K's knowledge of fashion and lines, continuity of the contours of the body and the garment, is evident.
It is interesting, when a fitting is too easy--try it on, yes, this is perfect. The actor feels short-changed, I think. She wants to be fussed over. She wants to play dress-up and put on all the pretty things in the store. So they continue to fuss over her a bit, and discover a few new things in the process.
the characters are 'she', not 'I'. It is very important to keep this distance. We are not dressing you. We, including you, are dressing the character. Safety, comfort and the ability to move are important to you. Aesthetics are about the character, and the designer needs to have control over that.
"Before you marry yourself to it, talk to the lighting designer." Even in this warm, cosy, intimate space, we have to remember the rest of the show out there. There is a clear feeling of distance between Out There and In Here. In Here is a safe place, but we are here for a reason.
Dealing with Nerves: As this is D's first fitting she needs reassurance, and gets it. This actor is ready, calm and very comfortable with her body. "I brought a bra if you think we'll need it, I'm not wearing one today." right out the door. Look how ready for this I am, physically and emotionally. Not a show of dominance, but a declaration that she's ready for whatever. Assertive. But this makes D even more nervous, she's on the back foot. K is at her shoulder immediately, and when the actress pushes her dislike of a garment too far K swoops in to remind her that she's not looking at it properly. "The length of the coat will make more sense with trousers and shoes. Yes, it looks bad with a bare leg and ankle-height socks. But you can't look at it properly like this. Try it with the trousers." Let's do it in order, and sorry but my order is the right order. This is to ensure time is being used efficiently, but also I think to help control the growing power struggle between designer and actor.
Choices are provided, but not freely available. This must be 'pulling' that I've heard about. You may pick one of the two I have prepared for you. I am still ultimately in charge, but you have a sense of participation.
We are very much in K's space. No one touches anything without her permission. It also helps that she's one of very few people who knows where anything is.
Tidiness and order are a huge part of the safety and overall feeling of the space, and the process.
Observation: Carla Mardle, demonstration session: Trompe l'oeil. 26 April, 3-4:30 pm
Noisy Environment. Drone of angle grinders, sanders, dust extractor, radio conflicting. Students lean in close to hear.
Taking notes on their phones while taking pictures.
Touch and feel to distinguish points
Considerable hand motions to describe textures--students listen with their eyes.
Constant visual and tactile aids.
Carla manages to tolerate the noise without getting flustered or annoyed.
Going through selecting and priming scenic fabrics.
Filled cloth--do not prime. Takes spray very well.
Disruption: A.G. Quick question. Carla kept her hands engaged with the demonstration and her body pointed towards the students in the class. She clearly communicated what her priority was. Turned head--her attitude was polite but clearly indicated that she had a different priority. Is this trained or instinctive? Do we all do this?
Playful, laughing enthusiasm, occasional swearing for emphasis.
Asking for guesses to enhance teachable critical-thinking moments.
Ew! Ugh! Gross! Yuck! Ways to make learning which products are not suitable to use (synthetics) by making the response to them one of disgust. Appears effective--it is not just that the product doesn’t work, but we Hate it. It is an effective way to get the message across without belabouring it--bypassing the intellectual engagement and making it a visceral rejection, gut-level. I don’t use polyester, it is Gross. Transferring prejudices vs good learning?
Recap: the list of items and their shared properties.
Sum-up and why we went through this.
Demonstration: new topic. Move bodies, change proximity.
Real-world analogies. Single cream vs double cream--do students cook enough to tell the difference?
Has a warm and irreverent attitude towards the institution and learning--the students respond well to it, but will they always?
Specific straight line technique--bypassing the feeling of teaching your grandma to suck eggs. This way to hold a ruler is actually New and Interesting.
Axiom: If we screw up, what do we do? It’s paint! We paint over it! Memorable.
Breaking the rules: again, irreverent towards institution. Practice. Try not to take yourself too seriously.
“Remember. Just like… Of course…” reminders that you already know this, but now you’re applying it in a new way.
Leading the students round by the hand at times, but they clearly desire to be led.
Their body language is passive. They are absorbing information.
Question: coping with resting bitch face from students.
Referring to students’ homework and prepared research for reference images. Teaching using them--that’s trust that they’re prepared!
Roughly, approximately, thereabouts. Again, reaffirming what is important and what isn’t.
Examples from student work from years past, also first years--celebrating achievement while reinforcing that you can do this too!
Marble practice, Woodgrain practice, Cornice practice: now we can put these all together.
Student-by-student prep for project. Other students are encouraged to listen but each project is unique. Attention is flagging. Are they tired?
“I’m getting ahead of myself. This is for Monday.” is this a group of advanced learners, or is the teacher actually jumping the gun?
Opportunities for enquiry: Carla as a dyslexic teacher. How does this impact her organisation of her lessons? Of her thoughts? How does Carla prepare to teach?
Does Carla worry that she routinely misses things?
As a dyslexic learner, what aspects of your teaching style do students really seem to find useful?
Observation: Dot Young: Crafts Seminar 4 June, 11am-1pm.
Board Room: Big Table arrangement. Almost square. DY has a separate table all the way at the front of the room, a flipchart with markers, and all of her documents she needs laid out in order of when she should need them. She has a roll of masking tape.
Start: DY asks for feedback about the past two terms. How do you feel about them? High points, low points. Asks in ways to try to elicit emotions--what was great? What was super great? What was grr? What kinda made you, oof, rrr, you know, grr, that wasn't so great? Using strong facial expressions, hand gestures. Hand gestures are almost mime or BSL: very expressive and visually engaging.
"We didn't bother filling in the survey because even if you address it in the survey, we've heard that nothing changes." "That is flatly untrue! We had a brand new Unit 1 this year, actually." Student tried to touch a nerve, but DY was all smiles and polite explanations. I woulda punched the student, but DY played it cool. What this did bring up was that the gossip was making its way around faster and better than the information the school was trying to provide. Interestingly, Scenic Art and Props knew that Unit 1 was new, but Costumes did not. Poor communication? How did this get missed?
Feedback request period: taking all comments seriously, and genuinely seeking constructive feedback. Though when the students did start to open up, most of their comments were referred back to Course Committee. Suggestions that they should speak to their representatives and ensure those points are raised.
Joyful, playful, good eye contact. Respectful of the students while still distinctly the authority figure.
Snap Skills. Cute.
How DY deals with disruptive influences: one student is verbose and really wants to take over the conversation. Not sure why, but she's angry, and most of the things she's saying she clearly believes in firmly but DY would argue are not true. DY let her talk for a while, but found a key point to interject on and then introduce a conversation-ending change. Student wanted opportunities to learn other classes' skills, when can we do that? "That's what other schools do, but not us. We stand out in the field as a place where we specialise from the outset. Rose Bruford, Mountview--these places have the carousel system where you do a little bit of everything, and that's great if you want that, but our reputation is for producing specialists, so we specialise all the way through." Remember: this is why you picked us. This is why you're here.
"Have you completed your practice assessment?" one hand goes up. "Yay." Adorable sarcasm. Laughter.
Content-related question on my part--time management is clearly a very important skill to DY, and she wants to make it very clear that evidence of effective use of time is crucial to your learning and marks. How crucial is time management to academic achievement? How does that impact students diagnosed with SpLD's who may struggle far more than neurotypical students with time management?
"I drew a diagram. It's not the best diagram you've ever seen but it's a diagram." Managing expectations in a gentle and self-deprecating way. At the end of class she asked a few students if they thought the diagram was useful. It was new and she wanted feedback, so she introduced it as a work in progress. It felt natural to ask for useful feedback on it later.
Reminders to all students that they're not all doing the same thing now, and that's good. We're focussing on different learning and objectives, not more or less advanced.
Your practice is assessed, through the reflective submission. Opportunity to remind them of the different types/formats for submission, including .pdf, oral recording, etc. To what extent is this supportive system useful for students? To what extent are they taking it up?
Indicating, reminding through diagram that each student already has hours, if not days of data to call upon. You've got mountains of research, journal entries, etc that you now need to filter through--it's not that you have nothing, the work ahead is paring it down into the word or time count. There is no room in her narrative for an argument of "I don't have anything, there's too much work to produce before the end of term, this is getting in the way of my project." or what might have you.
Energy levels are dropping. Distraction sets in.
Is this a seminar or an informative session? It doesn't feel like there's a whole lot of learning happening, just preparation for submissions later. No, it is not a teaching session. It is a prep session and a summary following on from a previous session on readying writing and other material for assessed projects. It feels like she's readying the students to finish the term.
Text analysis: yes, you should have read the play. Yes, you should have had a look at the socio-political context of the piece, the genre, how it's being presented, what the director wants to do with it. You're not immune from the theatre work just because you're not performing. Your work must be relevant to the piece.
Separate relevance of this from BATP students vs actors or theatre studies students. Yes read the play, but you've analysed the concept, or concept, or type of event that your work is supporting in the context of what you want to do with it. A way of making it relevant to these students who may be reluctant readers (or dyslexic). The reading (or watching) is in the context of the make, not analysis for analysis's sake.
Energy level drop expected, a break is planned in. Just a couple of minutes but she does encourage everyone to go move around, get some water. Smart.
Students writing on the flipchart. "Don't worry about the spelling, People can Google it later, just like I did." Reassuring, pressure's off, you're not performing, you're just helping me. This is also in keeping with Central's SpLD friendly policies.
"You don't need to copy all this down, just take a photo of the list when we're done." Neat. Modern, high tech. Fancy. Is the rationale to be lexia-friendly?
Chatter silenced with an eyeballing. Do props students feel like they get a special allowance, or feel detached from the seminar and the other students because the tutor is their tutor?
"I have my masking tape ready!" DY takes delight in her preparations paying off. She is very prepared. Her students are less so. Some came with no notebook, or borrowed a leaf of paper from someone else. I believe this is the 4th seminar of the school year--have they needed to be more prepared before? Or less?
Putting colourful documents around the room to brighten it up for the end of the session? Didn't offer a whole lot of course content but it looks nice.
Reminder again of the school's reputation, becoming the students' reputation: The door is already half-open for you from students who've taken placements here before. Every business we list is a place where a student has had a placement or has gone on to get a job.
Setting background tasks: reasons to not have "free time"--if you're playing video games, there is something else towards your learning you could be doing, and this is it. You can start to explore, this is something you should do, this is a good use of your time, this is fun--all implying you should want to do this for yourself, this isn't work infringing on your pleasure, it is pleasure! (I don't know if they bought it.)
Break out last 10 minutes for discreet questions, photographs of work, etc. This time was used by some students, others were finished and left. Several students took a photo and said they'd email it to their classmates, or snapchat it. Handy.
We're in a very high-tech time now, where the technology is just a given. Some students only showed up with a phone, or nothing, because they were confident the information would make its way to them in a digital format soon and easily, with no extra effort on anyone's part.
Start: DY asks for feedback about the past two terms. How do you feel about them? High points, low points. Asks in ways to try to elicit emotions--what was great? What was super great? What was grr? What kinda made you, oof, rrr, you know, grr, that wasn't so great? Using strong facial expressions, hand gestures. Hand gestures are almost mime or BSL: very expressive and visually engaging.
"We didn't bother filling in the survey because even if you address it in the survey, we've heard that nothing changes." "That is flatly untrue! We had a brand new Unit 1 this year, actually." Student tried to touch a nerve, but DY was all smiles and polite explanations. I woulda punched the student, but DY played it cool. What this did bring up was that the gossip was making its way around faster and better than the information the school was trying to provide. Interestingly, Scenic Art and Props knew that Unit 1 was new, but Costumes did not. Poor communication? How did this get missed?
Feedback request period: taking all comments seriously, and genuinely seeking constructive feedback. Though when the students did start to open up, most of their comments were referred back to Course Committee. Suggestions that they should speak to their representatives and ensure those points are raised.
Joyful, playful, good eye contact. Respectful of the students while still distinctly the authority figure.
Snap Skills. Cute.
How DY deals with disruptive influences: one student is verbose and really wants to take over the conversation. Not sure why, but she's angry, and most of the things she's saying she clearly believes in firmly but DY would argue are not true. DY let her talk for a while, but found a key point to interject on and then introduce a conversation-ending change. Student wanted opportunities to learn other classes' skills, when can we do that? "That's what other schools do, but not us. We stand out in the field as a place where we specialise from the outset. Rose Bruford, Mountview--these places have the carousel system where you do a little bit of everything, and that's great if you want that, but our reputation is for producing specialists, so we specialise all the way through." Remember: this is why you picked us. This is why you're here.
"Have you completed your practice assessment?" one hand goes up. "Yay." Adorable sarcasm. Laughter.
Content-related question on my part--time management is clearly a very important skill to DY, and she wants to make it very clear that evidence of effective use of time is crucial to your learning and marks. How crucial is time management to academic achievement? How does that impact students diagnosed with SpLD's who may struggle far more than neurotypical students with time management?
"I drew a diagram. It's not the best diagram you've ever seen but it's a diagram." Managing expectations in a gentle and self-deprecating way. At the end of class she asked a few students if they thought the diagram was useful. It was new and she wanted feedback, so she introduced it as a work in progress. It felt natural to ask for useful feedback on it later.
Reminders to all students that they're not all doing the same thing now, and that's good. We're focussing on different learning and objectives, not more or less advanced.
Your practice is assessed, through the reflective submission. Opportunity to remind them of the different types/formats for submission, including .pdf, oral recording, etc. To what extent is this supportive system useful for students? To what extent are they taking it up?
Indicating, reminding through diagram that each student already has hours, if not days of data to call upon. You've got mountains of research, journal entries, etc that you now need to filter through--it's not that you have nothing, the work ahead is paring it down into the word or time count. There is no room in her narrative for an argument of "I don't have anything, there's too much work to produce before the end of term, this is getting in the way of my project." or what might have you.
Energy levels are dropping. Distraction sets in.
Is this a seminar or an informative session? It doesn't feel like there's a whole lot of learning happening, just preparation for submissions later. No, it is not a teaching session. It is a prep session and a summary following on from a previous session on readying writing and other material for assessed projects. It feels like she's readying the students to finish the term.
Text analysis: yes, you should have read the play. Yes, you should have had a look at the socio-political context of the piece, the genre, how it's being presented, what the director wants to do with it. You're not immune from the theatre work just because you're not performing. Your work must be relevant to the piece.
Separate relevance of this from BATP students vs actors or theatre studies students. Yes read the play, but you've analysed the concept, or concept, or type of event that your work is supporting in the context of what you want to do with it. A way of making it relevant to these students who may be reluctant readers (or dyslexic). The reading (or watching) is in the context of the make, not analysis for analysis's sake.
Energy level drop expected, a break is planned in. Just a couple of minutes but she does encourage everyone to go move around, get some water. Smart.
Students writing on the flipchart. "Don't worry about the spelling, People can Google it later, just like I did." Reassuring, pressure's off, you're not performing, you're just helping me. This is also in keeping with Central's SpLD friendly policies.
"You don't need to copy all this down, just take a photo of the list when we're done." Neat. Modern, high tech. Fancy. Is the rationale to be lexia-friendly?
Chatter silenced with an eyeballing. Do props students feel like they get a special allowance, or feel detached from the seminar and the other students because the tutor is their tutor?
"I have my masking tape ready!" DY takes delight in her preparations paying off. She is very prepared. Her students are less so. Some came with no notebook, or borrowed a leaf of paper from someone else. I believe this is the 4th seminar of the school year--have they needed to be more prepared before? Or less?
Putting colourful documents around the room to brighten it up for the end of the session? Didn't offer a whole lot of course content but it looks nice.
Reminder again of the school's reputation, becoming the students' reputation: The door is already half-open for you from students who've taken placements here before. Every business we list is a place where a student has had a placement or has gone on to get a job.
Setting background tasks: reasons to not have "free time"--if you're playing video games, there is something else towards your learning you could be doing, and this is it. You can start to explore, this is something you should do, this is a good use of your time, this is fun--all implying you should want to do this for yourself, this isn't work infringing on your pleasure, it is pleasure! (I don't know if they bought it.)
Break out last 10 minutes for discreet questions, photographs of work, etc. This time was used by some students, others were finished and left. Several students took a photo and said they'd email it to their classmates, or snapchat it. Handy.
We're in a very high-tech time now, where the technology is just a given. Some students only showed up with a phone, or nothing, because they were confident the information would make its way to them in a digital format soon and easily, with no extra effort on anyone's part.
Observation: Alex Stone Small Group Tutorial 31 May, 11:30 - 12:30
Space: murmur from other meetings, but not distracting. Hot, cloyingly close. Arrived 1/2 hour into session due to my own delays.
The session is quiet. AS spends much of her time intently listening. 3 students. A power structure is evident among the students.
Very collegiate tone, providing expert advice rather than some sort of authoritarian or lecture session.
Providing a prompt for thoughts--Alex is being their next thought. Giving them an opportunity to think it themselves, but when they don't, just easing it in.
"You are starting at 9:30, at what time do you aim to finish rigging?" Prompting students to check their own planning documents. Trusting students to be prepared, to have done their side of the work.
Visibly listening, not interrupting. Following a mature conversational flow as much as possible, making it feel like a production meeting among equals.
"So, what am I going to ask you for?" breaking character, putting teacher-hat back on. "A schematic! Here it is!" the student is beaming, proud of herself and anticipating a pat on the head. "You mention a remote. Where is the remote on the schematic?" "I mean, it'll be, we'll have it." "Mark it down. Give it a home, make it so you can find it. I'm going to ask these really silly questions about things you assume will just happen. Plan on the little stupid things being accounted for, especially when they're little stupid things that can make everything go wrong if they go missing."
"Yeah? That's why we have these opportunities to think about these things!"
Providing opportunities for students to be proud of what they've already done, look how professional I am. AS has a "good, and" mindset, warm reassurance for what they've done, then a challenge to go forward. "Great. Now let's think about introducing room for flexibility into this plan."
Good eye contact, sitting on their level. The schematics and schedules are centre, not AS or any student.
End of session: Sum up. Let's go back through and remember all of the action points we touched on to make sure we take care of them in the next few days. Reminders. Then questions.
Willing to go over, but with awareness of time and respect for the students' other commitments. Maybe five more minutes? This feels like privileged time, and very valuable.
Very student-led session. This is clearly a response to their wants and concerns. They very much want to be here, and it is for their preparation for an actual event offsite.
Speaking from experience of the space--AS couches her authority in her actual relationship with the theatre itself, not just this type of theatre or just her own professional background. She knows This Space well, from her own small shows back in the day. "Based on my history doing festivals at CPT, patrons are like This in the evenings. The staff are like That in the mornings." Makes it feel very real.
Trying to end on a positive note, but the students now seem self-effacing. B in particular suddenly goes quiet, reluctant. Is there something she wants to ask, but doesn't feel confident? Has she forgotten something? Why has she suddenly withdrawn? Interesting. She seemed very on-it until just this moment.
The session is quiet. AS spends much of her time intently listening. 3 students. A power structure is evident among the students.
Very collegiate tone, providing expert advice rather than some sort of authoritarian or lecture session.
Providing a prompt for thoughts--Alex is being their next thought. Giving them an opportunity to think it themselves, but when they don't, just easing it in.
"You are starting at 9:30, at what time do you aim to finish rigging?" Prompting students to check their own planning documents. Trusting students to be prepared, to have done their side of the work.
Visibly listening, not interrupting. Following a mature conversational flow as much as possible, making it feel like a production meeting among equals.
"So, what am I going to ask you for?" breaking character, putting teacher-hat back on. "A schematic! Here it is!" the student is beaming, proud of herself and anticipating a pat on the head. "You mention a remote. Where is the remote on the schematic?" "I mean, it'll be, we'll have it." "Mark it down. Give it a home, make it so you can find it. I'm going to ask these really silly questions about things you assume will just happen. Plan on the little stupid things being accounted for, especially when they're little stupid things that can make everything go wrong if they go missing."
"Yeah? That's why we have these opportunities to think about these things!"
Providing opportunities for students to be proud of what they've already done, look how professional I am. AS has a "good, and" mindset, warm reassurance for what they've done, then a challenge to go forward. "Great. Now let's think about introducing room for flexibility into this plan."
Good eye contact, sitting on their level. The schematics and schedules are centre, not AS or any student.
End of session: Sum up. Let's go back through and remember all of the action points we touched on to make sure we take care of them in the next few days. Reminders. Then questions.
Willing to go over, but with awareness of time and respect for the students' other commitments. Maybe five more minutes? This feels like privileged time, and very valuable.
Very student-led session. This is clearly a response to their wants and concerns. They very much want to be here, and it is for their preparation for an actual event offsite.
Speaking from experience of the space--AS couches her authority in her actual relationship with the theatre itself, not just this type of theatre or just her own professional background. She knows This Space well, from her own small shows back in the day. "Based on my history doing festivals at CPT, patrons are like This in the evenings. The staff are like That in the mornings." Makes it feel very real.
Trying to end on a positive note, but the students now seem self-effacing. B in particular suddenly goes quiet, reluctant. Is there something she wants to ask, but doesn't feel confident? Has she forgotten something? Why has she suddenly withdrawn? Interesting. She seemed very on-it until just this moment.
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