Character and Scene Studies for High School Actors
Amy Rhodes
Average rating:4.8Number of reviews:(9)
In this 10-week course, students will use scripted works to focus on building characters and developing scenes.
Class experience
Students in this class will be working on developing characters and a completed scene within the confines of a written script. Each learner will be assigned a scene and a scene partner or partners. Over the course of ten weeks, students will read the script and find details about their character as well as their relationship to the other character(s) in the scene. By the end of class, all students should have a production-worthy scene to share. This course can be taken multiple times,...
Students will develop characters from written scenes by using clues in the script, as well as their own experience and imagination. They will be able to break a scene down into different moments. They will practice identifying and pursuing objectives. Learners will practice listening and reacting to partners in their scenes. Students will develop confidence performing in front of others. Students will practice their skills of memorization. They will develop empathy through character study. Students will practice constructively critiquing the performances of others. Students will be have the opportunity to play design roles and develop new "backstage" skills.
Homework Offered
Learners will need to spend time outside of class working on their characters and learning lines, for their scenes. The amount of time this takes will vary by student. If a parent or sibling is able to run lines with them, or if they are able to interact with their scene partner to run lines outside of class, that would be helpful for most students. I encourage students to write out their lines and/or record them, to aid in memory. Students may also need to spend some time finding set pieces, costumes, props, or developing lighting or sound effects for their scenes. They may also be asked to record and submit their portion of their scene to be edited into a final scene. Again, this will vary by student and scene.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students will receive feedback after their final performance that will reflect their final performance, as well as their journey in the class.Grades Offered
Line Learner is not mandatory, but it is a great tool and is usually $3.99 to download. If students have a preferred app or a tried and true memorization method, they are welcome to disregard this recommendation. Students should dress comfortably and be prepared to move in class. Students should bring the following items to class: Notebook to take notes Pencil with eraser Highlighter Printed script (once it is assigned) If more than one page, script should be stapled, or in a binder or folder with clips to keep it in order Any assigned items A positive attitude Optional items: Bottle of water Yoga mat
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Learners will be working with scene partners in this class. They may be put into break out rooms, where they will be unsupervised for a portion of time, with their scene partners. It is expected that all students will use this time to do the work assigned to them. If you think this may be a problem for your child, please let me know. I will assign scripts and scene partners according to the maturity level and acting ability of each student. They may encounter a scene that has teen or adult characters in mature situations, but they should still be classroom appropriate. More advanced and mature students may be asked to play characters who are very different from themselves; some that make poor life choices, or do not exhibit ideal behavior. They will be asked to perform these characters with honesty and without judgement. If there is some reason that you think your child would not be able to handle this, or if they have issues differentiating appropriate acting behavior from appropriate real life behavior, I ask that you let me know, in a private message, so I can assign pieces accordingly. Learners in a scene may decide that they would like to work together when the class is not in session. That interaction is encouraged, but is at the discretion of parents, and will not be supervised by a teacher. If learners in a particular scene feel they need extra work time with me, I will be happy to try to schedule additional classroom time, probably immediately before or after a scheduled class time.
Average rating:4.8Number of reviews:(9)
I love teaching all levels and abilities. I have worked with children in various settings, including home school, charter school, camp, after-school clubs, and a performing arts center. I will be offering classes for a range of ages including...
Group Class
$200
for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
90 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
2-8 learners per class
