Friday, December 19, 2014

Happy Holidays!

Please use the time in lab today to either:
A. Continue/complete your play draft
B. Work on Ms. Gamzon's work
C. Write for your portfolio
D. Watch a film next door

HOMEWORK: None. Enjoy your holiday!

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

More David Ives; Play Project

This afternoon, let's read the short plays: "Variations on the Death of Trotsky" and "Arabian Nights" by David Ives.

Then, it's back to the lab to continue working on our collaborative play projects. Aim to complete the play projects in the next few weeks if you don't finish them today. When you finish, please turn in your script for grading and a participation grade.

OPTION/EXTRA CREDIT: If you want a fun challenge, try writing a short scene (perhaps concerning a little known or unpopular historical figure like Trotsky), then write 3-5 more variations for the same scene. You may also choose a simple situation and do the same (see: "Sure Thing" as a model).

HOMEWORK: None.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Collaborative Play Project; Playwriting 101, Role of DellaThis

Plays are a collaborative art. It takes many artists working together to create a theatrical production. Consider our own examples of the musical Annie or The Crucible. The building blocks of drama (which means conflict, by the way) are:

A PREMISE: a very short, one-sentence description of your idea: this play is about...
examples: Annie is about a little positive orphan girl who finds a caring family. The Crucible is about the people involved in the Salem Witch Trials. Wait Until Dark is about a blind woman threatened by thieves.

A SITUATION: any action that depends on a decision. Example: a jumper is on a ledge of a roof and is about to jump ("Playwriting 101"), or: A man approaches a woman who is reading in a cafe to strike up a conversation ("Sure Thing"), etc.

A COMPLICATION: a "but...", a "whoops", or an "Uh, oh!" Example: a jumper is on the ledge of a roof and is about to jump BUT a good samaritan interrupts her. Or: A man approaches a woman reading in a cafe for a date but WHOOPS, he says the wrong thing and turns her off.

During 7th period:

  • Please read the plays "Playwriting 101" by Rich Orloff and "The Role of Della" by John Wooten out loud in your groups. Members of the group should play one role.
  • For each play, please identify (as a group) the PREMISE, the SITUATION, and the COMPLICATIONs in the play. 
  • When you have completed that task, you may either:
  • A:
    • Together in your group, decide on a play you will write together. Write possible premises, then vote for the premise you would like to use.
    • Together come up with a list of possible characters and a setting.
    • Together write a situation and possible complications.
    • Then working together in GOOGLE DOCS invite the members of your group to SHARE your document. Each writer will play a "part" by taking on the role of one character in the play (similar to the exercise you did last class, but with more people). 
    • Work together to write a play that has a clear premise, situation, and at least as many complications as there are members in your group. Complications create rising action and the climax of a play.
  • B: 
    • Continue reading the short plays "Bedtime", "Chocolate", "Your Mother's Butt" or "We Cannot Know the Mind of God" as models for your plays. 
    • After reading these plays and recording the premise, situation, and complications (turn in for extra credit), please work on the assignment as directed in option A, above. You may decide to shorten your group to 1, 2, 3, or 4 writers if you'd like.

During 8th period:

Continue writing your plays.

HOMEWORK: None.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

One Minute Play Exercise; Sure Thing & Playwriting 101

For a good portion of the quarter, we will turn our creative attention to play writing. To start off today, select a name, work with that person on a very short collaborative play script.

The Rules:
 You are going to write 2 short, short plays (no longer than a page in length) today during period 7. Take no more than 20 minutes each to complete both parts of the assignment.
  1. To get you in the mood and to show you a model, please read "One Minute Play" by Christopher Durang with your randomly selected partner. Each of you should read this play silently or out loud together. 
  2. After reading, select a random common setting: ex. a kitchen, a bus stop, a diner, a park, a school yard, a back porch, a golf course, a waiting room, a gas station, a supermarket, a nail salon, an office, etc.
  3. Starting with one writer, create a name and type it on your screen or Google docs. Briefly describe your character (age, occupation, defining trait, etc.), then allow your partner to do the same. Don't discuss the character choice or plan ahead. Just create a random character that might go with your setting.
  4. Skip a line, then start again with the character you created. Write a line of dialogue. Give the keyboard or allow your partner to respond with a line of dialogue for their character. 
  5. Go back and forth in the next 20 minutes, sharing the keyboard or adding dialogue to the file until you have a definite ending. The best way to end a scene is with the words: END OF SCENE.
After completing your short draft, print out three copies of this single sheet. Give one to your partner, keep one, and give the last one to me (in my in-box). 

Next 20 minutes (period 7): 
  1. Select a new partner of your choice. 
  2. Read the play "Phyllis & Zenobia" together outloud or silently as a model.
  3. Do the same exercise. Choose a different setting and different character. 
  4. Print out 3 copies of your scene by the end of period 7. 
After the second bell, please join me in room 238 to read some short plays. Please volunteer to read out loud by selecting a role from those available. 

HOMEWORK: None.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Film Review: Smoke Signals

Using your notes taken while watching the film and using IMDB.com, write a film review. Refer to the handout instructions I gave you to set up your review.

A film review includes:

  • an opening hook to catch the reader's attention
  • a detailed description of the artists involved or responsible for the film, including any info we might need to know like the year the film was made, produced, or who the main actors are. Usually this paragraph also includes a short summary of the film's premise (this is a movie about...).
  • The third paragraph discusses plot and/or characters.
  • You may write a fourth paragraph about sound/special effects, camera work, cinematography or the effectiveness of the writing.
  • The fourth or fifth paragraph discusses the theme or key memorable moments in the film.
  • The fifth or sixth paragraph evaluates the movie and ties up your position on the quality or artistry of the film.
Please turn in your review today by the end of class. If you finish early, please continue to write fiction, poetry, scenes, etc.

HOMEWORK: None. If you did not write your review of the book The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, please complete that and turn it in late.

Monday, December 1, 2014

The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight in Heaven: Discussion & Film

Today, please gather in assigned groups and conduct a discussion seminar on the stories in the collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. 

During period 8, please return to room 238 to begin watching and reviewing the film Smoke Signals.

Information on the film can be found here.

As you watch the film today, please jot down some notes to help you write your review next class.

HOMEWORK: If you did not complete the book and write your book review, please do so.






About this course!

This course stresses understanding the characteristics & techniques in the literary genres of fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. This course will continue to build on students’ reading and writing skills begun in previous creative writing classes. Readings and discussions of works by major writers in the field will be examined as inspiration and models of fine writing. This educational blog is designed for the use of the students at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY.