Tech Performance Reflection

I feel that I was able to understand the significance and importance of theater technology during this last project. Through technical elements such as lights, added sound effects, costumes, etc. we were able to set a certain mood and use those tools to manipulate the scene in a way that connected deeper with the audience.
I felt that I felt more like I was able to be in character more once we added the tech elements. I felt more like Gretchen than I had before during the previous in-class performances. I was a lot more in character while I was wearing her signature color pink, with makeup scattered around, and the phone call from her iconic "friend" Regina George. The set up for the scene set the anxious mood and made it easier for me act. I really learned a lot about how the scene could really stick more with the audience once the proper technical elements were in place. The dark lighting, large mirror, and intro/outro combined created a more interesting and believable performance. I also learned the importance of props. I always understood why they were necessary, but I never really thought about how much they could add to the entire vision of the scene as well. The scattered makeup and brushes showed the character's desperation and need to be loved. When I picked up the brush and fiddled around with the makeup before I spoke, I feel, added to the feeling of nervousness that the character was feeling. If I was given more time or had the opportunity to, I would put the scene inside a bedroom with clothing scattered as well as pictures in frames of the character and her friends, and create a setting that screams teenage girl. That way, I could more around more which may add more dynamics to the scene, which I would love to do.
I think that our group did a good job on setting a mood for our scene. Medgar was amazing with the intro and the outro which I felt was a unique addition to our scene and fit really well with our scene. I also think we did well on providing a sense of understanding for the audience when we Lily called my phone was Regina George. This also provided a smoother transition in the scene, so it explains why my character was questioning herself so much. We were really lucky in finding a room with a mirror and we were able to bring in a lot of makeup for the vanity in the scene, so we were able to provide a telling background. I think we did fairly well on the lighting as well but we were, again, lucky because the natural lighting was dim in that room. Some challenges we faced were in finding a good angle to film without the person filming showing up in the mirror. Another challenge we faced was syncing the filing, music, and monologue in a way that had a natural flow. We had to make sure the phone call was realistic enough and had to take into account that there would also be pauses in between declining the call and the start of the monologue, so timing was something we worked a lot on. I think if we had more time, something we could work on is getting the transition even smoother, so there is no hesitation in between movements.
I feel that something the City of Stars group did was adding the rain sound effects. They did a good job with starting with it louder and then decreasing the volume of it during the monologue. They had a good balance of the actor's speaking tone with the rain so one did not really overpower the other. Another thing I think they did well on was how they dimmed the blackbox and kept the spotlight on the actor on stage. This drew immediate attention to the person on stage. I also really liked how the inside of the umbrella was rainbow. Although this maybe was a coincidence, I think that added a pop of color and added a nice contrast from the black background. I think it also went really well with the scene, how even in the rain she is kept dry and bright, because she had her dream to hold onto. Something I think they could have improved on was costuming. I think that it would fit the scene a lot more if the character was wearing a brighter color, and it would make them stand out so much more on stage. I also think that the speaker could have had more movement. I feel that they should have either incorporated their props, the bench and umbrella, more into their blocking or not put the main focus on the props themselves like they did in the end.
I think that the Skateboard group did well on their sound effects. They were timed in a way that made sense, and was a really good edition to the scene. I think that they also did a good job using the spotlight to showcase the actors on stage. I also think that they did a good job with their entrances and exists, because they were smooth and not hesitant. I think something they could have improved on was making the scene run little smoother as a whole, so there isn't as many pauses in between the dialogue.
I think that we all learned a lot during this project and the importance of not just the actors on stage but the camera work, lighting, costumes, makeup, sound, etc. One scene can change so much according to the director's vision and tech work. I found this so fascinating, how everything changes so much depending on how you look at a certain scene, and I hope to be able to dive deeper into it soon.