Unit 2 - Engaging with an Audience Task 6

 Task 6 - Evaluation

My first full term at Stockton Riverside being a part of the Acting for Stage and Screen course has been nothing like how I expected, in a good way. In, what feels like such a short time, I've been given the chance to act in front of a camera in Whitby, perform not once but twice at Stockton Globe, perform a beloved character in my first college show and on top of that, make such talented friends and finally be focusing on what I love most: performing. 

I've really challenged myself and my confidence to the extent over the term, especially when it came down to improvisation. When I've acted improvised before, I tend to dread it because the idea of saying something boring, not entertaining or nothing at all with everyone looking at me, scares me quite a bit. I watch people improvise and they are funny, quick and confident, which I aspire to be. Walking into the course, improv was something Kelly felt she wanted to do more of which meant it would be inserted into our day, whether that was a group game to start the day, or a full lesson dedicated to the art. I was in both minds about it. I wanted to forget about improv and not have to do it ever again. Another side of me, was glad that we would be doing it as much as possible, since I knew that if I was fortunate to be in the profession that I hope to be in, it would be inevitable that improv would come up and be a daily occurrence. Because of this, I also knew that my goal when the time comes to leave college, is to have gone completely away from my comfort zone and say YES to any opportunity given. Staying stuck in my comfort zone would mean not practicing improv so knowing that it would be a main priority for Kelly for the class made me really unexpectedly happy. Over the term, I found myself getting involved with improv games more and working with people I haven't before without being told to. I find that I have comfort people in the course that I get on well with, but perhaps don't stretch myself all the time with them. However, I know writing this that I'm still not the first person to go and improvise in a game and sometimes I find myself not getting involved at all. I'm definitely always working on my improv skills and my confidence, but I understand it's not an overnight process, and I'll feel a difference happening the more I open up and allow myself to get involved. This term, I have also seen that because we have as a course gotten really close, and formed a tight-knit bond, I feel like that allowed me to give ideas and not hesitate in class and during games. We had activities like the Lonely-Hearts column, which was purely improv with the help of a small bit of paper with three facts about your improvised character, and I absolutely loved that as it allowed me to view improvisation as something fun and creative, not scary and uncomfortable. During our Globe Ghost-Light Tour, there were times where people didn't say their lines and I would jump in with an improvised sentence, and wouldn't notice that it was improv that I just did. This happened with Wizard of Oz also, where specifically our Tin-Man was meant to say a line about his heart, and since I knew that, still in character I asked him about how his heart works to help and prompt him. When I remember times like this, it shows me that I'm clearly taking improvisation in if I'm using it during my acting. 

My biggest highlight from the first term was definitely performing as Dorothy in our Wizard of Oz shows. Before I joined the course, I knew a past student named Tamara Mills due to her working with my mam, and she would always tell me how her course was going, and she was the person that inspired me to join the course as she always spoke so highly of it. She told me about Wizard of Oz being the first show, and I remember thinking what it would be like if I was Dorothy. The film and book mean so much to us as a family and it's message, so just knowing I would be a part of the show was so exciting to me. The entire process and experience has been wonderful and I wouldn't change a moment of it. My fellow actors have been such a delight to work with, and to think I didn't know them only a few months ago amazes me. They each gave me an insight into how they work with scripts, manage stage space and act on stage which showed me what it will feel like in the future. To me, it has been personal as I tried to stretch myself with every note given from Kelly or Kane and improve my acting in any place of the script I could. Due to my audition process, it made me focused and determined to fulfill the role of Dorothy Gale even more and this entire show has taught me so much, giving me an insight into working on stage with lots of different people. 

I asked a few of my classmates how they felt I performed, and a viewpoint for another Dorothy: 

Emie Smith: Milly played the role of Dorothy unbelievably. I played the scarecrow in Millys cast and she was always a pleasure to work with. She gave it her all not just on stage but to rehearsal too. Her performance was outstanding, bringing the whole play to life and really telling the story. She done so well portraying this lead role, especially when this is one of her first shows in the college. Everything was executed to such a high standard when performing. I can not wait to work closely again with Milly in the future and see what else she has to offer.

Keira Davies: Milly was an incredible Dorothy. I could see her confidence grow throughout each performance. She was very committed to the role which made working with her a pleasure.

Emily Howard: I think Milly played an amazing role as Dorothy she showed her emotions really well and had great projection, I got the role of playing the witch of the north for Milly and I was really happy as I knew how hard she was going to work to make the show amazing as it was.

Moving into the next term of college, I aim to work on my confidence and improv skills and mainly try and get involved with film a lot more. In the previous term, I had a small non-speaking role in our Whitby films, I wasn't a part of the Christmas films due to rehearsals for Wizard of Oz and only acted properly in front of a camera for our Copycat task. My dream when I get older is to be a film actor, so working with the film crew more is what I hope to do more of next term. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term of college and being a part of the Acting for Stage and Screen course and I can't wait to see what the year brings for us all!