Early development started through exploration of the musical RENT, learning the storyline, characters and relationships between them. I managed to get hold of the Rent film (2005, Chris Columbus) which allowed me to see another intention of the storyline I had otherwise not thought about. For example, seeing the characters visually without imaging them from the synopsis gave me a foundation to base character and character relations with.
We were told aside from our roles most of us would have to play a homeless character at some points in the story. Characterisation for a homeless person included a large amount of research into the historical, political and social aspects of the time Rent was based in (1989), times then, in Manhattans East Village was populated by homeless people and drug users. After thorough research, the homeless character creation process (HCCP) began. The HCCP included making a name and a made up backstory about how we became a homeless and/or drug taker in Manhattan's East Side. My character, George became homeless after excessive gambling which ruined his relationship and caused his parents to sell their house as they through he needed the money for college tuition. He has became depressed and hopeless, something I wish to portray in lazy movements and focusing on only wanting the basic necessities in life such as food and water.
We were told aside from our roles most of us would have to play a homeless character at some points in the story. Characterisation for a homeless person included a large amount of research into the historical, political and social aspects of the time Rent was based in (1989), times then, in Manhattans East Village was populated by homeless people and drug users. After thorough research, the homeless character creation process (HCCP) began. The HCCP included making a name and a made up backstory about how we became a homeless and/or drug taker in Manhattan's East Side. My character, George became homeless after excessive gambling which ruined his relationship and caused his parents to sell their house as they through he needed the money for college tuition. He has became depressed and hopeless, something I wish to portray in lazy movements and focusing on only wanting the basic necessities in life such as food and water.
Audition's were an exciting process, having to learn the song 'One Song, Glory' from the play was quite the struggle as unlike many others I was new to Rent the Musical. The feedback given after the audition, helped me to understand what kind of persona they were looking for, for each character. Roger a rock and roll loving but past his time kind of character, and Benny a business and money driven outcast, something although I didn't audition for I now realise would have been a better choice.
Once we received the script and casting list we were away; being chosen as the role of Benjamin Coffin III (Benny) and Mr Grey was of must excitement as these were characters, with Benny specifically who contributed much to the progression of the storyline. Benny is portrayed in the film as a business orientated character who's main ambition in the storyline is the construction of a cyber studio, once he somehow convinces Roger and Mark to leave their apartment. This motive and antagonist position I was quite looking forward to performing.
Through a set of characterisation workshops such as writing around our characters key words to describe them, their general looks and their long term and short term ambitions.
Another workshop included focusing on movement, changing three things about my character walk and posture to match of that of my character, for myself Benny would stand more upright, leading his walking with his chest. Proximity would be important as Benny would usually have the opposing opinions on the stage compared to other character so I would try to position him in the largest space facing the other characters on the stage.
Some things I would try and focus specifically on when creating my own interpretation of Benny is outside college practices, such as trying to applies Benny's status or 'mind-set' into aspects of my life, for example conversations, how my opinion of something is different or similar to Benny's and therefore try and create a more detailed character which wouldn't be seen by audiences but would help myself to become the character more easily.
Hot seating was a very good tool I used more than once along the characterisation process as it allowed to be placed in a position where I'd have to think fast in character and perform in a completely improvised way. Although I enjoy these methods of learning they do come with difficultly such as being asked questions in character which your interpretation of the character would answer different to someone else's. Questions such as 'Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?', in which I replied '...living in a world where CyberArts and myself are twice as successful as we are today, owning cyber studios all over Bohemian Alphabet City...'
As for my other character 'Mr Grey', the characterisation process wasn't too different as these characters were similar in more than one way, the same ambitions and status amongst other characters. A few aspects I did have to change when becoming the character of Mr Grey was the posture and walk speed as how I envisioned Mr Grey he was a rich and powerful but old and fragile character. I saw this as a better way or portraying him otherwise Benny and himself would be too alike, although I did imagine Benny as a younger version of Mr Grey, something I did take into consideration when I played their roles.
From the workshops and tasks, feedback was important and assisted massively in creating the persona of my characters. Common feedback I gathered from peers in my class about my Benny character was that he didn't have to move around to own the space due to his already high status, from this I decided in a few appearances of my character I would keep him standing still, owning the space he was in. Other feedback included smaller things as to his tone of voice and eye level, I adjusted by keeping his tone of voice more consistent and eye level direct and still most of the time.
The success from the workshop tasks were a main contributor to the success of the production overall, the energy and life each of us as actors put into the characters we were portraying seemed to bring not only the characters alive, but the relationships, heart breaks and issues of the characters into a engaging perspective for audiences.
A rehearsal process schedule was important, Rent being such a densely populated production every member was critical to attend every rehearsal, a matter sometimes caused issue. A weekly rehearsal outside college, alongside our 6-8 hours of class time generated a positive and more energetic atmosphere towards the final performances and personally allowed us to understand and very much appreciate the storyline and the issues addressed such as AIDS, acceptance for people in more difficult positions then us and a clearer understanding of the reasons behind the actions of these characters.
Some things I would try and focus specifically on when creating my own interpretation of Benny is outside college practices, such as trying to applies Benny's status or 'mind-set' into aspects of my life, for example conversations, how my opinion of something is different or similar to Benny's and therefore try and create a more detailed character which wouldn't be seen by audiences but would help myself to become the character more easily.
Hot seating was a very good tool I used more than once along the characterisation process as it allowed to be placed in a position where I'd have to think fast in character and perform in a completely improvised way. Although I enjoy these methods of learning they do come with difficultly such as being asked questions in character which your interpretation of the character would answer different to someone else's. Questions such as 'Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?', in which I replied '...living in a world where CyberArts and myself are twice as successful as we are today, owning cyber studios all over Bohemian Alphabet City...'
As for my other character 'Mr Grey', the characterisation process wasn't too different as these characters were similar in more than one way, the same ambitions and status amongst other characters. A few aspects I did have to change when becoming the character of Mr Grey was the posture and walk speed as how I envisioned Mr Grey he was a rich and powerful but old and fragile character. I saw this as a better way or portraying him otherwise Benny and himself would be too alike, although I did imagine Benny as a younger version of Mr Grey, something I did take into consideration when I played their roles.
From the workshops and tasks, feedback was important and assisted massively in creating the persona of my characters. Common feedback I gathered from peers in my class about my Benny character was that he didn't have to move around to own the space due to his already high status, from this I decided in a few appearances of my character I would keep him standing still, owning the space he was in. Other feedback included smaller things as to his tone of voice and eye level, I adjusted by keeping his tone of voice more consistent and eye level direct and still most of the time.
The success from the workshop tasks were a main contributor to the success of the production overall, the energy and life each of us as actors put into the characters we were portraying seemed to bring not only the characters alive, but the relationships, heart breaks and issues of the characters into a engaging perspective for audiences.
A rehearsal process schedule was important, Rent being such a densely populated production every member was critical to attend every rehearsal, a matter sometimes caused issue. A weekly rehearsal outside college, alongside our 6-8 hours of class time generated a positive and more energetic atmosphere towards the final performances and personally allowed us to understand and very much appreciate the storyline and the issues addressed such as AIDS, acceptance for people in more difficult positions then us and a clearer understanding of the reasons behind the actions of these characters.
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