Neverland 911 Monologue

https://youtu.be/s4OTBeeP5yI

How I did on my comedian monologue...

I did incredibly well... No I'm kidding. I loved the context of my monologue though. It's true. It's funny, it's hilarious and cruelly adorable. It has this spice inside that makes you burst out laughing. The interesting thing is that if you imagine such situation in real life it would probably make you cry. How can a girl be so heartless and literally paint her nails while listening how person on the other side of a phone call is being eaten by "a tick-tocking crocodile"? There is a piece of truth in every joke so maybe we should think of the real meaning of this monologue. Is it just a funny shallow story about Neverland or it is something more deeper?

I didn't do that well performing my monologue. I don't think I felt the character the way I usually do. It wasn't that bad but it wasn't perfect. I'm more of a deeper character person and it's hard for me to play a girl who didn't care about anybody but herself... and Thumbelina)))) I think this character was supposed to be more about facial expressions, grimaces. The girl felt constantly bored, increasing annoyance, and she didn't hesitate to show those feelings to everybody else. That's what I should have focused more on. And a contrast at the end of the monologue when instead of a foolish people who need help all the time(why can't they deal with their problems by themselves?))) Thumbelina called, was very emotional and sharp. I think I was able to express this sharpness and it was one of a few things I'm proud of. 

The other reason why it wasn't my best performance is that the monologue was comedian. Comedian roles are always harder for me. I know that's weird because usually people think funny roles are easier than serious ones that are much more complicated. Not for me! To tell you the truth I'm afraid of such roles. Comedy should be funny but I always wonder what if nobody would laugh? What then? I would definitely flush and shamefully run away from the stage. I become so nervous and obsessed imagining how it would happen, so I can't concentrate on acting itself. That's what I still have to overcome: the fear of not being funny. 

The last thing that made my monologue difficult for me is pronounciation. My monologue is full of small but hard words which provide a new load of problems. I never liked Russian accent and I worked hard to get rid of it. And when I did that my accent wasn't completely gone. It just wasn't Russian anymore. Sometimes I become upset when somebody asks me where I am from. I just wish that one day someone wouldn't notice my accent. That's why it's so hard for me sometimes to pronounce some words. But the more I work on it the better I become. 

In conclusion I'd like to say that I don't regret choosing this monologue. A bad experience is still an experience. I like to challenge myself sometimes like that, push myself out of comfort zone. If I didn't take the comedian monologue I wouldn't know what I have to work on. Knowing my weakest places I can improve myself in the world of acting. 

Monologue character

My character's name is Jules. She's just graduated from college, majored in management. She isn't happy about her job in Neverland 911 service but she's too lazy to get another one. Besides, it's summertime, great weather, but she has to sit in a stupid office of Neverland and help people she doesn't know and doesn't care about. So she puts everybody on hold and decides to talk with her bff)

Jules is sitting in an office chair with headphones on in the middle of the stage. Her pose is relaxed. She's got a pen in her right hand but she doesn't use it for writing. Might be chewing a gum. 

Comedian monologue

OPERATOR:

Neverland 911, what's the emergency? You are being

kidnapped by pirates? Can you be more specific?

Which pirate is kidnapping you? Well, if he's limping

on a peg-leg then it's probably Long John Silver,

but if he has a hook then it's probably Captain-oh-

He's got a hook and a pegleg?

Oh dear. Please hold.

Neverland 911, what's the emergency? Being harassed

by mermaids? How dreadful. Please hold. Neverland

911, how can I help you? Trapped in Skull Cave?

The tide is coming in? Oh my! Please hold. Neverland

911, what's your problem? Your rowboat's falling apart?

And you're being attacked by a tick-tocking crocodile?

Oh you poor dear! Please hold. Neverland 911-Hey

Thumbelina! How you doin' girl? He did?! Why, you

need to dump that Tom Thumb. Uh-huh? Uh-huh? No,

I'm not busy. You tell me all about it!

Reflection on my acting

For the past several weeks I learned more about acting than I ever did. To tell you the truth, that's exactly how I expected it to be: incredibly fascinating and absorbing. It takes all your powers and strength but it's so worth it! Acting makes you free and opens new sides of you that you never imagined could be parts of yourself. In my opinion, it very much depends on people who surround you. 

In my country I could never feel free to express myself. It was like Russia restrained me. People told me how stupid I looked, dictated what's right and what's wrong... and I listened. I thought people knew better because they were looking from different perspective. But even when I was in a very dark place something inside me kept repeating that I'm the only one who can dictate myself what to do. And then I appeared to be in Ms. Guarino's class...

Now I feel less restrained every day. Without support and encouragement of my classmates I would never be able to do that. The trick is that I'm being pushed out of my comfort zone and not being pressured at the same time. For that I appreciate Ms. Guarino most of all! Only three weeks ago I couldn't write such a long essay about myself and post it on the blog, let alone posting a video of my monologue! I did a good job though) I improved a lot but, of course, it's just a beginning and I have too much to work on. 

I would like to get rid of constraint that i noticed in my video. Nervousness makes it almost impossible but I believe I can take care of that. Having control over my emotions turned out to be not an easy task. I imagined how my face was supposed to look at certain moment but I couldn't manage my facial expression that well. It's like when a baby already knows a language but each time he tries to say a word something totally different comes out of his mouth because his tongue isn't well developed. I also don't like lots of movements I made with my hands. I admire actors who don't need any decorations or any assistance in order to perform. They show everything with facial expressions and body language. I hope I will move forward in that direction. My classmates' opinions were extremely useful for my performance. By listening to what they had to say I saw the different sides and points of view which gave me perspective and let me more thoroughly express my role. 

My first time ever monologue)

Valuable acting skills

It's hard to say what is important in acting unless you are an actor. The thing I learned after two weeks of acting is that it's not that easy. It takes time, energy, imagination, courage and these are only basic stuff. A good actor is supposed to have a perfect memory. It doesn't mean that, if you are not good at memorizing texts, all the acting doors are shut in front you. Acting is work, hard daily work. Just figure out the the way to remember that works for you because when you do, you'll get to work on your performance: body and facial expressions, emotions, pronounciation, movements, etc. Isn't it exciting? There are so many different ways to show your feelings to the audience! The best part - there is no right or wrong. There is just you trying to express yourself. 

The big part of being an actor is improvisation. Perhaps, without such skill a person can't be counted as a talented actor. It's also a skill that comes in two ways. The lucky ones get it as a gift on their birth but mostly it's just what comes with experience and practice. An actor who can improvise is always in control of action on a stage, always aware of what is going on and is able to adjust to any situation not only while acting but in life. Facing a suden crisis such person thinks really quickly and figures out what to do much faster and easier than the most of people. Personally, I admire all actors who are able to adopt to the scene no matter what happens and I want to gain the skill one day. 

The last skill I think matters in the world of acting is belief. Unfortunately, a chance to succeed in the profession is incredible law nowadays. Too many people don't believe in acting as a profession at all. They say it's not serious and anybody can do it. It's easy to judge something they don't know and, I'm pretty sure, have never tried to do. That's when a good actor should stand up for himself/herself because that voice in one's head that says: "people are mistaken" is not wrong! Faith in what one is pationate about is the most valuable thing in this world, especially in acting. Never let other people dictate who one can and cannot be is very hard but it's not impossible. Believing in oneself power and strength is what makes one going. 

3 things I would like to learn this year are:

- how to improvise

- how to feel comfortable on the stage

- work on overcoming nervousness 

Who am I?(Monologue)

There is a proverb in Russia that says: "Where you were born, there you'll be needed". Maybe this is true for the most of humanity but, apparently, I'm a walking disprove of this theory)))) I'm a 17-year-old, born and raised in the capital of Russia Moscow. I'm from an average family with two loving parents and two children. So the question is: why the hell would I leave my absolutely normal stable life with incredible family and awesome friends and move to another country where I don't know a single soul? I think in order to understand my decision you'd have to try on my shoes...

 Since I was a little girl I loved my country, a lot, but I always felt that it's not a place where I belonged. At first it was just a dream which turned into something bigger, bigger than myself and that's when I made a decision to follow my dream no matter what. Although from the first second I knew my life would be harder than others, I was certain of the path I chose for myself. It doesn't mean that I don't doubt myself sometimes. I'm just a girl chasing her dream.

My first time

As you have probably already understood I've never had a blog before. I apologize in advance for all the mistakes I might make writing it. I'm literally terrified of posting anything in here but I'm still grateful that I have to. My parents taught me to struggle, to overcome fears pushing myself out of comfort zone in order to reach my goal. This is basically why I'm here at Cheshire Academy. Turned out its not that simple to leave your country for another one but it's ok. I can live with that. After all I was the one who craved to leave Russia for the U.S. And I did. Now I have to work even harder to stay here and to get used to this place with all new people, culture and everything around me. But I'm definitely not going to give up!

As far as my character is concerned, I'm a person who likes to read. I love my parents and I'm SO proud to be their daughter. They will never fully know how much I appreciate everything they've done for me. They are the reason I believe in love, true love that lasts forever. They showed me how little wedding paper means cause they never got one. Thank you mom and dad! You will always be the best example for me!

A lot of time I prefer to be on my own thinking about life but I also cannot live without people. Exploring them is one of the best thing I've ever done. Looking on their faces, realizing how different they all are and that there are no black and white in this world. Even the worst person has his own reasons to be one. Therefore, I'd like to become a psychologist one day. 

 I love theater, movies and everything that is connected with acting. I always was. Starting with kindergarten when I was chosen to play main character and up until now I wondered: am I good at acting? I'm hoping to find an answer on this question in class of Ms. Guarino. I'll try my best to do everything in my power to find myself in a world of acting. 

If you read this I hope I haven't bored you to death. There is only only one thing I have left to say: don't be afraid of loosing! Just follow your dream no matter what! ITS WORTH IT!