Voice Again and Weakness

I missed the last session because I was away for work and then the Raya holidays came. Haah!

Using a totally ambiguous script by Victor, we split up into groups of twos and did some impromptu work. I was teamed up with Teresa. Was v pleased with our performance. Later we had a discussion on what we felt were our weaknesses. V useful exchanges. This was followed by a free concert by Michael Chen. Totally ambient. Quotable quotes for the session: Practically everyone: "You're funny, Jane."

Sydney 2004

I, EL, HML, ASMK, AA, KAA and LMY went to Sydney from November 5 to 11.

Some quotable quotes:

Anuar on the photo video I took of us at the Sydney Bridge: "Oh look at that bald spot! Oh.. It's not me!"

HML on her shopping experience with EL: "We both had a really good release!"

LMY trying to locate the toaster which she is is looking at: "Where is the toaster?"

I and Elaine while waiting for the bus (which was really late!) to get to the airport:
EL: "I want my pie. Should I get it?"
WA:"Get it. Or else the bus will never get here! I bet the moment you go, it will come."
The bus arrives 10 seconds later!

Azman after walking 5kms around the city: "I've never walked so much in my entire life!"

More pix here. And a video!

Voice

Not many attended the one on Voice.

Quotable Quote From last week: Victor- "Have you guys ever used a vibrator?"

Session Conclusion: The voice is an actor's tool. You must really know your tools, i.e. not only must one try to gain possession of as many tools as possible, one nust learn how to use it and master it. In order to master the Voice, one must Listen. For in listening we become better at knowing sound and its elements, such as: tombre (?), texture, volume, projection, placement, pitch, sustain. Good exercise to improve our listening and hence our voice: Try singing a line using the same note and then move up the scale for the next line thus practice stretching our vocal limits.

Halloween: We all went home afterwards. Despite my better judgement, we all went for the halloween party. But first a stop at Victor's place, where he expertly turned all of us into ghouls and fiends. Still there were others who refuse to be made up- insisting that they are frightening as they are. The whole make-up process took three hours. When we finally left the house, it was almost midnight. We went to Zouk first. They had hotties and baddies. I even found my twin! Creepy. Zouk also had what was called "The Happy Side Show" consisting of a couple doing stupid human tricks like sword swallowing, whip dexterity and the like. Unsurprising the couple were from Australia. Afterwards, we went to Club 1919. There was no food there. Sigh! I was damn hungry. Danced a bit and decided to go for some eats at Bangsar. Failed miserably and went home at 4.00a.m.

Presence

Last session on Presence was pretty nice. Was very impressed with everyone.

Top Three Quotable Quotes From last week:
(1) David- "You can't say Fuck Ahmah - it is a bad word" "Please think of the muruku"
(2) Paik Yun (I cant spell her name) - "But I have to go to school. It's the law"
(3) Teresa -"I like both your titties"

Conclusion derived from the previous session: Presence is an integral part of acting. In order to garner any kind of pathos from the audience (or your woman) presence is important. Being able to fine tune your presence makes you king of the world or just a speck in the universe. Sometimes, we can choose not to say it with words. Instead speak through our actions or inactions. Or if the situation calls it- one should just get up and leave because sometimes, absence will result in a form of presence.