Festival de los Muertos Reflection

Festival de los Muertos Reflection

My expectations when I first signed up for this production can be best compared to a six year old attending school for his or her first time: anxious and nervous. Anxious because I knew that I dedicated myself to a rewarding experience, having the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse class with different abilities and outlooks of life, and of course having the opportunity to work with a well re-known drama teacher. I was also nervous because I have never acted in my life before, so being the foundations of my developing new career as an actress, this production has allowed me to come to further self-realization of what kind of person I am and what I want to become and achieve. Although there was tension between me and an actress I did not let this affect my dedication to the production, instead, I used that energy and channeled it to my overall performance, being an understanding person and consolidating to the sisterhood (I believe in the sister hood of feminism) I began to see the brighter and best characteristics in her as opposed to the negative, and we got through ok ;) Moreover, id like to add in the beginning of the production I felt that everyone in my play "Los Fatherless" wasn't giving all they had and this ultimately rubbed off on me, we had a lot of behavior problems and it we'd never get through the play, I had troubles remembering my lines, and they'd horse play a lot ;don't get me wrong I like to have fun but you have responsibilities, so I acted as professional as I could in hopes that my fellow actors would so accordingly. I felt that the rehearsal schedule was not as rigorous as I thought it would be, we had our breaks, and we were allowed to eat so it wasn't horrible. Although staying after school to six did affect the amount of sleep I got at home, with tons of homework staying up late, and waking up early to make it to AP Human Geography that was rigorous.

When I found out that the over all production was going to be student directed I was fascinated by the decision. I thought to myself that this was a excellent idea, for the most part, because the script itself deals with issues that affect adolescents primarily, so in my opinion bringing in the perspective and point of view of a adolescent director only adds to the plays authenticity and impact. The only issue that I feared with students directing, was the rise of factions, in other words "cliques" and that politics when soon follow after, one director favoring another actor, but to my amassment this did not happen to a certain degree that it would turn into total chaos, all in the end everyone got along fine. A plus that I found to student directing was the fact how Stacie led the production that I was in, and since were good friends I had lots of fun. Out of the three directors I believe through Allan's authority over discipline during rehearsal I believed that this allowed his visions to develop at a quicker pace then the rest of the plays, even though the other two actors followed through their techniques were different and you could see this through at the pace that their development was going.

Regrettably I feel that I don't have enough experience in play production to critique stage crew's performance in the past and compare it to this play. But I will say that crew did a fabulous job building the set and working on the lights, because I knew that kind of time and effort they dedicated coming before and staying after rehearsal, there were numerous times in which I felt they were more dedicated then the actors themselves. Like Patrick for example, he was always there doing something and I felt that he really knew his way around things. Unfortunalty I believe that stage crew lacked effort with props, I remember that, that was a major issue, timing was screwed up and sometimes they weren't paying attention and this affected rehersals, delaying it, but they overcame this come opening night and the play was a success.

Well I believe that the audience, was given an opportunity to share an experience of different emotions, in laughter, understanding a moment of intensity, sitting at the edge of their seat in suspense, and some who even tear ed in sadness, by the stories shared and by the plays itself. At the end of the first night I believed that we got a lot of good energy from the audience. I remember when Benito got shot in the last scene there was a big gasp in the audience, they did not know what to expect, and it led to an emotional scene after, the kid from barrio was able to better himself choosed to walk a different path to help his community in the end he came to a cross road which ultimately ended to his death, it was these emotions generated from this scene that left the audience with a breathless experience all through out the play. Or especially in the first play in the fighting scene with Chad and Kyle, that generated so much laughter it and positive energy it diffused back to the stage and eased up the some of the actors, with their thoughts of negative energy from messing up forgetting a line, it's this shared energy and link between the actors and the audience that made the whole experience as an actor or audience worth while. I was very much satisfied with that the reactions the audience were displaying but there was a lot of un-needed commentary blurted out when the actors where performing, which I found very annoying, after a period of time. I thought that this student festival was a really good thing, because it brought in so many elements together, the dancers, speakers, the video clips, and artist, it really pushes all this factors in appealing to different people of the community.

I believe Chicano theatre is very relevant and that it's important to recognize multi-culturalism in general because it helps build who you are and your character. Especially in attending a school in the LAUSD, Los Angeles is a boiling pot mix of different cultures and it is through cultural exploration that we learn who the people of Los Angeles are and who we are, and then become better people for humanity, this is why it's a shame how multi-culturailsm is not in the overall curriculum. I believe that every actor in the play had a key role combating issues affecting the Chicano community at the time and today. I loved the fact how the directors decided to infuse all three plays together to make seem like it was all happening in one community, in one barrio. Under the surface, the plays dealt with the Pachoco and the Chicano in the times of the late 60's, when mass civil, social, and political changes was occurring. What brought to my attention with the audience, although there was a generation gap between the young and the elder, I believed that they were still able to connect because some of the issues may have been experienced by older members as well as the younger audience. Also to Spanish speakers although times has changed the culture has not, and believe it was through the Latino elements that brought these two gaps together, everyone know that kind abuilta and that canbron that starts trouble (Diablo). And it was this elements, the authenticity in the over all plays that made the audience connect and feel, "hey ive been there" "I know what the exactly feels," and its these emotions that I heard some of the audience say wow you know I had a friend who died because of gangs, or over dose, or maybe someone in the audience was also a victim of domestic violence. I sincerely believe that this festival really impacted the audience.

I wouldn't of done anything over again, really. I'm the type of person who believes that things happen for a reason and I begin to question myself why did this happen and for what purpose. The only thing I can think of, I guess is that I would of memorized my lines quicker that would of helped. I do feel that there was a little time wasted, and that we just sort of coasted on by, and before we knew it week before opening night we still didn't work out our soundtracks.

Well I don't think the relationship is horrible, its more like a hi and bye, eat some pizza gather up, and then go your separate ways with some exception of small talk. I think the foundation to the slight separation between performers and crew is that people tend to make friends with their co-workers, so performers are doing their job and crew dose their, and its through the people that they spent the most time with working, that are the ones who your feel more comfortable. Another thing could be that some performers have big egos and they just prefer to engage in social connect to those that they feel equal to. I don't know really how to improve the relationship between crewmembers and performers because I feel inadequate to the task to. You could always switch it up a bit performers as crew, crew as performers, let them get a feel for it all, get to know one another better. Just kidding.

My plans for the future regarding high school theatre is that I would love, I will continue it, I like performing and I get a lot out of it. I will not be taking a break from it, believe, me now that the plays over I feel that's what we've been doing, and that I'm ready and eager to start on the next production. When I found out that we might be doing Lyistrata for the next play, I was really thinking about auditioning for lead role, Lyistrata. I found her character to be really strong, full of wisdom, and firm. I feel that I can really connect to this role and if all goes well and we do the play ill audition for it. Overall on things that I feel that I need to improve, would be projecting. In "Los Fatherless" I was having a lot of trouble projecting, I progressed but not to the point where I want to be right, so I think that's a big issue affecting my over all performance as an actress.

If a new drama teacher were to take over the program I believe that it would be important for him/her to have that personal relationship with all of his/her students, at least remembering their names, this would make the adjusting easier for the rest of the students. I also believe that its important to continue all the extra activities that goes on that makes the production a professional production.; posters, DVDS, the shirts, this really engages everyone and the whole school.

I believe the performer that surprised me the most would have been Amy. She gave me the impression that she wasn't trying her hardest, well its not that, that she had a lot of fun, and that's ok, but when it gets in the way of your performance that's another thing. It was hard to give her advice on things because she would get mad and I've had conversations with Staice how difficult it is to get through to her. But when it came close to opening night she did a fantastic job. She really shocked me.

My experience in one word in "Festival De Los Muertos" ...

Two words is the only way to put it. Adrenaline rush

Thanks Mr. Copley for everything I really appreciate your support and words of advice, and I even though we haven't had that much of a opportunity to grow together and share that many memories as the other actors or crew, I will surely always remember you and how you impacted my life.