The Raptors were brought to life via workshopping movements qualities with the whole cast, Ben fed us a few words as stimuli such as slow and almost half dead but it was pretty open to us and our interpretation of how a "raptor" moves. Once we had experimented and found our own individual raptors, we split the group in half and picked out elements that we liked to set a common form.
We took...
- One hand behind the back and one hand in front.
- Tension throughout the body from fingertips to toes.
- Low to the ground, squatting and/or hunched.
... and although this was set as the form, we were still urged to use parts of our own movement quality and make our raptors individual yet connected through these rules.
After leaving this for a while and continuing with the blocking of the first half we came in to look at the raptors in greater detail adding some context rather than just having them roam the space. We got into the space and reminded ourselves of the raptor form, then we played an exercise where we had some actors playing prey whilst we worked as a pack and hunt them down one by one. Ben wanted complete control and efficiency in movement, minimal energy exerted. This session was about establishing the predatory side to theses so far lifeless seeming creatures. The herding wasn't fully working so we were asked to conduct animal studies on predatory reptiles.
I chose the Alligator Snapping Turtle
Where is its weight: Practically all of the weight is in the torso
How does it hold it's mouth: It's mostly closed as it's usually submerged in water but it opens its mouth with control like a heavy pulley operated door, holds its mouth open ready to strike and then slams shut with force.
How does it move: They barely move and if they do it's always incredibly slow but there's a constant potential of energy release in a strike
How does it hold it's mouth: It's mostly closed as it's usually submerged in water but it opens its mouth with control like a heavy pulley operated door, holds its mouth open ready to strike and then slams shut with force.
How does it move: They barely move and if they do it's always incredibly slow but there's a constant potential of energy release in a strike
Where does it dwell/live: They move incredibly slow usually concealed in water
What sounds does it make: It makes these sharp hissing kinds of sounds, all the sound is coming from the
I looked at moving around as the Alligator snapping turtle and found that the body is held almost solely by its core and as opposed to the Raptor its rigid and direct giving off more of a Press quality. I looked at going between Raptor and alligator snapping turtle seeing what qualities changed, what stayed the same and what would happen if i let certain qualities transfer over to the raptor. E.g. where as my raptor prior to this was quite light, through this animal study i believe i was able to capture that feeling of weight. I also looked at how they both move between being still and being in motion, i saw how the snapping turtle prepares itself with grace and agility to then "snap" and i used this for the raptor too giving myself an intake of breath before running or moving quickly.
- They have spikey rigid shells
- Are incredibly heavy
- Every move is specific an premeditated
- Incredibly long life span
I looked at moving around as the Alligator snapping turtle and found that the body is held almost solely by its core and as opposed to the Raptor its rigid and direct giving off more of a Press quality. I looked at going between Raptor and alligator snapping turtle seeing what qualities changed, what stayed the same and what would happen if i let certain qualities transfer over to the raptor. E.g. where as my raptor prior to this was quite light, through this animal study i believe i was able to capture that feeling of weight. I also looked at how they both move between being still and being in motion, i saw how the snapping turtle prepares itself with grace and agility to then "snap" and i used this for the raptor too giving myself an intake of breath before running or moving quickly.
Taking on the raptor physicality was always test of physical endurance, the squatting/hunching element probably making the biggest impact, i found that it often strained my back and i'd find ways of stretching whilst in character to relieve tension. I also used my time as a raptor to explore my body and the ways in which i can move different joints. I'd often go through my body moving each limb just to grow an awareness of my physicality and how far i can push myself. Seeing how far i can push this quality of wringing and twisting.
The Raptors breath was interesting to note in that it was always controlled, even in moments of quick intense movement, it was efficient and (once again) sustained.
The Raptors breath was interesting to note in that it was always controlled, even in moments of quick intense movement, it was efficient and (once again) sustained.
No comments:
Post a Comment