Techniques And Devices Learnt

Improvised Sequence Of Gestures

Similar to the work of frantic assembly this device loops a set amount of gestures, that are to be personalised by all actors doing this. This could be done by playing the objective angry or annoyed whilst doing the set gestures. This would usually be done by those in the background of the performance, whist the audiences main focus is elsewhere. 

Personally I like this as there are many different things that can be done with this device, it can be simple, with not many set movements or could be more complicated and used controversially for something for the audience to focus on. However even when simple it still looks very good and harder than it really is.

Transitions And Emotion.

Pg 17:  
James, I've got something to tell you.
Don't, ma.
James, calm down.
Ma, don't!
I'm sorry. It happened.

On "don't ma", all those playing James take a step back whilst trying to get this thought out of their head, the thought of their grandad being dead. Those playing James step back again on "Ma, don't" and the need to have this thought completely eradicated from James head intensifies. This should be building even when Lara says her line, the transition and emotion needed to be synced and blended, not canon, unison. 
This helps us as actors to connect the two, actions, transitions and emotions. Something essential if one wants to enter the world of professional acting.  
 

Why Do Skinheads listen To Aggressive Music?

Skinheads listen to aggressive music as the branch of skinhead culture we studied was based on hatred and anger. The music gives no time to think and just rage, to just be angry with everything and to rebel against everything. The music supports a violent way of dancing, similar to mosh pits, some of the music is supports racist philosophys, encouraging the individual to selfishly pursue their own needs, acting without empathy to any other human beings.  

Advert For Blackout

Blackout is a unconventional experience. An intense session of sequences lasting only 25 minutes, but staying with you for so much longer. It explores feelings of isolation, violence and what people do to protect themselves. It revolves around James and his narrative as the story unfolds in front of the audience. Diving deep into skinhead culture, the story follows James and his struggles to simply be safe, and how far he is pushed by others to become something he isn't.     

Homework 5/12/2013

 What is your view of how masculinity is defined in the film?

The masculine figure is very dominant throughout the film. The, perhaps, generic stereo types of masculinity are apparent when looking at the skinhead style, this applies for both genders within the group. Females for example would shave their hair not much shorter than males, leaving only differentiating traits, such as fringes and a bit of hair at the back of the head. The leader of the group, presumably a male, would discipline the other members if they weren't in line with their social code. Within the speech scene, in which a member of the nation front party is convincing the skinheads to join their "band of brothers," the only people in the meeting, hearing the speech are men. This suggest that, unlike Woody's gang where men and women are reasonably equal, the battle to "take back their country" is something only a man should be involved with.

The uniform or dress code of skinheads is also very masculine influenced. The aggressive looking Doc Martin boots were usually worn by both genders and could intimidate enemies. Skinheads could be seen as having a shared identity or being a collective. That they have confidence in each other and stand as one, genders not making much of a difference on your identity within the group.   


  

How Did Skinheads Define Themselves?

How did they define themselves?

How skinheads defined themselves is a tricky question. There were so many different branches and versions of skinheads, like Trojan skinheads or gay skinheads. The main stereotype and view of skinheads (apparent in the play Blackout) is that they were racist and had similar beliefs of the  political party, the Nazis. The violent branch of Skinheads were known to be as different from the Hippies as possible, a revolutionary movement at the time. 
In the late 60s skinheads in the United Kingdom, including black skinheads, took part in violently assaulting South Asian immigrants, Paki bashing in common slang. However despite the very strong racist stereotype surrounding skinheads, there were many anti racist skinheads, even since the beginning of the subculture.

There was even a skinhead movement in the Netherlands, adopted by the Hardcore Techno movement. It was heavily criticised by the Dutch media, labelling it to be racist and having Neo-Nazi beliefs. The early forms of skinheads were not necessarily part of a political movement, however come early 70s, skinheads were starting to join the national front, a racial nationalist, whites only political party. After an increase in racially motivated violence, the media and also the general public began generalising all skinheads to be Neo Nazis and racists. 

There is an urban myth that the size of the checkers on you're shirt would determine the authority that you had in you're crew. Half an inch and black and white shirt could classify you as the leader. An interview with Alan Mortlock suggests that skinheads really took pride in what they wore. "You felt a good buzz when you got dressed, ready to go out." Despite the shared identity and almost uniform of the skinheads (Doc Martins etc) Alan Mortlock suggests that there was a real urge to find clothes others didn't have, to be unique within you're crew.      

Shane Meadows

Shane Meadows

“Blackout” and “This is England” are described as “semi autobiographical”. Do some research to find out about the film director’s background and discuss how this information can be related to the film?

Semi autobiographical – A piece of work that falls between fiction and a biography.

First use of word – 1939

At its peak of use in books in the year 2000 (according to google books ngram viewer)

Meadows grew up within a working class family - his father was a long distance lorry driver, his mother worked in a fish and chip shop. His father discovered the body of a child murder victim, this then later lead to him being bullied and shunned by other children. He also said in a quote:

“if you were born with a dad who doesn't go down the pub with all the lads and doesn't drink and isn't a fighter, then you're going to get heaps of shit, my dad was a long-distance lorry driver who spent most of his time away from home – so although I had a dad, unlike in the film, he literally had to work away five or six days a week.” -Meadows Film4 Interview

Here he makes a direct link to the lead of This Is England, Shaun, having a similar upbringing to himself and that he mentions in another quote, "the first half of the film was completely and utterly as it was."

He also mentions, in a number of interviews, that many of the characters were based on skinheads he had met in his childhood. Woody for example, was based off his sisters girlfriend, who, in his words, "took me under his wing and taught me about the roots of the whole culture." This obviously links in with that Woody plays the fatherly figure in Shaun's life for the first half of the film. "He was a nice bloke who bore no relation to the stereotypical racist yob that people now associate with them." This perspective of skinheads is portrayed in the first half of the movie also, it shows them having confidence in each other, having a shared identity and being genuinely committed to being skinheads. Very different from the general skinhead stereotype, that did exist, but was only a branch of the actual movement.

Meadows and Shaun were lacking a father figure, though he has never stated it, it is entirely possible that Shaun is based upon himself at that age. The character Milky, quite an ironic name, serves the purpose of being a positive piece of iconography and symbolism displaying the passive skinheads, who had no racist beliefs. Similar to the the group of skinheads he was in when he was younger.  

 This is an article in the Guardian, that Shane Meadows wrote about This Is England:
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/apr/21/culture.features

All quotes from Film4 interview and guradian article.

Blackout Staging Exercise (Holly & Clay)

Staging

Separate parts of the stage would be used for different locations, the different locations would be defined by lighting, this would also show what part of the stage the audience should focus on. This is similar to the production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time.

The configuration of the stage would be Thrust, we would use the middle front of the stage for the attempt murder scene. This section of the stage would not be used throughout the play until this point. The space will be empty and have nothing in it to perhaps confuse the audience or to show that James is struggling to remember what happened while he was drugged.

Sections of the play will be used for numerous locations, the bedroom for example could be the hospital bed and the jail cell. The court room could also be used as the school building (if needed.) At the very back of the stage, everyone will stand in a line and move to their positions when necessary.

Lighting would be used to covey emotions and pillar a situation in the play, eg. dire situation: frantic and chaotic red lights. This would also be crucial within the scene where James is drugged, a good use of lighting in this scene would make so much more powerful.  

I like this configuration of staging as it, despite having many sections will still be able to help the audience focus on a specific part of the stage, it would also be very visually interesting to look at if the lighting is done correctly. This set up also allows there to be many different locations at once, no need to break the flow and set up another location.

Holly & Clay