Okay...I basically want to know everyone else's opinion on this.
This play, to me, does not feel like a regular assignment. It's not like an "Okay, I REALLY need to get this done in 5 days" or "Okay, I need to BS this paper." For me, I am finding that I sometimes am having trouble to sit down and write something. I feel like my mind has to be COMPLETELY clear in order to even think about the play. Is it because this is something so personal to me? Kind of like a child?? I don't know. What does everyone else think??
Haiwei, you are a brave soul for going first by the way! I hope I handle it as nicely as you did.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
My updated play proposal...thus far....
Okay, so I basically over the last week or so had a COMPLETE 180 on how I was going to approach this play and maintain the "love story" concept. Here is my play proposal thus far...It is inspired by true events, however, I am no longer on the boat and I am hoping I will be able to tell this story....and make people laugh and shock them. :-)
My Play Proposal
Philosophical Concept: It is a shame that because of lack of confidence in one self and society’s expectations of things like love, we have to turn to something like alcohol to gain confidence to be who we really want to be and get what we really want.
Conflict: Two best friends desperately want to get together but are fighting their feelings because of an “inappropriate” age difference. He is 40 and she is 20.
The Characters:
Jerry: 35 years old, unemployed, does nothing but sit at home and drink beer, has delusions of grandeur, very vulgar and obnoxious but funny and friendly and makes people laugh, slightly jealous of his older brother, underlying the alcohol confidence has severe esteem issues, has OCD and fear of public places
Objective: wants attention and recognition
Kevin: 40 years old, clean cut, manager at a convenient store, VERY passionate about many things like literature and philosophy, doesn’t know what he wants to do with the rest of his life, extremely shy in expressing feelings
Objective: wants to tell Gwen how he feels but afraid to
Gwen: 20 years old, college student, loves the performing arts, very passionate about life, laid back, sort of a free spirited person, insecure with her feelings, likes to laugh, loves Jerry and Kevin dearly, especially Kevin
Objective: wants to tell Kevin how she feels but afraid to
The Story
This intended comedy has three characters. Two brothers (Jerry and Kevin) and their close friend, Gwen. The story takes place in three different locations, Jerry’s bedroom, Kevin’s living room, and Gwen’s bedroom. A lot of conversation, especially between Jerry and the other characters will take place on the phone. However, there will be quite a bit of stage action to avoid the “radio show” possibility.
Jerry, Kevin, and Gwen are all good friends. They used to work together at a convenient store. Jerry no longer works. Gwen has moved on to college. Kevin, however, is still there. Gwen and Kevin are very close friends. There is obvious chemistry between them. It is obvious that they like each other but neither one will make a move. Jerry puts ideas in Gwen’s and Kevin’s head that they should get together. However, there is a huge age difference which is keeping them from doing so. Throughout a lot of the dialogue between Gwen and Kevin, there is going to be much talk about Jerry and how obnoxious but yet confident he is when he is drinking. The point of action is New Year’s Eve when Jerry invites Kevin and Gwen into “his world” of alcohol. Gwen and Kevin, through alcohol, finally gain confidence to “let go” and show their true feelings.
Irony: Gwen and Kevin laughing and criticizing Jerry for the amount of beer he drinks and how he has “liquid confidence” all the time, but find out they are just like him in similar ways…
Philosophical Concept: It is a shame that because of lack of confidence in one self and society’s expectations of things like love, we have to turn to something like alcohol to gain confidence to be who we really want to be and get what we really want.
Conflict: Two best friends desperately want to get together but are fighting their feelings because of an “inappropriate” age difference. He is 40 and she is 20.
The Characters:
Jerry: 35 years old, unemployed, does nothing but sit at home and drink beer, has delusions of grandeur, very vulgar and obnoxious but funny and friendly and makes people laugh, slightly jealous of his older brother, underlying the alcohol confidence has severe esteem issues, has OCD and fear of public places
Objective: wants attention and recognition
Kevin: 40 years old, clean cut, manager at a convenient store, VERY passionate about many things like literature and philosophy, doesn’t know what he wants to do with the rest of his life, extremely shy in expressing feelings
Objective: wants to tell Gwen how he feels but afraid to
Gwen: 20 years old, college student, loves the performing arts, very passionate about life, laid back, sort of a free spirited person, insecure with her feelings, likes to laugh, loves Jerry and Kevin dearly, especially Kevin
Objective: wants to tell Kevin how she feels but afraid to
The Story
This intended comedy has three characters. Two brothers (Jerry and Kevin) and their close friend, Gwen. The story takes place in three different locations, Jerry’s bedroom, Kevin’s living room, and Gwen’s bedroom. A lot of conversation, especially between Jerry and the other characters will take place on the phone. However, there will be quite a bit of stage action to avoid the “radio show” possibility.
Jerry, Kevin, and Gwen are all good friends. They used to work together at a convenient store. Jerry no longer works. Gwen has moved on to college. Kevin, however, is still there. Gwen and Kevin are very close friends. There is obvious chemistry between them. It is obvious that they like each other but neither one will make a move. Jerry puts ideas in Gwen’s and Kevin’s head that they should get together. However, there is a huge age difference which is keeping them from doing so. Throughout a lot of the dialogue between Gwen and Kevin, there is going to be much talk about Jerry and how obnoxious but yet confident he is when he is drinking. The point of action is New Year’s Eve when Jerry invites Kevin and Gwen into “his world” of alcohol. Gwen and Kevin, through alcohol, finally gain confidence to “let go” and show their true feelings.
Irony: Gwen and Kevin laughing and criticizing Jerry for the amount of beer he drinks and how he has “liquid confidence” all the time, but find out they are just like him in similar ways…
Blood Knot
1) Dramatic action: The dramatic action of the play is the writing of letters to Ethel and dealing with the fact that she is white which could be a precursor to trouble.
3) Objectives: Zach wants to live for the moment. Morris wants to plan for the future and make something of himself.
4) The obstacles are that the brothers are both black and they live in a society where blacks are still inferior.
5) The conflict is that Zach has become attached to his pen pal, Ethel, and wants to meet her, but could not because of being deemed "inappropriate." The conflict is resolved when Ethel says she cannot come. However, there is still and underlying aspect of conflict that will never be resolved between them and society.
This play truly helped me see the importance of dialogue. This show only had one setting and two characters and a lot of action still managed to take place.
3) Objectives: Zach wants to live for the moment. Morris wants to plan for the future and make something of himself.
4) The obstacles are that the brothers are both black and they live in a society where blacks are still inferior.
5) The conflict is that Zach has become attached to his pen pal, Ethel, and wants to meet her, but could not because of being deemed "inappropriate." The conflict is resolved when Ethel says she cannot come. However, there is still and underlying aspect of conflict that will never be resolved between them and society.
This play truly helped me see the importance of dialogue. This show only had one setting and two characters and a lot of action still managed to take place.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Another day on this damn boat...
"Another day on this damn boat..." That was what was said by my friend's father on or cruise over the summer. He had a good time, but he was ready to get off the boat by the end of the trip...So basically, this applies to me. I have finally come to the point in my story where I am ready to get off the boat, because it may start sinking. (Cruise ships have been known to do that.. ha ha). I have had a wonderful time aboard the Carnival Glory and I wanted to stay on as long as possible...but I cannot. So, as fun as it has been writing little journal entries of my life, thinking its going to just TRANSFER to the stage, I must get off the ship. So, what I am saying is that I have FINALLY reached my point of departure and I feel so much better. Who knows what is going to come from my head now... :-)
Monday, September 24, 2007
Weekend Exercises Part 2
On the paper I drew: "Oh"
In the mirror I see a friend, a girl. She is saying "Oh" in shock. I feel exposed after the last exercise...
Whoever this person is, she is shocked at what was said in the last exercise. She is shocked that her friend appears to have everything she wants, "Prince Charming", a white picket fence. Why would she want anything different? How could she possibly be giving up her storybook life, a life where she is pampered to death and has her ass kissed all the time. She is being treated like a princess. Problems?? What problems? They are all nicely masked in a world of wine and roses, "I love yous" every 10 seconds, and expensive things. I guess this girl in the mirror is shocked because all she has seen in her friend all along is the girl who was always dressed as a princess and gets anything and everything she wants.
Response to Spanish poem:
Spanish is a beautiful language. If one of my characters had heard this poem, he would probably say something along the lines of "Fucking Mexicans or fucking spics!" Instead of listening to the words spoken, he would be on a rant about how "those people" are taking OUR jobs and creating problems for "REAL" Americans. He would not even take the time to understand...
In the mirror I see a friend, a girl. She is saying "Oh" in shock. I feel exposed after the last exercise...
Whoever this person is, she is shocked at what was said in the last exercise. She is shocked that her friend appears to have everything she wants, "Prince Charming", a white picket fence. Why would she want anything different? How could she possibly be giving up her storybook life, a life where she is pampered to death and has her ass kissed all the time. She is being treated like a princess. Problems?? What problems? They are all nicely masked in a world of wine and roses, "I love yous" every 10 seconds, and expensive things. I guess this girl in the mirror is shocked because all she has seen in her friend all along is the girl who was always dressed as a princess and gets anything and everything she wants.
Response to Spanish poem:
Spanish is a beautiful language. If one of my characters had heard this poem, he would probably say something along the lines of "Fucking Mexicans or fucking spics!" Instead of listening to the words spoken, he would be on a rant about how "those people" are taking OUR jobs and creating problems for "REAL" Americans. He would not even take the time to understand...
Weekend Exercises Part 1
Through this exercise of holding Meagan's hands, who else could I have felt and imagined holding my hands with such a comforting, understanding grip. I imagined the person I am in love with, of course and an important character. There were so many thoughts running through my head. I was hungry to experience the wild side he has in him. I was desiring in that moment to experience him on a sexual, primal level. I love and appreciate the other side of our relationship which is comforting, inspiring, and understanding. I felt this at the beginning of the exercise. But then I started to feel intense sexual desire. I was longing to feel his sort of "spell" he puts over me when we are physical. I wanted to feel the mythological experience that I experience every time we are intimate. I trust him so much that I want to give him total control over me. I wanted to be controlled then....I can't understand why I live each day being FAR from able to be controlled by anybody. But when I am alone with him and we cross into the physical realm, all I want is to give my total trust to him and have him take me to so many levels of pleasure, physical and mental. I do not know what it is that draws me to him so much and what it is that makes me want to give up all control to him. It scares me that I think this way sometimes. I am used to being in control of everything that I do. I won't even drink too much in fear of losing control. But when I am with him, anything goes...
Thursday, September 20, 2007
My Shakespearian Booty Call
I don't know WHY I came up with this...
This is between Madonna and George Bush.
(phone rings)
M: Who callest upon me in the wee hours of the night?
G: Mi lady..many a night have I sitith in my office of oval, knowing not what to do with myself...or my country I ruleth for that matter..
M: Who callest upon me, I say??
G: A man thou hates.....but to me you have givith me a visual stim... stimu....ugh.... "nice picture" for to useth in my lonliest hour.
M: I say once more, who calleth upon me? And this picture thou posseses in thy hand, which of my phases?? From my book calleth SEX, is it not?
G: No mi lady, tis from thoust concert in which thou wearest cones upon thy chest...
M: For the FINAL time, who speaketh to me??!!
G: Tis one whose father censored many of thy works, but tis now calling upon you to make amends for thy injury....I want thou to prove thy worthy skills to me of which thou have been made famous for...
This is between Madonna and George Bush.
(phone rings)
M: Who callest upon me in the wee hours of the night?
G: Mi lady..many a night have I sitith in my office of oval, knowing not what to do with myself...or my country I ruleth for that matter..
M: Who callest upon me, I say??
G: A man thou hates.....but to me you have givith me a visual stim... stimu....ugh.... "nice picture" for to useth in my lonliest hour.
M: I say once more, who calleth upon me? And this picture thou posseses in thy hand, which of my phases?? From my book calleth SEX, is it not?
G: No mi lady, tis from thoust concert in which thou wearest cones upon thy chest...
M: For the FINAL time, who speaketh to me??!!
G: Tis one whose father censored many of thy works, but tis now calling upon you to make amends for thy injury....I want thou to prove thy worthy skills to me of which thou have been made famous for...
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