Honors #7

Theater has been around far longer than television, movies, and the internet. It was founded before the world had access to anything, at any time. Theater and plays were and still are a main way for social views to be mainstreamed to audiences. Though theater may be more understated than the media because we all have access to at home—it is still a great outlet for views to be expressed. Plays have captivated audiences for decades and will continue to do so as they communicate to audiences’ social views of the world and ultimately influence viewers much like social media has. 

Honors #6

Relationships are hard enough to keep between two people—add in a third party and a whole lot of trouble comes around. What the first two people had changes to accommodate the new found friendship or love interest. Sometimes it works out for the best, and sometimes someone is left feeling more like a third wheel than a friend. But it is inevitable, relations are constantly changing in life—but these relationships are also played out in movies, television shows, and The Bookstore—a brilliantly written and performed play, where two best friends are tested when a quirky and confident girl makes her way into the picture.

Blog #29

Here are some photos from exhibition night of our play.

This is a picture of the sound and light both where I say and watched the play in order to cue set changes.

Blog #28

Here I was talking to Jonas to expelling to him where to be when he is not on stage and how he can hear and see what is  happening on stage by listening and watching the monitor in the green room.

Blog #27

What stands out to me the most is how well Jovan has been playing Grant. I know that he made the character around him but I am still amazed at how into the character he is. He really knows when to exaggerate things and get more angry and when to tone it down a bit. It is clear to me that he has been working very hard because he knows his lines and can give them more emotion since he isn't thinking about what's my next line?

Blog #26

Here is a screenshot of what I created for last week. It is a detailed list of what tasks needed to be done for the week, broken down by each job. 

Blog #25

Survival

* Where is your internship? My internship is located in Downtown in a high rise building. 

* How did you get there? My mom drove and picked me up at my internship. 

* How long did it take? It took me about 15 minutes to get there and get home. 

* What did you eat for breakfast? For breakfast I ate a burrito with egg, bacon, and cheese. 

* What food, coffee, or other survival options are nearby? There is a Chipotle and a sub store nearby. 

* What can you eat for lunch in a normal day at internship? For a normal day at internship I will bring my own lunch. 

* Where will you sit, stand, be, or work when you are internship? I will be working in my mentor's office at a round table and walking around Downtown with her to go to court. 

* Where are the bathrooms? The bathrooms are next to the office and by the elevators. 

Blog #24

I am most looking forward to having the opportunity to explore the law field. I wouldn't normally be able to work alongside a lawyer but I'm excited for this chance to do that. I think that I'm interested to see if I'm actually going to enjoy working on cases and do all of the work that goes along with it. I also love that I will be working with a criminal defense lawyer becuase that is not an area I ever thought I would explore. I know it is a lot more than just fighting for a case, there is a ton of busy work. I know that this will give me a better insight into whether or not law is something I would like to pursue.

Blog #23

1. I think the most successful aspects of my role in the Theater Project has been my ability to keep things organized and help out where and when I'm needed. I not only oversee things and make sure they are running smoothly but I'm an extra pair of hands to help. I have to say that I am most proud of the work I did on the script because I spent many hours working on the writing and editing of it. You can find a link to the script here.

Honors Essay #5

Improvisation at The Bookstore

How improv was used in our script.

“Everything sounds better in a British accent, listen.” What started out as a simple joke from class was soon worked into the script for The Bookstore. This is just one example of how our class used improvisation to develop dialogue, characters, and even an overall plot for our scripted play.

Blog #22

As project manager I have been working with various groups and checking in with them. Here are some of the things I've been working on.

Here you can find the script to the play, which I helped to edit and add last minute detials.

I also worked with the actors today I lines and filling in as Lily. Here is a video of our read through of the script.

Blog #21

In 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his team worked to create the Federal Theater Project, one of five artistic projects created under Roosevelt’s first term as president. Its goal was to encourage and promote theatrical events as they had vanished after the Great Depression and the stock market crash. It allowed unemployed theater professionals like actors, directors, playwrights, and others to find work. A hope for this project was to implement theater as a fundamental aspect of community that would survive long after the program was finished. 

Blog #20

As project manager my job is to go around to various groups to make sure they are on task and help where I'm needed. I need to work to make sure the whole play is cohesive, on track, and going to happen. Recently I have been working on helping to edit the script. I have given some ideas and edits to help the writers out. The script is the piece of work I want to show because right now it is the most important component of the play because without it we cannot move forward.

Blog #19

As project manager I have been working with various groups to check in with them and see if they need any help. Along with that I have been doing my own work to help keep the project organized and on task.

Honors Essay #4

A play, just like most things in life, is comprised of multiple components and people. If one of those components is missing, the show won’t go on. Without the bases of out of the box writing there is no need for actors who bring the characters to life, or for the audience to then root for them. But with a few key tools it’s possible to create this and much more.

Honors Essay #3

Hamlet has been around for over four hundred years. It has continually been read in high schools, colleges, and at the comfort of our own homes. Hamlet has stood the test of time and does not appear to be going away any time soon, or ever. In fact, the play has inspired various movie plots, character types, and sparked discussions and literary analysis.

Blog #17

After reading the script I was impressed with a few things. I liked when the characters cut one another off in what they were saying because it created a fast paced dialogue that not only got straight to the point but was actually amusing at the same time. I also enjoyed when Vincent was faced with two conflicts at the same time because he crumbles under the pressure. Lastly, I liked when Grant cut off Torry and told Vincent what to do, rather than listen to Torry. Below I have more specifics on why I liked these particular parts of the play.

Blog #16

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is a play that takes place off stage of the play Hamlet. It gives a story to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two gentlemen that we all know are dead, from boththe title of the play and Hamlet. The whole play is one big ironic idea. First off, we already know the characters are dead, or will die, depending on which way you look at it. The play is also messing with the idea that the characters are in the play but also know that they are just actors and they aren't real. The writer makes it so the main characters have no recollection of their lives, or even their names at times. And sometimes the author lets them think that maybe they aren't real and they are just puppets in this story. The play is a play within a play and messes with the notion that they are just actors, not real.

Blog #15

The most important concept I took away from Hamlet is the use of plot to create a story. In order to have a story you of course need a plot. But Hamlet's plot is so complicated, exciting, and interesting that it's like nothing you've ever seen before, and if you have, it was probably taken from Hamlet. The play showed that plot creates drama and twist and turns that keep the audience interested and thinking of what will happen next. However this was no normal revenge plot, Hamlet didn't kill his father's killer immediately, it took time and planning and in the end he never really accomplished it.

Blog #14

For my groups Digital Essay we focused on these three questions.

  2. What do Hamlet's seven major soliloquies reveal about his character? -Katie

  3. Is Hamlet a sensitive, romantic idealist or tragically flawed and unable to act? How do you know? -Myself

  8. Explain Hamlet's conflicted feelings about suicide. -Kiva

The question I focused on was number three, about what kind of guy Hamlet is. I created a segment on our radio show that answered the question through viewers calling in.

Blog #13

In class my groups worked on creating an outline for out Radio Show as well as the script. 


Here is the Outline of what our Radio Show will look, or rather sound like. This Outline let everyone know what order the questions would be answered. As well as what they need to include in their segment of the radio. It's important to know what we want our show to sound like and know what we need to get done in order to create a flowing final product that includes all of our questions.

Blog #12

While everyone was putting together their Digital Plays for the critique, I sat down with Diego and went over acting exercises. I also helped him look up scenes for the actors. After the prep time for the critique was over, I acted as the facilitator during the session. I walked around and checked in with each group to see how the critique was going and ask any questions that I had. I made sure that the groups were on task and doing what they needed to in order to finish their plays.

Honors Essay #2

Love is strange. And unless you’re a princess in a fairytale, it is anything but perfect. It isn’t always love at first sight—people fight, and say the wrong things. Charlie Kaufman’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind shows that imperfect people can create imperfect love, which in turn is a recipe for their own perfection. Charlie Kaufman uses multiple literary devices such as, characterization, climax, and personification in order to covey this message.

Honors Essay #1

            “I like waking up to the smell of bacon – sue me.” Steve Carell said to explain why his foot was covered in bubble wrap—he stepped out of bed and into his Foreman Grill. Mindy Kaling wrote this episode of The Office, but Carell ran wild in this scene, and improvised the joke that was used. The directors kept the bacon joke in the final edit, and Carell once again showed how important improvisation is to comedy.

Blog #11

As Project Manager I am not working on the Digital Plays, but instead the Theater Project Calendar, and presentation to the class. I have been working on creating a calendar for the whole class to view upcoming dates and meetings that they should know about. It took a few drafts and some time to figure out the best setup for the calendar but we finally got there. I worked with the Production Managers to go over the calendar and figure out what system also worked well with them. The calendar is shared with the entire class so everyone has access to it.

Blog #10

What has stood out to me the most in eleventh grade is how much I have already been challenged. I am proud that I have taken all honors classes but it has not been easy. It is not only a lot more work, but work that is harder than anything I have ever done. I have to use more critical thinking, whether it be in Math or Humanities and it has pushed me to think of things with a deeper meaning. I feel that I have gained more out of this year already because I have had to push myself.

Blog #9

Act 1, Scene 5
The meeting between Hamlet and his father's ghost was the first part of the play that stood out to me. I was interested because the ghost had not talked to anyone before Hamlet came along. Finally, we as an audience not only heard the ghost speak, but also found out who murdered Hamlet's father. The ghost set off the rest of the play because Hamlet was told that his uncle killed his father and his death must be avenged. In one second the play turns into a revenge plot and I as a reader am now left wondering what will happen next to meet his father's demand. 

Blog #8

What stands out the most to me about the Icons Project is the emotion that people showcased in their statements. When this project started I did not anticipate that theses pieces would be so emotional and revealing. But when we were working on this project, and when it was finished, I realized that everyone put so much thought and honesty into their pieces. It didn't matter if their object was a celebrity, family member, or even an object. Every ones' piece gave insight into who they are and a personal experience. I think this is a great project to start off with because it allowed me to get to know my peers on a level that I did not already know or would get a chance to know.

Blog #7

When our class went out to the commons to read the final Icon's Artist Statements there were many well written pieces. The first one I read was written by Luke. I enjoyed his use of the tip, Make Meaning Early. A sentence that used that tip was, "I'm addicted to the smell of cookies." It is a simple sentence, yet it stood out to me because I was able to learn more about Luke in just seven words. I also enjoyed his sentence when he compared himself in the kitchen to a mad scientist. The comparison  struck me because I could vividly picture Luke frantically running around the kitchen, connecting his next recipe. I would recommend reading Luke's blog post for the Icons Project.

Blog #6

For the American Icon project we created an Artist Statement about a person, place, or object describing why they are iconic to you. Along with that, we created a photo to pair with our Artist Statement.

I am Jewish

Danielle Weiss

Both of my dad’s parents survived the Holocaust. Ironic as it may seem, my Zadie (Yiddish for grandpa) was lucky enough to be placed in a work camp, forced into manual labor rather than await death. My Bubby (Yiddish for grandma) was not so fortunate. She lost her entire family in concentration camps and was the only one who survived. But, they did not allow the Nazis to take away their beliefs. Rather than be angry at the world and hide who they were, they instead continued to enjoy life. They moved on from the tragedy and showed my father, and then me, that we are able to get through anything if we stay true to ourselves.

Blog #5

The tip that is most helpful to me is Activate Your Verbs. I like this tip because it also encompasses Make Meaning Early and I think both of these add simplicity and clarity to your writing. Activate Your Verbs has changed the way I construct sentences, because now I use the simplest version of my noun to create a more crisp sounding sentence. It really does create action and is clear to the point. It allows you to get more information into a smaller and better constructed sentence. Going along with that, Make Meaning Early is about getting the action out right away and who is doing that action. With that you are able to get straight to the important information.

Blog #4

A revised version of Blog #3.


Icon #1: Bubby/Holocaust

My Bubby is one of my Icons due to her experience in the Holocaust and how that affected her life. I focus on her time in the Holocaust in part of my Artist Statement, so for this blog on decided to discuss the Holocaust.

Evidence:
For my evidence I found three quotes that I believe relate to what ideas I am discussing in my paper and that both my family and I believe in.

1.“I tell my story so that they might tell the next generation.” Sara Atzmon, Holocaust Survivor, artist, (Hungary, Israel)
I feel this quote speaks to the hope that one day I will be able to share with my children our family's history with our religion and what it took to get us to this point in time. To both my family and myself, we believe in passing on stories and experiences in order to keep the memories alive and known for generations to come. Those stories would include the Holocaust, my family living in Romania, and my trip to Israel where I became Bat Mitzvahed.

Blog #3

Icon #1: Bubby/Holocaust

My Bubby is one of my Icons due to her experience in the Holocaust and how that affected her life. I focus on her time in the Holocaust in part of my Artist Statement, so for this blog on decided to discuss the Holocaust.

Evidence:
For my evidence I found three quotes that I believe relate to what ideas I am discussing in my paper and that both my family and I believe in.

1.“I tell my story so that they might tell the next generation.” Sara Atzmon, Holocaust Survivor, artist, (Hungary, Israel)
This quote really connects to my wishes for Judaism because I hope that I will be able to tell my children about our family's history with our religion and what it took to get us to this point in time. To both my family and myself, we believe in passing on the stories and experiences that we went through, the main one being the Holocaust. In order to keep that memory alive we have to pass it on from generation to generation.

Blog #2

Icon #1: My Bubby (Grandma)

My Bubby, which is the Yiddish word for grandma, represents an Icon of perseverance and strength. To me she is the definition of an icon that inspires people because of her ability to push on through her life, despite the unjust and despicable acts that were committed against her. At the age of 18, my Bubby was captured and placed into a concentration camp in the Holocaust.

Her life was constantly hanging by a thread and she unfortunately lost everyone in her family. But she lived and what impacts me the most is how she did not allow this atrocity to keep her from living her life. What was important to her was life itself. She could have been angry and mad at the world for what happened to her but then the enemy would have won. Instead, she decided to follow her passion of cooking and being a mother. She allowed that experience to teach her the value of life and lived every moment, till the very end, as best as she could.

Blog #1

Part 1:
Being as it is Junior year, there are many things that I am looking forward too, but one that stands out most is Internships. I really enjoyed visiting my fellow advisees' Internships last year because I was able to understand what was required of them in a general sense and what their actual internship required of them. It was interesting to see how different every persons' Internship was and the reasoning behind choosing it. I think the three weeks will be a great opportunity for me to pursue something that interests me and see if it is something I would like to continue on with when I'm older and make a possible career of. But I also think it will be a time to really have fun with something and learn what it's like to actually be out there in the real world and not having people to fall back on. You're on your own in a sense and I think it's going to be challenging and exciting at the same time.