3d: Critical questions and issues that emerge

With reference to the course and reflection i have made 10 comments on other peoples blog. 3 of which who have been participants in the term ahead.

• Kazuka Oike
• Nicole Carman
• Verity Evans
• Laura Ann Wright
• Sonal Natasha Patel
• Stephanie Thomas
• Leanne Watson

• Amanda Black
• Cerys Dixie
• Rebecca Jane Gaskell

3c: sources of information

My five most frequent current sources of information.

• Internet
• Phone 
• Word of mouth
• Gym
• Friends and Family

By using these five sources in my life it allows me to connect at all times. Using my phone not only allows me to be connected to my personal life but also with my professional life, I'm connected with the internet which gives me access to my e-mail and also my face book page and twitter so I'm always in contact with the web when I need to be. My phone also allows me to talk on Black berry instant messenger (BBM) which is similar to msn and Texting, it allows adding more contacts to my phone speak to more than one contact at a time and view their pictures and updates also allowing you to receive broadcast updates on jobs. One of most source of information is the Gym not only does it allow me to have a good work out but also I'm connected to allot of people who have or know great contacts in the industry ads me. I have the chance stay connected as friends and colleges get in sites on jobs, audition and get the opportunity to meet and see famous faces example: Nina Toussaint- White (east enders actress syd chambers).

I realise that all these sources make a really big impact to my life and I couldn't imagine my life without ether one of them, they keep schedule, in the know and updated in everything I need.

3a : Current networks

I have seen many different tools in which people use to engage in their professional network sites such as: Star now, Spot light or Utube, these sites have proven to be a great way of getting contacts and jobs.

Using such sites as Face book and Twitter I have been able to join many groups which allows me to apart of casting, auditions and also being able to view the profiles of other peers in the same industry, my profile allows me to add or reject members I would like to have viewing my page so I do prefer to keep my personal life separate from my professional so  my two colleges and I have decided to create a face book page which allows us to have an efficient network page professionally.                                    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002175647540&ref=ts   

Also using Twitter allows me to follow my friends and colleges which give me a wider range of contacts and networks; it allows me to follow their members which can include celebrities. I think this gives me a great advantage for me to really put myself out meeting different people and getting myself known.

I find that having your own page and site would be a great way of networking, it allows you to promote yourself the way you want giving you a more better advantages of getting jobs, getting connected to more people allowing yourself to be more sociable and confident.

I have learnt allot being on this course, not realising that all these sites which I use on a regular basis was linked to Web 2.0 (Blog, Goggle reader). As I say you learn something new every day.

I know realise that networking has become and was a huge part of my life I hope to learn more about networking and tools which will develop my career and knowledge. 

2d : Inquiry Task

In all my lines of study's I have found that using the learning cycle has helped me to be more confident in my practice and allows me to reflect back on myself as well as a performer. I see myself growing more not only as a performer but as an adult, as I have been taught over the years by many great directors and musicians I know there is still allot more to been learnt and more skills to be developed.

Being in this line of work can not only make you angry but also frustrated. Frustrated at the expectations expected of you and what success you can gain from this business, this brings allot of anger and stress in my thoughts as I think about my future as a performer where this business will take me and when and how it will change my life. My goal is to travel and tour the world as a performer, experience different environment, meet new people, learn more about different cultures, but know it will take years and hard work to achieve that. It is sad to think that I have come so far with many of my friends on the same path and most of them have decided to give up on their dreams, thinking that they will make a future in a business such as the Arts, in their opinion you  need to be determined willing but also to have the right contacts, know how to work your way in and fight for your position to be heard and seen and at times I think to myself maybe this is not for me, if I was to choose a different path where would it lead me in my life but each time I think about it I find it sad, sad to think that they can give up something they have dreamed of doing all their lives, that their scared of failing and learning but also gaining the experience and knowledge not only as a performer but as an adult.

One of my most loved and admired person would be my music teacher Mrs M Graham, not only did she give me the love of performance but also the love of music, she was one of the most talented piano teachers I had known, over the years she had taught me to play the keyboards and with her inspiration it drove me to join her bazillion band and the African drums, instrument I never taught I would be able to enjoy as much and play as I did having these opportunity not only gave me the experience to explore different instrument but also gave me the ability to travel the country meet other musicians and be part of such a successful band. She was also the first person to introduce me to the theatre, from having that experience I have always wanted to perform on stage and she has always driven me more to perform and to get all I can from my talent.

2c: Reflective theory

Going true the reader made me realise that I use allot of these tools for reflection when reflecting  back on my performances or just reflecting back on myself, experience, skills, process and evaluation.

By keeping a day to day journal with me makes it easier for me to have an Reflective observation of myself, thinking about it firstly in my head (Abstract conceptualisation) and then going back over movements, speech and work to allow myself to correct mistakes or add new ideas ( active experimentation). Using the learning cycle developed by David Kolb really defines and gives you the ability and to identify the experience you've had with any performance and the importance of having these tools to be able to reflect back on the experiences.

• Concrete Experience (doing/ having an experience), Being ready and prepared for my work and performance, having the ideas and structure and staying focus on the experience about to take on.
• Reflective Observation (reviewing/ reflection on the experience), looking back on my experience and reflecting back on my performance reviewing on what worked and what didn't, maybe I needed more projection in my vocal ability, or may be use the use of space allot more for movement. How did I feel about the experience, was I nervous, scared.
• Abstract Conceptualisation (concluding/learning from the experience), understand and realising in life I have to make mistake to improve my ability to be able to look back and reflect on what I could of done better, what didn't work, how to improve on the experience in my next performance. Conclude on what I would like to work on more, what ideas are style I would like to try are wont, and how the experience went in total for me.
• Active Experimentation (planning/ trying out what you have learned), Planning ahead for new projects, ideas, style and techniques. Looking back on what I had learnt from the experiences I have had try ideas and think of ways I can make them develop more.

Dewey said “He felt that if people had full experience and therefore full engagement with their lives they would be better able to be part of society, fully engage with democracy and spend time solving worldly problems". This really got me thinking about life and I came to realise that if people did engage allot more in their lives and form their experiences then there could be a difference and a change in the world we live in toady. I like to think of the world as one big performance, everyday each individual puts on a show, whether it’s with friends, family, colleges or themselves your performing and every morning you wake up you get the chance  to look back at your last performance (yesterday) and reflect on how things went, was it a good day are bad day, what could you have done different that you could change today, what was your thoughts, reaction, mood, your aims, did you complete any task are goals needed, when and if you had feed was it good or was it criticised, what did you do today that can make tomorrow better . This becomes part of the Work Base Learning (WBL), learning from experiences that occurred the day before to gain a better experience in the days to come ahead.  

When performing or learning new ways of a performance Howard Gardner's theory comes to mind, when learning new ways of performing I found there were a majority of different factors that surrounded me and mostly that I use in most of my performances,  as an example Co media latte  a totally different experience of acting that I was not familiar with but I allowed myself to be engaged with the different techniques, style and rhythm in which is used also the discipline, and structure that was needed whilst being on stage. It was very hard being disciplined a different way from what you would normally be use to but looking at it thru the lenses of the learner you could see the passion he had with every movement and rhythm he had in his work how persist he was with movement in his walk the ways he spoke with his hands and ways to Act and React with the body.

With the different views and methods in the reader I think it makes it allot easier for me to reflect back on my work now and in the future, and I'm interested in the different views that others may have.

2b Journal Writing Experience

My first day on a film set.

I have chosen to write about these specific days in my life as it is one of those unforgettable moments and experiences you really never forget.

It started with a PING by my college Tanisha Thompson asking me if I was getting up to anything on a Friday or a Thursday  (can not remember exactly what day it was) as she was going to an extra on a film set and was able to bring along with her one or two more extras, I keep forgetting the name of the film as its  one of those simple words that always seems to get lost in my head for some reason but I know the name has Block in it so let’s call it 'KIDS ON THE BLOCK' for now. The film is based on a group of young youths living on an estate which then gets attacked by Aliens, (I know makes you sit and think for a minute) they then become a crew with one leading hero and decide to defend and protect their Block from the Aliens. The film was being film all over South London and my first day on set was being film in Oval 5minute walk away from Oval tube station.  All the extras had to meet in a youth centre were we had to fill in an extra form so we knew what to expect on the day, we also had the opportunity to get to meet the crew members, other extras, make sure everyone had the proper costumes (which was all Black) and have a bite to eat, as I can be a fussy eater at times I just stuck to the familiar things I knew cheese, crackers and grapes. The time table was set for all extras to be at the youth centre by 3pm to start filming by 5pm but unfortunately we didn't start filming until a little after 7pm (but I guess that's just the movie business for). The set was based on Oval high street on a fruit and vegetable stall, we all then put in separate groups and then set in a specific place to stand weather it being next to a phone box, in the corner shops, walking along the pave meant are just at either sides of the fruit and Vegetable stall as I was, I remember how nervous and excited I was finally getting the chance and having the opportunity to be on TV I was ex-tactic about the whole experience. As the director walked on set and sat in his chair the film crew began to pre-pair for filming, I remember just looking around at everyone on set watching as all the extras began grooming themselves, the Boys brushing their jackets cleaning their trainers, Girls checking our make up brushing our hair glossing our lips and looking at each other to make sure we were ready for the camera, because let’s face it we all wanted to look good for the camera. As the evening began to get darker and much colder and we had been on set filming for several hours I began to think about one thing, Why Didn't I Put More Layers On? I just stood there clutching the bag of grapes with my two arms folding listening to the director yell cut over hundred times as we had to retake the scene over and over again and all I could think about was jumping on the number 333 bus to Stockwell, changing onto the 50 bus, get home throw on a couple more layers and an extra scarf and cloves then get back on set to finish filming. We finished filming around 12am lucky for me we were local so I was OK with my journey home but I realised most of the extras didn't really live local, most came from North, East and West so some had to leave the set a little earlier than planned. But having the experience really opened my eyes to the hard work that gets put into these really huge Block Buster movies that's around today, the time , the effort, the cast and crews and and everyone that's involved into making true vision and idea come to life. It was definitely one of those moments in my life I would never forget.