Archive for year: 2020

Radio, podcasts, audiobooks. You might not think of these things as acting but they are!

Any voice you hear where you cannot see the person speaking is a voice-over. According to Studiobinder.com, “Voice over is a production technique where a voice is recorded for off-screen use.”

The most recognizable form of a voice-over is radio. Radio dramas were incredibly popular as a form of entertainment. Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on the radio. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music, and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story.

Then voice-over started to slowly make its way to movies with narration over the physical action of the characters. And soon, voice-over made its way into animation. Disney’s animated short, Steamboat Willie, was among the first to use voice over in animation.

Today, we use voice-over in movie trailers, podcasts, e-learning, video games, instructions in theme parks, audiobooks, and so much more.

So How is Voice Over a Form of Acting?

According to Sovas.org, The art of voice acting in voice over starts with a script. The voice actor’s job is to faithfully interpret the script and render a vocal performance, usually under the visionary guidance of a director. If the voice-over performance is not genuine, authentic, and organic (all skills that are used in acting), then the voice-over sounds like a sales pitch and people do not like having things sold to them. It can be very easy to sound like you are reading a script when the audience cannot physically see you.

If we use video games or audiobooks as an example, listeners want to be fully immersed in the story and relate to the characters just as if they are watching a movie. If the voice artist is not using acting skills to create emotions, relationships, and authenticity, then the immersion is broken.

While you do not need acting training to start a career or even a hobby in voice-over, the skills you can be taught, especially how to project, articulate, and emphasize, can ensure that you are taking care of your vocal health and giving a unique and genuine performance.

Drama Kids classes offer children and teens the opportunity to build and explore the power of voice. To get more information on classes near you, please contact us!

You might have heard your Drama Kid say that they did some improv in their class but what exactly is improv?

Improvisation, or improv, is a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a game, scene, or story are made up in the moment. Often improvisers will take a suggestion from the audience, or draw on some other source of inspiration to get started.

Improv is incredibly unique in that if you see a performance, that’s it… there will never be another scene or show exactly like it ever done again. Improv is different every time.

There are two different forms of improv, long form and short form. The short form consists of scenes that only take a few minutes, stand on their own, or that are connected by an overarching thematic motif, but not connected to each other. Improv “games” are largely all short form and usually lead to very comical interactions. Whereas, long form improv includes the actors staying in character to create a more detailed scene that can end up being made into a short play. This form tends to take on a more serious tone but can include comedic elements.

A very popular version of long form improv is the Murder Mystery. Actors have a general idea of where the plot is headed and even who the murderer is but must come up with most of the show in the moment.

The most important aspect of both long and short improv is the concept of “Yes, and…”. An actor must never say no to a suggestion made by another actor. If there is a suggestion of aliens who live underwater, the actor must say “Yes, and” and continue to add more details to the scene.

In fact, there are many rules to improv theatre according to PanTheatre.com:

The first ten improv rules are:

1. Say “yes, and!”
2. Add new information.
3. Don’t block.
4. Avoid asking questions- unless you’re also adding information.
5. Play in the present and use the moment.
6. Establish the location.
7. Be specific and provide colorful details.
8. Change, Change, Change!
9. For serious and emotional scenes, focus on characters and relationships.
10. For humorous scenes, take choices to the nth degree or focus on actions/objects.

In Drama Kids, we don’t delve too far into all of those rules. We use improvisation to create silly characters and have fun but behind the scenes, it does so much more! Improvisational theatre encourages critical and creative thinking while allowing students to trust their instincts so they don’t second guess themselves.

Try some improv at home with your family. Give this game a shot then play some more from SecondCity.com:

Yes, And…

Pick an object, any object!  The first player points out something about it, and the next player has to say “yes, and…” [insert something else about the object here]. If you can’t think of an add-on, you’re out! Choose a new object and begin again!

Example: The object? A shoe.

Player One: “A shoe is supportive.”
Player Two: “Yes, and stinky if Dad is wearing it.”
Player Three: “Yes, and you’re grounded.”
(Dad would be out for not staying on topic.)

TRUST

Trust your instincts. Trust that you know what to do and that whatever your gut instinct or first reaction is is “right”! You are interesting, funny, engaging, smart enough without having to force anything. The camera is like a magnifying glass that is able to catch everything the actor does so less is often more. Trust that you have everything you need without overdoing it.

FAITH

Faith is a crucial component in confidence. Without faith, despair sets in. When that happens, it’s only a matter of time until we give up mentally and in our hearts, and that is fatal to any dream. Faith has us digger deeper, work harder. The gratification is not instant in on-camera work because you are not in the same room with the audience. You must have faith that your hard work will pay off in the end.

SELF-AWARENESS

Camera work provides a unique opportunity for you to see the work that you are doing immediately. You perform then watch it back. You have an instant example of what can be changed or improved. It can then help you remain objective. Seeing yourself on camera is scary but once you can accept how you look or sound with love and move on to critiquing your performance, then there is nothing that can stop you.

ACTIVE LISTENING

When you are involved in a real conversation you are already actively listening; your attention is on the other the person, not on yourself; and their focus is on you, not themselves. Full attention is given to the other person and what they are saying. Active listening is crucial to on-camera acting. The camera can pick up, through the actor’s eyes, if they are zoned out or thinking about other things.

FAIL BOLDLY

Make the choices that you are scared of. Experiment. Play. Push yourself to the edge and occasionally fall off that edge. It is our individuality that makes us unique, and those unique ideas will be what will help you realize who you truly are! Since you have the luxury of playing back your performance, dare to be bold, and see what is working and what doesn’t.

PRACTICE

This is a new skill and with new skills come the feeling as if you will never get better at it. Practice holding on to the faith and trust that you have cultivated. Don’t fight the negative thoughts that will inevitably creep in, and don’t be upset when you lose the moment. Remember, this is just a practice. But when you’ve lost it (and once again, it’s okay if you do), re-center yourself and begin again. This time, you might hold on a little longer. Next time, maybe longer still. Work on staying in trust and faith a little more each time, so soon you’ll find yourself there more and more often in your daily life and calling it up at will. The goal is progress, not perfection.

Summer has officially started, and we bet your kids are spending as much time as possible having fun in the sun in your backyard. While many people think of sunscreen primarily as a tool for pool days or beach trips, if kids are spending time outdoors, sun safety should be a concern no matter where they are.

The CDC states that even a few sunburns can increase a child’s risk of skin cancer later in life, but thankfully, there are many ways you can prioritize sun safety anywhere your children are playing outdoors. Keep reading for some of our top tips.

How to Keep Kids Safe From the Sun

Encourage activities in the shade. The best way to stay safe from the sun is by not being exposed to it at all, but that does not mean you have to keep your kiddos indoors! UV rays are the most harmful in the middle of the day, so this is a great time to encourage activities in the shade. If your children are making use of your backyard, you could even consider adding some shade in creative ways if it tends to be on the sunny side.

Always apply sunscreen. Every time children are planning on playing outside, apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before they head out and reapply every two hours. It is best to choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and contains protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It is also recommended to apply a chapstick that has SPF in it as well to protect the vulnerable skin of the lips.

Let kids pick a sun hat they love. Hats offer great protection to the face, the scalp, the neck and the vulnerable skin on the tops of the ears. Letting your children pick out their own sun hats is a great way to get them excited about wearing one and encourage sun safety at the same time. While ball caps are often a popular choice, encourage them to pick something with a wider brim for extra protection.

For a completely sun-safe activity, indoor drama classes are a great choice! Contact us today to learn more about enrollment options.

Social development is an extremely important part of growing up, and every childhood experience reinforces the things they are learning as they go.

When children are going to school, interacting on the playground or attending playdates, social skills are something they are developing all the time—but what about when you’re experiencing a quiet time in life and your children are at home? The good news is, there are still ways to help your kids build their social skills, even when they aren’t necessarily being social themselves!

Ideas for Building Children’s Social Skills From the Home

Considering the perspectives of others. Watching TV or movies as a family is a great way to spend quality time together, especially when you add in this perspective-building activity. During scenes between characters, hit the pause button and ask your kids to postulate at what the characters are feeling. This allows them to think about perspectives and can help them develop empathy toward others’ experiences.

Get in character. Starting an activity that involves you and your child getting into different characters is a great way to boost his or her social skills and drama skills in one fell swoop. Come up with exciting characters with your child and act out different social scenarios each scene. This is a subtle yet effective way to reinforce etiquette and manners while still allowing your child to guide the game.

Play “Would You Rather?” Playing rounds of “Would You Rather?” is an effective and versatile tool, as you can do this nearly anywhere. Your kids will stay entertained as they weigh the pros and cons of each scenario, and you can encourage them to think through their answers with followup questions for explanations.

Create short story prompts. Make a list of story prompts that involve memories or events your child can tell you about—think topics such as a favorite holiday or best summer memory. Pick a prompt, set a timer and have your child tell a story. Once it is over, provide him or her with a summary to show you were actively listening, and react to specific emotions brought up in the story to provide an example of empathy and understanding.

With our virtual classes, your child can practice drama and social skills from the safety of your home! Contact us to learn more about enrollment options.