After finishing off our showcase, I realized we had to make drastic changes to the script due to several reasons:
1) Audience have limited or no understanding of Chinese Opera and will not be able to see our subversion of the traditions.
2) It looked more like mocking Chinese Opera than performing it
3) We are imposing an idea to the story
4) Message of the play is too complicated
5) Too light-hearted with many one-off jokes that do not contribute to the message
As such, there will be many changes to set our production in the right direction, being more theatrical instead of a crowd-pleasing show. Such changes include:
1) Showing the form of Chinese Opera through detailed movement and speech
2) Making the play more serious by removing the jokes or comedic moments and adding more emotional dialogue
3) Base characters on Chinese Opera stock types
- Cinderella is a Hua dan
- Stepsister is a Qing yi
- Stepmother is a Lao dan
- Prince is a Xiao Sheng
- Fairy Godfather is the beggar deity Jing
4) New Directorial Vision - Self vs. Society instead of Nature vs. Nurture
Sound issues - Duties left
Finish recording of voice for PA broadcast
Touch up the sequences to make it easier for sound tech to operate
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sound related issues
After one of our group meetings, we have found appropriate sounds to use in our scenes. The sounds are entirely taken from various chinese music cds which include many chinese traditional instuments such as the er hu, flute, and cymbals. The songs used are judged for suitability based on:
1) Sound made by instrument used (eg. piercing, clanging, gentle)
2) Pace (as in how fast the tempo is)
3) Rhythm (highs and lows)
4) Feeling generated by the sound
I am using Wavepad Sound editor to cut out bits that I want to keep for the play and to split the songs for timing purposes. I am also adding in effects such as fade in, fade out to enhance/build up the moment. The sounds will all be compiled into a file on Windows Movie Maker.
I am using two cds so far, namely "a Pick of Guangdong music" and "a collection of masterpieces". About 9 sound files are being used.
Special things to do for next rehearsal:
1) Choreo movement and blocking with Saad
2) Time play in order to find appropriate timing for sounds
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Script has been finalised!
Yes! The day is finally here! My work as scriptwriter is done.
Changes made to script
1) Fairy Godfather is now a money-minded perfectionist Chinese deity with the Chinese accent. Originally he was a deity with an Americanized ghetto language who seems a bit girly, but we took it out because we already had an Americanized character which is the Stepsister. To make these two characters different will make the play more interesting and will get the audience's attention. Also there used to be an element of Singlish used but it was taken out as it was not what we pictured of the fairy godfather
2) Stpemother is more stern and reserved, with the comedic lines taken out. This is to show a contrast between the Stepmother and the rest of the cast, making the comedic moments more enjoyable when they actually happen.
3) Ice cream, which originally explained why Stepmother and Stepsister came back to the house after Cinderella and added comedy to the start of the first scene and the fact that Stepsister's foot does not fit the shoe, has been taken out as it was not Chinese and therefore had no link to the overall Chinese Opera theme we are using. Instead, the two are delayed due to waiting in line and the ice cream is replaced with a large bowl of rice.
New Duties include:
Making sounds that merge with the piece
Choreograpghing movements with Saad
Changes made to script
1) Fairy Godfather is now a money-minded perfectionist Chinese deity with the Chinese accent. Originally he was a deity with an Americanized ghetto language who seems a bit girly, but we took it out because we already had an Americanized character which is the Stepsister. To make these two characters different will make the play more interesting and will get the audience's attention. Also there used to be an element of Singlish used but it was taken out as it was not what we pictured of the fairy godfather
2) Stpemother is more stern and reserved, with the comedic lines taken out. This is to show a contrast between the Stepmother and the rest of the cast, making the comedic moments more enjoyable when they actually happen.
3) Ice cream, which originally explained why Stepmother and Stepsister came back to the house after Cinderella and added comedy to the start of the first scene and the fact that Stepsister's foot does not fit the shoe, has been taken out as it was not Chinese and therefore had no link to the overall Chinese Opera theme we are using. Instead, the two are delayed due to waiting in line and the ice cream is replaced with a large bowl of rice.
New Duties include:
Making sounds that merge with the piece
Choreograpghing movements with Saad
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Script related issues
We left for the Chinese opera theater house the other day. After being enlightened by the performance and the talk by one of the main actors, we learnt the following things:
1) Every Movement is a dance
2) Every sound is music
3) Movement is relied upon for expressing emotion
4) There is an element of poetry
That's not all. After talking with a director of the group, I rejoiced like never before after finding out that:
1) More English is used in Chinese opera nowadays
2) There is no defined structure to follow for the script
3) Comedy can be inserted as with the element of surprise
4) Sound effects and outside voices can be used
5) Lighting effects eg. spotlights can be used
HOWEVER the proposed script I had was still unsatisfactory as
1) There was no poetry
2) It seemed "unworkable" to say the lines in a melody and dance to them
3) Too modern (I still question the viability of this statement. See above for reasoning)
I have been contemplating the possibility of starting on a new script because of all the established characters, turn of events and the structure of the lines. But because of the time constraint and partially the fact that I love this script (and thus the audience would love it too), I decided to keep the original while editing the beginning of the play. Thus there will be an effect of the story slowly becoming more modern and new as it progresses. I hope this will be considered acceptable so we can quickly start rehearsals.
All the best guys!
Isaac Wong
1) Every Movement is a dance
2) Every sound is music
3) Movement is relied upon for expressing emotion
4) There is an element of poetry
That's not all. After talking with a director of the group, I rejoiced like never before after finding out that:
1) More English is used in Chinese opera nowadays
2) There is no defined structure to follow for the script
3) Comedy can be inserted as with the element of surprise
4) Sound effects and outside voices can be used
5) Lighting effects eg. spotlights can be used
HOWEVER the proposed script I had was still unsatisfactory as
1) There was no poetry
2) It seemed "unworkable" to say the lines in a melody and dance to them
3) Too modern (I still question the viability of this statement. See above for reasoning)
I have been contemplating the possibility of starting on a new script because of all the established characters, turn of events and the structure of the lines. But because of the time constraint and partially the fact that I love this script (and thus the audience would love it too), I decided to keep the original while editing the beginning of the play. Thus there will be an effect of the story slowly becoming more modern and new as it progresses. I hope this will be considered acceptable so we can quickly start rehearsals.
All the best guys!
Isaac Wong
Monday, July 13, 2009
First Post!!
Well, June holidays were more or less useless as we tried to find inspiration by reading plays. Influenced by these scripts, we then set out to make several stories that wouldn't get past the drawing board, finally ending with the tale of Cinderella done in Chinese Opera style.
As the scriptwriter of the play, the first thing I set out to do was to go into a self-induced state of uncontrolled panic. How can I, a student whose only exposure to Chinese opera was a bilingual version of "Sun Wu Kong" seen in secondary school, possibly write a script containing the conventions of the ancient art? I've also learned that most Chinese opera performers are acrobats, having the uncanny ability to contort their bodies, throw knifes and deflect spears with their feet, making the task of writing the piece all the more difficult.
Nevertheless, I pushed onward to write a script with my sister, adding comedy, urban language and present-day references. I was delighted to hear that all these were allowed. Soon after this is done, I will meet with Saad to choreograph the few dances in the play. Wish me luck.
With much love for my dear friends who continue to support me in my time of need despite my many imperfections allowing me to survive the rest of day without getting a heart attack,
Isaac Wong
As the scriptwriter of the play, the first thing I set out to do was to go into a self-induced state of uncontrolled panic. How can I, a student whose only exposure to Chinese opera was a bilingual version of "Sun Wu Kong" seen in secondary school, possibly write a script containing the conventions of the ancient art? I've also learned that most Chinese opera performers are acrobats, having the uncanny ability to contort their bodies, throw knifes and deflect spears with their feet, making the task of writing the piece all the more difficult.
Nevertheless, I pushed onward to write a script with my sister, adding comedy, urban language and present-day references. I was delighted to hear that all these were allowed. Soon after this is done, I will meet with Saad to choreograph the few dances in the play. Wish me luck.
With much love for my dear friends who continue to support me in my time of need despite my many imperfections allowing me to survive the rest of day without getting a heart attack,
Isaac Wong
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