30th October My Job

Mrs Woffinden asked us to research our Job that we most enjoyed at the West Yorkshire during the Off-stage choices. I chose Sound technician, because I love music and the off-stage choices really inspired me.
Mrs Woffinden asked us to write the creative process of the job.

First the sound technician should read through the script.

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Learn How to use the software and how to operate it.

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Research different locations and there sounds.

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Then they have to create the effects or use the effects all ready stored.

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Test the equipment to make sure every thing is in fine tuning.

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Look through appropriate music and sounds.

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Find music appropriate music to fit the emotion of the scene.

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Create a sound track.

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Edit and mix tracks.

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Set up microphones.

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Set up instruments.

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Learn the right timings.

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Teach actors how to use the microphones.

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Create a sound script.

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Test through the rehearsals.

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Perform.

I then researched jobs on-line for a sound technician to give a idea of hat qualifications I would need.

The sound technician is the master sound creator for a theatrical production. These professionals not only keep the microphones that singers use problem free, but create soundscapes for theatrical productions ranging from musicals to straight plays.

According to the State University website, many sound technicians are freelancers and due to the nature of the work, often find themselves facing long periods of unemployment once the run of a show is completed.

Aspiring sound technicians can get experience in a number of ways, including in the community as well as college productions. They can also gain additional knowledge through college coursework, according to the State University website.

The average salary for a sound technician is $38,050, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

I got all of this information from :http://www.ehow.com/facts_5932739_theatre-sound-technician-job-description.html .

RULES OF THE BLOG!

1. Spell checked and read aloud to yourself!
2. Dates Names and Websites.
3. Detail set context, 5W's ( who, what, where, when, why )!
4. Reference  to Handouts!
5. Write in chronological order ( Time order)!
6. Add Quotes!
7. Use teacher and pupil feedback!
8. Correct grammar and English!
9. Evaluation!
10. Give examples!

Off-stage choices 15th of October 2010

On the 15th of October myself and my fellow creative and media group were invited to the West Yorkshire play house in Leeds to experience the Off-stage choices workshop. I was really excited before it, after speaking to Jessica Farmer on the 12th, so I was really happy I was doing it.
First we registered at the Foyer and Bar area. here we created our name badges out of all sorts and we answered some questions about the day. 


We then went on into the Quarry Theatre for the Welcome speech from a very funny and theatrical man called John. He set the context of the day very well.


We where then put into two school groups and had a backstage tour of the West Yorkshire play house. This was really interesting and exciting seeing what happened backstage and how the costumes were made, we visited the actual back of the stage and we saw everything that happened there. We also visited the space where they make the set, because the West Yorkshire playhouse is a producing theatre meaning they create everything, rehearse and do everything with marketing in the theatre. Unlike The Grand, this is a receiving theatre meaning they show touring producers shows. 


Our first workshop was the special effects make-up, with Jules Greenan, this was really amazing how we could make bruises out of a few colours of make up. She told us how she makes the effects as real as possible, she researches the time period and how bruises are created and the process of them. I think it is really amazing how you can create such a amazing effect out of really simple colours. Jules has to teach every actor how to do there make-up so they can quickly do it themselves. This is what me and Tommy Wilshaw did on each other. It was really fun.


We then went onto the writing theatre workshop with Jodie Marshall ( playwright). She told us about how every play should have conflict and it has to be interesting . This was really fun because we had to improvise a argument for as long as possible, I wasn't very good at it though.


We then went onto the next workshop which was the Sound technician workshop. I was already really interested in the sound at the theatre but this made me even more exited.This was led by martin Pickersgill, head of sound. We first went up into the main sound booth with Mary and had a talk about what happens and what the job up there is to do this was really interesting but the amount of equipment was amazing. Then we looked at different types of music and how it effects our emotions, there were also fight scene music this made me laugh. Then finally we had a go at directing the sound and we made our own sounds like cows and market sellers, this was for the market scene in Aladdin. We looped them  which sounded really good.


The next workshop was marketing the show with Joanna Loveday, the audience engagement officer. We spoke about how you can promote a show and how to get the press involved to get publicity, we created these massive spider diagrams about marketing and our ideas about it.


The final workshop was Scene painting with Barney George, designer for Aladdin in the west Yorkshire play house. first he showed us a down to scale model of what the stage will be like, it was Traverse so that the audience sit on either side of the stage. he then gave us two signs to decorate with either lamps or fruit in veg. I chose fruit and veg, I made a olive. It was green, but Barney ruined it by making it much better.


We then had a speed dating session this was really fun and interesting. We met lots of other jobs that I didn't even know existed. We asked them questions and it was so interesting.


But I still loved the job of Sound technician, because I love music and instruments and how you can make sounds.


Thank you Mrs Woffinden and Jess Farmer for organising this fantastic day.

Jessica Farmer 12th October 2010

On the 12th of October 2010 myself and my fellow Creative and media group greeted Jess Farmer, the education officer of the west Yorkshire playhouse. She came into to tell us more about Off-stage choices in the West Yorkshire playhouse on 15th of October 2010. she started off by asking our names and our recent experiences of creative theatre or performances. she told us about what we are going to encounter in the Off-stage choices this included backstage tour, sound technician workshop, make-up work shop, set design work shop, marketing workshop and script writing workshop. This all sounded really fun and interesting I cant wait now. We asked her some questions on her creative process and so on:

Do you enjoy your job and what does it entail?
Yes, definitely. Every day is different. Some days I can be visiting schools, I could be in meetings, I could be running workshops/ sessions, I could be at my desk and  I could be planning days like Off Stage Choices. So its very different.



How long have you worked at the Playhouse and what has been your favourite project to date?
I have been working there four and a half years. I started working for myself, and then the offer came up for a job part time, three days a week and so I took it and continued to work for myself until a five day a week position came up. My favourite project would probably be Connections which is involved with the national theatre.

Have you got any upcoming events/ projects?
yeah, There is Aladdin in the summer which is really theatrical and exciting so that should be fun. We also have a young theatre makers project, which pairs with schools and professional theatres.

How do you connect with the different communities?
We have the Arts Development which is split into three groups, these being: Creative education, in schools and universities etc..., Company Performance, who basically go into schools and perform productions and Clubs, these are mainly aimed at the elderly and people with learning disabilities.

How has technology influenced your work?
Massively, in the theatre in general. We also have a website which has Youtube, facebook and twitter links to the website.

What creative process do you go through when establishing a new project?
Everybody is involved because everybody is a creative manager. We decide what will work practically and artistically and what will encourage and persuade people to come.
How do you decide what it is going to involve?
Well we have connections with the different productions that are on and they help us decide. We sometimes start from scratch but others we build on an already written plays. Sometimes we get requests from schools and frequent visitors and expand from there.

What began your interest into the theatre and what training did you have to go through?
Well Ive always loved creative arts and since I was about 7 years old I was involved in a local amateur dramatics club. I wanted to outreach to young people and I took my A level in Theatre studies. I also took a masters degree and part of this was based 'On Location' in very non traditional production places for example I worked in a prison running workshops and I worked with people with learning disabilities helping them to reach their creativeness, and so on...I was working free lance when the job at the playhouse came about, I took it and they were pleased with my training but I didn't really need the masters degree to get the job but it did look good on my CV. When I got he job I had to have the usual health and safety and child protection training.

What merchandise do you sell and how does this affect you income? How do you promote it?
We use lots of different merchandise and I suppose you could count the restaurant and bar as merchandise too as it brings in more money and more visitors. Half our organisation is a charity which is funded by The Arts charity of England. And the other half is about making profit which of course includes the bar and the restaurant as I said before. Other f orms of profit are programs, tee shirts, teddies for the younger audiences, to persuade their parents/carers etc...

What type of performance attracts which type of audience?
Well we basically do a balancing act. We have to appeal to all the different audiences in each production we do by making it fun for the children gripping for the adults and acceptable by the critics. Sometimes however this is not possible and we have to focus on one type of audience for each production. You tend to find the more modern a production is the younger the audience usually turns up and the more traditional a production is the older the audience can be. This however does not mean only a certain age range can go. Everyone can go whenever they like!

How do you go about pleasing them?
We cant always please everyone but we try our best. We also try not to do to many of the same thing and we try range our productions and try to expand peoples horizons and come to something they wouldn't usually. We do use safe options sometimes as we have to impress the critic as well.

How do you know when a project is successful?
Well, we have financial targets that we have to reach and if we don't reach them, or we go over them then it is pretty self explanatory. We also have critics that view the show and give feedback, and we hand out opinion and comments surveys. Sometimes we may not have a very big audience but we could have amazing reviews from the critics.

What do you class as a failed project?
We never really get a failed project because everything leads to something positive. It is quite upsetting when the audience is low or the reviews are poor but we just learn from whatever we did wrong.

What opportunities are there within the playhouse, and are there any you aspire to achieve?
Well I could move away from delivering and start my own projects or more desk and office work but I don't think I could leave my job. I love it so much it would be very hard for me to move to something new.

What do you think the benefits are of days like Offstage choices?
We can encourage more and more people to come to the playhouse for various different reasons, it's also good for us to get more feedback from a different audience. And it gets people involved in experiencing something they maybe never even heard of before. It enhances learning.

It was really interesting meeting jess and finding out more about Off-stage choices. I cant wait.

Andy Brooks Workshop 4th of October 2010

On the 4th of october 2010 myself and some other creative students had a day with Andy Brooks aka Testament from peace jam. (www.peacejam.org). This was part of black history month. Teatament is a hip hop artsit with fantastic skills in human beatboxing, singing and rapping. the purpose of the workshop was to teach us about the awareness of racism and how we can try and stop it using song and rap.

First we went into the hall and we met Testament, here we asked him a few questions:
1. What type of audience do you appeal to?
1a. How do you go about pleasing them?
2. How has technology influenced your work?
2a. Have you introduced new ways of advertising in recent years, for example facebook and twitter sites?
3. How do you connect to the different communities within Leeds and beyond?
3a. This workshop is free and because of this how do you fund your projects?
4. What creative process is involved in creating one of your projects?
4a. How do you decide what its going to involve?
4b. How do you decide where and why your projects will be held?
4c.How many different people from different agencies would be involved in creating one of your projects?
5. Do you have any merchandise or posters etc... to promote your projects? If not how do you get people involved?
6. How would you arrange a project/ Workshop?
6a. Do you have an age limit?
How do you decide what to run a project or workshop on?
6b. Do you charge?
6c. What is the reason for the no charge/ the price in which you charge?
7. How do you know when a workshop/ project is a success?
7a. What do you class as a failed workshop/ project? 

Unfortunately we did not get these answers on paper but we do have video evidence which tells us what he answered. 

After this we then got on with the workshop. He started off telling us about him and his family and how it was considered wrong for his black mum to marry a white man, and he told us that his family called him harmony because he is neither black or white but a bit of both. he then went on telling us about how hip hop came about. He told us it started off with a little boy called Clive in the Bronx area of New York. this little boy became a hip hop legend, he was the first DJ to buy two copy's of the same record and only play the best parts of them. He also added that Jimmy Saville was a big contribution to hip hop as he was the first person to use two turntables. because of hip hop music has evolved into such genres as Dub-step, R&B, Rap and many more. Clive became a hip hop legend called DJ Cool Herc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw4H2FZjfpo&feature=related.

Testament then showed us some examples of his awesome skills. Like Michael Jacksons Billy Jean, it was really clever how he added his humming voice to the sound made by his lips.

He then taught us how to recreate this melody.

The first sound was like the letter P but exaggerated to recreate a bass drum or bass sound.

The next sound was like the letter K but exaggerated to recreate a snare drum sound.

The final sound was like the letter T but put to the very tip of the tongue to recreate the high hat. 

We then put it in a sequence like this: P-T-K-T

We looped this and did some humming to the back of it, the tricky bit was trying to put the sounds and humming together.

We then spoke to Giles who is part of the co-operative, he told us about how the co-operative is now part of the Brigshaw federation and how the co-operative have funded the workshop for us. We then spoke about democracy, equality and equity and other issues.

At the end of the fun filled day we wrote some raps and we rapped them to the others in the room with some people doing beat-boxing as a backing track.

Today was really fun and interesting.

28th September - Visit to Leeds

Today we went to Leeds. We filmed many spots around Leeds, the pictures above are only some of the places we visited on our adventure.

But the main reason we went to Leeds was to visit the Leeds Art Gallery and interview Amanda the Educational officer of Leeds Art Gallery: These are the questions and answers:

1. what type of audience do you appeal to? well we have many types of audiences, including people who are confident with art, but also frequent visitors and schools and colleges. We also have people who just come to our cafe.
2. How do you go about pleasing them? We aim to inspire them, entertain them and challenge them. But we also hold special events and we change our exhibitions every so often.
3. How has technology influinced how you work at the art gallery? It has its bad sides and good sides, its made communication faster and its easier to collect art and store work.But its made it harder because artists are getting more technical with there work and its more expensive to hold there work.
4. Have you introduced new ways of advertising in recent years, for example Facebook and Twitter sites? yes, we use Twitter but we ave found over the years that word and mouth is much more effective . 
5. How do you connect to different community's within Leeds and beyond? we used to have international relationship but over the years that bond has given up. Now only 30 pieces of art go international a year. But we work with Arts Link to develop audiences.
6. The gallery is free, how do you fund the gallery and its project? We sometimes hire spaces out like the conference rooms, but the council pay the salary's of the workers. We also have a donation box for any money.
7. What creative process is involved in creating an exhibition? well all of our workers are creative and we all stick together to create projects, but what is creative process?
8. How do you contact the artists? They contact us and there are lots that do want to put there art in our gallery.
9. What space do you decide on for a project? Well it all depends on the size of the room, how important it is,the theme of the project, the practicality of the project and any-other ideas we have.
10. What merchandise do you have and how do you promote it? We don't promote the stuff we have because... well its all down to money.
11. Do you have a age limit? No we let anyone into the workshops old or baby's.
12. How do you know when a exhibition is a success? we never know, we have comments books so that people can say what they liked or disliked about the exhibition.
13. What do you class as a failed exhibition? We don't , we just never know.

we then had a look around Leeds Art Gallery but we werent aloud to take pictures of the art. we headed back to school. it was a great day!

21st September- Narration

On the 21st of September at Brigshaw Highschool, we where in the music block with Mr Trustcott. Here we looked at some pictures, these were very artistic pictures,and we had to describe them to the class, this exercise was useful because when we go to Leeds Art Gallery on Tuesday on the 28th of September we need to know about the different arts.
then we walked to Mr Romers room to make a spider diagram about the questions we are going to ask Amanda the education officer at Leeds Art Gallery. We thought of many ideas:
-We had 5 topics we were going to ask about, the first was Organizing exhibitions:

• Do you use them because of there theme?
• How do you contact different artists and galleries?
• How do you decide what space to use?
• How do you choose exhibitions?
• How do you promote merchandise?
• How do you profit?

-The next topic was Up and Coming talent.

• How do you find new creativity?
• Do you visit schools?
• How do you connect to the community?

-The next topic was Workshops?

• Do you hold workshops for young and old people?
• Do you hold workshops starring famous artists?
• Will the participants be charged?

- The next topic was Audience:

• What types of audience do you get?
• Do you have a recognizable audience?
• Do you hold data on your audiences?

-The last topic was Changes?

• How has new technology influenced your work?
• Do you do on-line bookings?

This was really great to get good ideas for our actual questions.
We then walked over to Mrs Woffindens Class room and we discussed narration :
Purpose of Narration

• The narrator should set the scene of whatever is going on within the show/production or play.
• The narrator introduces the characters within the show/production or play.
• The narrator helps the audience what is happening.
• The narrator gives information on what is happening.
• The narrator creates atmosphere to make the performance more exciting.
• The narrator engages the audience and creates tension.

Examples of Narrators

• Sir David Fredrick Attenborough- he works a lot with the BBC doing documentaries such as "Natural World"
• Pete versus Life- this is a channel 4 show where a man is being commentated on his life.
• Dr Zeus
• Films- such as stardust.
• Come dine with me- this is a channel 4 show who is presented by David Lamb.

We then looked at a clip of David Attenborough in action.
Lyre Bird - David Attenborough - BBC Wildlife

• He used rhetorical questions to describe the world and draw the audience in.- "What bird has the most a liberate, the most complex song in the world, the most beautiful?"
• He uses comparisons to tell the audience what the lyre bird is all about.
• Present tense
• Metaphors- to bring the audience in.
• He uses a relaxed voice because he has to be quiet other wise he will scare the bird.
• Builds tension in his voice to... make it tense.

David Attenborough is such a great narrator because he uses his voice so well, he is relaxed and his voice is soothing giving that safe, calm atmosphere.

We also watched a completely different clip to the documentary, Come dine with me. this was so much different because Dave Lamb makes it comical and kind of sarcastic so it is aimed at the younger generation.

We then had three different audiences who we had to aim our drama performance at, the three audiences where teens, Parents and teachers.Ours went really well as the narrators tone of voice changed every time to create the perfect scenario.
Mrs Woffinden then gave us a sheet full of different narrative form, she then asked us to choose the narrative forms which could go into our Leeds films:

• Story teller could be used in my film with an introduce what we did to create the film- for example,        " Once upon a time there were a group of students.....".
• We could use a commentator to describe what someone is doing- for example, " Here you can see Hip-Hop artist Andy brooks use his skills to show the students about the history of Hip-Hop"
• We could use the Voice over-Here and now to explain the scene if there is no video- For example, " As we walked into the Art gallery we were welcomed by Amanda the Educational Officer.....".

New blogs!

Just to let you know I am rewriting my blog entries... So above are the all new blog entries! Thank you.

30th September 2010

Today at Temple moor we finished off our mood boards on Digital technology, i mood boarded about Games Design and Music Producer, i discussed the technology's that they use in there jobs.
We then looked at some videos tat the Switzerland kids did ( they were exchanging with temple moor). These were so good how they used the green screens the effects in the movie trailers, they also did music videos which was really good how they used different camera angles to give good affects.

28th September 2010

Today we went to Leeds, we filmed the Creative Leeds areas for our film which includes the O2 academy, The Grand, The light.We then took a visit to the Leeds Art Gallery. here we met  Amanda the education officer there, she was really friendly and talkative as we asked the questions and she answered them very well, we jotted down the answers she was telling us.  We then went to Mr Romers room to finish off our Intro videos and he taught us how a green screen is used and we suggested how we could us them in our videos on creative Leeds.

27th September 2010

In Mr Truscotts lesson we were looking at scenarios of copyrighting in the media. We then had to decide whether these scenarios were legal or illegal. We then went on Ofcom.com and researched the regulations of filming people on the streets, this will help us on our visit to Leeds and the Leeds art gallery.