Pages

Monday, September 28, 2015

Play Reading: Unrelenting Relaxation

I had a wonderful experience last Saturday evening. During the play reading of Unrelenting Relaxation at the Fullerton Museum I was overcome with emotion. I am so grateful to the playwright, Amanda DeMaio, and to STAGEStheatre for entrusting me with this beautiful and poignant piece of theatre. I feel blessed to work with such talented artists.


We had a very good turnout for the show. Sitting the the museum gallery among all the stunning photographs of comfort women looking down on us made things more real to me. It is important that we tell their story. There were many crimes against humanity committed during World War II, and it is important that we remember and continue to learn from the mistakes of the past.

Friday, September 18, 2015

PLAY READING: Unrelenting Relaxation (as part of "Forgotten Faces: The Comfort Women of World War II")

The Fullerton Museum is proud to present the exhibit, “Forgotten Faces: The Comfort Women of World War II,” starting September 5 through November 1, 2015.

As part of the exhibition, I have been cast in a play reading of Unrelenting Relation, written and directed by Amanda DeMaio. In conjunction with STAGEStheatre, the Fullerton Museum Center will provide a one-time-only reading in the museum gallery on September 26th. Please visit my Events or the City of Fullerton Website for more details.

The subject matter of this project is very difficult, but it is important to give attention to the imaginable struggles of these women, forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army. I am honored to be a part of this project a give a voice to these women.


Play Reading: Unrelenting Relation ( as part of "Forgotten Faces: The Comfort Women of World War II")

Featuring Jamie Sowers as Jill in Unrelenting Relaxation!


Written & Directed by Amanda Tischer DeMaio


About:
Unrelenting Relaxation tells a brutally bold story of four European women who avoided the fate of a concentration camp only to be forced into prostitution and made to service military personnel under the Japanese regime during World War II. Produced through special arrangements with STAGEStheatre and Original Works Publishing. Please note there is adult content. 

"...the most graceful and compelling anti-war piece I've ever seen" -- OC Weekly"

Where:
Fullerton Museum Gallery
301 N Pomona Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92832

When:
September 26, 2015 @ 7pm

Tickets:
$12 General Admission
$10 for Museum MembersFor more information on the exhibit, please call the Fullerton Museum Center at (714) 738-3331.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Dialects for Actors - French Accent

I am currently rehearsing for a play that requires a French dialect. I have never been one to pick up dialects easily by ear. In fact, there are only 2 dialects (other than my native Californian) that I consider myself convincing in: Standard British and Southern. So when faced with French I had a bit of a panic attack. I envisioned Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. How on earth was I going to be THAT French?! Upon further reflection I realized that there are variations and subtleties to the dialect. We don't always have to be a caricature on stage, unless it is desired for some type of effect. As actors we need to foremost be understood. The question then became, where do I begin?

Step 1: Listen to Native French Speakers

If you have a friend, family member, or acquaintance that belongs to the country you are trying to imitate, have them pronounce some words or sentences for you. For example, I have a friend from London that assists me with my English dialect all the time. We often Skype and compare pronunciations and read scripts to each other. Just be careful to put your own spin on things. Don't get stuck in a repetition, reading the same line over and over again the same way. Be creative!

If the above suggestion is not an option, try a Youtube search or watch movies with your favorite French characters. You may make some discoveries there.

I began my exploration by listening to native French speakers on the International Dialect of English Archive.

Step 2: Find the Place of Resonance

For the French dialect, the resonance is located in the back of the mouth and at the bottom of the uvula (the fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate that hangs above the throat). Vowels that are near "m," "n," and "ng" become very nasal. Visualize the point of resonance and adding vibration to the nasal cavity will do wonders for your French dialect.

I had great success finding the place of residence by listening to the vocal coaching and instructional exercises by David Alan Stern, ph.D. You can purchase Acting with an Accent (French) at Samuel French or visit Dialect Accent Specialists, Inc.

I also find that it helps to anchor your tongue behind your bottom teeth. This is how the French are taught to speak. You may be surprised how authentic your accent sounds simply by following these guidelines!

Step 3: Be Aware of Sound Changes - Vowel and Consonant Substitutions

Making adjustments to the vowel sounds in a dialect can be monumental. For example, in the French dialect the short "i" (as in "finish") becomes a long "ee" (as in "feet").

There are also consonant substitutions that make all the difference. For instance, the voiced "th" sound (as in "this" and "that") becomes a "z" or "dz" sound, while the unvoiced "th" (as in "thin") becomes an "s" sound.

I found the following website very helpful with great FREE examples, complete with audio files! Click Here!

Step 4: Rhythm, Pitch, and Stresses 

French is a musical language and typically gives the stress to the last syllable in multi-syllable words. Ivan Borodin has a very good Youtube video on this topic (see below). You may also want to check out his other accent tutorials.



Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice!

Stay away from your script for a little while. Don't practice the same lines over and over again until you have a good handle on the accent. I recommend reading aloud and improving dialog until it becomes second nature. Then apply your new found skills to your script! I even wrote out all of my lines phonetically per the dialect's sound changes and wrote accent marks above the words or syllables I wanted to highlight. The more work you put in, the better your accent will get. Now get out there and have fun!