Thesis- My Days at Actor Prepares

MY DAYS

AT ACTOR PREPARES

Batch no: 22 1st September to 30th November 2009

by Robin Leo Rebello

This thesis includes my Experiences and Inspiration of Learning new things.

And overall notes from my Notebook in these 3 months of comprehensive Acting course.

Robin Leo Rebello Page 2 of 38

CONTENTS 1st MONTH

– PHYSICAL & MENTAL EXERCISES

– NAVRASA’S OF ACTING AND FIRST ACTING EXERCISE

– DICTION CLASSES

– VOICE AND SPEECH

– FILM APPRECIATION

– FIRST PRESENTATION - ASHWATHAMA

2nd MONTH

– OVERVIEW OF MODERN ACTING

– YOGA

– WORKING IN A TEAM

– DANCE PE CHANCE

3rd MONTH

– KNOWING YOURSELF

– INTERNALISATION OF A CHARACTER

– GUEST FACULTIES – Comedian Vir Das & Actress Bhagyashree

– FINAL PRESENTATION – PATTHAR, play by Mr. Suraj Vyas

- THREE MONTHS EXPERIENCE IN ‘ACTING BEFORE CAMERA’

- VOTE OF THANKS TO ANUPAM KHER SIR, TEACHERS, AND THE STAFF

ADDENDUM

- ROBIN REBELLO’S BRIEF CV


– PHYSICAL & MENTAL EXERCISES

MY EXPERIENCE:

During the first month, in the mornings, martial arts were taught by Mr. Shyam

Meitei and his assistant Saheed Sir. First two weeks even the warm-up was difficult since

I was so stiff. We were taught different types of kicks, self-defense, why martial art is

important for acting and immediate reaction to a fight. Apart from different styles of

actions, martial arts were very good for my overall fitness. ☺

In Suraj Sir’s class, in the first half of the month, we had to do exercises to take

control over our mind and understand our body. This was done compulsorily even after

strenuous martial arts. I was worried how I would cope with such a “lean body”, but as

we say, hardwork pays off…. I became stronger. Besides, as the saying goes: “Mote se

darna nahi…. Patle se ladna nahi..” I also learnt that looks do not matter; it is the acting

and attitude that define success.

Example: The types of Body Control, in phases: Walk, Jump, Run, Sit.

On sir’s calls, we had to jump and take control of our breathing, walk as if rushing to

office and then suddenly transform into a snail’s walk. Same for Running and Sitting.

While walking we had to correct the posture.

Sitting in slow motion was another difficult movement for me. My thighs would

literally tremble in the initial stages.

First few days I would feel very tired. I was gasping for breath; negative thoughts

would cross my mind: “Did I do the right thing by choosing Acting as the career.” But

slowly with all the classroom exercises, I started to take control over my body and my

mind became alert. Gradually, my stamina increased; there was freshness on the face

and sparkle in my eyes.


To open our minds and to introduce acting, Suraj sir had formulated games and

small acting exercises such as Gibberish, Mirror-partner acting.

To open up our imagination power we were told to imagine ourselves in different

locations, such as, snowy Himalayan ranges, desert, without actually being there. Telling

the mind that I am feeling cold or hot in that given situation.

Further, we had to imagine that we were traveling in a tossing ship, and were

being tossed from one end of the boat (studio) to the other end. Finally, we swam for

safety to the nearest island. In short, to command our state of mind into any given

situation was quite a good experience for a start.

After doing all the physical exercises, my body required petrol; I had a good

appetite (after a long time) and ate the delicious healthy breakfasts and lunches to my

heart’s content.

After one and a half month of Physical Exercises I thought I had become thinner,

but I checked my weight and surprisingly from 50 Kgs it had increased to 56 Kgs.

Strangely, after all the martial arts sessions got over it reduced to 54 Kgs.

* * *


– 9 BASIC NAVRASA’S OF ACTING

1. HASYA – Comic / Comedy / Joy

2. RAUDRA – Anger / Fury / Rage

3. VEER – Heroic / Bravery

4. SHRINGAR – Love / Erotica

5. ADBHUT – Wonder / Awe

6. BHAYANAKA – Horror / Terror / Darr

7. KARUNA – Pathos / Pity / Compassion / Sympathy / Sadness

8. BHIBHATSA – Disgust / Ghin

9. SHANTA – Tranquility / Calm / Peace / Patience

History of acting and other meaningful Sanskrit words which I learnt

Natyashastra – First book on Acting / Drama. was written in 200 B.C. and rewised in

200 A.D. There are 6000 Slokhas / Verses in 37 Chapters in Sanskrit

Aangikam – Body / Gestures

Vachikam – Speech / Diction

Aacharyam – Use of Properties, Clothes, makeup – External

Saatvikam – Emotions, Truth, purity of inner-self.

When Suraj Sir listed for us the above emotions, I just said WOW - This is the right

beginning. I was so excited on learning about them, that immediately after going home I

researched more on emotions. And here is what I found on the net.

http://changingminds.org/explanations/emotions/basic%20emotions.htm

Primary emotion

Secondary emotion Tertiary emotions

Love Affection Adoration, affection, love, fondness, liking, attraction, caring, tenderness, compassion, sentimentality


Lust Arousal, desire, lust, passion, infatuation

Longing Longing

Cheerfulness

Amusement, bliss, cheerfulness, gaiety, glee, jolliness, joviality, joy, delight, enjoyment, gladness, happiness, jubilation, elation, satisfaction, ecstasy, euphoria

Zest Enthusiasm, zeal, zest, excitement, thrill, exhilaration

Contentment Contentment, pleasure

Pride Pride, triumph

Optimism Eagerness, hope, optimism

Enthrallment Enthrallment, rapture

Joy

Relief Relief

Surprise Surprise Amazement, surprise, astonishment

Irritation Aggravation, irritation, agitation, annoyance, grouchiness, grumpiness

Exasperation Exasperation, frustration

Rage

Anger, rage, outrage, fury, wrath, hostility, ferocity, bitterness, hate, loathing, scorn, spite, vengefulness, dislike, resentment

Disgust Disgust, revulsion, contempt

Envy Envy, jealousy

Anger

Torment Torment

Suffering Agony, suffering, hurt, anguish

Sadness Depression, despair, hopelessness, gloom, glumness, sadness, unhappiness, grief, sorrow, woe, misery, melancholy

Disappointment Dismay, disappointment, displeasure

Shame Guilt, shame, regret, remorse

Neglect

Alienation, isolation, neglect, loneliness, rejection, homesickness, defeat, dejection, insecurity, embarrassment, humiliation, insult

Sadness

Sympathy Pity, sympathy


Horror Alarm, shock, fear, fright, horror, terror, panic, hysteria, mortification

Fear Nervousness

Anxiety, nervousness, tenseness, uneasiness, apprehension, worry, distress, dread

FIRST CLASSROOM ACTING EXERCISE

MY EXPERIENCE: Then came the day (September) of the first classroom exercise.

Suraj Sir told us to research on Historic Characters. I chose Shivaji Maharaj. But alas, I

had still not opened up with the classmates and was feeling tremendously nervous and

fell genuinely ill the next day. I missed this part of acting and I was feeling so bad that I

kept thinking in filmy style dialogue “Mein Sir ke Nazzron se ghir gaya hu”. ☺ I thought

what sir must be thinking. But Suraj Sir was so understanding always gave us all

encouragement even through his time to time “shoutings” - “Chal beta, this is your first

failure; don’t worry; agla chance attey rahega, just don’t be back benchers, I hate these

type of people”

After that first failure I wanted to prove that I can do something. Sir gave us

another exercise - Any incident in your life which you would like to share or act out.

That was my first attempt to walk on the stage. “I told about my elder brother, how I felt

about him, how he suffered from the reactions of medicines which ruined the natural

way of healing the body; so as an actor I would like to create awareness too and also earn

money so that I can open a health farm for poor people. Also, because my father (Dr. Leo

Rebello) is hoping since long, but since we don’t have black money and dad is not

business minded….all his life he has spent giving service to needy people. I also narrated

how about few months back I was helping my father with his loksabha elections 2009

and I had gone campaigning with him. We had gone to the dirtiest slums in the suburbs,

and that was the first time I saw the reality of life.”…… I cried from the heart in this

classroom exercise. Tears rolled out. That was my first attempt of bursting out with my

emotions. (Karuna Ras – Sadness, Cry).

* * *


– DICTION CLASSES

MY EXPERIENCE:

The first time when I read ‘Diction classes’ on the time-table, I thought it would

be another boring lecture on Hindi Grammar, like in schools, (in school days I used to

hate Hindi, maybe because we had to mug-up stuff without understanding anything).

‘Diction class’ here was so different; Mr. Kamal Ahmed gave us five Lessons

which were so interesting and sufficient to know the exact pronunciations. Kamal Sir

would explain each word patiently, along with different pronunciations and their origin.

The Urdu words which he would speak with utmost clarity, used to calm the mind and

sound as sweet as honey. I felt so nice that I went home and rented a DVD and watched

Jodha Akbar again, paying great attention to Urdu words.

First 3 lessons were easy to memorize. But remaining 2 lessons were tough. I had

a weak memory in the initial stage. Apart from these 5 lessons he gave us dialogues of

Jodha Akbar. With excitement I read out and memorized the dialogues of Akbar (Hrithik

Roshan) when he goes to meet Jodha (Aishwarya Rai) in the tent, about her promises

before marriage.

The new thing which I learnt was the pronunciation of same sounding words

(homonyms), which I never learnt in school, maybe because the teachers in the school

themselves did not know. As Kamal Sir said, most of us pronounce Hindi wrong with

friends and Bambaya (Mumbai) people.

Only difference was that Kamal sir gave batch 21 a short play to memorize and

act out in Diction classes, which we the batch 22 did not get. Maybe because we had

limited time, nothing to complain. Kamal Sir was at his best in teaching.


– VOICE AND SPEECH

Apart from diction classes, Voice and speech

classes conducted by Actress Mita Vashisht, was added

advantage. First she taught us some spinal movements to

make our spine supple and strong.

Then correct breathing exercises.. eg .. while inhaling, the air should fill the

abdomen which will move in the outward direction and after exhaling the air, the

abdomen will be flat. All along I used to breathe wrongly, this has corrected my

breathing to a great extent and I visualized my days of being baby how my small tiny

abdomen used to go up and down with correct breathing while asleep. ☺

Speaking in a monotonous voice is a real communication killer. When the variety

of your voice- pitch doesn’t vary, it’s impossible for your listener to maintain any interest

in what you’re saying. He/She tunes out – quickly and your message falls by the wayside.

In this class, I learnt how to modulate my voice with the use of pitch and volume,

simultaneously, while saying the dialogues. Also learnt to say the dialogues in one huge

breath. It was of great help.

Before I joined Actor Prepares, I had become a Zombie, since I was a graphic

designer/Vfx artist, sitting in front of the Computer screen continuously and for long

hours. But by joining Actor Prepares, apart from the acting taught in one month’s time,

with all the exercises done - Martial arts, Suraj Sir’s and Mita Vashisht’s classes, they

made me strong, alert and bright.

* * *


– FILM APPRECIATION

A basic idea on how a film is made. In this class, we used to study the different characters

in the films – about the acting skills of each character, the color schemes in the shot, the

camera angles, etc

IDEA - An Idea is struck by a person

GENRE – Action, Horror, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Thriller, Costume Drama,

Animation, Voice over Artist, Sci-Fci, Fantasy (Dreams), Documentaries,

Musicals.

THEME – Basic Idea of the Story

PLOT – Beginning – Middle – End

SCRIPT – Novel/Story

SCREENPLAY – is made up of scenes

SCENES

SHOTS – Action to Cut

FRAME – One single Photographic image

IMAGE

MOMENT

HAPPENING/ACTION


Suspension of Disbelief

In the world of fiction you are often required to believe a premise which you would never

accept in the real world. Especially in genres such as fantasy and science fiction, things

happen in the story which you would not believe if they were presented in a newspaper as

fact. Even in more real-world genres such as action movies, the action routinely goes

beyond the boundaries of what you think could really happen.

In order to enjoy such stories, the audience engages in a phenomenon known as

"suspension of disbelief". This is a semi-conscious decision in which you put aside your

disbelief and accept the premise as being real for the duration of the story.

Suspension of disbelief only works to a point. It is important that the story maintains its

own form of believability and doesn't push the limits too far. There are many factors for

the budding story-writer or film-maker to consider, including the following....

The initial premise can be quite outrageous as long as the story maintains consistency

within that premise. There are many things about the Star Trek universe which are

basically impossible in the real world, but because Star Trek makes an effort to work

consistently within its own universe, the stories become believable. For example, as long

as you're willing to accept that the Galaxy is mostly populated by humanoids then there is

nothing within the series that will break the believability.

The quality of special effects must be believable. It is harder to suspend disbelief in

movies where the special effects appear fake.

The genre will determine the lengths to which you can push believability. Audiences will

be willing to believe an action hero can perform super-human feats, but the same feats

performed suddenly in a romantic drama would result in confusion and disbelief.

Some stories purposely push the suspension of disbelief to the limit. The Indiana Jones

movies were a good example, where the audience was expected to find the improbable

antics amusing.


One important area of belief is in human actions and emotion. People must act, react and

interact in ways which are believable. In cases where such interactions do require

suspension of disbelief, the normal rules of consistency apply. Audiences are very

unforgiving if they think a character is behaving in an unbelievable fashion. Ref: Source:

http://www.mediacollege.com/glossary/s/suspension-of-disbelief.html

MY EXPERIENCE

Film appreciation was very interesting. Before I joined Actor Prepares, I had done

basic course in Animation, so I knew the technical aspects of film shooting. But, then, as

an actor, observing the film was a totally different experience. We were taught how to

observe the characters, the costumes, the iconic locations. For two months ‘film

appreciation’ was conducted, and after watching a variety of films in this class, slowly

and steadily I truly understood Life…!!! As an Actor the great benefit is that we can

live many lives in one life. The discussions with the Faculty member were so brain-

stimulating. The few films which we saw were Dil Chahta Hai, Maine Gandhi ko nahin

Mara, Bheja Fry, Lion King, Psycho, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Cinema

Paradiso and Father.

Cinema Paradiso and Father was my first encounter with realistic cinema. These really

touched my heart.

With Film appreciation I got inspired to know about the history of films with

different kinds of Cinema.

ART FILMS V/S COMMERCIAL FILMS

Shyam Benegal once said ‘there are no art or commercial films, there are only

good films and bad films.’ But all said and done, in India during 70’s and 80’s there was

one strong movement where Art films developed a cult status. But today, while on a

mainstream film about 50 crores are spent, Shyam Benegal and other great directors of

meaningful cinema are struggling for producers. Rare exceptions are movies like

‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’. Has Art house cinema bitten the dust.??.... Parallel


Cinema… ..If we talk about Parallel Cinema, it’s been lost somewhere. The Actors of

parallel cinema want to work in mainstream cinema, because parallel cinema does not

give sufficient recognition to the actors as Mainstream cinema does. Satyajeet Ray, 1955

‘Pather Panchali’ type of movies gave birth to Parallel Cinema. Mrinal Sen, Aparna Sen,

Sudhir Mishra, were named as Art Film Makers because their movies would depict

Reality. In their films, realistic setups were there.

In 1960, stars like Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi stepped into

parallel cinema and movies like Arth, Masum and Golmaal were made, then this non-

commercial cinema turned into commercial cinema. Further, when we reached the year

1990, Art Films lost their stand, because ‘larger then life’ big budget films were

produced.

But Shabana Azmi and Film maker Govind Nihalani believe that due to coming

of Multiplexes Art Cinema got its different recognition. In Monsoon Wedding, Zubeidaa

kind of movies, Mira Nair and Shyam Benegal tried to give a commercial outlook to their

Art Films, but whereas the films got critical acclaim, at the box-office these films did not

work well.

As time passes by, in the entertainment industry, corporate industry is being

introduced it will not be wrong to say that parallel cinema is getting invisible. If Tamasia

and ArdhaSatya type of movies are packaged again and marketed properly then maybe

these types of films can get recognition. As film maker Govind Nihalani said: “Whatever

kind of film you make, marketing is very, very important. And if you make your audience

ready to see your film, then half your battle is won.” They say that film makers will not

easily let die down the art house cinema and once again will be able to see the glimpse of

70’s and 80’s type of cinema. Ref: Report of Zoom Tv of 12 Aug, 2008.

* * *


– FIRST PRESENTATION - ASHWATHAMA

The purpose of Ashwathama exercise is to open up our body movements freely

and to burst out with our emotions. In the Indian epic Mahābhārata, Ashwatthama was

the son of guru Dronacharya.

MY EXPERIENCE:

This was the first presentation in front of the Dean Mr. Yashraj Jadhav and our

dance guru Vishal, the day of summing up whatever we had learnt in the first month.

Since it was our first presentation, it took me two weeks to understand the whole

thing. Suraj Vyas Sir guided us step by step on every aspect of the character

Ashwathama.

First step: the 2 page dialogues were given, it seemed so big, and I took time to

memorize it – Almost till the end. Sir bifurcated the Dialogues into different emotions

and showed us how to rehearse the dialogues with appropriate pauses.

Sir would make us rehearse in groups so that we understood the pitch, the volume,

phase of dialogues and the rhythm. Sir even told us, we are failures, One lakh Forty

thousand wasted – parent’s money is gone into the dustbin. That comment made my mind

churn – It was a shock treatment for me, and it was helpful. ☺

As soon as I went home, I started rehearsing seriously, and I even wrote the first

heavy Hindi dialogues in the register – or rather it felt heavy. I used to rehearse my

dialogues even while traveling but still at that time had no confidence. Next three pages

of dialogues are shown how I blocked and made pauses in the register.





Second step: Blocking of the character movements on different lines.

Example: First line “Ye Mera Dhanush hai.” (Pause). Movement - while sitting on

one leg, head and eyes looking parallel, in the front

Second line “Dhanush Ashwathama ka” (pause) Movement – same position, but

back upright and also the right hand comes up. And so on………

We were made to rehearse all this in the costumes so that we get a feel of it. The

costumes were Harem Pants. Usually, Harem Pants are worn by girls, and so we went

around in Bandra to buy at the ladies shop. The shop keepers were amused. When we

narrated that it’s for a drama, they understood. ☺ ☺

The costume attire was simple and nice; I wore the Harem Pants, and over the

waist a Duppata and bare upper body. First I was feeling “oh shit, no shirt and that to in

front of the girls.’ But Suraj sir commented again “Come on, you are men. Don’t be

ashamed” Sir’s Comments are always helpful, even though it might feel ‘insulting’ at

first; but they always works.

Before each one of us presented the character in front of the Dean. Suraj sir gave

an overview on how to work in a team. All of us stood in a ‘scatter’ position and with

each beat of the music played, we had to prepare for war. After the music starts to beat

rapidly, we go hay-wire ‘like wild bulls let loose’, and fight with imaginary swords with

our classmates. That was like a warm up for us before doing our individual solo

Ashwathama.

During the presentation day, while one person was acting out Ashwathama with

other Kantharis – the girls, we were told to sit upright in Padmasan facing the wall, and to

concentrate on the energy flowing in our body. It was very tiring to sit upright waiting for

my name to be called, since we were 40 of us.


When my name was announced I started breathing faster and entered the

character. I had removed my specs even though I have a high number did not care who

was sitting and watching in front of me. I gave my 100%.

After all the classmates were through with their performances,Yashraj Sir picked

out people who did extremely well. And he pointed to me last saying that my

performance touched his heart. He saw in my act, the character’s pain. That was my first

compliment and my classmates cheered. The first audience who appreciated my

performance, and tears of happiness rolled out ☺ . For the first time I felt like a Winner.

* * *


– OVERVIEW OF MODERN ACTING

“The modern way to act is to learn all of the principles of acting, then forget that you know them.”

“In modern acting, the gesture is smaller and left unfinished: the ragged edge.”

“The emphasis is on behavior first, the dialogue is secondary”

After the traditional Ashwathama, Suraj Sir twisted it and told us to act a Modern

Ashwathama of the current times.

The theme was “Suddenly there is shooting on the road with all the gangsters and

a mafia Don. In the shooting Ashwathama’s father Dhuryodhan gets shot and dies. The

Don (modern Ashwathama) gets confused, draws his gun and starts shooting randomly.

Also police are after Modern Ashwathama (Don). He starts running and hides in a Ware-

House. Trapped there with rats for days.”

Keeping the theme in mind I had to perform sitting in the warehouse, as if a bullet

has hit me, and I am in pain. I had to narrate the same dialogues of Traditional

Ashwathama. But this time we had the liberty to break the pauses and the traditional tone

and say it in a modern way. The costume was Full suit. I wore a trendy Tuxedo, like the

mafia Dons always wear in movies.

After exaggerating the body movements, emotions and speaking out the dialogues

in a traditional tone in the earlier Ashwathama, it was difficult to limit our body

movements according to the camera frame and internalize our emotions. It was a total

flop for me at first. Of course, it was just the beginning of the second month and Modern

Acting was yet to be experienced in detail, so I wasn’t too discouraged.

* * *


– YOG (YOGA)

MY EXPERIENCE:

In the second month, morning yoga was a boon to increase my life-span. ☺

Because, during the first hectic month, I had gone through unnecessary tension. Thanks

to Anupam Kher Sir, for including Yoga in the syllabus. It helped me to unwind.

I was eager to do Yoga, since my father is a Holistic Healer and prescribes Yoga

for his patients. I started to do Yoga, and followed whatever the teacher taught us. All

along my dad would tell me to do yoga but I never listened to him. Dad always teased me


by saying: “Ghar ki Murgi Daal Barabar” And as a result of my not listening to dad, I

became so stiff. Due to this Acting course and the Yoga, my stiffness reduced to a

great extent. I will surely continue Yoga for the rest of my life, because I have

understood how important it is to stay flexible for an Actor.

Kriyas like Jal Neti and Kapal Bhati charged the brain since they clean the nasal

passage and throw out all the toxins from the respiratory system. Or should I say

throwing out all the bhusa from the brain ☺. I still practice Jal Neti. This has cleaned my

sinuses and helping my weak eyesight.

The Yoga classes were very methodical, even though we practiced ‘Asanas’,

importance was given to theory too. I learnt a lot about calming the mind, forgiving

people and keeping our conscious clean.


– WORKING IN A TEAM

In the second month, both batches 21 and 22 were combined. Now the time had

come to work as a team.

First to make us comfortable to work as a team, Suraj sir gave us small classroom

exercises to perform, such as, acting out an existing commercial and then creating an ad-

film together and performing it on the stage. Then the same ad film we had to depict in

five still photographic images and so on…. I remember we had created a Surf-excel

concept and the punch line was ‘Flirt with the Dirt”… It was real fun.

Later on, teams were selected and first classroom exercise was any fairy-tale. My

team chose “Rumplestilskin”. I was supposed to be the main character Rumplestilskin but

during rehearsals I fell ill and I could not concentrate. This team was quite chaotic, and

due to my illness the main character went to Avinash. Well, I don’t regret because I knew

I could not have done justice to that role since I had very high fever. But it was not

impossible for me. Everyone was breathing down my neck especially Juby and

eventually I was given the role of a father. The team was more interested in directing me

then concentrating on their characters. If I was left alone to think peacefully, I would

have done better. Due to that, I did not perform well in the final performance.

So it was not team-work and I was under total stress. For the first time in my life I

had taken so much stress. I was at a total loss to understand how Ashwathama

performance went so well and my character in a lovely fairy story Rumplestilskin

crashed.

THE SECOND TEAM

We had to make our own story with a proverb. Fresh new team was selected

which consisted of Shweta, Gauri, Amit, Ravi, myself, Natalie. Our team chose the

proverb “All is Fair in Love and War”.


Working with this team was a stress-buster. We calmly started thinking on an

outline of the story; all of us with unity gave inputs. Gauri started typing the dialogues on

her laptop and Amit started looking out for background scores for the play.

After the whole script was ready, a print out was given to each one of us. It was a

Saturday and I remember we had to perform on Monday morning, the team met on a

Sunday, at Natalie’s apartment to rehearse. Everyone started working on their dialogues

and with all the fun we had and Natlie’s mom gave us breakfast and lunch, with ease we

completed our rehearsals by evening.

Natalie and I were caricatures. My character was a Teenage Punjabi boy, a friend

of Amit. Since we finished rehearsal soon, I reached home early and I got time to

research on the Punjabi accent I had to put on. To catch the accent, I referred to Rang De

Basanti movie. The problem was where to get a Punjabi turban. An idea struck me, I took

my mom’s red Duppata and tied an onion in it and stapled it and wore it like a cap (It was

looking quite silly ☺, but atleast something was better than nothing - it gave the feel of

the character). It was a great experience and joyful moment to work with this team.

Well in short, I was lucky to work with both, a stressful team (Rumplestilskin)

and a stress-buster team (All is fair in Love and War). “Shayad uparwalla mujhe pehele

ye experience dena chattha tha - alag alag temperament ke logo ke sath kaam karneka,

before I move out into the industry” ☺


– DANCE PE CHANCE

When dance started, I was nervous, because I knew I was clumsy in my dance

movement. I never before danced in my life. In school, as a kid, I danced as if I am

dancing in a Ganpati Visarjan !!!

A few years back in 2007, I was doing my Animation at an institute and we had a

New Year bash, I took some courage and started to dance. I danced so badly, that people

started calling me Govinda. For them maybe Govinda was pathetic. Since then, I never

ever danced till I joined Actor Prepares.

Vishal Sir transformed me from a Ganpati Visarjan dancer to an ace performer.

Hats off to him. Today, after learning the bollywood style of dancing and basic steps of

Salsa, I will never say I don’t know dancing. Infact, with confidence I will go to a party

and dance. I am looking forward to it. (Maybe Actor Prepares’ New Year bash ☺ ?).

The lisping session was very useful, that brought our expressions out. Vishal Sir

has his own style of teaching; he would shout and get pissed of easily if we took him for

granted or did not practice the steps. I knew, if he was not stern enough we would not

have reached the level we are today. I knew he was purposely being stern. Inside, his

heart is as soft as butter ☺ and that was the right method of teaching.

On the day of the presentation, the energy was way too high, and when our other

classmates of another batch said “once more, once more”, I thought … all my organs are

paining in the body and the audience wants more… woah.. Then let’s go for it.

Sweat would roll down our faces, our T-Shirts would be fully wet; but never

mind, today in Dance from a Zero I have become a Hero.


– KNOWING ‘YOUR-SELF’ (WHO AM I?)

Suraj sir would give us time to think, in knowing ourselves. Because he would say

if you know what type of person you are, then you will be able to go into any character’s

shoes and perform with ease.

When I did this exercise I myself realized what advantages and disadvantages I

had. I have many good points such as being Loving and Caring, cannot be influenced

negatively by people, Friendly, Ready to help people, Hardworking, Determined.

Negative points: earlier, I WAS a big Day Dreamer, not organized, Idle – nothing to do in

life, Poor Time-Management, Irregular in Food-habits, Careless, and Procrastination.

I had many irregularities in my day to day life but after joining Actor Prepares, I

started to mend my ways and took control of my life. I have become a better person.

Now, I have started to plan out properly and have become methodical, and that has added

to my other good points. Now I don’t procrastinate – I don’t leave the work for

tomorrow. I immediately get going. For Example: The next day after completion of the

course, when Mr. Herman D’Souza told us to register with the Talent Company in the

morning, I guess I was the first one to register from my batch. “Early Bird catches the

worm.” ☺. Before joining this course, I was a person surrounded with negative thoughts,

in these three months, I started to think positively and I myself realized that positive

thinking helps in success and reaching the desired goal faster, which is what my father

was emphasizing all along.


– INTERNALISATION OF A CHARACTER

In the three day lecture of Yashraj Jadhav Sir a detailed structure was discussed

about modern acting and how to internalize the emotions. I observed how other

classmates did the performance. Sir had told us to ‘Be yourself’. The Theme was “Come

home from work and show us what we do usually after reaching home. Also, our

profession should be seen without being indicative. Have a conversation with your wife

or a family member as we casually do, don’t act out to show. Be natural.”

The first day was all discussion, but it went hay-wire because one of the class-

mates started arguing with sir. Sir got pissed off with her. And half the time went in

calming down the classmate.

By observing my classmates performing, I understood the Gist of it. After this class, I

started to feel from the heart. Further, my camera classes would go well because

whatever characters I performed in this third month was felt from the Heart.


– GUEST FACULTIES

COMEDIAN VIR DAS The comedian with his sense of humor made us laugh till

we collapsed. The tips which he gave were totally new to

me. All along I had an impression that narrating jokes

taken from anywhere was comedy. But no, there are so

many aspects to comedy.

(a) Topical Comedy – Discuss on any Topic

which is currently going on in the society and cracking humor on it eg Swine

Flu, which my father calls it Ice-cream flu.

(b) Personal Comedy – Cracking jokes on your family members or yourself.

(c) Mimicry – Imitating the style of a person. Eg our Prime Minister Mr.

Manmohan Singh, But Comedian Vir Das said that it was not necessary to

imitate the exact voice; what is important is what is being said and it should

be sensible. We should take care ‘not to insult the person’s dignity while

imitating that person’

(d) Stupid Comedy – Try to be stupid, say anything stupid, which does not make

any sense. Make weird faces.

Other important point which he made was that by any chance, the topics, the

comic character which we have chosen to perform and on that if the audience does not

laugh, then your show is going flop; so immediately think of a backup plan. Think of

other topics or characters which immediately make people laugh.

Keeping all these tips in mind, someday if I get a comic role to perform, I know

exactly what to do. ☺


ACTRESS BHAGYASHREE When I heard that Actress Bhagyashree was visiting

us, I thought that since she is from the time of “Maine Pyar

Kiya”, she must be looking middle-aged. But when she

came, she was looking so beautiful, like a 25 year old.

Very soft-spoken person, she chatted with us as if

we are college friends. She narrated about her life experiences - how her family was

against her acting career and how she over-came it. She also narrated about the

experiences on the sets of “Maine Pyar Kiya”. Post marriage people asked her why she

left acting career She said, “Because Maine Pyar Kiya”. ☺

I was so engrossed in what she was speaking and the interactive Q&A session, I

did not realize how the time passed by.

Hearing her life experiences, I understood that it is we who make our life

successful by positive thoughts. And I felt, if I practice positive thoughts and head

towards my goal, I am sure that life will bloom like Lotus.


OVERALL THREE MONTHS EXPERIENCE

‘ACTING BEFORE CAMERA’

The technical language of a camera. Different FRAMES which cover the object

(a) Long Shot (LS) – Covers the total body

(b) Extreme Long Shot (ELS) – Body from a distance

(c) Mid Long Shot (MLS) –Head to the Knee below

(d) Mid Shot (MS) – Head to Knee

(e) Mid Close Shot (MCS) – Head to Chest

(f) Close Shot (CS) – Head to Shoulder

(g) Tight Close Shot (TCS) – Head to Face

(h) Extreme Close Shot (ECS) – Eye

The Different camera movements

Static Frame - When a camera is static and capturing a frame it is called Static

Frame. Any character that comes inside the frame or goes outside the frame is called

Frame In and Frame Out.

Pans - A movement which scans a scene horizontally. The camera is placed on a

tripod, which operates as a stationary axis point as the camera is turned, often to follow a

moving object which is kept in the middle of the frame.

Tilt - A movement which scans a scene vertically, otherwise similar to a pan.

Dolly-in and Dolly-out - Sometimes called TRUCKING or TRACKING shots.

The camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves alongside the action, generally

following a moving figure or object. Complicated dolly shots will involve a track being

laid on set for the camera to follow, hence the name. The camera might be mounted on a

car, a plane, or even a shopping trolley (good method for independent film-makers

working on small budgets). A dolly shot may be a good way of portraying movement, the


journey of a character for instance, or for moving from a long shot to a close-up,

gradually focusing the audience on a particular object or character.

Crane up and Crane Down - Basically, dolly-shots-in-the-air. A crane (or jib), is

a large, heavy piece of equipment, but is a useful way of moving a camera - it can move

up, down, left, right, swooping in on action or moving diagonally out of it. The camera

operator and camera are counter-balanced by a heavy weight, and trust their safety to a

skilled crane/jib operator.

All these technical languages of camera were taught because as an Actor we

should know in which part of the body we should be more expressive while acting. Every

movement of the body indicates the trait of a character along with the feeling of emotion.

The 5Ws

The 5Ws are Where, When, What, Why, Who. These W’s were useful in

preplanning our character. To ask ourselves questions before performing any character.

For Example: A vegetable vendor (Bhajiwala).

So I would ask about the character (Bhajiwala) to myself.

1) Who is this character?

2) Where is he from?

3) What does he like? What type of clothes does he wear? What type of food

does he like? What are his character traits? What is his language? What is his

religion? How does he look like?

4) Why I am playing this character? Why are the characteristics of this character

like this? And so on….


MY EXPERIENCE:

Hemendra Bhatia Sir would give us different types of Monologues and scripts, to

perform in front of the camera. In these three months, variety of characters were acted out

as the classroom exercise – from comedy, tragedy, anger, romance, romantic comedy,

sadness and so on.

Both the batches 21 and 22 were combined. The classes were very long from 2

pm to 6 pm. After 4 pm a saturation point would come. Sometimes I had to wait for my

turn. Of course, I should have had the courage to raise my hand to go forward. But at

times, Bhatia Sir’s comments would hurt me. ☺ But then slowly I got used to it, and I

realized that he says it for our own good. Whenever he would criticize, I would

remember my father ☺. Today, because of Bhatia sir’s criticism and comments and top

of it my father’s criticism at home, I have the capacity to face the camera, even if

tomorrow on the sets I get the most difficult director on earth directing me ☺

As an actor, we have to stay alert and act out with ears open for director’s

instructions. I learnt that for one mistake of the dialogue or movement, the whole reel of

only 4 seconds in length had to been thrown into the dustbin, which costs around 25 to 30

thousand, so in the end the blame comes on the Actor. The more ‘takes’ we give as an

actor, the more the producer has to spend.

I used to be very nervous in front of the camera till almost the second month.

Towards the end of the second month, one day sir gave me an exercise wherein “My

Wife betrays me and she wants to kill me instead of divorce; she blames me because I am

good for nothing husband, drinking, gambling and spending her dad’s money.”

Sir told us to make this very emotional. I used plenty of subtext as Bhatia sir had

directed me to use. With the girl’s monologue about me, it hurt me so much plus the

subtext I used, I started to cry from the heart. Tears rolled simultaneously from both the

eyes and continuously. I took her hand, in which the gun was held, and I shot myself in

the head, and fell dead. She could not bear it and hit her head with a stick and fell dead”


For the first time in the camera class my emotions were seen in the camera. I

started to learn how to ‘Internalize the emotions’. The emotions were felt directly from

the heart”.

Other than this, different types of monologues and scripts which Bhatia Sir has

made us do during the class over the three months, have been included in this thesis in the

Addendum section.


- FINAL PRESENTATION – PATTHAR play by Mr. Suraj Vyas

I am very lucky that sir selected me for his play. The best part was sir did not give

us any stress while working. He was as cool as a cucumber, guiding us about our

characters. From time to time if our energy was down, he would fill our minds with

Enthusiasm (JOSH).

Another good thing, sir gave me the liberty to think my own lines, so it increased

my creative thinking, and am myself surprised that I wrote such good dialogues for my

character. Of course, sir gave us the rough dialogues and outline of the script; we had to

further improvise it. Sir wisely gave us the characters, and it suited us perfectly. Atleast,

I was very happy with my character, and I firmly say that no one character was in lead.

All the characters in the script were equal. Every character had its own importance.

The rehearsals went on with ease. On the day of the final presentation, sir

commanded us to take rest. We all slept in Shavasan in the afternoon and at dusk when

the time came to live our characters, we just busted out and gave our best.

Next day, again we performed for Kher Sir. He applauded us and commented that

it was the best play so far in this school. It was the happiest moment.

All thanks to Suraj Sir, who believed in me and other co-actors.


VOTE OF THANKS TO

ANUPAM KHER SIR, TEACHERS, AND THE STAFF

Kher Sir would give us tips on acting, whenever he had the time. All the sessions

were very, very interesting being meticulously planned. Especially the comedy classes. I

would long for them. In one of the classes, we had to be clowns and make weird sounds

and faces and greet Anupam Kher Sir in a clowny manner.

I liked Kher Sir’s way of teaching and surveying the school – He would go

around and ask us how the classes were going on, what we had learnt and would discuss

with us periodically.

I was happy to note when I learnt that the meals were home cooked and coming

from his residence. Menu varied and food was delicious and healthy. I am greatly

touched by his care and thoughtfulness towards all his students. The administration of

the school was also helpful.

Special thanks to Kher sir for organizing free seminar on Method Acting by

Hollywood Actor Robert Reece at the Whistling Woods on 14th November 2009 and one

act play by Actor Rajesh Gopi, at Sophia College Auditorium, on 9th October 2009, at

which actress Shabana Azmi was present, among others.

I am proud that I got the opportunity to be trained in this school, under world

class teachers. I proudly narrate to my friends and relatives about the course contents and

the school. In fact, sometimes I say to my friends that “if you want to be metamorphosed

into a new person join the school – atleast if you don’t have talent for acting, you will

become a better person”. At Actors Prepares one gets value for money.

When I reach the top, I will always give credit to my school, my teachers, for it is

here I learnt the real art of acting, discipline and time management.


ROBIN REBELLO’S BRIEF CV

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 9867885306

Hair: Black Eyes: Black Height: 5’7” (165 cms)

Complexion: Wheat

Interested to work:

Modeling Print Ad Media Ad

Music Video Documentary Television Films

Date of Birth: 7th March 1986

Languages Spoken: Hindi, English and Marathi.

Languages Read: Hindi, English and Marathi.

Specialised courses:

Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares – Diploma in Acting (September – November 2009)

Autodesk Certified Diploma in Future Arts-specialized in Visual Effects (2007-2008)

Other Skills learnt in Actor Prepares:

(a) Martial Arts

(b) Bollywood Style of dancing and basic Salsa steps

Educational Background:

- MDSP (Masters Diploma in Software Programming) 2 years (equivalent to 10+2) –

from Maharashtra Centre for Entrepreneurship Development.

- SSC (Secondary School Certificate) – March 2004


OTHER SKILLS:

Graphic Designing, Web Designing, Visual Effects (Compositing),

5 years experience in Print Media

Designed publications, brochures, websites for the following NGO.

Helped other organizations as a Freelancer

• Natural Health Centre, Bombay

• All India Letter-Writers Association (Regd.) (AILWA)

PERSONAL DETIALS:

ROBIN LEO REBELLO

Date of Birth: 07th March 1986

Marital Status: Single

Religion: Humanitarian

Nationality: Indian

Visits: Srilanka and Thailand and major parts of India

Strength: Ability to learn fast, open to new ideas, Hardworking with positive attitude.


ROBIN LEO REBELLO

I know that this thesis which I have written had to be submitted by 30th November 09, but

it got delayed because I did not want to write substandard stuff, just for the sake of

writing and submit it hurriedly. I wanted to jot down my thoughts, experiences, whatever

I learnt and researched, in these three months properly and then leave a positive foot print

in this school without diluting whatever I have written. Submitted on 5th December 2009.

ROBIN LEO REBELLO

Mobile : 9867885306

Email: [email protected]

Good judgment comes from experience, And experience comes from bad judgment.

Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

Franklin P. Jones “The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people's reality,

and eventually in one's own.” Susan Sontag (American Writer, Activist and Critic, 1933-2004)

“Acting is a question of absorbing other people's personalities and adding some of your own experience.” Jean-Paul Sartre quotes

(French existentialist philosopher and writer, 1905-1980)

Documents

Thesis- My Days at Actor Prepares