59. art academy

What is art? Because I have an art system. As I add points, something imperceptible changes the way I perceive art. For now, it's only related to drawing ability. But what will happen with interpretation and literature? It's a subtle change that transforms my way of seeing things. It's an abstraction that lives in my mind, illuminating my artistic attitudes in different ways. It's almost like getting drunk and suddenly waking up with a clearer world."

Billy presented himself at the Performing Arts building of San Jose University for Drama. His agent, Jim, had arranged some ideas about his path as a future actor. Since the age of eight, Billy has been practicing various aspects of acting representation on his own.

This school focuses on drama, placing a major emphasis on the representation of emotions, as well as technical work activities from body postures to voice tone.

In the morning, he was at the Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMT San Jose), participating in numerous improvisation activities and taking on different roles for a continuous four-hour theater session. They will be presenting an original play by the director about World War I in December.

Now he will participate in an acting course at San Jose University that focuses on more professional qualities. From written classes to method classes on how to develop his roles, it's tailored to different themes.

Billy entered the search for the classroom and saw a man in a suit sitting at the teacher's desk, with a few older people sitting around. He felt somewhat nervous under the gaze of everyone in the room and checked his wristwatch; he arrived ten minutes earlier than expected. This is a special extracurricular course for people studying theater as a profession. After all, it's California, the place where the impossible is born.

-Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Spencer, part of the team from San Jose University, a profound theorist and passionate about theater. I've been involved in numerous productions throughout my career, and now I make a living educating future artists, - said Spencer.

He glanced at the room and nodded. An open door interrupted Mr. Spencer, and a smiling young man with a fisherman's hat greeted the class with a gesture. The wrinkles on Mr. Spencer's forehead twitched a little.

-I apologize; I didn't expect to cause such a commotion, - the young man said in a loud voice. He was very slim.

Mr. Spencer nodded and adjusted his square glasses with his index finger.

-You can come in as long as it doesn't become a recurring interruption. But before you do, please introduce yourself to the class and talk about something you'd like to share about yourself, - Spencer said.

-Sure, -- said the young man, clutching his hat tightly. -- I'm Cameron; I study psychology, and I'm working on a thesis about human behavior and social masks. That's why I enrolled in the university's acting program, to gain a deeper understanding of the emotions of those who pretend to be someone they're not. I see acting as a social principle that helps us reflect on certain things - why do we suppress them? -

-There's also the study of good behavior and the use of social masks, which is related to a person's ego... although there's already an established debate about people's egos, their applications are fundamentally powerful for individuals. I work on the realms of pretense, - Cameron continued, stopping to look around the classroom.

-Can I stay here? - he asked, now nervous.

-Of course! Art calls to us in many ways. I hope you can refresh your knowledge with what you learn in this course. Although in my class, I'll regret to disappoint you; I'll focus on expressing the theory behind all acting. In the first part, we'll touch on the history, in the second, we'll delve deeper into the theater, and in the end, we'll discuss cinema and review some great successes, - said Professor Spencer, now more composed than a moment ago.

That sounds great, maestro. If you excuse me, I'll take a seat," Cameron said, setting down his fisherman's hat and revealing his long, curly hair that reached almost to his shoulders.

"Hi there, man. I'm Cameron," he greeted Billy, who responded with a gentle gesture.

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Cameron extended his hand. "Ah, Billy, nice to meet you," the young boy said, surprised.

The young man with the long curls raised his backpack and pulled out two pencil cases with numerous colors and pens, along with a long, neat notebook. Judging by his appearance, the notebook contradicted his demeanor and presence as it was meticulously written.

"You're a little young to be here. Are you one of those geniuses who skip school at 12 and work for multinationals to become rich by 25?" Cameron asked.

"Not at all. I'm pursuing an acting career, and I'm here on a recommendation to improve my acting skills," Billy replied.

"Wow, you're the first child actor I've met," Cameron said. "If you ever meet Winona Ryder, I'll envy you for the rest of my life. She's the most beautiful angel in all of California," he added.

"Winona Ryder?" Billy asked.

"Come on, buddy, we're talking about the most beautiful angel God has ever created in the heavens," Cameron emphasized.

"Alright, I guess if I do, I'll wait for you to punch me," Billy jokingly said.

"I wouldn't punch you, I'd just secretly envy you. Maybe I'll punch you a little if you're over 21," Cameron replied.

"Deal," Billy agreed, refocusing his attention on the teacher.

Mr. Spencer set up a projector with images, showing the classic 3, 2, 1 slides.

-In ancient times, the earliest forms of acting were known for representing rituals, religions, and ancient myths and legends, shaping natural social beings. The Greeks were always one step ahead, and it's no wonder that Athens, the Greek city, was the first to showcase the beauty of art in various ways, - Spencer said.

-Yes, Mr. Cameron, any questions? - Spencer inquired.

-Yes, sir. Could you recommend some readings to delve deeper into the topic? - Cameron asked.

-Of course, in the next class, I'll bring some good readings to complement the discussion on Greek cinema and the origins of theater and acting, - Spencer replied.

-Continuing with the class, these Greek roots left us with multiple poetic representations written in tragedies, comedies, and dramas, - Spencer continued, launching into a rather long monologue covering all the definitions, historical moments, and concepts from ancient Greece to Rome.

He displayed paintings depicting ancient theaters, some ancient masks, and sculptures of Greek writers.

-Well, I'm glad to see you all on this course. Your next class will be with Professor Ryans. I hope you enjoy your stay; she'll provide some excellent lessons on theater,- Mr. Spencer concluded.

Professor Ryans was much younger, quite beautiful, and almost hypnotizing with her charming character and gestures. She wore a long dress embroidered with roses and a pair of Converse shoes.

-It's lovely to gather here today. We will witness the first step of theater. Come, my little angels, let's arrange the place. I want a round table for the activity; we'll have a practical class. I know you covered some theoretical aspects with Spencer, so we'll do the opposite today. Don't worry about your skills; just focus on acting naturally, - said Abba Ryans, theater teacher, and actress in some stage plays.

The students began to rearrange the chairs into a round table, following the teacher's instructions to create a spacious stage area.

Billy stood in front of the teacher, who had her back to him. As she turned around, she observed the students.

-Alright, today's exercise is about letting yourself go, and shedding the fear of being in the spotlight. One by one, you'll come to the front and perform an exercise chosen by your peers, - Abba explained. "Take a seat; I'll call someone at random, and they'll continue until we're done. -

-Alright, Billy Carson, come to the front, - the teacher called with a melodic voice.

Billy confidently stepped forward in front of his peers.

-Alright, Mr. Carson, you have one minute. In that time, portray an old man who has stolen a treasure and is now fleeing from the police, - Clara instructed.

Billy thought about what signals an old thief might show. For some reason, he recalled Charles Dickens; his characters always had interesting mannerisms that brought out the essence of the character. He hunched his shoulders slightly, creating a slouching posture, pretended to have a limp, and used an imaginary cane or something similar as a prop.

With a furrowed brow and moving his lips as if swallowing, he pretended to hold something tightly to his chest, something he didn't want to let go of. He looked around, as if checking for pursuers, and dragged his steps slowly through the room. He stopped and leaned against an object, still holding onto the imaginary item tightly. The teacher stopped him as the minute was up.

"An incredible performance, Billy! You followed a great recipe for physical acting, with a distinct pattern of movement, posture, and gestures that made you truly embody the character of an old man. Your improvisation was fantastic. Please take a seat. Next, it's the turn of the person to your left," said Abba Ryans.

The class continued with various activities, and for the second exercise, the teacher started giving some feedback. She wondered why no one spoke during the previous exercise, as there was no prohibition against speaking.

As the class progressed, the students engaged in more improvisations and acting exercises, exploring different emotions, characters, and scenarios. The energy in the room was palpable, and Billy felt a sense of excitement and fulfillment as he pushed his boundaries as an actor.

By the end of the class, Billy had gained valuable insights into the art of acting and the power of natural, uninhibited expression. He knew that this experience would enrich his journey as an actor and would help him in his creative endeavors in the future.

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