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The Basics - MIME RULES
1. Clic or as the French call it “Toc” is the technique which gives the illusion of solidity and concreteness to the imaginary object created in manipulation. Used well, a performance takes on vitality; the moves become precise and readable, the illusions believable.
2. Focus: Using your eyes to direct the audience’s eyes to the existence on an imaginary object.
3. Fixed Point: A fixed point is any point in a given spatial area which does not move. It is usually created by the hand adopting a definite shape in stillness. A flat shape might suggest a wall or a shelf. A round shape, could suggest a ship’s railing. Be careful not to slide hand along object, because this creates the illusion of pushing or pulling the object.
4. Fixed Space: The area between your hands that represents a shape that should not change. Example a rope or pole.
4. Weight. Using your body to show weight but showing exertion on muscles. Weight should not change.
5. Size. Use your hands and body to show the size. The size should remain stable.
6. Suspension of Disbelief. An audience always enters ready to believe, as long as the actor/mime does not break the illusion. As the mime, you must remember where your objects are and take care not to break the illusion.
7. Exaggerate. Always exaggerate your emotions and movements so that they are more visible to your audience. When showing something small, or making a small movement, hold it out from you body.
As we learn the basics, you will take part in a series of 5 mini-assignments to help you learn the skills in mime. We will finish the unit with a scripted mime.
Mime Assignment #1 Title: Heavy & Light
Duet Summative Assessment: Value 0.5
Drama Standards:
Skill (During performance) - Skill Application Rubric
Collaboration (During planning/Performance) - Self Assessment
Etiquette (During performance)
Critique (Feedback to peers post-performance)
Details: You have been assigned an object and you've practice passing it back and forth. Now come up with a storyline where you and your partner would have to pass this object back and forth.
Example #1: A broom. Two janitors. One is new to the job. Example #2: Remote Control. Two siblings fighting over the TV
It is important to start by establishing what the object is. In order to do that you need to use the object. Make sure the audience can clearly picture it. Now the catch! One partner finds the object light and the other finds it VERY heavy! There is some clowning involved as you need to exaggerate, but BE CAREFUL that you only move as fast as you can without breaking the illusion!
Make sure the skit you plan accomplishes the following goals:
Your audience will understand the setting.
Your audience will understand your relationship.
Your audience will understand what the object is.
One of you finds it heavy and the other finds it light.
You pass the object back and forth so each person holds it 3 times minimum.
You should plan some sort of conclusion and end on a freeze.
Mime Assignment #2 Title: The Wall Solo Formative Assessment
Drama Standards:
Skill (During performance) - Wall Rubric
Etiquette (During performance)
Skill Focus: The Clic
Details: (Mini-scripted mime) You are walking along and you run into an invisible wall.
Decide what you are doing when you run into the wall. (Ex. Walking dog, flirting with someone, playing basketball, texting.)
Hit the wall clearly showing what part of object or body hit first. Deal with prop.
Show shock that a wall has appeared out of nowhere.
Explore the wall… take care in demonstrating “the clic” (Take your time!)
Find a ledge high above and use your strength to pull it down.
Pull to about chest height and let go. Show with eyes and body that it snaps back up.
With more determination, pull down again and this time get it low enough to climb over.
Change your hand position and carefully get both feet over the imaginary wall.
As you let go, show that it snaps back up.
Remind audience of your initial prop or purpose and then freeze!
Watch this example: Link or look at other samples on LFulcher channel search "Wall"
Mime Assignment #3 Title: The Box Solo Summative Assessment: Value 0.5
Drama Standards:
Skill (During performance) - Rubric LINK
Etiquette (During performance)
Critique (Feedback to peers post-performance)
Skill Focus: The clic and fixed point
Option 1: You wake up surprised to find yourself ALREADY INSIDE A BOX. You explore a minimum of 4 sides of the box. The box can be a square or rectangle of any size. Identify what your location is. Example: Elevator, coffin, jail cell, bathroom stall, locker, moving box, etc. Once you have explored 4 sides, you find a way to get out of your box. Your scene ends with you escaping.
Options 2: You start outside of your box and create a scene that finds you getting inside a box (square type location) and not being able to get out. You must explore a minimum of 4 sides of your box. The audience should understand your location. Example: Did you accidentally lock yourself in a room sided freezer? Did you climb into a box for a nap and get stuck? Your scene ends with you being frustrated and giving up stuck in your box.
Mime Assignment #4 Choice of Solo or Duet
Title: Tug of War Duet Summative Assessment: Value 0.5
Drama Standards: Not Assigned this Semester
Skill (During performance) - Skill Application Rubric
Collaboration (During planning/Performance) - Self Assessment
Etiquette (During performance)
Critique (Feedback to peers post-performance)
Skill Focus:
the clic
fixed point
shape & size
focus
relationship setting
Details: You and your partner get into a fight over some object. You pull back and forth several times until someone wins or the object is destroyed.
Decide on the object
Decide on the relationship
Decide on the setting
Respect shape & size as you pass back and forth.
Make sure your story has a beginning, middle and an end.
Example LINK
OR
The Well Solo
Details:
1. You are dying of thirst and you have been walking for days.
2. You spot a well and no one is around.
3. You look down the well, but it’s obviously too far to reach.
4. You find a bucket and then a rope.
5. You tie them together and throw the bucket over the side of the well.
6. You pull up the rope slowly showing weight.
7. You pull the bucket up and untie the rope.
8. You drink greedily from the bucket.
Focus Skills.
1. Fixed point.
2. Weight & Size.
3. Using “Focus” to direct an audience’s attention.
4. Ability to follow a script.
Mime Illusions Workshop
There are a million illusions you could learn in mime now that you have a foundation.
You are going to be asked to become an expert at one illusion. Learn it, practice it, then break down the steps for your peers.
Sign Up for an illusion: LINK (I have collected examples from books and videos, but you can also go out and find something that is not on this list.)
Here is a doc where I have collected some helpful videos: LINK
On the day of the workshop we will teach in a circle.
Each workshop leader will tell us the title of their illusion.
They will demonstrate in real time.
They will then break down the steps for their classmates.
They will then give feedback and help their peers achieve success.
You will be using these illusions in your next assignment so the more variety we have to choose from the better.
ORIGINAL MIME SOLO
You will be designing and performing an original mime performance. Follow the steps to help you come up with your performance.
Step 1: Music will be the stimulus for your performance.
You will need a 1-2 minute piece of music that has a clear mood. (No lyrics)
You can use this folder to find music or find your own from any source.
Music: Link (Some of the songs are long and the mood changes, so remember you do not need to start at the beginning of the song… you can start anywhere in the music.)
Once you have chosen your music, try to download it to a phone or smaller device if you have one. If not, you can use your computer but this will be more challenging.
What is the mood of your music?
What do you imagine is the setting of your story based on the music?
Step 2: Designing Your Story
Listen to your music several times.
Lie down and imagine what is happening.
Use your music as a stimulus for a story.
You will need to add 5 illusions that we learned into your story. Choose illusions that will add to the story.
Often the best way to work on choreography is to just get up and do it. If you have a handheld device this will be easier.
Make sure you have a clear beginning, middle, and end and remember that stories with conflict are more interesting.
Put your plan here, keeping in mind you can edit it at any time. Fill in columns 1 to 4 only. LINK
Step 3: Block your performance thinking about the audience.
As you practice your performance be sure you are highlighting your skills in mime. This is your opportunity to show what you have learned. Keep it slow and precise.Take your audience on the journey with you. Remember to perform like you are moving through water.
Clic
Focus
Fixed Point
Shape & Size
Weight
When blocking your performance, think about the audience. You might have amazing facial expressions, but they will not show unless you block the performance so you are facing the audience the majority of the time. Practice for friends and family and get feedback. At home, have someone video your performance so you have a good idea of what the audience is seeing.
Step 4: Production
Costuming: You can select a costume from my room or bring in something from home. Make sure the costume fits with the set and tone.
Projection: Find a projection to be used as your background. Think about tone and setting when you choose your background. On my Resource Page you can find some backgrounds I collected or you can check the VideoBlocks web site for options. I have a membership you can use. You can look on Google, but make sure you are searching large images only using search tools.
Music Editing: In imovie, combine your projected image or images with your music. Be sure to fade out your music and image and add 15 seconds of black silence so the movie does not end suddenly. If your music choice is mid-song you may want to fade in as well. Export to QuickTime and then to YouTube and make sure it's a public link to avoid problems.
Lighting: Do you want anything other than lights up and down? For example, in the past some actors have asked to start in one of the circles and then as they move it switches to full stage. Possibly you want a very dark, creepy look? Keep in mind we do not want to use light 7 only as it will fade the projection so keep the action at the front of the stage with lights 1,2,3, unless you want anything special?
Step 5: Performance Prep
Update your plan in the production notes. LINK
Improvisation Final Assessment
Go to the following DOC... make a copy and then work through the steps.
Sample of Critique Email
Dear Yaimar and Alex,
We think that your game and presentation was really good, but there are still a few things you can tweak. For starters, you both projected perfectly, paced well and spoke clearly. Your delivery was very good too, as the directions were easy to understand and you included the skills that the game uses and helpful tips. So for voice and delivery, we gave you exemplary's. We thought that your demonstration was good and properly showed the game; however, in the directions, you stated that the problem should be fixed and although, in the example, Mark was brought to the ambulance at the end, the actual problem had not been fixed yet. Mark was still in pain from his broken toe. Next, for game choice, the game was very interesting and fun to play. The only thing that didn't seem to work out that well was that people were talking over each other. Additionally, you explained your game very well, but some people weren't listening when we were choosing events. Finally for division of labor and the visual presentation you did very well! It was clear you both understood the game and each put in equal effort to both prepare and present. Good job!
Ava & Maya
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