From the CMSEC's First Blog: SpaceEdVentures
Hello Troops,
Tonight I'm posting an article written in March 2008 announcing a challenge to the volunteers in the Space Center's Acting Guild back in the day. After rereading the article, I decided to bring the concept back to my staff and volunteers on the new USS Voyager.
OK Voyagers, read the article below and create that character never to be forgotten. Let's see what you come up with.
Mr. Williamson
Wyatt Lenhart reimagined as The Red Blemish, spotted by one of the Space Center's Security Cameras
Great Acting. Great Actor. Great Character
Hello Troops,
A side note to the acting class. I watched very carefully and noticed that many of you are very good at impromptu acting. You think very fast on your feet and are excellent at staying in character. Let's talk for a minute.
I'm thinking of letting a few of you that have shown some talent in this regard try a little experiment.
1. Create a character. Someone that lives and works on board the USS Voyager in the 24th century. Give your character a name and write a complete biography of this person. Identify what ship department your character works for. Describe your character's personality, likes and dislikes. Flesh this person out completely. Provide a believable accent if you wish.
2. Post this biography and character description on the egroup for all to see. If you are too embarrassed to post it then how in the world will you be able to become this character in front of a live audience.
3. Be willing to make changes in this character based on the feedback you get from me and the rest of the egroup.
4. Pass this section and then we move on to the next:
Character Acting Level 2:
1. Write 2 or 3 scenes where this character can make an appearance in one of the Voyager's missions. What story would your character appear? Intolerance, PooPah, Greenpeace or perhaps your scenes would be good for all the stories.
2. Remember, the reason for your character's appearance in the simulator must make sense. In addition, it would have to follow the following guidelines:
A. If your character needs to make an appearance on the bridge then for how long and for what purpose.
B. Your character cannot distract from the mission. Your performance's purpose is to make the mission and the ship more real to the audience (the crew).
C. Your performance can involve interaction with crew members. But, these interactions must be with crew members whose jobs need to be enlarged and made more important. You know, your performance really makes the mission for the poor records officer that never feels that important on the mission.
or....... for example:
Let's say you are a character from the Astrophysics dept of the ship. Now, we all know the Science Officer in the Intolerance mission just interacts with the computer. The science officer only sends messages to Astrophysics but never actually meets anyone from that dept. Your character could be the Chief of Astrophysics - A sharp but nerdy person that
comes to the bridge from time to time in the story to compare notes with the Science Officer and discusses the importance of what the Science Officer is discovering.
This is an example.
D. Your character must not be a vital part of the running of any mission because you are not here for every mission. But...... Your character could be someone we grow fond of in our
stories. A character like Tex that just makes the place special and memorable so that when you volunteer I look at you and say "Hey, We need your Dr. Zamo on this mission!"
E. Your character is not a comedy act! Tex can be funny but can also be as serious as a heart attack. We don't need stupid Paklids on every mission but we could use people that act like real people. Funny at times and serious at others.
F. Think of the Star Trek shows. Some great characters - Spock, The Dr. on Voyager, 7 of 9, Data.... just to name a few. Let these be your guide.
Once you have your scenes created you will sit down with me and we will discuss the possible use of your character and scenes within my missions. Remember, your scene could be as simple as sitting down in the crew quarters and talking with another Voyager or Pioneer (also in character). Security could be walking by and listen to your conversation about warp field technology and stop to listen for a minute. That is a good scene that accomplishes our purpose. Those security guards will walk back up on the bridge thinking that maybe there really are 300 people on this ship!
Once all is said and done and permissions are granted your character will make his/her grand opening night performance. If successful your character may become a regular on the USS Voyager like Tex.
IF this works on the Voyager, the other flight directors may want to enrich their missions with good performances from other fine Voyager and Pioneers.
I really think this might work. Who is first? Come on troops. IF you think you have it then post those characters and let's see the Voyager become alive with a solid crew of characters besides Tex.
I'm sitting here waiting to read about the crew of the Voyager. I'm ready to be introduced to the crew that has been working on the lower decks of my ship for the past 10 years. People I knew were there in my imagination. Please bring these people up in the turbolift elevator
and into my control room so I can shake their hand and send them out to the bridge of their ship to meet their captain and bridge officers.
Deep in the brilliance of your imagination lives my crew and the heart and mind of the Voyager. BRING THEM OUT INTO THE LIGHT.
Mr. Williamson
The Imaginarium
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