I went to Clownlab today. Jef worked with us one at a time, and talked about developing individual processes and finding a way to work. We took turns improvising short scenes. Then Jef would have us do them again several times in order to clarify the movement and gesture until we got to the minimal objective elements. We want to transform reality before the eyes of the audience. The form and function of each object must be made clear.
He illustrated the process by drawing a circle and then adding random free association lines and curves until it became something recognizable, a bee or a flower or whatever. He said people have a tendency to overthink their pieces starting from an elaborate idea which then has to be broken down into it’s elements and built up again until it looks like something. To illustrate this he drew a scribble for the complex idea with arrows to a simple circle from which more arrows led to a flower representing the clear statement.
“As a person learning to create from inside of you, you must realize you will fail more than you succeed…You have to be absolutely vulnerable and fearless.” said Jef to the youngest person in the room.
Yeah…
On another front, I have decided what kind of music I want to use.