1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:19,280 Welcome to Students Incorporated, a podcast where we dive into relevant topics and issues 2 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,600 related to the world of business, technology, education and design. 3 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,600 I'm your host, Mr. Jason. 4 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,980 Episodes include student conversations, interviews with thought leaders, and inspirational stories 5 00:00:29,980 --> 00:00:31,980 with an international flavor. 6 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:35,900 This podcast is created and produced with the help of students from the International 7 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:37,900 Community School of Bangkok. 8 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:48,560 Welcome to Behind the Scenes, Episode 10. 9 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,660 I am Darren and I will be your host. 10 00:00:50,660 --> 00:00:56,220 In this episode, we will be talking with our first guest, Mr. Gershom, aka Mr. G, as most 11 00:00:56,220 --> 00:00:57,600 of us call him around here. 12 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,360 We'll be asking him about his work on the upcoming musical. 13 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,800 Then, we'll shift gears and have a conversation with several of the cast members. 14 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,800 We'll discuss the joys and challenges of being a student actor and some struggles that 15 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:09,800 they have. 16 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,120 We'll talk about their favorite scenes, songs, and what the audience should look out for. 17 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,200 But first, let's hear our quote of the day and news headlines. 18 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:17,320 Thank you, Darren. 19 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:21,040 Our quote of the day is from someone we all know and love, the famous English playwright, 20 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:22,040 William Shakespeare. 21 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,920 He wrote, All the world's a stage and all the men and women are merely players. 22 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,120 Fun fact for you. 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,900 This quote comes from the Seven Ages of Man speech, which is delivered in the play titled, 24 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:31,900 As You Like It. 25 00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:33,520 This speech can actually be read as poetry. 26 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:37,200 It describes the different stages of life a person goes through in their lifetime, from 27 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,200 life to death. 28 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,820 Check it out when you get a chance. 29 00:01:39,820 --> 00:01:40,820 Time for some headline news. 30 00:01:40,820 --> 00:01:45,600 During a recent finance summit in Hong Kong, Wall Street executives were informed that 31 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,580 Hong Kong was back in business. 32 00:01:47,580 --> 00:01:51,780 After three years of intense restrictions against COVID-19, Hong Kong is slowly opening 33 00:01:51,780 --> 00:01:52,780 back up. 34 00:01:52,780 --> 00:01:56,220 Although some restrictions still remain, the summit indicates a major turning point for 35 00:01:56,220 --> 00:01:57,220 the nation. 36 00:01:57,220 --> 00:02:01,440 On Saturday, climate activists protested on the runway of Amsterdam's airport. 37 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,920 According to the spokesperson for Greenpeace Netherlands, the airport built a new terminal 38 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:07,680 instead of reducing flights. 39 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,820 The airport's CEO responded saying they had a goal to achieve emissions-free airports 40 00:02:12,820 --> 00:02:17,280 by 2030 and net climate-neutral aviation by 2050. 41 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,320 Kenya is having one of its worst droughts in decades and it is affecting hundreds of 42 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,640 elephants, wildebeests and zebras. 43 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:28,600 Insectivist seasons of below average rainfall is causing riverbeds to dry up and grasslands 44 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:29,600 are being destroyed. 45 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:34,360 However, steps are being taken to protect these animals, such as digging boreholes to 46 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:39,520 obtain water and transporting water to dried up water pans and dams. 47 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,880 Thank you for the quote and news headlines. 48 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,140 This episode is a special one since Shrek the musical is only one week away. 49 00:02:46,140 --> 00:02:50,120 Our special guest for part one is Mr. G. Let's begin with our first question. 50 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:51,520 Welcome to the podcast Mr. G. 51 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:55,200 So, a lot of people have been wondering why did you choose Shrek for the musical this 52 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:56,720 year instead of another musical? 53 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,960 Okay, well it's also written in the spoiler alert director's note. 54 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:06,120 But it's a childhood favorite particularly for this senior class. 55 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,160 So that's one reason. 56 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,560 But also it's really funny and it's really exciting. 57 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:16,280 I don't know, it's one of those ones that has all the classic elements of a good story 58 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,840 but it has the, I'm going to say crude humor. 59 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:19,840 Yeah. 60 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,440 Or just to balance out the cheesiness of those fairy tale stories. 61 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:28,840 I think that's what makes it, particularly the musical goes deep into the whole like 62 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,960 backstories of all the characters. 63 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,880 And that makes it a lot of fun and more interesting than you know your block standard. 64 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:40,320 I don't know, not that these are bad musicals but like Annie, it's like it's fun but it's 65 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:45,320 everyone knows it already where Shrek is a little bit more edgy and new and the humor 66 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,000 is a huge element. 67 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,160 So I think those are the top reasons. 68 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,880 The fact that it's a childhood favorite and then the fact that it's like funny in a different 69 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,520 way than a lot of other musicals. 70 00:03:55,520 --> 00:04:00,120 Is the senior class always something you keep in mind when choosing a musical? 71 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:07,040 Usually particularly if there are strong tech actors which now there is generally speaking. 72 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:12,120 When I first got here I didn't know those groups as well so it was harder to gauge what 73 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:17,880 they were into but I kind of do try and think about okay if we have a really strong tech 74 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,120 team for one year then I might choose something that's a fun challenge for them and if I have 75 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,000 a bunch of strong actors and that kind of waxes and wanes per year and sometimes we 76 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,040 get a ton of both because it's just how long people take the classes essentially. 77 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:32,200 That's kind of how I engage. 78 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,520 If I have lots of seniors in one year then I'm like oh that's quite a lot of seniors 79 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,240 this year and I've taught them multiple times. 80 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,360 Oh okay cool I think they can handle this. 81 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:45,420 Whereas if it's like mostly juniors and sophomores then I can be like okay we still have time 82 00:04:45,420 --> 00:04:47,920 to do something that will challenge them like yeah. 83 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,160 So I guess it factors in but I wouldn't say it's the largest factor. 84 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,160 It's maybe at 10 to 20 percent. 85 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,520 So since every musical comes with its own ups and downs what would you say were some 86 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,520 of the more challenging parts about directing this musical? 87 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,200 I think the number one challenging part is the tech side. 88 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:10,280 It's very very difficult things to construct for this show particularly and they're in 89 00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:12,520 such high volume. 90 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:17,520 There are props that are on for five seconds and we have to build them by hand and there's 91 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:18,520 a lot of them. 92 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,440 Whereas other shows you buy them and then that's it. 93 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,140 Like you can use them for that five second scene but this one they have to be handmade. 94 00:05:24,140 --> 00:05:25,800 So that's very challenging. 95 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:30,720 I would say that's the biggest challenge and on the acting side I think the hardest part 96 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:38,000 is we have a lot of younger performers this year who it's their only maybe second show 97 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:44,280 for some of them and that's a challenge for them and for me because we had COVID they 98 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:46,240 just had less opportunities to try out. 99 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,920 So at the beginning particularly they were like having to keep up with the high schoolers 100 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,060 which in the past wasn't as big of an issue and now they're fine. 101 00:05:54,060 --> 00:05:58,280 But like at the beginning it was definitely a challenge for them to be like oh wow we 102 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:02,480 have to perform at a high school level even though we're at upper elementary or middle 103 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:03,480 school you know. 104 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,080 So I think that's they've risen to the challenge but it's been harder for them I think than 105 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,080 average. 106 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,440 Going from that question how does this show differ in general from others that you have 107 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,200 directed before? 108 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:19,000 There's a lot more comedic timing moments on average. 109 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,200 I should say Joseph had a couple of those and really funny moments but then there was 110 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:30,080 also the overarching story that was more serious and sad whereas this is like lots of sadness 111 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,440 covered with humor to like mask the sadness. 112 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:40,560 So I feel like that's been the biggest difference is the humor is timed you know in professional 113 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:45,480 shows and even stand-up comedians we think it looks effortless but it's not. 114 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,200 It's all scripted. 115 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,800 Everything is scripted even audience interactions are actually scripted but they're just good 116 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,840 at improvising in between those scripted moments. 117 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:57,720 Similarly here that's what we're having to do is like those things to direct are the 118 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,640 hardest you know telling people like oh yeah you think you're being crazy but you're not 119 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,600 being crazy enough for the person all the way at the back so we are missing that joke. 120 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,840 It's like hard to comprehend how big and over the top your humor has to be. 121 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:15,120 Hudson has to fart with his entire body whereas that's not a natural thing to do in real life. 122 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,520 I mean maybe for some people right and I think those are definitely unique challenges and 123 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,040 then vocally I would say this one's very challenging. 124 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:29,840 A lot of the leads have had to do like vocal lessons additional to the rehearsals and that's 125 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:30,840 definitely challenging. 126 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,000 So since we've already talked about the challenges let's talk about what have been some of your 127 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,120 favorite moments from directing the musical. 128 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:42,200 I think the favorite moments some of them are yet to come because we're almost done 129 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:47,120 building the dragon so that's one that's going to be a favorite when it's done and I think 130 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:53,720 other favorite moments have been there's a lot of funny scenes that have just been really 131 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:54,960 fun to put together. 132 00:07:54,960 --> 00:08:00,240 An example would be like the guards and Lord Farquhar which is Darren who's in this room 133 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:05,160 but like when they come on when the guards come on without him first one of them accidentally 134 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,800 did this like really funny ugly face and this is just in rehearsal and I was like that's 135 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,000 kind of funny can you all just do that face and when they did it it was so hilarious that 136 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,800 when we showed it to the rest of the cast they also started laughing I was like this 137 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,240 is great we're just going to keep this so they'll just have that face every time they 138 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:23,520 sing they have this ugly face and jokes like that you don't get to do in other musicals 139 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:28,560 and I feel like that's a highlight and then Darren walking on his knees all the time and 140 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:33,120 then me being able to make the rest of the cast also wear knee pads and dance on their 141 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:37,440 knees I mean it's just there's a lot of things that are very entertaining for me as the director 142 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:42,800 maybe not if you're performing it but it's highly entertaining for me particularly and 143 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:51,160 then I think a lot of the interactions between Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and Shrek have been fun 144 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,360 because they're much more I would say they're the more nuanced of the whole show so you 145 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,960 got your really ridiculously funny moments and then there's really sensitive moments 146 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:05,440 between Fiona as an ogre so patients role and then Kylie's role and then Hudson so they 147 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,440 all have different interactions and a little bit different chemistry and then Donkey and 148 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,660 Shrek also have different chemistry I actually told them to like give each other notes like 149 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:18,440 secret notes and and like start having a little secret handshakes in real life so that their 150 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:22,100 chemistry would start translating and it does now and it's really fun to watch that like 151 00:09:22,100 --> 00:09:26,440 grow so I would say those are huge fun and interesting highlights. 152 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,720 What should people be excited for ahead of the show? 153 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,880 Any sneak peeks and how have you enjoyed working with the cast? 154 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:36,520 Yeah I always enjoy working with the cast in some way shape or form even if there's 155 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:41,800 moments that I'm frustrated in the end it's always like oh no that was fun. 156 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:46,440 As for sneak peeks oh trying to give away without giving too much away. 157 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:51,020 The dragon is five meters long that's pretty exciting building a puppet of that scale from 158 00:09:51,020 --> 00:09:53,560 scratch was very fun and interesting. 159 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:56,200 The dragon does look incredible from the little bit that I've seen. 160 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:02,820 Right yeah exactly so that's definitely an exciting thing I would say the Fiona solos 161 00:10:02,820 --> 00:10:10,460 are all so so nice whether she's singing in human form or ogre form like just beautiful 162 00:10:10,460 --> 00:10:16,320 and then Hudson's just rocking rock vocals and like just the amount of like growth he's 163 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:22,160 had vocally from day one to now it's like yeah you're really hearing a nice rock edge 164 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:27,040 for Shrek's particularly and he has that written into the song like the song sounds like a 165 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:30,680 rock song when you listen to it first and now he's singing it like a rock song I'm like 166 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:36,360 yes it's I know I think those are and there's just too much there's too much to look forward 167 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:37,360 to it's Shrek. 168 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:43,360 I would say like if you don't know if you haven't seen the movie watch the movie and 169 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:48,000 then if you haven't imagine you had more time to watch the movie and you got to learn more 170 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,120 about the characters and all their childhood trauma and it's all in musical form and it's 171 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,760 funny it's just I mean when you put it that way it's just like what could go wrong right. 172 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:01,320 So our last question for you today is what would be your dream cast of actors to direct 173 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,160 in a movie or a play? 174 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:07,840 Okay I think I personally would prefer not to direct movies because of how their production 175 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:15,640 system works but maybe I'm not holding myself to that. If I was to do a Broadway like stage 176 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:21,720 show and I could have anyone I've seen Rupert Grint the guy from Harry Potter on stage before 177 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:27,360 for a show and it was all in Cockney and he was really good really fun to watch on stage 178 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:33,360 so him Hugh Jackman you know because he's my homie maybe he could like produce the show 179 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,080 you know with me or something like that and have a little role you know like a little 180 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,080 bit role. 181 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:39,080 Like a cameo. 182 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:43,280 Scarlett Johansson I don't know if she sings but you know we'll give her a speaking role 183 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:48,840 if necessary because her acting is phenomenal and then Kristen Bell she can sing super well 184 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:49,840 so she'd be great. 185 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,520 Idina Manziel she sings Frozen by the way for those who don't know so those would be 186 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:59,860 my female three leads and then just because I don't think he can even sing but like Henry 187 00:11:59,860 --> 00:12:02,360 Cavill just put him in the show because he's the Witcher. 188 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:08,120 Well he's not the Witcher anymore sad news but spoiler alert. 189 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,120 Oh yeah he got recasted. 190 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,640 Yeah he's too busy apparently but anyway put him in the show because he's awesome. 191 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,640 Who's the guy that does Olaf's voice? 192 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:17,640 Josh Gad. 193 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:18,640 Yes there we go. 194 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,840 I think that would be like you'd have like amazing singers and amazing performance. 195 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,760 Oh the guy from Tic Tic Boom who's also Spider-Man. 196 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:26,760 Andrew Garfield. 197 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:27,760 Andrew Garfield whack him in there. 198 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:29,480 There you go now I have my dream cast. 199 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:35,760 And then the ensemble can be ICS students so that basically we elevate our status using 200 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:36,760 Star Power. 201 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:43,800 I think that would be an awesome awesome show and as for what show would be I actually have 202 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:50,400 two unwritten musicals so I do writing as well but the problem is I never finish things 203 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,680 unless I'm like forced to do it. 204 00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:57,600 So like 1984 I finished because we were doing it at ICS so then I had to finish it and so 205 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,440 these musicals one day in the future if I have like a more boring summer where I don't 206 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,920 have you know post-grad degree or something I might want to finish up one of them and 207 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:11,340 they're very cheesy in the way musicals should be you know and they're kind of like rock 208 00:13:11,340 --> 00:13:15,720 opera musicals so I would love to do my own writing and then have such Star Power because 209 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,200 then for sure it would get successful even if the writing was terrible they'd be like 210 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,280 well Henry Cowell's in it so. 211 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,200 Or you could just call back some of your alumni. 212 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,440 There you go exactly we got some of the best saying this stuff. 213 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:32,680 So one of the stories I wrote is about they send this this vagabond prince who's been 214 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:38,920 adopted into like this castle because his own castle got overrun by trolls so you know 215 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:43,240 he's been living there and he's kind of like the terrible prince that doesn't behave princely 216 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:48,680 at all most of his life and he's secretly but denying it in love with this the princess 217 00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:54,520 who's the like over like her dad is the high king right and then the dad's like oh I'm 218 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:59,120 going to give my kingdom to her she's going to be queen but the whole board is sexist 219 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:04,280 so basically they tell him no you can't do that it has to be a king she has to marry 220 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:08,760 first she's like super annoyed and everyone she complains to is like well you know that's 221 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:13,160 the way it is except this prince guy who's like yeah man these are terrible rules if 222 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,640 I was your prince if I was your you know I would just let you rule and like you know 223 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,960 I'd support you however you want and then she's like oh I kind of like it so the board 224 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:25,800 doesn't like that because he's got a bad reputation so they send him on a suicide quest to get 225 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,120 an unretrievable item essentially they're trying to send him off to his death but he 226 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:33,160 somehow succeeds and kind of that's what the story is about and then meanwhile back in 227 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:39,680 the castle the bad guy is trying to essentially persuade the girl to marry him instead so 228 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,440 that he can take power and that's kind of and it's an extremely cheesy story you know 229 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,520 it has like they say the caverns of death and there's an echo you know it's like herself 230 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:53,840 but it's just a fun yeah fun thing so who knows maybe we'll do that one day I know for 231 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,640 one I'm very excited for the musical thank you so much for sharing with us mr. G it's 232 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:03,360 been amazing having you we'll be right back for part two with the cast members but first 233 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,320 we have a short PSA announcement from Kush 234 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:19,880 The musical is hitting the pack soon the dates are Thursday November 17th and Friday November 235 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:24,280 18th make sure to get tickets soon because they are almost sold out and the actors can't 236 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:29,520 wait to perform in addition make sure to follow our Instagram account at students incorporated 237 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,760 remember that's students incorporated one word we post there weekly and we'll notify 238 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:41,520 you every time a new episode comes up 239 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:46,680 Thank you Kush for the PSA our guests for this part include several prominent cast members 240 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:53,240 of the musical we have Hudson, Kylie, Julius and Malachi thank you for joining us today 241 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:58,240 we'll be talking to some of the cast about the play struggles and fun times that have 242 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:03,080 gone over the musical how are you doing guys pretty good yeah getting close to that 243 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:09,560 show day yeah November 17 and 18 244 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:17,240 buy your tickets okay so I guess the first question or thing I'd like to ask is like 245 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,520 what have you guys enjoyed most about the play so far 246 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:24,760 I think the co-leads or even just the entire cast is a great group of people obviously 247 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:28,800 it's different every show but for the show in particular I feel like we have a pretty 248 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:34,880 strong cast that's really willing to work together to make this show great well I've 249 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:39,240 really enjoyed like when I don't have a scene just sitting in the audience and just like 250 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:45,160 to the show is so funny and just watching the scenes that are not in are it's just really 251 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:51,280 entertaining and for the scenes that I am in it's really fun to hear the audience laugh 252 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,360 so just trying to get the audience to laugh has been really enjoyable yeah I'd kind of 253 00:16:55,360 --> 00:17:02,720 say the same thing like I love watching our co-leads and well just everybody do their 254 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:08,200 part in the play it's really fun to watch yeah I feel like being backstage is such a 255 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:13,760 fun experience like watching your friends be on stage and just perform and have fun 256 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:18,600 while they're doing it as well it's like you're having fun being on stage and then everyone 257 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:23,560 else also is having fun too yeah I agree with what Hudson said about this being a good cast 258 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:29,320 for many of us this will be our last musical at ICS I think we have quite a number of seniors 259 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,760 in the cast and leads so I think that it's really special that this is our last show 260 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:38,360 and we've had a lot of hiccups along the way especially with COVID in recent years you 261 00:17:38,360 --> 00:17:41,760 know bumps on the way but I think that people are adapting well to it and I think it will 262 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:48,160 be a good show I think it's great I mean we practically begged for Shrek for years and 263 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:53,000 years and years and finally got that senior year so that's fun so I guess kind of shifting 264 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:58,320 into a more serious question what do you guys think the hardest part about acting is and 265 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:04,360 what are some examples of this in Shrek yeah for me I think the hardest part is the increased 266 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:08,840 physicality you have to have with like your body because normally you can use your face 267 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:13,080 but when you're on a stage it's pretty far from the audience and so any facial thing 268 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:17,120 you do isn't as picked up especially some parts I'm wearing a helmet then you can't 269 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:21,120 see it at all you just have to be a lot more physical which takes more energy and effort 270 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:26,920 a really hard part for me is when Mr. G gives you just a ton of notes like it's hard to 271 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:32,400 remember every single one and implement every single note and so you always forget like 272 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:37,720 one piece and then he'll just remind you about that again for example it could be physicality 273 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:44,840 annunciation stuff like that that like performing on stage with makeup on like in costume full 274 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:49,640 costume is very hard because I like have the most makeup in this place so it's really hard 275 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:54,080 to implement all the stuff that he's telling me to do while fully in character I think 276 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:59,600 the hardest part for me is including the kind of emotional aspect of my character because 277 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:06,480 my character is very emotional in a way so especially for the serious scenes it's a little 278 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:12,800 bit hard for me to include that emotion in my acting since I'm very separate in my life 279 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:18,760 I think for me it would be like kind of like getting over the awkwardness of certain scenes 280 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,960 there's like a lot of scenes where I feel extremely awkward when I'm doing them then 281 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:28,560 I'll just start giggling or like just being awkward and it just it doesn't look good in 282 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:34,040 the scene and so it's just like having to get over that and just like get past that 283 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,360 and do the scene like well like you have to get through that to be able to like put on 284 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:43,580 a good performance I agree so for me it's kind of uh two things and one kind of less 285 00:19:43,580 --> 00:19:48,120 serious one so I definitely agree with Hudson and the physicality part this is something 286 00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:53,320 I've never been good in throughout my years in drama and throughout my plays I've actually 287 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:58,400 received a trademark name Zergy calls them Darren hands and he tells people this happens 288 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:02,660 when their hands are not organized and they're kind of all over the place second for me has 289 00:20:02,660 --> 00:20:07,720 to definitely be in kind of a musical sense is uh singing I actually didn't start singing 290 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:12,900 until my freshman year so at times I do struggle in that aspect and it's you know it's hard 291 00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:17,040 to do it especially in character especially when you have to sing in front of a lot of 292 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:22,360 people and you know kind of a funny light-hearted one is just all the makeup I'm not a big fan 293 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:27,120 of makeup especially taking it off my freshman year in my first ever show it was a class 294 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:33,080 show so Mr. G told us that we can do our own makeup but I did so bad that Mr. G said that 295 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:37,400 from now on we can have makeup partners but they couldn't even help me so then I had to 296 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,400 get two but that didn't even work either so they had to call in a specialist to do my 297 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:46,000 makeup just so that I wouldn't ruin it on show day can you just remind us what characters 298 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:51,320 each of you will be playing I'm playing Shrek I'm playing the role of Pinocchio I'm playing 299 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:57,520 Donkey I'm playing human Fiona and I'm playing Lord Farquhar in this show there's a lot of 300 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:03,240 mythical creatures there's a lot of funny things going on now without giving too much 301 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:09,080 away there's a lot of accents happening so I would like to ask Hudson Smith to just quickly 302 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:13,740 demonstrate his Scottish accent but we'll leave the other ones for the show my Scottish 303 00:21:13,740 --> 00:21:20,400 accent's actually getting pretty good I've been practicing day in day out and Mr. G's 304 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:25,880 pretty good at his own Scottish accent so I can copy that and watch my own TV shows 305 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:32,320 and movies and really put it into my own he can sing in that yeah Hudson can sing in that 306 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,720 I also have to sing in Scottish that's fine yeah I think that's something that's hard 307 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:40,640 like singing in character is kind of like what I mentioned earlier especially my character 308 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:46,800 is pretty short and he I may or may not be able to actually walk on my legs during the 309 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:51,040 performance and that's something that's really difficult because there's a lot of red marks 310 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:56,520 on my knee that I don't know where they came from but it's exciting that I get to do that 311 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:02,360 so um what do you guys think is something big the audience should look out for I mean 312 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:06,600 there's definitely lots of jokes I make lots of jokes throughout something you might not 313 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:12,320 catch and pretty much anything Darren says is a joke yeah it's gonna be a really funny 314 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:17,320 show a lot of times when you go to a musical you're looking for the the music aspect of 315 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:23,320 it but I think even the lines and just the talking is particularly funny in this production 316 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:29,040 I have to say the same thing like the jokes it's just like chock full of jokes and I 317 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:33,400 like watching the original Broadway version I don't think like I've been more entertained 318 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:38,320 by a musical before so yeah definitely look out for jokes like yeah like Hudson said there's 319 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:42,240 jokes in every single line so it's really entertaining the audience should look out 320 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:48,000 for the variety and characters that we have because there's so many different characters 321 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:54,440 and there's so much so much stuff going on in one scene like especially like songs like 322 00:22:54,440 --> 00:23:00,200 um story of my life and I think it's a really cool thing uh look out for the songs as well 323 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,760 they're like really fun songs and they're super entertaining there are a few emotional 324 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,040 songs but a lot of them have a lot of like jokes within them like Malachi and Hudson 325 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:14,200 both said like there's a lot of jokes within the songs and they're just like the dances 326 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:20,440 are amazing um Miss Liz is an amazing choreographer and it's everybody's having fun so it's just 327 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:25,280 it's looking amazing I think that one thing the audience should look out for is the use 328 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:34,360 of props um this show is the most prop heavy show Mr. G says he's ever put on there's funny 329 00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:40,320 props there's cool props the set I believe is incredible and it's such like an extra 330 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:44,560 show that I think the audience will never be bored whether that just be looking at the 331 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:49,200 acting or if they just take a look around to see the little props that like just pay 332 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:54,160 attention to how much detail that even the tech has to go into so deeply and I think 333 00:23:54,160 --> 00:24:00,280 the second thing is the use of dialogue in uh Joseph it was only songs which in a way 334 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:05,280 was a good break and really fun but I think it's those little acting scenes that just 335 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:09,520 add on that little bit more and I'm glad that they're we're bringing those back the amount 336 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:16,040 of lines that some of us have to memorize it's a very long script and many many hours 337 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,760 have been spent doing that so I think that's another hard part if you have to guess how 338 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:26,840 many pages of lines would you say you've had maybe 60 yeah it's a lot what is some of the 339 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:31,320 biggest obstacles and challenges that you faced well for me similar to haxton's Scottish 340 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:35,840 accent I have a really difficult accent that I've had to learn I don't know if it's an 341 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:40,280 accent more than like just like higher pitch I mean yeah I guess it is an accent I have 342 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:45,760 to sing in this accent and I'll just say that it's really really high pitched and I have 343 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:53,040 a really low voice naturally so learning that and not killing my voice every time I sing 344 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:59,600 my solo is difficult so I've had to learn to retrain my my singing and vocal cords I 345 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:05,360 think my biggest challenge is keeping up energy because as donkey you kind of have to have 346 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:14,240 a lot of energy and I I've had a lot of trouble with that in the past energy is really needed 347 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:21,840 in this show especially for my character I think probably other than being like awkward 348 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:26,560 one of my biggest challenges is probably like not having to like worry about the dancing 349 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:33,320 and stuff like I am not a dancer and then I'm also in this pretty big dance scene so 350 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:41,180 it's really hard to like both learn to like sing and dance and it's probably not my strongest 351 00:25:41,180 --> 00:25:47,560 ever that I can do but that's probably one of my biggest challenges is like dancing I'm 352 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:52,760 not a dancer at all two things for me one is also with singing just with range I have 353 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:57,400 to sing much higher notes than were in my range at the beginning of the production so 354 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:02,320 I've had to go through voice lessons and just practice every single day now I've gotten 355 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:07,360 it but the amount of effort it took it was a lot and then another thing is also with 356 00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:13,080 laugh like try not to laugh during scenes if you do that it completely ruins the scene 357 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:18,360 and there's this one particular scene where I think Addy is saying something to me and 358 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:22,760 every time it is so difficult to not laugh you know you're gonna get in trouble if you 359 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:27,600 do for me I definitely agree with Hudson when I say it comes to the singing because like 360 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:33,640 I said that's something that I started a lot later than most people in the production and 361 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:39,920 for me it's also one of the songs was quite out of my range both low and high and I think 362 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:44,640 that you know I've had to really work at that I've talked with Mr. G I've practiced multiple 363 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:49,080 times one on one with him because he'll tend to call us aside and work one on one with 364 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:53,680 us with these things helping build our physicality and also just singing in general that was 365 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,720 difficult and I kind of just started to get it now it's crazy because the show is just 366 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,280 only two weeks away but you know that kind of just shows that like these things are so 367 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:06,000 put together but a lot of it just comes together in the last week or the last two weeks and 368 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,800 the second one kind of a more funny one is having to do the entire show on my knees 369 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:15,040 you know at first before my knee pads came in it wasn't very fun because I couldn't 370 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:20,120 really move the packs a very rough surface and then even with knee pads it hurt too much 371 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:25,040 so now I'm like have double padding on my knees and it's okay now but now it's like 372 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:30,280 balance I have to deal with so it's something that's so fun but also so out there you know 373 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,920 God I get to do it but it has been a challenge. 374 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,760 Going back to what you said about everything coming together here at the end we have cast 375 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:41,480 members here but another big part of the show is the tech they have to come for these last 376 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:47,160 several weeks and since the beginning they have to come until six and just work on whatever 377 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,920 it is that she wants them to do there's a lot of techies so there's so much work for 378 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:57,920 them to do all these this really really tiny props like one little flute and really big 379 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:02,400 props like a dragon that has to be held by 10 people yeah so I think the techies have 380 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,640 also been doing a ton of work and that's all really coming together here at the end as 381 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:06,640 well. 382 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,200 Yeah I'm really proud of the techies like I'm friends with a few of them and it's just 383 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:14,280 I am often asked me like are you guys gonna be able to finish and stuff because like that 384 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,680 sort of thing stresses me out and I know for a fact they're gonna be done by the time it's 385 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:23,560 show day but I'm just so like thankful for our techies because they are miracle workers 386 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:29,960 they're amazing they get stuff done in record time they do like these insane props and like 387 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:34,840 like Darren said this is like a very like prop heavy show so this is I'm really excited 388 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,160 about that so I'm thankful for our techies. 389 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:43,200 Yes so many props and heavy things to move those might be some things you don't know 390 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:45,240 that goes on in a musical. 391 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:49,440 Now just before we wrap up I would like to go around and ask everyone what's one piece 392 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:54,560 of advice they would offer to maybe a student actor now or someone who wants to try out 393 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:55,560 for a musical in the future. 394 00:28:55,560 --> 00:29:00,200 For me I'd say the one thing is to listen because the people around you in the play 395 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:06,240 whether that be the leads or techies trying to get you out of the way or even Mr. G they 396 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:11,840 know what they're doing and they're here for a reason because they have experience and 397 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:16,240 so it's always best even if you think you know better you probably don't and as long 398 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:22,640 as you listen that allows you to develop your skills and just get better as an actor. 399 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:28,840 I would say in general just have fun like this musical is just a really really fun musical 400 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:34,080 like the songs are fun and the choreography is fun I would say my practical advice would 401 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:39,280 be to just memorize your lines and your dances the point of perfection where you can play 402 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:44,200 around with your physicality and your tone and your enunciation stuff like that during 403 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,520 your scene because you're gonna have a lot of fun with that once you've mastered the 404 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:48,520 basics. 405 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:55,440 I'd say practice definitely and also I think don't be afraid to take risks because sometimes 406 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,440 that can make a scene just truly magical. 407 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:05,200 I think like listen to Mr. G he has like a lot of great advice for you he is amazing 408 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:10,640 he like he knows what he's talking about and Mr. G always has good advice to give if he 409 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:15,360 is critiquing you it's because he wants you to do better and not because you're a bad 410 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:19,920 actor you're in the play for a reason and Mr. G is very picky about who gets into the 411 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,920 play and who's not in the play and even if you don't get into a play that doesn't mean 412 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:27,600 you're a bad actor it just means you weren't fit for that musical. 413 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,320 Mr. G knows what he's talking about and he wants you to do great and that is why he gives 414 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:36,360 you so much criticism so when he gives you that criticism if you are in a musical with 415 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,520 him you need to listen to that because he wants you to do good. 416 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:44,080 I really definitely agree with what all of you said especially about that listening to 417 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:50,400 Mr. G. I've been working with him for I think five years now and he's a great director he's 418 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:57,440 always willing to help you out and just kind of what Julia said about taking risks. 419 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:01,520 What Mr. G has always told me is don't make me tell you it's too little make me tell you 420 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:06,720 it's too much so basically to just put everything you got and if he says hey can you tone that 421 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:11,280 down a bit it's a lot better than hey can you tone that up because it's a lot easier 422 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:14,880 to put take energy down and bring it up and I think that's something really important 423 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:19,200 that he's taught me and kind of gives us all the ability to be comfortable to take those 424 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:23,360 risks because we know that like he's not going to be mad if it didn't work out he's just 425 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:27,040 going to be like hey maybe don't do that and my personal advice would be to work hard. 426 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:31,640 Mr. G can see when you work hard and there's many times like even now like I would say 427 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:36,680 I haven't got my role 100% but I'm putting everything I got and like in the past I've 428 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:41,200 never gotten it until the very end but he sees that he doesn't expect us to be perfect 429 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:45,560 he just wants us to give our best because he knows that our best is what he wants so 430 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:49,520 Mr. G can see when you're not doing that so if you're in a show just kind of remember 431 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:54,480 what everyone said learn your lines the choreography don't be afraid to take risks and do your 432 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:58,160 best. 433 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:02,760 Please stay tuned for more episodes about exciting and engaging topics as always this 434 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:07,100 podcast would not be possible without the hard work and support of our international 435 00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:11,320 school production team keep an eye out for the next episode which will be consisting 436 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,040 of us having a conversation with middle schoolers. 437 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:17,820 All music and sound effects are courtesy of mixabay.com a vibrant community of creatives 438 00:32:17,820 --> 00:32:22,960 sharing copyright free images videos and music and we are signing off until next time we 439 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:33,600 are students incorporated because your voice matters.