Tutorial 6

And so, today’s tutorial is about memory, the 3rd storytelling tool.

So, what is the difference between memory and experience?

Well, memory is something, either tragedies, sweet incidents or funny moment that you went through with someone or alone but it will stay with you and it will be retained, stored and retrieved whenever you think about it. Like what we know from Mr Leslie’s notes, “Our memories is a cabinet of past incidents which we have been told or experienced” and he added that “These memories are points of reference to our own past existence.” And as for experience, can be the things that have happened to us or still happening in our lives. I, for one believe that in order to gain experience, we have to go through or get involve in something. Only then, experience exist.

For example, my dad got a tennis coach to teach me to play tennis. After two months, I got better, although I was not like either Martina Hingis or Andre Agassi. So, anyway, knowing that I have got experience and the skills in playing tennis, the school’s tennis coach, Mr Tam put me in the school’s tennis team.

As for memory, here is an example. Last three years, I took part in the school’s essay competition. The title given was “My Coach.” When I started on the introduction, I could only talked about my coach’s physique and what he always wear when he coach us. It was rather boring. Then, suddenly, I recalled something. We were in the singles’ finals. And we won! And at the end of the tournament, coach gave me a small token. He gave me a medal that he customized for me. He also said that, “Natra, you were great” and and he gave me a high five. That moment will forever stored in my memory bank. Finally, at the end of one and a half hour, I finished my essay on “My Coach”.

Thus, we can conclude that memory and experience are different.

Oh, Mr Leslie told us when we write based on memory, we have to exaggerate on certain points. We have to create some part of the story not only have everything based on that memory.

And, and, I think memory is more personal because I feel that memories bring about incidents that has happened in your past years like fighting with your best friend, winning the mud-pie competition and getting all the popularity for the day, dealing with your insensitive boyfriend and many many more. Whereas, experience could either be something you want to do beforehand in order you get to the peak like you joined a cooking school so that you can achieve your ambitions to be a top notch chef or certain experiences that teaches you not to repeat the same mistake. For example, you often jaywalk to and fro school, and you think that you will never get hurt because you are such a “pro” at it until one day, you broke your arm in an accident which caused by jaywalking. That experience made you more careful and taught you that jaywalking is dangerous.

Tutorial 5

Was what happen to Jim McAllister was Tracy Flick’s fault?

Well, I believe it was Jim’s fault on a whole. I think in this film, Jim used Reese’s character, Tracy as an excuse to show that he was somehow innocent. I mean at first we really thought that Tracy was someone who wanted to destroy Jim’s career or even be his mistress. But we got it all wrong. In my opinion, I thought Tracy was being a normal student in school; she was just to obsessed with the election. Oh, many not obsessed but paranoid. She wanted to be the president that’s all. However, Jim wanted to stop her. Why? I think that he wanted to stop her not to do anything good to Tracy but actually for his own benefit. Why do I say so?  Firstly, I could sense that Jim felt that Tracy was a bother or rather an irritant. He feels annoyed with the presence of Tracy. Furthermore, he did not want to work together with Tracy if she were to win in the elections. Thus, by letting her being opposed, the other people who were to run the elections against her will make her feel insecure about winning and then, his chance of working with Tracy will be slimmer. Yes, Jim might have an intention to make Tracy realise that she has been selfish and too ambitious for a lady at her age. But even so, I felt that he was using the pupils that ran against Tracy as a tool to avoid Tracy to win.

His career downfall was due to his own mistake; he threw two pieces of votings into the bin. He made the choice to cheat so that Paul wins the election.

In Election, I thought that Jim was not really the good guy. He did advised his friend, Dave about cheating on Linda but in the end, he had sex with his own friend’s wife! If he such a good husband, he would not do that to his wife.

Tutorial 4.

After a week, a few people watched videos were uploaded in some of my classmates wordpress blogs. I felt all the video’s were properly done. I mean, unlike mine, the others stayed focused on their target. Mine was moving all the time. Anyway, I thought the videos posted were good because they show how some of us Singaporeans really behave out in public. Take a look at Marjorie’s, I do not really often see this kind of men, but his behaviour of not letting others sit next to him was intolerable. And out in public, there are people who “chop” the seats next to them with tissues etc. Or if it was in the bus, they’ll use their groceries to not let others seat. Oh come on, don’t the seats are made for everyone to share.

I think parents today, especially the daddies are made victims to carry a bagpack containing things that belongs to their children. Take a look at Adilin’s video for example, the dad had to “play” with his boy even though deep down he knows that it is quite embarrassing. Well, I presume this because if I was a dad, and if my son wants to play, I’ll tell him to play on his on or else I won’t buy him toys or whatever. Plus, I would’nt want my future husband who later becomes a dad to dress like that.

And Maybelle’s video was the most funniest yet disgusting at the same time. The irony of the video was that I bet she knew that she was scratching in front of burger king (A FAST FOOD OUTLET FOR GOODNESS SAKE!)  and there she stood scratching her you-know-what-was-itchy in front of the patrons. I tell you, if I were inside and eating, I would go up to her and tell her to stop scratching or if she still insist, I’ll ask her to scratch somewhere else. God, don’t these people know any basic hygiene or respect for others.

Oh, today we learnt about ARISTOTLE. Finally, we uncover Aristotle’s identity, his theory and beliefs.  Also, we learnt about 3 act structure.

Tutorial 3.

The third week is coming to an end and say hello to the weekends!

So, storytelling today was, well, normal. Anyway, we learnt about Storytelling Tool,  Observation, Reflection, and exercising our level of Awareness. When writing a story, we must always ask ourselves these questions;

- Who am I talking about?
- Who is my character?
- What is he/she/it like it?
- What does he/she/it do?
- What happens to him/her/it in the story?

To me, when I ask this questions to myself, I will be more aware of what I am going to write and I can picture how the story will be like. I believe that these questions come in handy when it comes to writing.

So anyway, my assignments are piling up really fast. Very fast, I’m telling you. I still havent start on my People Watch video and podcast. Oh no! I think I better go plan what I want to do for my podcast.

good night everyone, see you tomorrow.

okay, maybe just some of you.

Tutorial 2.

So, I am currently home alone on a Thursday night. Unintentionally, I skipped school with an MC because I was having a bad diarrhoea and I felt slightly feverish. My mum brought me to the nearest polyclinic to get the medicines because by then I was tired of “doing business”. Trust me, going back and forth to the toilet when I feel all dizzy was not very nice. Thank god, the medicine helped me ease my pain and stopped me from “making anymore business”. Phew! Okay okay, maybe I should not be talking about this. It is quite boring, I must say. The weekends are near but I do not feel hyped up about it in anyway. I think I started off the new month badly. Ooh anyway, Deepavali is coming and we do not have to class! But on the not so bright side, Miss Hong, our Studio Production lecturer insist that we have make up tutorials which I think should be okay despite having to stay a little bit longer because she will be dividing the class into smaller groups and only taking about an hour or so for each tutorial group.

Oh dear, my entry is so random and boring. Ergh. See I am starting the new month badly. My brain’s juices are dried up and intoxicated. Gee, I need to get my mojo back.

See you all in class soon. Take care!

HERE’S WHAT WE LEARNT:

Conflict is the central feature of the screenplay:
•    man against man
•    man against environment (nature, mind-torturing, eg Panic Room)
•    man against self

It’s variation of sex, age, religion and culture which provide variety to conflict.

Conflict = change

•    Change is common to everyone.
•    Change is universal!!!
•    Seasons change
•    Lives change
•    EVERYTHING CHANGE!!!!!

Oh, a plot cannot be constructed without a conflict. I believe a conflict makes  a story better. It adds the little thrill in the storyline. When the characters attempts to reach their goals, they’ll come into conflict. The end of the story nears when the protagonist and antagonist approach their goals and the conflict rises to generate maximum suspense and excitement. There could a twist in stories where people will be awed by how the story surprise them at the end.

Where do you look for a story?
- inside yourself
- Everything to learn about other people is already in you.

I agree with the first point. The easiest and fastest way to find a story is to look inside yourself. Each and every one of us has our own story. It can either be personal or not. It all lies with the person.