It was over a year ago that Acting student Andrew Chen auditioned for the 窪蹋勛圖厙Originals project. He believes hes learned a lot since then.
For one thing, Andrew admits that he struggled with perfectionism for most of his second year. Hes since discovered that being perfect isnt something to strive for.
Acting isnt perfect, he says. I dont think it can be because acting is about humanity and people arent perfect. So, I think the flaws you expose on stage are part of the craft. Trying so hard to be perfect got in my way.
Room to grow
Andrew credits his change in perspective to the structure of Dals Theatre program. He says it allows people to find their own truth when it comes to acting.
Theyre not trying to make you a Fountain School of Performing Arts actor, theyre just trying to make you a good actor. So, we get to learn dance, movement and voice and then incorporate them, the way we want, into what we do.
That chance to put the theory into practice is the reason acting classes are his favourite. You get to live the technique through the acting classes. They bring it all together. When you step into the studio and use the techniques youve been learning its very powerful.
This shift in outlook correlate with Andrew becoming more involved on campus. Hes started working at the Dal Bookstore and he cohosts the social media feature Dal This Week. Hes also recently been cast in two roles in the upcoming play The Piper, written by Colleen Murphy and directed by Pamela Halstead.
Classic approach
One of the main reasons Andrew chose to pursue Theatre at Dalhousies Fountain School of Performing Arts was the opportunity to add classical methods to his repertoire. Hed explored contemporary work before coming to Dal but feels classical theories and systems provide a good foundation for progressing as an artist.
He feels strongly about the importance of creativity and free expression and sees his skill development as a way of ensuring it continues. With what is going on in the world today, people need to be able to express themselves and feel free to have a creative background to push for change.
Ultimately, hed like to take the classical training hes soaking up now, apply some of the contemporary principles hes learned and then evolve it into something unique. Thats what every great actor does, he claims. Theyre always a student first they learn everything they can and then incorporate it into what theyre doing. Hopefully the next generation will someday learn from what I do, make it better, and so on.
Its fitting that Andrew is one of the student actors in the 窪蹋勛圖厙Originals videos because the project seems to have a similar perspective: you need to learn from what has come before to be able to move forward in a meaningful way.
Telling the stories
Andrew narrated two of the 52 videos created to highlight the stories of the 窪蹋勛圖厙Originals the pioneers, innovators, creators and thinkers whose contributions and actions have made 窪蹋勛圖厙what it is today. One of Andrews videos is the first in the series that will launch on January 4th. The remaining stories will be unveiled each Thursday throughout 2018, in celebration of Dals 200th anniversary year.
Andrew is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the project but recalls how, as a second-year student, it was quite intimidating. It was the first time Id done any professional film work, with the set and the big cameras and the lights and the crew. It wasnt what I was used to. He thinks back to that day, I went in very excited and then got hit with some fear so I was really relieved when it was over. But then I realized how great it was to be on an actual professional set while still in school. Hopefully Ive learned from it.
For Andrew, the 窪蹋勛圖厙Originals project was a good introduction to the universitys 200th anniversary celebrations because thinking about all that history makes him want to learn more.
Who has come through these doors in that time? Whats their story? he wonders. As an actor, youre always curious about peoples stories. Now Im helping to tell those stories.