Some feedback I was given by my tutor is to make sure

This is my favourite technique to use for developing any character. I used this technique in my previous module 'Acting for Camera' and I feel this really helped me get an understanding of the character (s) and the tone of the scene and a visual of the setting. This helped me get comfortable for getting comfortable before our first rehearsal altogether.

What is the symbolisation for this? - By carrying these five crystals, Marla is physically embodying the energy and emotional states of her therapy group. Each crystal represents a different member’s journey, and by having them with her, she feels a deeper, almost spiritual connection to her clients’ experiences. This helps her remain grounded and aware of the different emotional dynamics at play within the group. It’s a reminder of her responsibility to hold space for each of them.

Why she does this: Marla, as a natural leader and wise woman, would want to stay attuned to the emotions and challenges of each group member. The crystals help her remember that her role is not just to be a therapist but also a conduit for their healing process. Grounding and protection - Marla, as a therapist, likely carries a lot of emotional weight from her clients’ struggles, which can be draining. The crystals, especially those like Black Tourmaline and Amethyst, could serve as tools to help her stay grounded and protected from absorbing negative emotions or becoming overwhelmed. In this sense, the crystals are more than just symbolic—they are protective talismans that keep her emotionally centered and resilient.

Why she does this: Marla, despite her wisdom and leadership, is still human. She needs a way to protect herself from the emotional intensity of the work she does. The crystals act as a form of self-care, helping her preserve her emotional wellbeing while she helps others

I think Lena's character shares a lot of similarities with Rue from Euphoria. One of the first things that came to mind was her appearance. Rue’s hair always looks like it has a mind of its own, which I think really reflects what’s going on inside her head. I tried to bring that same idea Lena's character, with hair that isn’t overly styled, just left natural to show a bit of chaos and emotion. Like Rue, Lena wears minimal makeup and has that tired-eyed look, which hints at everything she’s dealing with mentally. It’s subtle, but it says a lot about where she’s at emotionally. Rue’s appearance always symbolises her mindset, and that inspired me to do the same with Lena. I also remembered that Rue goes to therapy in the show, and that really stuck with me — it helped shape the idea of Lena being in a similar space, trying to work through things but not always knowing how.

Jasmine is similar to the characters in Euphoria because, like them, she uses bold and creative makeup as her main form of self-expression. Just like Jules, her emotions and identity come through most clearly in how she does her makeup. Bright eyeshadow, glitter on the eyes and cheeks, and artistic designs all help her communicate what she’s feeling when words don’t. It’s more than just a look, it’s a statement. Her style embraces unconventional beauty, and through her makeup, she creates her own rules and lets her personality shine in a way that’s confident, expressive, and unapologetically bold.

My actor’s character shares several traits with Naomi from The Wolf of Wall Street, especially in the way she presents herself. Like Naomi, she takes pride in her appearance and always makes sure to look put together. Her physical presentation is a reflection of her inner need to feel in control. She likes to feel organised, and that shows in the way she carries herself. Her hair and makeup are always done with care, giving her a polished, sophisticated look that mirrors Naomi’s style. It’s not just about vanity; it’s about creating an image of strength, confidence, and precision.

• Simple and tidy​

• Emphasises her guarded and controlled nature

Make-Up

• Simple and natural make-up that focuses on the eyes​

• Her face is normally covered​

• Use of product to brighten eyes​

• Rosy colour on lips​

• Enhancing natural features without drawing attention​

• Buzz cut look​

• Give him a blank canvas​

• Give him a playful new way to express himself​

• Low maintenance style

Make-Up

• No make-up​

• Very subtle​

• Stickers (labels) on his face as the main focus​

• Use of concealer and blush​

This technique helped me focus a bit more on character development and help me explore my characters physical descriptions and backstory and personality development.This benefitted me with giving myself a motive during my scene, remembering what my characters motive is.

For actors, creating a backstory is like weaving the threads of a character’s past. It makes their performance more authentic and convincing. This essential skill helps delve deep into the character’s history, emotions, and motivations. (Chelsea, 2023)

We first started off with trying a mismatch look on both eyes (blue and pink with the opposite colour for liner and added gems) and then we explored with some green which me and my team preffered with the actors complexion

While I still find line learning to be a personal challenge, I’ve continued to apply techniques I’ve developed throughout this course. With consistent rehearsal and preparation, I was able to learn my lines effectively, which allowed me to shift my focus onto delivering a strong, believable performance. I believe I brought a lot of creative ideas to the character of Marla and made a conscious effort to deeply understand her motivations, which enriched my portrayal.

During our 4 day production week, the team collaborated efficiently and professionally. Although I wasn’t needed on the first day of filming, I participated in two of the remaining days, which focused on the therapy scene which is my only appearance in the film. The first day was delayed due to unexpected issues with the set taking longer than planned to set up. As a result, we were only able to film a brief portion of the scene, including some non-verbal shots of me performing small actions, such as pouring coffee and walking to my seat.

That evening, we received an email from our tutor informing us that there had been a complaint regarding Maxine’s costume and the facial covering she wore. It was pointed out that it could be interpreted as racially insensitive or discriminatory, which meant we had to reshoot everything from that day during our next filming session, in addition to completing the remainder of the scene. This was an important issue for us to reflect on as a team.

On the second day of filming, we successfully completed the entire therapy scene, and the process ran very smoothly. I felt much more at ease that day, as I had thoroughly reviewed the scene and developed a clear plan for how I wanted to portray Marla. My confidence had grown, and I was able to focus more on delivering a thoughtful performance. I also paid close attention to continuity; each time we cut and resumed filming from a different angle, I made a conscious effort to match my body language and positioning to ensure consistency throughout the scene. I felt I portrayed Marla exactly how I wanted to portray her throughout and make a conscious effort to hit my aims and objectives throughout.