My Daily Practice...

So, I have started a daily practice. I'm going to take one picture, once a day, everyday, for the next 365 days. It sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Right now I am on my 4th day, but I have a feeling the next 361 days will fly by. I'm excited to see it all when it is finally finished. I think a little self discovery will perhaps be in order. Looking back, seeing who I was, and then seeing who I've become. Let's stay in the moment though, shall we? Even though the pictures I am taking are more snapshots than photographs, I think I am learning a thing or two about photography. Fooling around with light, and different angles. Seeing what works, and what doesn't. I think I might be learning without realizing it, and I am also having a really fun time!


Here's a link to my 365 http://sabrina365.blogspot.com/

I feel like an artist...

I'm sorry for the delay on my blog posts, I was a little preoccupied with my portfolio. 

When we first got the assignment, I was a little overwhelmed. It was all so open ended. There were so many things I needed explained, so many questions I wanted to ask but the thing was, nobody could answer them for me. I needed to figure it out by myself. This whole idea of "figuring it out by myself" was a totally new concept for me. My whole life, someone has been there to guide me, whether it was a parent, dance instructor, director, or school teacher. There was always someone to get me going in the right direction. Now, all of sudden I was on my own, with only my thoughts and opinions to guide me. It was like "Someone just dropped me in the middle of a forest, and I was trying to choose what path to take". So how did I decide? I decided by simply making a decision... if that makes any sense. I chose a path, and ran (whether it was the right one or not) without looking back. And the result? Perhaps not the best work I've ever done but that doesn't matter. What matters was I did it all by myself, and I am proud, but even more importantly, I got a small glimpse of what the "creative process" entails, and you can't put a price on that (not even a grade).

Bookin' it...

When I open a book, all I'm thinking about is what is written on the pages, not how the pages are actually sewn together or how the cover is attached to them. I really only considered the creative process; writing, illustrating, ect. I never considered the mechanical process, which happens to be just as vital. 


In this workshop I get to see step by step how a book is put together. It's really interesting. It's such am involved process that takes time, patience, and precision. One small mistake can completely screw everything up, but if you do everything right, the result is pretty cool. I am learning so much but I am also having  loads of fun. I feel a real sense of satisfaction when looking at my book complete with pages and a cover, and knowing that it started off as some sheets of paper and cloth.

Tell Noone...

After some technical difficulties we finally finished Tell Noone.


Cette film est tres bien! I loved everything about it (even the parts I didn't understand). Normally, I watch movies more under the fluffy, corny romantic comedy genre, so watching a Murder Mystery Thriller was a new experience for me. It makes you think more, that's for sure. You really have to work, and put in some effort in order to enjoy it, very different from many american films that pretty much do all the work for you. Yesterday, I literally had a headache from thinking so much, but it was worth it. Not only was I picking up on twists and turns in the plot, I was also noticing other aspects of the film. Like acting, sound, shots, and of course, metaphor. After only a few short months of STAC, I can't just sit down and watch a movie. I'm always thinking something like "That was shot in the rule of thirds,", or "How many takes did it take them to get that scene?". Some people may find that annoying, but me? I don't mind, it makes me feel intelligent. 


...I will definitely "Tell Everyone" I know to see this film.

Not just another ballet...

Walking out of the theatre I wasn’t quite sure of what to make of Swan Lake. I definitely loved it, but that’s pretty much all I could say. All my other thoughts and opinions were sort of swirling around in my head and I couldn’t figure out how to make sense of them. Everything is clearer now that we've discussed it in class (although no matter how much I analyze it, I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand it, and that’s okay). To me, it was basically a string of metaphors and themes tied together rather than a distinct storyline with a plot. I saw acceptance as a very relevant theme. Throughout the whole ballet the prince is desperately fighting to be accepted by his mother, but he is rejected time and time again. At the end of the ballet, the swans refuse to accept the Prince and the Swan King’s love for each other, and the two of them are forced to fight for their lives. Then at the very last moment, when we see the Swan King embrace the Prince, we know they finally have found the acceptance they have been longing for in each other. There are countless metaphors and themes that can be interpreted, but that is just one that jumped out at me.

Putting metaphors and interpretations aside, I absolutely loved the choreography. It was an ugly ballet; sort of an oxymoron isn’t it? Yet, I loved it, it worked, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Being the ballet nerd that I am, I was not bored for one single moment, because there was not one single piece of choreography that was not interesting in some way. I’m probably the only one who feels this way, but I would’ve loved for the never-ending dance of the Swan’s to go on even longer than it did.  I found it so cool the way the dancers were moving in an animalistic, swan-like way. I could've watched it for hours!

I only hope that one day I can have the chance to perform in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. 

If I Ever...

I finally can say that I, Sabrina Kalman, have made a Be Kind Rewind Movie! 


When Luke announced in class that we where doing Be Kind Rewind Movies everyone was so excited, but naturally, being a newbie, I was thinking... What on earth are Be Kind Rewind Movies??!! Then, of course after Luke explained what they were I was thinking... How on earth is this possible??!! It seemed pretty crazy that we were expected to plan and film a movie in a total of 4 periods! Though, in the end, just like most of the things we've done so far in STAC, it all works out. Although it was a challenge, and we definitely came across our fair share of obstacles, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly it went. Yes, we where constantly sprinting from one end of the school to another, and had to deal with several suspicious teachers (who honestly seemed disappointed that they couldn't get us in trouble), but like I said before, it all worked out (and the fun never stopped).


Afterwards, getting to actually watch the movies was the cherry on top. They where hysterical! I laughed so hard I cried.
I had more fun in those three periods than I have had in three whole weeks of school! 

It's Busby Berkley...

I'm intrigued, I'm entertained, but most of all, I'm inspired. 

These musical numbers are unlike anything I've ever seen. They almost don't seem real, like optical illusions or something you would see in a dream. I am completely amazed that someone could possibly come up with these concepts and ideas.

This Saturday night, I experienced first hand how hard choreographing a dance number really is. I am the choreographer for a 3^rd through 6^th grade production of The Wizard of Oz, and this weekend I was choreographing the Munchkin Land Song. As I was standing in the middle of my living room, completely at a lost of how to even begin, I was thinking, how does Busby Berkley do it? It’s amazing; all Busby Berkeley had to do was simply sit in the bathtub with a glass of champagne and would instantly be creating these masterpieces, where as I was helplessly sitting in my living room completely racking my brain and coming up with absolutely nothing. And when I finally did come up with something, it was definitely nothing special. I now have a greater appreciation for Busby Berkley. He was truly a genious, and he is officially my inspiration.

I screamed!

Out of all the complex mind boggling exhibits that can be found at MoMA, my favorite exhibit consisted simply of a microphone ,and a speaker. The mic was open for anyone to just walk up, take a deep breath, and you guessed it, scream. Although I was having so much fun screaming in the middle of MoMA, I couldn't help thinking, "This isn't art". Though after thinking about it I realized well, this has to be art, after all it's exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art. I mean, they didn't just throw this in to take up space. So now the question was "How is this art?". But, before I could answer that question I had to begin by asking myself "Well, what exactly is art?". Immediately I thought paintings, sculptures, photographs... but still I couldn't answer my original question, so there had to be something I was missing (and there was). Oddly enough I found the answer on a fellow STACies blog post, "Art is not just a pretty picture on a wall. Art is a reflection of life and emotion." It now all makes perfect sense. Art isn't something you can just look at, art is something you can experience (and screaming in the middle of an otherwise quite museum is quite the experience). It now seems that this "screaming" exhibit is the most artistic exhibit in the whole museum. 

And how many people can say that they screamed at the top of their lungs in the middle of the Museum of Modern Art?

Another Psychogeograhpy: Liminal Spaces

Liminal Space. It's easier to understand than to explain, but essentially it refers to the emptiness between objects, places, and beings. For my Psychogeography I chose to capture liminal space through windows.

When a window is closed it acts as a barrier. A sound barrier, a light barrier, or even an image barrier. However, when a window is open, it does the exact opposite. It turns into an entryway, allowing light and sound into an otherwise occluded space. It's almost as though a window contradicts itself. Through the simple act of sliding a piece of glass over to one side or the other, it can completely transform it's function, and reason for existence. 

I then began to think about the concept of point of view. There are two sides of a window, so a person can either be on the outside looking in, or on the inside looking out. Have you ever stood outside your house and looked in? It looks like a completely different and unfamiliar place. By simply changing the position in which you look at something, it can change your perspective entirely.

There are so many factors to consider: open, closed, inside, outside.

Who knew a piece of glass could be so complex?

To Improve at Improv

Isn't it ironic how improv with an "e" is improve, and improvisation helps you to improve your acting. This week in STAC we went to the Community Center for 3 whole periods of improv, and i most definitely improved.

With improvisation, there is no right, and there is no wrong; there are no rules. All you have to do is, not think (though easier said than done). The thing is, our whole lives we have been taught to think. Think before you act, think before you speak, and then of course, we have been taught to worry about what other people think. So how do we escape this epidemic of thinking? How can we get to a place where we will say anything, do anything,and think nothing? Well, the journey to that place is different for everybody. For me, I close my eyes, and take myself back to when I was a little kid. I remember what it feels like to live in a world of pretend and imagination, where the issue of thinking never crosses your mind. When I open my eyes, I say and do exactly what i feel (as if i was 4, and not 14). Usually, it takes me a while to get into that place, but this week at the Community Center something extraordinary happened. I walked on onto the stage, closed my eyes and instantly, I found the little four year old inside of me. This was with out a doubt the most "thoughtless" improvisation I have ever done. A huge accomplishment, and an improvement. 

My Psychogeography

Psychogeography is defined as "the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals". In other words, it's how your surroundings effect the way you think, and the way you act. 

For my psychogeography project I chose to take pictures of other peoples feet.  As a dancer, I often find myself just staring at peoples feet (usually trying to determine whether or not they will have a good point, or a good turn out). I have found that different people in executing something as simple as taking a single step will do it in a very unique and individual way. It's just like if you watch 10 different dancers perform the same choreography, you will see 10 different interpretations of that choreography. By taking time to notice different peoples "interpretations" of  walking, running, jumping, ect., it can turn everyday movement into somewhat of a dance, turning the everyday into somewhat of a performance...

A Prisoner Pantoum

Since writing a pantoum was so much fun, and since I love the Prisoner, I decided to write a pantoum inspired by the Prisoner.


When colors fade to black and white.
The truth is wrong, and facts not right.
When things so close, are not in sight.
Be easier to see in dark, than in light.


The truth is wrong, and facts not right.
You know its not certain, but still, it might,
Be easier to see in dark, than in light.
Is it better, or worse, or all in spite?


You know it's not certain, but still, it might
Reveal the answer without a fight
Is it better, or worse, or all in spite?
Never seen, with a gripe so tight


Reveal the answer without a fight
Speed is still, and black is bright
Never seen, with a gripe so tight
Dreams unknown all through the night


Speed is still, and dark is bright
When things so close are not in sight
Dreams unknown all through the night
When color fades to black and white

STAC (am i actually here?)

I am proud to say i survived the first two days of STAC! As I was walking into the STAC room for the first time, not as a younger sister of a STACIE, but an actual STACIE myself, everything seemed even more foreign, and strange then ever before, and yet, I have never felt so "in" place, like I truly belonged. I have imagined what being in STAC would be like, and wondered what STAC actually was for the past 4 years of my life, and although I still don't really know, i do know this: STAC is without a doubt the coolest, craziest and most interesting class i will ever take!


So far we have watched the first episode of the Prisoner (a 1960's mini series about, I'm really not sure what), have become secret agents assigned to a secret mission, watched a clip from the second James Bond movie From Russia with Love, and learned how to cheat(artistically of course). Now, the question is; What will we do next?!