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Katrinonus
05-19-2010, 04:26 PM
Katrinonus' Improvisation Monologues (With the Occasional Dialogue)

For a while, I've hosted some improvisation monologues just for fun on my YouTube channel. I figured that now might be a good time to actual post them up on the forums for some review. Mind you there were a few really bad ones when I was first starting out, but at least one has been redone. I also have done one dialogue. Each of these has an intro to it to kind of describe what is going on, but I think in the future that I will cut out these intros entirely because to me they seem obnoxious and awkward. Who knows, I may reupload them without the Intros someday.

Katrinonus, what is an improvisational monologue (or dialogue)?

Well, this is really simple. What I do is I'll take whatever track that I'm planning to use and play it in the background while I just get into the mood of whatever character I'm doing. Then, after I've got the idea in my head. I'll start recording for the tracks length. Just what comes to mind as far as the idea of the character goes. In dialogues it works a little different, if I'm doing it solo. I just do whatever comes to mind for each character until the idea concludes. If I'm doing it with another person, I do one line and then they do another.

EXCEPTION: The Eternal Darkness dialogues. I actually had to script the last two (when they come out) due to the fact that it was very minor changes in speech. Also, I redid two of these particular monologues because I was not satisfied with the performance.

Now, what do you base these off of?

Well, as far as that goes, I really base them off an idea I've had about a particular character and what they are thinking. Normally, something obscure or something never touched on. Sometimes, it's just a minor character I felt never truly got to express their full thoughts.

Are any of these original?

Actually, yes. At the moment, I have one original monologue that I'm extremely proud of that's from a radioplay that is currently in the writing phase. (Yes, eventually I will have auditions but I just wasn't ready to post a board about it till it is finished)

Are there spoilers?

In most cases, yes. In any case, I wouldn't suggest watching these without knowing what they come from before hand (normally games)

Now, without further adieu:

THE MONOLOGUES/DIALOGUES

FANBASED MONOLOGUES

AMERICAN MCGEE'S ALICE (3 Monologues)

After the Fire
Character: Alice
Intro End: 1:39
Music: Late to the Jabberwock from American Mcgee's Alice
Music Chosen By: Myself
Premise: Takes place before the actual game, directly after the fire. After she's gotten out of the house. Shows her thoughts and disbelief at her parents death.

YouTube- Alice Monologue 1: After the Fire!

Thoughts on this Monologue: Yes, the accent isn't proper British. I know. I'm terrible at accents to be absolutely honest. I was far too consumed in the emotion that I lost the accent. I might have been a bit too screechy in this but overall I'm happy with it.

Fractured World
Character: Alice
Intro End: 1:27
Music: Flying on the Wings of Steam from American Mcgee's Alice
Music Chosen By: Myself
Premise: During her stay at Rutledge Asylum while Alice is piecing herself back together, she reviews the truth of what everything within her mind is. Lots of this is taken from the Casebook, at least, the ideas of who I think is who is.

YouTube- Alice Monologue 2: Fractured World

Thoughts on This Monologue: One of my personal favorites, the first video I tried with effects and I probably went a bit overboard. At least I had fun, eh? Again, BAD British accent but overall I love the curious tone of it. The exploring of self. I felt that I gave off that tone very well.

My World Now
Character: Red Queen
Intro End: 0:52
Music: Queen Battle from American Mcgee's Alice
Music Chosen By: Helloween4545
Premise: The Red Queen's thoughts of the child Alice, and how she's 'fixed' Wonderland.

YouTube- Red Queen: My World Now

Thoughts on this Monologue: Overall, I like the arrogant tone, but I honestly feel I could do a lot better now on this particular piece. The laugh at the end definitely could use work.

RESIDENT EVIL 5 (2 Monologues)

What Have I Done?
Character: Jill
Intro End: 1:26
Music: Ofelia from Pan's Labyrinth
Music Chosen By: Myself
Premise: Jill still isn't quite free from Wesker's Control. It's just too easy.

YouTube- Jill Monologue: What Have I Done?

Thoughts on this Monologue: Originally not my intention for this monologue, but I did enjoy it. It's got a much more somber tone than the anger I had been going for. I did end up redoing it with the anger, however I just couldn't take this one down.

What Have I Done? (REDUX)
Character: Jill
Intro End: 1:09
Music: Selina Transforms [Cont.] from Batman Returns
Music Chosen By: Myself
Premise: Jill still isn't quite free from Wesker's Control. It's just too easy.

YouTube- Jill Monologue 2: What Have I Done? (Redux)

Thoughts on this Monologue: The beginning is gold. I love how I kept it completely in the dark for that twist that I so wanted to do. I noise removed too much in this one though. And she's just so calm throughout all of it. I'm moving too much in this one.

SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI I

Serafina Looking Back
Character: Heroine (Serafina)
Intro End: 1:13
Music: Karma from Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
Music Chosen By: RaidouFrost
Premise: The Heroine looks on all they've gained at lost at the end of Shin Megami Tensei I. Really more based off the LP done by RaidouFrost.

YouTube- Shin Megami Tensei 1 Monologue: Serafina Looking Back

Thoughts on this Monologue: I love the emotion in this one. Very subtle. Only thing I really dislike in this is that it really is based off that LP. Music might be a tad too loud in this one. Overall happy with this one though.

FINAL FANTASY VII

The Failings of a Mother
Character: Lucretia
Intro End: 1:08
Music: Sorrow from Folklore
Music Chosen By: RaidouFrost
Premise: A detailed version of Lucretia's thoughts on what is happening to her son Sephiroth.

YouTube- Lucretia Monologue: The Failings of a Mother

Thoughts on this Monologue: I felt like I was a little lost. I feel I could do this better, however I can't help but love it all the same. I think that's just because I love Lucretia's character so much.

HAUNTING GROUND

Inside, I Feel
Character: Daniella
Intro End: 3:01
Music: The Finale from Batman Returns
Music Chosen By: Myself
Premise: Daniella cannot feel taste, feel pain, or experience pleasure, but on the inside she is so much more.

YouTube- Daniella Monologue: Inside I Feel.

Thoughts on this Monologue: My absolutely favorite monologue. This was a redo of the original because I was not happy with how I did it with a cut tongue originally. So here I am reading from a script. I played so much with the emotions and the laugh. Again, not perfect but I was getting there. Not an easy laugh at all. I don't think I've heard anyone pull off as good a laugh as the original VA.

THE PATH

NOTE: Really these are my theories on the girls from The Path about their personalities because The Path is such an open game. I have no idea how to describe the Premise of these monologues.

Music is Everything
Character: Scarlett
Intro End: 1:01
Music: Nocturne in C# Minor by Chopin
Music Chosen By: RaidouFrost
Premise: Just kind of my thoughts on Scarlett from The Path.

YouTube- Scarlett Monologue

Thoughts on this one: Well, this one a lot of people have liked. Also, this was actually done off a script from the original improv because I wasn't happy with how the acting turned out. Again, here I tried to give off the selfish person I feel Scarlett is. I like it because it also shows my thoughts on music as well. This one got chosen to be featured in a musical type thing which was very interesting and beautiful.

Link to the song: YouTube- IN MY LIFE: FEATURING KATRINONUS

Hello, I'm Robin
Character: Robin
Intro End: 1:00
Music: Safe Song from The Path
Music Chosen By: RaidouFrost
Premise: My thoughts on Robin from the Path. Also, breaking the fourth wall XD

YouTube- Robin Monologue: Hello, I'm Robin!

Thoughts on this Monologue: This was more my experiment at me playing a child. I don't know how well that went over.

FINAL FANTASY X

Memories for You and Me
Character: Yuna
Intro End: 1:04
Music: In the Beginning, There Was... from Xenosaga II
Music Chosen By: RaidouFrost
Premise: I watched the ending of FFX and just was not happy with how they portrayed her in X-2. Not at all. These are my thoughts on how Yuna felt.

YouTube- Yuna Monologue: Memories for You and Me

Thoughts on this Monologue: Honestly, I have no idea. I really just wanted to portray how I felt about it and this was the best way to me.

ORIGINAL MONOLOGUES

SHADOW OF DEATH (Radioplay in Writing Process)

Freedom to Live
Character: Azrael
Intro End: 0:45
Music: Albedo's Theme from Xenosaga I
Music Chosen By: RaidouFrost
Premise: Just a kind of expansion on Azrael's feelings at the end of Chapter 15.

YouTube- Azrael Monologue: Freedom to Live

Thoughts on this Monologue: Love it! I few minor problems though. I did have one puff and I moved away from the mic once. Other than that. I loved it.

FANBASED DIALOGUES

ETERNAL DARKNESS

The Offer I Couldn't Refuse
Characters: Alex and Xel'lotath
Intro End: 2:07
Music: A Journey into Darkness, The Somme, A Purpose, and the Chosen One from Eternal Darkness
Music Chosen By: Myself
Premise: In the first ending of Eternal Darkness, Alex talks this way and I had to wonder. What happened to the Ancient that got left behind?

YouTube- Eternal Darkness Dialogue: The Offer I Couldn't Refuse.

Thoughts on this Monologue: This was my first experiment with video editing. Not too bad for a first try I thought. I captured the footage myself. I'm happy with my Xel'lotath voice but overall I felt my Alex was really weak. I'm hoping in the other two with the other Ancients that it will turn out a fair bit better.


The Offer I Couldn't Refuse
Characters: Alex (Me) and Ulyaoth (TheShadowCookie - http://www.youtube.com/user/TheShadowCookie (x) )
Music: A Journey into Darkness, The Somme, The Penchient, and the Chosen One from Eternal Darkness
Music Chosen By: Myself
Lines: Ulyaoth (Written by TheShadowCookie) and Alex (Rewritten by Myself)
Premise: In the first ending of Eternal Darkness, Alex talks this way and I had to wonder. What happened to the Ancient that got left behind?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ou7AysAnU

Thoughts on this One: It was wonderful to work on with TheShadowCookie on this. He was a joy to work with and I had a lot of fun. I made a few mistakes as far as editing goes and two cutscenes weren't muted. So I hate that!


PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The Offer I Couldn't Refuse - Chattur'gha Version


I would love critiques on these pieces of work.

Katrinonus
05-19-2010, 06:21 PM
Currently making the video for the Ulyaoth monologue. It's taking ages but it sure it fun. The Chattur'gha one will be a fair bit longer to come out due to the fact that the guy playing Chattur'gha for me is also playing The Demon from my Of Sewing Machines and Birds radioplay, and he doesn't want the two of them getting mixed up as far as voices go. So, yea.

Katrinonus
05-19-2010, 08:43 PM
Well, the Ulyaoth Dialogue is up. I was so happy to work with TheShadowCookie on this.

Katrinonus
06-04-2010, 09:50 PM
bump I would like critiques please.

Hnilmik
06-10-2010, 05:36 PM
xx; Though giving us a time for when the intro ends is a nice sentiment, I wish I saw it before sitting through the first one... Now, I will say that I'm unfamiliar with a lot of the material you posted and intro is nice to give an idea as to what's going on in what universes, but I personally would've preferred if the audio was reserved for the performance itself ("show, don't tell").

Personal preferences aside, time for critiquing one of the monologues, the first one.

I can overlook accent slips if the acting itself makes up for it. In the case of this performance, the good news is you don't do the fake screaming crap and you can project your voice. Kudos~ The bad news is that your sound quality detracts from your performance. As soon as you raise your voice, you start peaking (that audio distortion that clips how loud you can get) and it really takes me out of the moment of hearing Alice crying. My advice in addressing that is lowering the gain and/or backing up from the mic + projecting.

Now here's something that's baffling me... You were consumed by emotion, but I couldn't hear that much of a connection between Alice and her environment/whoever she's talking to. What's her relationship with her parents? Did they get along? Why would she be disbelieving their death? Is she talking to herself or her parents in the beyond? That said, the crying doesn't sound fake, but rather the potential lack of motivation/"reason" behind why Alice is crying is what makes this performance harder to believe for me.

In terms of improvisation, improv best sells people when it's "real". It's hard to explain... You can tell when someone is thinking too much about what they're going to say next and it bogs down their performance. You get a cookie for attempting to get in the characters' shoes in their respective situations though, but let's have more doing/showing than telling so your characters will be more genuine and alive.

=P Aaaaaaand I just saw that the first monologue was recorded in 2009, so here's to your later recordings nulling everything I just typed.

Cafechan
06-17-2010, 08:10 PM
Whoa, Katrinonus! I've... been watching your Rule of Rose and Haunting Ground LPs on YouTube! How funny to meet you here!

Going through and listening to a few random ones. I dig your Jill voice. Your monologue for her is so emotional! Often when going on in quiet, low voices, people begin to sound monotonous or monotone, but you pulled it off well, in my opinion.

I'm just gonna tell you right now, though, any time I (and often many other serious producers or people scouting for acting) hear a long, verbal intro in a recording, I simply close the window. If you want to have supplemental information about the recording, put it in text if possible. I'll listen to a verbal intro for about 5-10 seconds before I either try to start skipping forward to the actually acting, or else I just close it. Just to let you know, since I know that turns off a lot of producers. =) But your acting is great. I think nicer mic quality would benefit you, but it's solid overall. I'll have to listen to more of these later.