Photos of the Level 1 Batch 23 are available here. Photos taken by Chandrahasa Reddy
Photos of Level 1 Batch 23 during their workshop sessions(work in progress) available here. Photos taken by Students of Level 1 Batch 23
Shobha H: shobhaah at yahoo dot com
From our childhood , we have been told to behave in a certain way, given a particular situation. OOOps I I know I have been following this for years … no can’t tell you since when …… and one fine day everything changed ….??? ??….. I enrolled for Misfit. It made me clearly see many facets of myself.
Being part of Level 1 course was a wonderful experience. We were made to cruise through the course effortlessly , enjoying every moment of it. This made me eagerly, look forward to these weekend sessions.
I was so deeply stuck in my comfort zone for so long that getting into various characters during acting gave me supreme pleasure. It is amazing how our guru was able to strike perfect balance at fun infused yet disciplined learning. Believe me! we were made to work real hard! Until I started attending these sessions, I never knew, I had so much juice left in me even after an entire week at office!
Thank you Misfit! for the wonderful experience.
Sanjukta Venkatesh: sanjukta dot venkatesh at gmail dot com
In a world where I otherwise spend 90% of my time trying to compete with others in order to make a mark,I discovered that acting is all about competing with myself to be recognised and appreciated. M!SFIT and Ratan have taught me to look within, to see myself in a new light and to realise that success is largely about competing with oneself in order to attain excellence, rather than focussing on what others are doing. Thank you M!SFIT and Ratan in particular for facilitating this realisation through the medium of acting. Ever in your debt!!
Vinay
Misfit Theatre Training Programme has been one of the best things to happen for me.
I didn’t have any previous knowledge or experience of theatre, but I feel that I am in the right hands to get trained and think of a certain career in theatre.
Ratan, your teaching is awe-inspiring and I always look forward for the classes. The best thing of your training programme is that you make us want to learn more.
I would request you to add visuals of your previous performances to the existing circular, so that it would help your students immensely.
“Theater is so endlessly fascinating, because it’s so accidental. It’s so much like life.”
Vamsi Krishna
As Peter Norvig delineates beautifully in http://norvig.com/21-days.html, nothing can be mastered in one month, and this one month acting workshop is no different. Nevertheless, importantly it does set the path on the right note, because, techniques taught (also, in a way, understanding motivations/background for these techniques) in this workshop not only made me realize the difficult nature of “in-the-moment” acting, but also the importance of behind-the-screen efforts. Because of an amazing teacher and very talented peers, learning curve is really great. One of the fascinating parts is to experience losing and discovering myself simultaneously during the workshop time and again. I really hope these experiences and learnings go beyond the workshop.
Sarbajeet
“Just imagine you are a small kid, you want a toy badly , you have the deepest desire and you think if you don’t get it, it will be the end of the world.
You ak for it , beg for it, force and cry for it …..but , fail . One day you see on your birthday that toy is kept next to you ……….
Can you feel it , yes it’s the same feeling I got every time I attended this workshop…..If someone is really passionate about this field I belive he/she will experience the same feeling.”
I have nothing more to express…..
It’s been a pleasure knowing u Ratan.
Sushama
After a hunt for a ‘good’ acting class for about six months, i got into MISFIT. i was sure, misfit would help me enhance my acting skills, but never know that acting involves technicalities. the learning process in MISFIT is not confined to acting, it has helped me to be a better person and also to get back into my lost interests with better potential!
Shameem
MISF!T..L1-B23..thats my identity for u all. Many who dont believe in destiny, its for them: “My destiny
brought me here”. Many of my MISF!T batchmates & senior pals have written so-so much about MISF!T workshop, that there’s nothing left for me to unveil. But what i can say about, is the Man behind it: SIR Ratan Thakur Grant. yes, u read it correct, i really mean it.
Even after nearly two month of workshop, i still dont know what kind of person he is! But yes, i know
very well, what LEVEL of MENTOR he is. He is not a teacher..”do this.. do that. .dont do like this”.. He is just
a guide, a mentor..to make u discover what u can do. And u can do all, that he makes sure.
Vasanth
Okay,where do i start,i did L1 twice,First time when i did L1 ,i was arrogant and not willing to listen to any inputs that use to come towards me.I was completely shut off.
I took it very lightly and the lessons that i learnt aftermath were very gud and heavy.
Preparation is the Key.
So i went all round trying to fool myself into thinking that i never did a mistake and all the other ppl around me were at fault and did not understand me.Then when i went to other places i saw that people were very selfish and not giving as teachers.The teacher has to be selfless for the student to grasp all the aspects of the subject,especially acting.
There are hordes of places ppl can go and not know what it is to get into the character,not that i know to the fullest.I now have an idea as to what the subject is about.The foundation has been provided here in the place called misfit.
I am grateful that ratan took me back 2nd time around and had the patience to teach a brat like me.This time i understood better as to why those exercises were conducted and what purpose it had.L1 is not L1 its an understatement,they dint name it as L10000 since it would be complicated so put it as L1.
There are lot of things a person can learn from this course, whatever the technique an actor uses Lee strasberg,Stanslavsky the technique is about ‘GIVING”.If u aint givin,u aint getting nthing back …This is the learning that got engraved in me.Now i have to put it to use in any kind of situation.
Ratan
As a person phenomenal where he respects ppl without indifference,of course if u meet his bad side good luck’:-)
He has imbibed a lot of good qualities in me and that is helping me everywhere .
He provides the belief that all of us are have inborn talent,which is billion percent true,but which teacher would tell a student that he already has it,but it needs honing to make it better.
He understands people very well and doesnt judge ppl at all,bcoz people react to situation and build themselves based on the framework of life they have been put into.
My Kids will be different and the values and principles that i would imbibe or way i would bring them up would be completely different.They will have a head start in lot of things .
My whole generation will change bcoz the learning that i have taken from this L1 workshop has made me a stronger,Kinder and makes me want to love more people.
I going to pay it forward,It stops with me,That is all the negativity coming from ppl stops with me,whatever that comes i will try my level best to give back in a positive way.I dont want any negativity hanging in my head,i have made that decision alright,iam tired and sick of feeling upset and angry all the time.i want to be that naughty kid who drops Underwear in the well once more or throw water on the maid for fun.
So i let go of all the past experiences and iam ready start afresh.
Kshema
I like the flow in which its going. Some elements that significantly stand out for me is that we get feedback on our work almost instantly and precisely, the team is together the entire time so there is that space provided to know each other better. And Rathan , you give us a great direction of thought .
I sometimes feel the need to have some challenging tasks to do, though there are quite a few we do already, it’s one thing to come up with something(character , story , blocks,etc..,) on your own and an entirely different thing when an observer watches our comfort zones and gives us the challenge .
For instance, if I had an issue around shuffling, I could be given a scenario where that would be tested.
