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Proposal: To assess Ian Thomsons' contribution to the changing multi-cultural community and/or the wider society.
Over-view questions: -Have Ian’s contributions been influential, in any way, to the greater community? -What has Ian done to be considered for this research assignment? (past and current achievements) -What are his aims and goals? (Excluding world domination)
It is said that art imitates life, and that life imitates art. Well here is someone that imitates neither. Ian Thomson is a student of the arts. Music, Film, and of course Drama. Ian has been involved in the area of drama for the last eight years, and the purpose of this assignment is to evaluate his contribution to the community as an artist. Interviews have been conducted not only with Ian, but also: class members, previous directors, and even the general public to try and come to some conclusion about this young aspiring actor.
We start eight years ago. Ian was an innocent grade-four boy, and had just started external Speech and Communication lessons. It was these very lessons that would build up his confidence for many years to come. To Ian, drama lessons were more than just work, they were fun. After three full years of lessons, Ian was approaching the end of his primary school career. So far his contribution to anything was very little indeed. But he would have his chance. At the end of the year, Ian was convinced to audition for a small part in a major production of Richard III that would be visiting Brisbane early in the next year. Along with two other boys from his school he was chosen.
In March of ‘92, Ian, along with Mark Reece, Sam Atwell, and Leon Murray, took part in The Bell Shakespeare Company’s Brisbane production of Richard III, set in the Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Complex. Ian Played the young Prince Edward to Mark’s York. Sam and Leon were the second set of “Princes” and both sets of boys would alternate performances. As it was, Ian and Mark were selected to perform on opening night. Ian says “It was the most frightening and yet exciting thing I have ever done.” (Performing in front of a full house at the Lyric Theatre) This experience was valuable learning for Ian, working with such actors as: Tara Morice (Strictly ballroom), Grant Bowler (Blue Heelers, Medivac), and of course John Bell.
At the end of it’s Brisbane season, Ian had contributed, in a small way, to performances which brought Shakespeare to the common man. As was the original intention. The Bell performances used a set almost epic in style, though very sparse, as if absurd. And through the use of modern day costumes in “Merchant of Venice”, provided an performance that was easy to watch.
At the end of the next year, whilst in grade-nine, Ian ceased his external drama lessons. “It’s not that I didn’t like them, it’s just that the A.M.E.B. examinations for the lessons were too rigid in structure. “They lost their element of fun.” By this time Ian had already been studying drama for a year at high school, and was finding it quite an experience. “Mrs Harrington was.....unique. She had her own way of teaching. And that way was through text-book and writing, improvisation and mime.” According to Ian, and several of his class-mates, Mrs Harrington was never in control, and this gave them a lot of room for creative mischief. However, when it came to performances, Ian found it easy. “Grades nine and ten were good learning experiences (in Drama) because they were based heavily on improvisation, and required quick characterisation that to me was a challenge.”
Once again Richard III would prove to be a public performance for Ian, this time in the title role. Directed by his friend Leon Murray, Ian took the role of Richard in “Richard III’s Revenge” a satirical comedy spoof on the original text. They performed, under the guidance of Mrs Harrington, in the Beenleigh arts festival. It was at this festival that Leon received an award for his direction, and Ian was criticised for being a little too over the top.
Leon remembers that: “Ian was easy to direct, he didn’t need it! I could just tell him what I wanted and he would do it. But he wasn’t full of himself or arrogant. To sum him up I would say that he is a guy who is committed to a project once it has started, is involved with any thing and every thing behind the scenes, and can hold himself well in front of the curtain as the lead role. He’s the driving force behind the project.”
But is that enough to contribute to society? Not nearly enough, as all interviews conducted with everyday people (the public) resulted in the question “Who?”. Obviously not a house hold name, Ian has so far contributed nothing to society as a whole or as a part.
The beginning of his senior years saw Ian finally getting a chance to study his real passion, Film and Television. He also continued with school drama lessons, and was rewarded with a better teacher than the previous. Mrs Deborah Findley was young and different. He would now actually learn technique and style, to go with his madness. But Ian was a slacker. He Failed first term drama, his poetry performance with Michael Vicig given a “D” rating. Ian says this was for a lot of reasons. “I didn’t want to be type cast from my past two years as being good at drama. Mrs Harrington had built me up as being just that, good. I didn’t like having expectations to live up to. I still don’t. But mostly it was because I am very lazy, and often leave things to the last second.”
From Ian’s failure in the first term, there were no expectations of him and he slowly started to listen to his new teacher. With maturity came an attention span, and Ian started to work. He performed many times over the next two years, although never to a crowd above fifty. His favorite performance was an extract from “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett. For this performance he and beautiful Christine Bowden played Estragon and Vladimir respectively. They both worked very hard at the Absurd style but were not rewarded.
Christine was very sick, making it difficult to rehearse. As a final result they both received high “B”s. A mark which Ian found a little harsh. “We both worked very hard, Christine and I. But I’m sure the mark was justified and I have no complaints.”
Ian’s attitude seemed to be changing. Sommer Whalley, another senior drama student found Ian to be “Arrogant and patronising, yet he has amazing creative potential. He is very determined for his future career, and knows where he is going.”
He is going in the direction of Film and/or Television production. Behind the camera. Winning a two-year scholarship to the Queensland School of Film and Television has helped set him on this career path.
Fellow Drama and Film &TV student Blake Lanham says that Ian “can remain focused at all times.” Jesse Gibson, another class-mate was less sure of Ian’s talents. “He is one of the best actors I know, when he keeps his mouth shut. He (Ian) doesn’t stop acting once the line is finished. His characterisation is very good.”
But what does this have to do with his contribution to Australia’s changing multi-cultural society? Not much! Despite glowing testimonials from his friends, Ian has not done anything to improve or better educate the community. His inability to correctly read cover-sheets has lead to some assignments that have never really touched the topic in any depth.
Like this one.
The last two years have been great. Sorry if I didn’t work that well. All the best for the future. Ian Thomson.
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