A Conversation with Gianni Selvaggi (2)

Let’s jump into the second part of my conversation with Gianni Selvaggi. We continue from where we left off last time; talking about the Maltese community and the importance of keeping in contact with one another in London.

This time, Gianni discussed his thoughts about the student community, the difference between training in Malta and training abroad, and things he keeps as reminders while studying at Mountview Academy that can apply to anyone one of us in any situation.

What about your course cohort? What is the student community like?

While you can always have fun, it is still a professional environment; you must carry your weight. But you need to always be prepared to have patience and to be open with new characters. Everyone learns at a different level and has a different level of experience, so you need to empathize to that. “It’s just about being open and ready to adapt. That and being humble are the most important things. Just keep levelheaded and keep working”

And yes, you are there for your individual training and you need to focus on your individual aspect, you cannot disregard the cohort. “Sometimes your actions can impact someone’s training.”

It is important to keep an active and open conversation with each other as well as to be open to listen to and receive from others; it is key to the learning structure.

How does training in Malta vs training at Mountview Academy compare to you?

We have opportunities. We have people with different aspects of knowledge and experience who are readily available. We have the opportunity to gain experience through our exposure to stage performance here, which is a great advantage. We are able to work in different theatres and experience different kinds of audiences. Being a part of it, at least there is a form of experience; we have access to this, whether it’s amateur, semi-pro, or professional, it is still stage experience.

On the other hand, we do not have a proper training facility or institution here in terms of a Monday to Friday 24/7 training mentality; it isn’t here. We do have an educational sphere with many schools that have very versatile learning programs, especially from a young age. We are no longer looking at it as a hobby, yet there are no tiers as to how trained you are; we are all in one bucket.

We have bodies like ŻfinMalta and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra which are established but they do not offer training as such. You will get your own training with them while you are part of it, but in order to be a part of these groups, you have to already be an established performer. “When it comes down to the stage, there are opportunities for you to work and really learn, especially experience.”

Getting into community theatre abroad is fine. But in terms of the spaces itself, sometimes they’re just church halls or multi-purpose rooms.

At Mountview, they focus a lot on the actor as a whole. Aside from your knowledge and your way of conveying things, the two main instruments are your body and your voice. There are certain techniques to be looked at that will help you sustain your tools for a very long time.

It’s all helpful towards developing particular characters you are working with. “Finding your comfort zones and finding your range, then what to work on to extend that range; both movement and vocal-wise”. There are different forms of training, theories and practices one can embody to enhance their range. From here, one unit is built on another. Expanding on the skills they learn from the beginning of the year.

Something which Gianni pointed out that is covered at Mountview, which I have never heard of in practice locally, is having an intimacy coordinator. When you have a stage kiss, you coordinate it. This coordinator is like the director for that moment. “Especially after the MeToo movement, we’ve seen a shift in actor protection on stage about physical interaction”

It’s about making sure that both actors are comfortable, they talk it out and go through the steps, making sure that each one has consented and feel comfortable in what is being done. We do not see this in Malta, and it is definitely something to be discussed.

With an open mind as to set a bar and a standard, we should use it as a basis and not something to simply try to reach. But that something should always be reached, and if anything, even further than that.

Side Note: This question alone is one that can be used for many discussions, and as Gianni and I found out, it can go many ways. Here, the main points are summarized and pointed out.

What do you keep telling yourself as you attend college?

“It’s not just one thing. It’s a list that you need to keep telling yourself throughout the training because you do doubt yourself.

“They tell you right before you start, ‘We are going to break you down, to build you up again’. And they do that because they want to instil a proper discipline and a proper way of learning things. They completely strip you of your confidence.

“I’ve had many moments when I felt down because I felt like I wasn’t doing a good job. But it’s part of the process”

1. It’s a process, let it happen. Don’t doubt yourself as much. If you’re doing the work, and you’re feeling it, that’s good. It’s part of the learning process

2. Don’t feel like you’re inferior to anyone, but then don’t feel like you’re better than anyone. Everyone has their own strengths; everyone has their own weaknesses. Everyone has their own way of learning.

3. Be ready to adapt and accept. You need to be welcoming and open-minded to a bunch of different characters from different countries, walks of life, and upbringings.

4. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Being yourself is what got you in this school. They want to see more of that and expand on it. All this while being respectful and do not show off. No one wants to work with a diva.

5. Be humble. One of the main things you need to have. You do get tired and feel like giving up, but you get through it. Don’t lose the enjoyment over the way. Enjoy the experience. Accept the people around you.

6. The feedback you are given is for your own benefit. They are there to educate you. Don’t take anything to heart. Take it away, reflect on it, and see what works for you.

7. When you graduate from your course, it doesn’t mean that you finished your training. If you’ve never had training before, this is where your journey begins. If you have had training before, this is where your journey continues. It is not where your journey ends.