An ordinary classroom project eventually turned into an unforgettable journey of creativity, teamwork, and self-expression. During our English Literature drama project, each group was challenged to create a stage performance inspired by a movie of their choice.  My group decided to adapt Tinggal Meninggal, a film directed by Kristo Immanuel and transformed it into our own theatrical performance. Through this project, I not only learned more about literature and storytelling, but also experienced what it truly feels like to become a character on stage.

Our group chose Tinggal Meninggal because we believed the film had a very unique concept compared to most movies.  One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how the main character directly speaks to the audience, creating a personal and interactive storytelling style. We found this approach creative and engaging, which inspired us to develop our own adaptation while still preserving the originality and emotional depth of the story.

In our performance, I was given the role of Gema, the main character. Playing as Gema became a completely new experience for me because this was my first time acting seriously in front of the audience.  Gema is portrayed as someone who struggles with social interaction.  He often feels anxious and panics easily when talking to other people.  He also tends to mumble or talk to himself.  In the drama, Gema frequently shares his thoughts and feelings directly with the audience, which made the role even more challenging because I had to maintain both emotional expression and audience connection at the same time.

The preparation process required a lot of effort and teamwork.  Before starting the rehearsals, our group held several script reading sessions to better understand the storyline, the emotions of each character, and the flow of the performance.  During these sessions, I tried to study Gema’s personality deeply so I could portray his awkwardness and anxiety very naturally.

After the script reading sessions, we continued with blocking rehearsals. This was where we practiced movements, stage positioning, and scene transitions. Since Gema’s personality is socially awkward and nervous, I needed to pay close attention to my body language and facial expressions.  I practiced avoiding eye contact, reacting nervously during conversations, and creating small gestures that reflected Gema’s anxious personality.  Besides memorizing the script, I also spent time practicing tone of voice and emotional delivery, so the character would feel convincing on stage.

Throughout the preparation process, our group also faced several difficulties, such as adjusting rehearsal schedules, improving scene timing, and making sure every performance detail matched the story we wanted to deliver. Despite these challenges, every group member continued supporting one another and worked together seriously to improve the drama.

One of the most unexpected challenges happened during the final performance itself. There were several moments when I suddenly forgot parts of my script while being on stage. However, instead of panicking completely, I tried to stay calm and improvise naturally according to Gema’s personality.  Since Gema is portrayed as an anxious and awkward character who often hesitates and overthinks while speaking, I used those moments to remain in character by acting confused, pausing for a moment, and responding spontaneously.  Surprisingly, this made the performance feel even more natural because the nervousness I experienced matched Gema’s personality perfectly. 

Looking back on this experience, this drama project taught me many new things beyond simply performing on stage.  Through the role of Gema, I learned how acting is not only about memorizing lines, but also about expressing emotions and making the audience truly understand what a character is feeling.  More importantly, this project became one of the most memorable experiences for me because it was a long and meaningful journey shared with my group members.            

We went through many phases together, from staying up late finishing the script, practicing scenes repeatedly, attending script reading sessions, creating props, and gathering at friends’ houses for rehearsals.  Even though the process was tiring at times, I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it.

The laughter, deep talks, teamwork, and challenges we experienced together made this project feel incredibly special and unforgettable for me.

Dokumentasi: Tim Dokumentasi