Film
| Notes from the Field |
|---|
![]() poster of HBO adaptation |
Notes from the Field (also known as Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education and Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education, The California Chapter) is a 2015 play, which was written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith.[1] The play was first presented by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, before touring and being adapted into a television movie.[2][3] It discusses issues revolving around the themes such as race, class and America's school-to-prison pipeline, to mention a few.
Background
The play is drawn from more than 200 interviews with students, parents, teachers and administrators caught in the school-to-prison pipeline.[4] Smith (the author/writer of the play) references several real-life events throughout the play, such as the death of Freddie Gray and an incident where a 15-year-old black girl was restrained by police.[5]
Structure
The play consists of two acts: during the first act, Smith introduces the people in the school-to-prison pipeline, acting as each character herself. After the interval, she invites the audience to interact through call and response, culminating in Smith asking the audience to sing "Amazing Grace".[6]
The play makes use of real-life footage, which is projected onto the walls around Smith, such as the video of a 17-year-old black girl being flung across a classroom by a white male officer.[7]
Characters
Despite it being a one-woman show, the play has Smith act as 17 different people, each one telling their own story. Smith is also joined onstage by someone playing the double bass, a role originated by composer Marcus Shelby, though it is still a solo performance.[8]
Television adaptation
Notes from the Field was adapted into a television movie by HBO and premiered in February 2018.[9] It was directed by Kristi Zea, edited by Paul Snyder, and produced by Gary Goetzman and Smith.[10]
Awards and nominations
References
