Notes from the Field

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, 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 surrounding race, class and America's school-to-prison pipeline.

Notes from the Field
poster of HBO adaptation

Background

The play is drawn from over 200 interviews with students, parents, teachers and administrators caught in the school-to-prison pipeline.[4] Smith references several real-life events throughout, 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 the room 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
  • 2017 Obie Awards for Special Citations – won[11]
  • 2018 Golden Trailer Awards for Best Graphics in a TV Spot (for a Feature Film) – nominated[12]

References
  1. "Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education at Berkeley Rep". www.berkeleyrep.org. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. "Notes From the Field". HBO. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7722000/
  4. "Anna Deavere Smith: Excerpts from Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education". Lewis Center for the Arts. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  5. Hartigan, Pattie (26 August 2016). "In 'Notes,' an education in injustice from Anna Deavere Smith - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  6. "Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education". ofa.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  7. Minamore, Bridget (18 June 2018). "Anna Deavere Smith's Notes from the Field review at Royal Court, London". The Stage. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  8. Akbar, Arifa (17 June 2018). "Notes from the Field review – searing exposé of the school-to-jail pipeline". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  9. Turchiano, Danielle (23 February 2018). "Anna Deavere Smith Depicts the 'Disturbing' Injustice of the School-to-Prison Pipeline in 'Notes From the Field'". Variety. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  10. Canfield, David (22 November 2017). "Anna Deavere Smith is bringing her essential play 'Notes From the Field' to HBO". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. "2017 | Obie Awards". Obie Awards. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  12. "GTA19 Nominees (2018) | Nominees Categories | Golden Trailer Awards". www.goldentrailer.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
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