how do you evaluate a director's work?
Thu, 26 Mar 2009, 05:59 pmLisa Skryp49 posts in thread
how do you evaluate a director's work?
Thu, 26 Mar 2009, 05:59 pmI have been reflecting on my reactions to theatre that I see.
As an actor who has yet to tackle directing, I realise I generally look at things from that point of view. My observations re: lighting/set design/sound are generally minimal - unless it is particularly amazing or dreadful. Sad I know, but true.
As to the direction of a show, it is a similar thing for me; unless someone makes some very different thematic/interpretive/stylistic departure from the expected, I don't tend to notice & the lucky actors get all the credit for a great show.
To me it would seem that if a director has done a good job, no one will really notice, as the show will flow smoothly, tell the tale effectively & captivate as it should.
Just wondering - how do you evaluate a director's work? What are your thoughts on this, folks?
no real disagreement
Wed, 8 Apr 2009, 07:50 amI think that Craig and I are actually in agreement, and that the differences are more of semantics than anything else. For example, my 'content' is really identical to Craig's 'presentation', i.e. the sum total of the combined efforts of cast and crew in realising a director's vision. My 'process' is the work that goes towards making this happen. Unless the process itself is explicitly part of the theatrical production, as an audience member I don't want to know about it (unless I am there specifically to observe how the production was put together).
Returning to the shop analogy, I noted that the manager's influence is present everywhere in the shop, even though you may not ever get to see him or her. In that sense, even though the manager is physically invisible, the manifestations are observable if you look. But, restating, as a shopper, I'm not interested in these manifestations as such; I'm only interested in service.
Imagine this. I enter the shop, to be greeted by the manager.
"Good morning Mr Mike, welcome to our humble, but efficient, establishment. I'm sure your shopping experience will be most pleasant. You see, I welcome you personally. And look how nicely laid out these aisles are so that you browse in comfort. I've personally printed up these big price signs so that you can clearly see them. No fine print for you to squint, ha ha. Jenelle here will attend to you. She has many diplomas and is specially trained in customer service. She even knows how to use the EFTPOS system. You see how modern we are?"
Me: "I only came in for change for the parking meter."
Perhaps that's over the top, but I expect that there are many productions where director ego intrudes into the production.
In my younger years, when I used to be a more frequent movie-goer, two films in particular stuck in my brain: "Clockwork Ornage" and "2001 A Space Odyssey". Some years later I enjoyed the cinematographic splendour of "Barry Lyndon". I didn't realise until many years later that they were Kubrick films. The Kubrick touch totally permeated these films, and resonated strongly with me. At the time I didn't know who he was, nor did I care. That's what I'm alluding to when I talk about 'director invisibility'.