Advice for directors
Tue, 21 Dec 1999, 02:36 pmGrant Malcolm13 posts in thread
Advice for directors
Tue, 21 Dec 1999, 02:36 pmSpotted these... er... gems on a mailing list:
> 1. Pick or write your own material.
> 2. Know the story.
> 3. Know the characters.
> 4. Do not try to find exercises for actors.
> 5. Cast well - direct less.
> 6. Trust your instincts.
> 7. Do not let actors direct other actors.
> 8. Demand that actors learn the words.
> 9. Demand the best that each actor has.
> 10. Keep your car near the rear exit on
> opening night and leave the engine running.
And if these were the 10 best bits of advice i could think of for a budding director, i think i'd leave the engine running too. I'm sure we can all do better than this.
Anyone care to submit their own? I'm going to work on one in between writing Christmas cards :)
Cheers
Grant
> 1. Pick or write your own material.
> 2. Know the story.
> 3. Know the characters.
> 4. Do not try to find exercises for actors.
> 5. Cast well - direct less.
> 6. Trust your instincts.
> 7. Do not let actors direct other actors.
> 8. Demand that actors learn the words.
> 9. Demand the best that each actor has.
> 10. Keep your car near the rear exit on
> opening night and leave the engine running.
And if these were the 10 best bits of advice i could think of for a budding director, i think i'd leave the engine running too. I'm sure we can all do better than this.
Anyone care to submit their own? I'm going to work on one in between writing Christmas cards :)
Cheers
Grant
RE: Advice for directors
Sun, 27 Feb 2000, 09:29 amWalter Plinge
10 rules for Community Theatre Directors.
1)If you must pre-cast a play either by necessity or choice,do it discreetly
2)If its a choice between putting on a sub-standard play,and cancelling the show,cancel the show,either way the theatre company will send you to Coventry,but at least you know that somewhere in this town,SOME company will let you direct again!!!!
3)If you are not well liked or supported by your peers don't even think about putting on a play in this fair city of ours ,at auditions or performances NO-ONE will come.
4)Grow an extremely THICK skin,if you can't take criticism of any kind,directing(yea even acting!!)is not for you!!!DON"T DO IT!!!!!!!
5)Be honest at all times,if an actor stinks in your opinion,say so,the person's ego may be bruised,but it can save years of wasted time on the part of someone who thinks they can,but can't ACT well,and probably will never be able to.
6)Never,Never,Never cast your husband/wife/lover/pretty young thing you're dying to get it on with in your play,your judgement is clouded from the start and you run the risk of ending your relationship as well!!!
7)Don't saddle yourself with a rotten play,if the script is a great one,it only needs a good cast to make it work,if its a real stinker it needs superb actors and even then it may fail regardless,and superb casts(by that I mean Academy Award winning material)are not easy to come by,possible yes,but not easy to come by.
8)Avoid competitive theatre(ie Finley Awards,Drama Festivals)its a hobby after all, and in the end ,in this game it all starts and ends with a bare stage,and quite frankly,I think it takes away the fun,and as most of us will only be doing this for pleasure and not payment,what's the point,it will only lead to tears before bedtime.
9)Take it as a given that if you submit to direct a season at a theatre and are unsuccessful,don't expect to be notified that you were unsuccessful,why you were unsuccessful,or even get your submitted scripts scripts back,it seems that in this day and age,those common courtesies are far too tiresome for a theatre company to bother with (Playlovers please note!!!!)
10)If in doubt,don't.
regards
TBO
1)If you must pre-cast a play either by necessity or choice,do it discreetly
2)If its a choice between putting on a sub-standard play,and cancelling the show,cancel the show,either way the theatre company will send you to Coventry,but at least you know that somewhere in this town,SOME company will let you direct again!!!!
3)If you are not well liked or supported by your peers don't even think about putting on a play in this fair city of ours ,at auditions or performances NO-ONE will come.
4)Grow an extremely THICK skin,if you can't take criticism of any kind,directing(yea even acting!!)is not for you!!!DON"T DO IT!!!!!!!
5)Be honest at all times,if an actor stinks in your opinion,say so,the person's ego may be bruised,but it can save years of wasted time on the part of someone who thinks they can,but can't ACT well,and probably will never be able to.
6)Never,Never,Never cast your husband/wife/lover/pretty young thing you're dying to get it on with in your play,your judgement is clouded from the start and you run the risk of ending your relationship as well!!!
7)Don't saddle yourself with a rotten play,if the script is a great one,it only needs a good cast to make it work,if its a real stinker it needs superb actors and even then it may fail regardless,and superb casts(by that I mean Academy Award winning material)are not easy to come by,possible yes,but not easy to come by.
8)Avoid competitive theatre(ie Finley Awards,Drama Festivals)its a hobby after all, and in the end ,in this game it all starts and ends with a bare stage,and quite frankly,I think it takes away the fun,and as most of us will only be doing this for pleasure and not payment,what's the point,it will only lead to tears before bedtime.
9)Take it as a given that if you submit to direct a season at a theatre and are unsuccessful,don't expect to be notified that you were unsuccessful,why you were unsuccessful,or even get your submitted scripts scripts back,it seems that in this day and age,those common courtesies are far too tiresome for a theatre company to bother with (Playlovers please note!!!!)
10)If in doubt,don't.
regards
TBO