Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Adam807

Pages: [1]
1
Quote
I have never had a show where all actors were not requried to have signed in before the half hour call - even if they only appear in the second half of act 3 of a 3 act play. I believe it is a contractual obligation (correct me if I am wrong).


Actually, US Equity doesn't allow you to call an actor in before half hour.  So, yes, of course the responsible ones arrive slightly before, but technically they can be walking in the door as you call.

2
What on earth is a "chookers speech?"


This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard (the rule, not the chookers).  What if you have to give notes or otherwise check in with the actors, who aren't required to be there before half hour??

I could see making a REQUEST that you be in the green room at half hour, which would allow you to do your job AND be findable by others, but banishing you to the booth is just weird.

3
SMNetwork Archives / SOFTWARE: Filemaker?
« on: Nov 07, 2005, 11:37 am »
The thread on electronic calling scripts inspired this question, but I thought I'd start a new thread...

Do any of you use Filemaker for reports or anything else?  I'm really impressed by what Filemaker can do when I've seen other SMs' systems, but a) it seems really hard to learn, and b) I find its design limitations frustrating -- my reports tend to be very detailed and often go over one page.

I currently use Word for pretty much everything, as it lets me indulge my graphic design jones easily, and .doc files are easily shared across platforms.

Ideas?  Suggestions?

4
I'm a pretty big tech-head, but I find doing a calling script on the computer to be overly time-consuming.  The one time I did it was for a show that has had a couple of productions, with minor tweaks each time, so it's great to be able to just make slight adjustments to the old script, and have a backup for the future.  But mostly I use pencil and a template just for speed.

When I do use the Word method, I think I've streamlined the process pretty well.  The latest version of Word for Mac has a something called the Scrapbook, in which I've put all my pre-formatted callouts and text boxes, and I can just drag them into the script.  Still takes for freaking ever.

Anyone who does this more often have good speed tips, or a faster method?  'Cause I will say this: The end result looks damn good:

http://home.earthlink.net/~hljsm/images/callscript.tiff

5
SMNetwork Archives / A question of loyalty
« on: Nov 07, 2005, 11:18 am »
Sort of a tangent, but all the talk of ASMs made me think of it...

On the Cabaret contract here in NYC, the ASM requirement is determined not by the technical needs of your show, but by how many performances you do!  I was on a show last year that began as 3 shows a week, and then expanded to 6.  Suddenly, after not having an ASM for rehearsals, tech, and a limited run, Equity said I had to have one.  Since the show was all set up and ready to run without an assistant (and it was an easy show so this was no hardship for me - I had PAs in rehearsal), they would have had NOTHING to do.  The producers and I agreed it was silly and got Equity to waive the rule, but bizarre rules like this often put us in weird spots when it comes to assistants!

6
SMNetwork Archives / A question of loyalty
« on: Oct 24, 2005, 12:43 am »
I was in a situation this summer where Equity was the only union represented at the theater where I worked.  So not only was I being paid quite well, I'm pretty sure I was making more than my directors, and than most of the people running the company.  Many of the staff were interns or apprentices, there for free, and working absurd hours, and long overnight shifts to get the set in, the lights hung, the costumes built.  

It put me in an awkward position, because the company had signed my union contract and therefore had to abide by its rules.  But how could I complain about MY hours when my friends and colleagues were working around the clock for peanuts?  It wasn't fair and it made me uncomfortable.

Ultimately, I made judgment calls about each situation as it arose.  The main question I asked myself was Is this unreasonable?  Is this outside of what we do as stage managers?  Also, Do I have a choice?  So, when I came in seven hours early on my "daylight day of rest" during tech, I said nothing.  I knew those hours with the director and lighting designer were needed to get the show up, and the fact is I could have said no.  I knew they'd be there and wanted to be there too.  The producer never asked me to come in.  But, when the performance schedule for my first show and the rehearsal schedule for my second made it impossible for my assistant and I to split our calls and keep our hours down to what was allowed, I did put in for overtime, because the overage had been beyond my control and was theoretically avoidable.  I also kept this fact VERY quiet from all the non-union members in the room!

I recently worked on a show on a special agreement contract with a very limited (and limiting!) number of rehearsal hours allowed per week.  The director decided to stagger the actors to get more out of the week.  I called the GM and explained that I would prefer not to miss rehearsals, but as I had an assistant we could split the calls if necessary.  I basically left it up to my employer: Pay overtime, or have your PSM missing a good chunk of the rehearsal process.  I said I understood if the latter was a financial necessity.  The GM saw the benefits to having me in the room at all times, and agreed to pay.  I ONLY billed for hours that the director scheduled.  I did not include prep, or clean-up, or work I did at home, as those things are all considered "normal" stage management duties, and are why we get paid higher minimums than the actors (in this case, $12 a week, but it's all about percentages!).

Don't get me wrong – I work plenty of hours and never get paid for it.  The difference, to me, is when I'm doing my job - and when those extra hours are necessary to do it the best that I can – and when I feel I'm being taken advantage of by a producer or director.  The difference between offering to break a rule or do something extra, and being asked to.  Making a good impression versus being taken for granted.  We often tread a fine line as SMs, because so much of an Equity contract only really applies to actors.  If we rehearse until 6:00 but I have to be there for the crew call at 6:30, I don't claim a meal penalty because it's just expected and always has been.  On the other hand, if I don't have time to step out for even 10 minutes, I'm not above asking the company manager to grab me a sandwich, or slipping a receipt for dinner into petty cash.

We all make sacrifices for the job, and there is a degree to which it's expected.  Especially when we're working for good people who've been good to us, who we hope to work with again.  We pitch in and help.  We understand the limitations of doing theater.  And yet... I'm in a union, and I take that seriously.  I expect my employers to take that seriously as well.  If you don't want to follow the rules, produce non-Equity.  Sure, sometimes *I* think the rules are stupid, and sometimes I'll look the other way for the good of the show, but never if I feel like I'm being taken advantage of.  And NEVER if safety is an issue!

Marci, I'm dismayed that you would allow yourself to be physically injured for these people!  Would you ever knowingly let an actor injure herself?  Safety is part of our job, and I believe that our responsibility to protect the company (cast and crew, union and non) extends to ourselves.  There has to be a point when you, the giving, loving, mothering stage manager, have to stop and look out for yourself.  This is theater, not brain surgery.  NO ONE should be getting hurt.

As for not having an assistant, I've found there are always young people willing to work for peanuts (or nothing!) to help out and learn.  Dare I suggest posting an ad with the SMA next time?  I've had some great interns/PAs in the last couple of years when I've been without an Equity ASM.  Even if they're not great stage managers, having someone to help set up, and to send on errands can be a godsend.  As part of protecting ourselves, we have to be willing to ask for help when we need it.  Anyone who expects you to be Superman doesn't have a very good understanding of the job and all that it entails!  Hopefully you're working for people who know that asking for help doesn't equal failure.

Sorry this was a little rambly (and my first ever post here too!) but I take this stuff seriously.  It's a job, and we're employees, even though we're not quite like anybody else.  I get mad when people forget that!

Pages: [1]