6
« on: Oct 28, 2011, 04:54 am »
I am currently working with an ASM who I am really struggling to get along with. We will call my ASM Jack.
Jack has a horrible attitude problem that I am not sure where it stems from. Throughout the rehearsal process, Jack has spent very little time in the rehearsal room despite having conversations about things I need Jack to accomplish. My director doesn't want anything to effect the energy of the rehearsal room and this particular company is big on the chain of command, so I took my complaints to the one who signs the paychecks.
Our manager said that everything needed to be in paper form (information, goals deadlines) or there was no real proof that Jack isn't doing his job. I did as our manager requested. Things were still turned in late and it was almost a fight trying to get a simple tracking sheet.
Finally, the other night. Jack was putting away props and told something could not go into prop storage because a fluorescent bulb had broken. Jack was told to store everything upstairs in the theatre. His response was that he was not going to the theatre. He was then told by the production manager that she would take care of things but to get the props out of storage because of the broken bulb.
I was working a special effects scene requiring a lot of props while this was happening. I was informed by the production manager that all the special effect props also needed to go upstairs because of the bulb. I asked my ASM to help me put away props.
Jack, already having a bad attitude because he didn't want to go up to the theatre in the first place, starting shoving props around. We loaded the elevator to get things upstairs and he proceeded to shove things out the elevators and toss things into the theatre. (these special effect props are already very delicate and can't really handle this type of manhandling) In the process, he broke several of the props.
I told him to calm down, he needed to not throw things, take a breather etc. He did not listen and just made sure everything was out of the elevator and then left without out asking me if that was it for the evening or anything else needed to happen, etc.
I called the production manager after I left the theatre. I was quite fed up by this point with Jack's attitude, it has been a constant problem for me throughout rehearsal and this was my breaking point. My production manager just blew it off and said that Jack isn't normally like that.
I'm at a loss. I'm not sure if I can work with someone who has no respect for authority or the show itself. Jack is typically an SM and not ASM and struggling not being in that position of power according to my production manager. Jack, however, was also fired from a show over the summer that he was SMing. This particular show is cue heavy, prop heavy, quick change heavy, I need an ASM who is on top of it that I can trust. This one I can't even have a conversation with without knowing if I am being lied to or not.
Any advice on what to do, who to talk to, how to handle a situation like this? I go into tech on Sunday and I'm not sure I have the patience to deal with Jack's antics anymore.