Labtop vs. Pencil and Script/Notepad

[missliz]

I am a script supervisor who is becoming interested in Stage Management.  I used to notate all my scripts on set by hand, but then transitioned to using a tablet computer.  I fully feel that a tablet would be perfect in this field as well.  It is a computer that you can write on.  I use to for all of my forms and notes.  The computer can even translate handwriting into text.  Using architectual  software, I can create diagrams of the set to scale and move around the objects and make blocking notes without typing.  What do you all think of this technology?

The tablet computer makes more sense, to me, in that you can write and draw and it converts it all. It seems like the equivalent of scanning the script.

[MatthewShiner]

I think the technology is interesting - and although I still think that the computer is a big distraction in the rehearsal hall - I think this would be something better for an event - where you have one change at taking the blocking and that's it - and there is little to no chance of it changing.

Any sort of blocking notation on the computer would need the following things.

1) Ways to tie it to text, or other stage notation in the script.
2) Ways to edit on the fly
3) Ways to backup old blocking
4) Easy way for someone to read (unless you want to spend every break flipping through your tablet computer to give actors blocking)
5) Allow you to do groups of people as well as individuals (Like French Army, as opposed to solider #1, #2) . . .

I just don't think blocking ever goes SO fast that the time and effort put into an electronic version is going to be a huge time/money savor.

Like many Stage Management programs, the individual styles of stage managers versus the small market for such an item doesn't seem to make it make a lot of sense.

But, I am an old timer . . .

[jbarbato]

"Any sort of blocking notation on the computer would need the following things.

1) Ways to tie it to text, or other stage notation in the script.
2) Ways to edit on the fly
3) Ways to backup old blocking
4) Easy way for someone to read (unless you want to spend every break flipping through your tablet computer to give actors blocking)
5) Allow you to do groups of people as well as individuals (Like French Army, as opposed to solider #1, #2) . . ."

I know I keep posting here without having SM a show yet, but for the films I've worked on in the past, my tablet fits all of those criteria.  I use a software called Bluebeam Revu.  It is wonderful. 

It all comes down to personal preference though.  I don't mean to place a plug here...but, if anyone wants to see how I use this program to script supervise (it has many overlaps in the notes with SM) you can check out my site a newbielink:http://www.scriptonset.com [nonactive].  You don't have to, but if you would like to know what I'm talking about it's all there.

[BenTheStageMan]

For me, I'd rather take blocking by hand, combining diagrams and shorthand blocking notes.

I have, however, used a computer to take blocking notes on two show's I've done.  One was a compilation of monologues that only had blocking between each monologue (Actor 1 returns to seat, actor 3 steps up to microphone).  I was given the script in .doc and so I just typed in blocking information in italics and parentheses like you see in published scripts.  I also used that show as an experiment in calling from a laptop, inserting cues as call-outs in Word, etc.  I think it worked well, though if it were a longer run (more than the 2 performances) I would have definitely printed the script out for calling.  Instead I just used the script from cue-to-cue with handwritten cues in it as a backup while actually reading off the laptop screen.  The whole thing was an experiment and I wouldn't necessarily do it for every show.

The only other time I took blocking in a laptop was for a show that I worked on for a church celebrating its 300th anniversary.  They had written a play about it, and there was a significant amount of stage direction in the script already (italicized and parenthesized).  I simply added blocking as we went, typing in blue, and emailing the script to the writing team (including the director) after each rehearsal.  Each week, they looked over the changes, changed the font color to black if they approved, and a new script was published.  They also changed dialogue and whatnot over time, and communicated that to the cast as well.  But my digital blocking was what worked best for the situation and my work fitted in with what they needed from me.

So, while I prefer taking blocking by hand with a pencil on a script, there are situations when typing blocking works just fine for me.

[jaredinlights]

I usually type my scripts. 

However, I do not type blocking annotations until later.  I always take notes on paper first, then type it all in later.  I feel that the computer is a huge distraction to the rehearsal process for a stage manager. Some people say that I do double the required work, but I find that this helps me to memorize and understand things. 

[ZacAttack]

In rehearsals I use a mix of laptop and paper and pencil.  My script is in my book, all the blocking, notes, etc. I keep in there.  I've played with using my laptop for that but it wasn't for me, like many others here I draw diagrams and just feel I can work faster when actually writing the blocking by hand.

But I always have my laptop out and open.  The days rehearsal report is open that way I can quickly make note of things that come up in rehearsals and if for any reason I need to edit any other form I have all of them on there.  Many of you have mentioned the danger of having a crash etc. but I've found a way around that by using a cloud service.  All of my documents are saved on a cloud that I can access from any computer with internet access as well as being saved on the laptop.  This helps cut down on the actual amount of "paper"work that I carry around and have to keep track of.

As for distractions, I can see the temptation, but I've never had a problem with it.  I always keep myself engaged in rehearsals, I am very interested in acting/directing so I always like to see how the actors develop, how the director works with them, etc. 

[LizzG]

Hey all - though I've been reading posts on this site for awhile, this is my first post....so here goes!

I like FallenRain, am surprised that so many stage managers have such an aversion to using a laptop in the rehearsal room.

I take blocking with pencil and paper, but use my laptop to keep track of notes that come up for the rehearsal report.  At the end of the night, I still review the report before I send it out in case there were changes during the rehearsal, and to put ideas together (like missliz said), but it really cuts down on the time I spend each night putting the report together.  It is also very amazing at helping me to take accurate line notes in the case that I don't have an ASM.

I keep my laptop closed until I need to use it and then close it again (or rather keep it mostly closed so it doesn't take awhile to load), so there is no confusion about what I am doing on the laptop and no problem with not being present in the rehearsal room.  I've never heard any complaints about the keyboard noise as my keyboard is pretty quiet as long as you don't bang on the keys.

As far as getting distracted by facebook or other things, FallenRain said it well.  We are Stage Managers and our job requires us to multi-task and be on point at all times.  If one can't multi-task or avoid distractions while using the computer, then one probably can't do it with pencil and paper.

[Mae]

I am from a younger generation (not so technically inclined though) and just starting out, but I would have to agree with the majority. That it gets distracting being on the computer and you lose focus for people who are trusting you to be focused during the entire rehearsal. Plenty of times when I think I have downtime while the director and actors are working, the director will shout to write something down and I try and pull up the notes I should put them in (time consuming if not readily available) and, at least when I get to it, I may forget what he said. Then it is embarrassing when you have to go back and ask them to repeat it when you should have been paying attention in the first place 

[Thespi620]

OK, I now have to amend my previous input on this thread.  I just finished working on a new script that changed significantly from rehearsal to rehearsal, and I saved myself a lot of time & hassle switching to electronic blocking notes.  With a .pdf script, I annotated blocking notes in the Left margin and used the highlight function to take line notes, then I marked cuts with strikethroughs until a new script version was available.  When new drafts came out, I just copied pages that hadn't changed into the new pdf and continued from there.

I still printed out a paper copy of the final script for cues, and wouldn't be able to call from a computer screen, but I found the pdf very useful for blocking notes.

It also helps that our rehearsal spaces rarely had internet access, so I was never in danger of distraction, but I still found it useful to have that info electronically.

[MatthewShiner]

And there is also the flip side to all of this . . . how are you perceived when working on the lap top.

If your lap top is open and you are typing on it, does it look like you are paying attention to the rehearsal?  Does it seem like you are engaged?  Sometimes, you can be working on the show, but look like you are not paying attention, which is distracting.

Also, to some directors and actors, the sound of typing drives them up the wall. 

It's easy to feel engaged when working on the lap top, but the actual act of typing can be distracting and you can be viewed as not paying attention.

Sometimes it is about perception.

[sgoldsbo]

I just read through this whole thread - what an interesting topic of conversation!

I think MatthewShiner's point about perception is a really good one - the SM needs to have a handle on what is going on at all times. Although I also think another user had a good point - anything can be distracting in rehearsal. A laptop isn't distracting in and of itself.

I have a tablet PC too and although I haven't used it yet to take blocking, I bought it with that purpose in mind.

One huge advantage I could see to keeping blocking and script changes electronically is being able to share it with the pertinent people instantly. My theater company runs off of Google Docs, and we find it really useful to all be able to access up-to-date documents whenever we need to. We are also a really tech-heavy company and use email and texting to communicate all the time, so it's not a shift for us at all.

We develop all of our work from the ground up, a lot of it is movement and mime based and occasionally we start the rehearsal with no text-based document (ie a script) - so it's especially important for the key players to have instant access to notes were taken in rehearsal.

[late_stranger]

I think I will always use a paper script and pencil. I'm young but not really good with computers beyond basic functions. Also, I use tons of little pictographs and diagrams in my notes. If I had a tablet that I could draw on and have it save those drawings directly to the document, I might use that, but otherwise, I need the versatility of paper. You can write in any size, in any color, in any direction or format. Probably people better with computers can do this easily too, but I am not one of them.

[Jonas_A]

In regards to taking blocking down using a laptop, If you can get your hands on a tablet laptop, give that a shot. I've found that using a combination of 'inking' and typing gets down everything fairly easily with a minimum of mess. However, if you don't have a tablet of course it won't work for you, and to be really honest I'd much rather stick with a sketchbook and a set of coloured fineline pens - it doesn't need a power cable for a start!

[Jlong]

I always take my blocking in paper form, however I do have my laptop open and ready, I find it handy if the director has any questions. "What Props do I have in this scene?" Or "Whats that song from the 60's with that guy... you know 'wild something'?" or "how do the Canadian military salute?" I also sometimes get some Minor Sound effects for rehearsal (Phone rings etc that I run out of Itunes)

If the run is long enough I will type the confirmed blocking into a digital script.

Edited for language-- Bwoodbury

[MusicTheatreSM]

I do all my blocking the good old fashioned way on pen and paper. I block short handed and it is faster for me to block with paper and pen and look up things for actors than to scroll though a digital script.

That being said, I do all my paperwork on my laptop. I have my rehearsal report open for the day to take notes down, I keep my contact list, prop list, quick change list all on my computer. I can transfer all this to my smartphone and run off if it back stage. I can't post anything to the wall of the theatre space I currently work in because it is a rental. We have no board for things to get posted and I cannot leave semi-permanent things backstage because it is a multi-functional space. So, for me, having my paperwork digital and accessible on my phone was the best answer. My script is all my blocking and cues notes though. It is easier for me to talk to actors and directors and reference on the paper what things are happening when. Also, when there is a break and an actor wants to look at my script to check something, they can.

I do use my laptop for other communicating though. On occasion I have been sent the files for the playbill and such and I can open the digital files and have actors read through and check things and make sure it is okay. I prefer my designers contact my over e-mail/text message instead of barging into the rehearsal room and interrupting a scene.

The options have to be weighed on which is a bigger distraction, but since I don't use the laptop constantly and have never been asked to close it, that the way I divide what I use the laptop for and what I do the traditional way works for me and the people I work with.

I have used my laptop to read a script when stage managing a staged reading. I was e-mailed the scripts in PDF form, and given a few hours of rehearsal and then the show was a 1 time thing. In this case, printing out a script for blocking wasn't necessary. I kept the digital copy of the script, made light/sound cues that were used in a small notebook with page #s and lines references. Since it was a staged reading, there was no blocking. I would never do that for a full production though.