Interesting thought, Matt. The closest thing I've ever heard of is a concession being granted for video-taping of vast fight sequences in shows like "Three Musketeers" so that those fight sequences can be both notated and maintained. This video (to the best of my recollection) could only be of the specific fight sequences granted in the concession and the tape had to remain in Stage Management's posession and destroyed after a certain time period.
I'm not even sure Stage Managers on Broadway are allowed to video-tape to put a new SM into calling the show. (Someone here please correct me if I'm wrong...) My friends who have gone into calling shows have always just watched from near the calling position, made their own version of the calling script, and listened to the calling repeatedly.
That all being said, it is nice to know that I'm not the only one who can't get all the blocking changes during tech. of big shows, as I never have extra staff for such a job. It sure would be nice to have a tape for that, which I would happily destroy after updating notation.!
It doesn't hurt to ask, but, personally, I wouldn't hold my breath!
Ruth
[snip]
I am looking into asking for a concession from Equity to allow stage management to record a performance early in the run for the following purposes:
1) To allow me to update blocking that happens during tech which I am unable to get do to teching the show. (especially during tight tech moments)
2) Allow me to train an ASM or outside SM to take over a show.
Now, there is no current rule that would allow such thing. Has anyone ever asked for such a concession?