Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: What did you learn today?

« on: Jul 23, 2010, 11:27 am »

That it is a far better strategy to give people alternative choices than tell them "no". It's like saying yes, but you're actually confining them to options you think are viable.

17

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Anyone else using Google Sites?

« on: Jul 09, 2010, 01:28 pm »

I used Google Sites to set up virtual callboard for my last show. I used it to post rehearsal reports, a contact list, a script (it was in development) a weekly rehearsal schedule and a calendar. I think it was pretty successful, although there were a couple of members of the production team who still wanted rehearsal reports emailed each night - I just set up a separate email list to those select few.

My company is very tech savvy so I'm lucky in that people are already used to going online to check things. It wasn't a huge transition for us. I did hear that people appreciated having a central location for all information. And I appreciated receiving fewer calls asking when designers could stop by

I would call it a success - and I'm planning on using the same system for our next show.

18

Stage Management: Other / Re: Blocking Notation for Movement Show in Development

« on: Jun 22, 2010, 01:16 pm »

Thanks for the good ideas. I wanted to follow up on the post and let you know what we ended up going with, in case anyone else is curious.

My professor had an awesome suggestion that we type out the characters actions narratively - like stage directions in a traditional script or screenplay. And then we will write blocking notes into the action just as you would on a traditional script.

Luckily, since I wrote the last post we've had a writer join the production team, so I think I'll pass along the bulk of that task to him!

19

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Labtop vs. Pencil and Script/Notepad

« on: Jun 22, 2010, 01:07 pm »

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.

20

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Mentorship Program

« on: Jun 01, 2010, 03:22 pm »

This sounds like such a great idea! Stage Management is often such a lonely job, and one of the biggest benefits of a graduate program is peer support and mentorship. I'd be down!

21

Stage Management: Other / Blocking Notation for Movement Show in Development

« on: Jun 01, 2010, 01:55 pm »

Hello!

I'm a first time poster and budding SM - but have been lurking around for a while. This forum has been so helpful when I have questions or need advice!

My company does work we call "hypertheatrical" - a blend of traditional theatrical traditions, like mask and puppet work, with modern technology, like projected animation, complex sound design, and special effects. We’re very production-based.

We are currently in the workshop phase of a movement/tech based show. There is no dialogue or script but it’s not really a dance show, because the movements are not count-based, or set specifically to music (though the entire show does have pretty constant underscoring). I guess if I was going to compare it to anything, I would say it’s most like a clown or mime piece. Plus masks and giant puppets.

So, my question is – does anyone have experience with notating blocking or building a “script” for something like this? My assistant and I are basically just writing down really detailed blocking notes, but I think it’s a bit overwhelming to refer to because there is no dialogue to break it up. Right now it looks like a novel. And, this document will eventually become the document from which we call cues.

Anyone have similar experience or tips? I looked around the forum some, but couldn't find any similar posts.

Thanks!