Messages

511

The Green Room / Re: SM: WORST THINGS

« on: Apr 22, 2012, 06:31 pm »

The bassist replaced his clip light with one that did not have the right kind of gel.

not uncommon, they need to see. Black wrap is your friend....


and - if your director says it is his right, then he is following some form of rules. AEA rules indicate when a rehearsal schedule can be changed, how many hours during previews may be used and when they have to stop to give actors a break before 1/2 hr. You can always use those as ammunition if it becomes abusive - and if the director is late to an added/rescheduled call, then I would say that time is not eligible to be made up on the actors' backs! But the best way to counter this is always if the actors (especially the leads) can't change their schedules to accommodate him.

512

The Green Room / Re: SM: WORST THINGS

« on: Apr 22, 2012, 09:36 am »

We need to give actors time to alter things in a schedule shift - on some contracts, schedule shifts require voting or are not allowed after a certain number, and most require a notice by end of day along with the required turnaround intact. It gets frustrating when the director forgets to include the actors and SMs in the decision. And most of my recent directors have insisted they have a good sense of time but really have none when it comes to breaks - and to honoring them - and I can only do so much if the actors make themselves available to work during their down time.

But again, if the director's late, clock starts on time for breaks.

513

The Hardline / Re: On the Clock

« on: Apr 21, 2012, 09:53 pm »

(yes thank you)

514

The Hardline / Re: On the Clock

« on: Apr 21, 2012, 06:53 pm »

(believe me I will hunt that down as soon as I can - out of town with a technically insane CHILDREN'S /TYA show and that has all my focus right now)

515

The Hardline / Re: On the Clock

« on: Apr 21, 2012, 09:19 am »

Still 6. The DAY starts, but for breaks, we start the clock at, say, 10:06 and first break is either 11:01 or 11:26.

And, I remember reading a rule where we were allowed to keep the late actor to, in this case say 6:06 without penalty - I have to find that rule once I get past tech on this show so I can file it appropriately.

It's just that I have been in too many tight rehearsal schedules where there were unforeseen problems that had to be worked around.

516

The Hardline / Re: On the Clock

« on: Apr 20, 2012, 06:59 pm »

(well, always within reason, if an actor is an hour late we would have long since moved on to other things) - But, in discussion with other folks in LA, where traffic is often a factor that impacts even those who don't cut it close, if we can't start because we we are missing key actors, seems there are many who hold the clock for a short window so we can start with the intended work - especially when the cast is very schmoozy. Of course, if it's more than 10 minutes, we find something else to work on. But if the cast is here and the director is late, clock starts at call.

517

The Green Room / Re: SM: WORST THINGS

« on: Apr 20, 2012, 09:44 am »

my "rule of thumb" - If cast is late, clock starts when the cast is here. If the director is late, clock starts when the cast is here.

518

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS : Biscuits

« on: Apr 19, 2012, 11:46 am »

oops yes you are right - in the UK a biscuit wd be a cookie, but here in the US it is, indeed, a proper biscuit - scones are close, if that's easy to access.

519

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS : Biscuits

« on: Apr 19, 2012, 10:54 am »

My understanding is more along the line of cookies - and in particular, you can easily get something along the lines of Digestives or other MacVities biscuits to put out if they need to eat them (delish!). Cheap local Arrowroot baby cookies are a good stand-in if you don't have access to British products.

520

The Green Room / Re: SM: WORST THINGS

« on: Apr 19, 2012, 09:45 am »

I agree - hate the hyperlinks, and no matter how many times I instruct my document to leave the formatting "normal", it still defaults to hyperlinks. ARGHHH! And even then I change the typeface to a non-hyperlink format, sometimes it still lives as a live link, so fixing typos is a royal pain.

521

Employment / Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?

« on: Apr 13, 2012, 09:35 pm »

Have you done a search? There are a couple of threads where this is discussed.

http://smnetwork.org/forum/stage-management-other/stage-management-tv/msg11661/#msg11661

Look around, see who has transitioned (or talked about it) and those folks might be good jumping off points for you - and yes, I know a few SMs who have transitioned and according to them, it pays a WHOLE lot better - but you are also on the producer's team rather than the performer's, and the work is far more tech than artistic. 

522

The Hardline / Calling all SPT stage managers

« on: Apr 13, 2012, 10:16 am »

I am working on a presentation relating to the SPT vacation rules and how it is impacting hiring practices, especially in smaller, lower-tier companies where there are finite runs and/or long breaks between productions. Initially, I directly contacted folks I knew, but this time the discussion is, as it should, going national. If you work on SPT at any level, would you please PM me so I can ask you some questions and include your input and experience in my presentation?

And of course, asap so I have time to make this presentation coherent!

Thank you

Pat

523

Tools of the Trade / Re: Prop: Drugs on stage

« on: Apr 12, 2012, 04:07 pm »

My "Stanley" in Streetcar did the same, but he has an addictive behavior and follows a modified version of the method so it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that he is still smoking some 15 years later....

524

The Green Room / Re: SMASH - the TV series

« on: Apr 12, 2012, 12:58 pm »

The fact that they have Kat McPhee as the better choice vs Megan Hilty already tells you how much reality they are willing to face. I am watching too - but so much is wrong, from the assistant (who steals Messing's notebook and she doesn't notice/they don't turn the house upside down and get suspicious when he miraculously returns with it found in a totally illogical place?) to the whole workshop in this day and age being purely pre-Bway, not even an out-of-town tryout. And I can name you dozens of brilliant actors who did the workshop and weren't picked for the Bway run until the star ran out their contract, none of whom disintegrated by returning to chorus work. Health weeks are health weeks.

I agree, it's fun. And so glad they are letting all the Bway folk sing. And at least they HAVE an SM - no asst, no work other than timing, but an SM (who, yes, somehow is never in prodn meetings or gathers w the producer, director, writers...) - I might add, where is the design team? Costumes, sets, lights, sound - and OMG props!

525

Tools of the Trade / Re: Prop: Drugs on stage

« on: Apr 09, 2012, 01:57 am »

Thanks....we solved it by making a mix of herbs that smells like pot (tho most assuredly is not) and the adult actor actually lit it up and they both smoked it (directorial preference - sigh)

and yes, sage and mint mixed makes a most excellent pot aroma....