Messages

736

The Green Room / Lord of the Ring musical- National Geographic docmentary

« on: Oct 01, 2012, 09:22 pm »

Something fun I stumbled across a few years ago- National Geographic did a documentary about the musical version of Lord of the Rings at the West End. It's available in 6 parts on Youtube. The audio's not fantastic but it's an interesting peek at a large-scale musical. If it isn't already obvious, I'm a huge nerd for documentaries.


First part is below- other parts can be found via a quick youtube search:

737

Uploaded Forms / Re: Blocking notation

« on: Sep 29, 2012, 06:17 pm »

Blocking slipsheet attached (Excel).

738

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: BLOCKING: Looking for Examples of Blocking Pages

« on: Sep 29, 2012, 03:03 pm »

Sure, will post after the matinee.

EDIT: Posted in "Uploaded Forms." It's an Excel file. I don't use lines myself, but it's really easy to put them in if you like them. I use the minigroundplan at the top for reference but my actual blocking notation is done in the white space below.
Post Merge: Sep 29, 2012, 06:29 pmIn reading this again, I think I misunderstood what you were asking for, SMeustace. Are you looking for the blocking itself, or the blocking sheet?

739

Employment / Re: Resume Format

« on: Sep 27, 2012, 04:49 pm »

I did have one more question you guys might be able to help with. I have heard some people say to put my references at the bottom but others have told me just to put "References available upon request." Which one do you do and why? If I put my references at the bottom, what is the format? Name, title, email?

If I am sending my resume to someone, I include references (Name, Title, Company, work phone #, and email). If I was to post my resume on a public forum like a job website, I would remove the references and put "References available upon request" instead. I think we've talked about this in a different thread, but when sending a resume to someone, having the references right there on your resume cuts out one step and makes it that much easier for the person doing the hiring.

740

Employment / Re: Resume Format

« on: Sep 26, 2012, 12:37 pm »

For me, an Excel file saved as a pdf.

741

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Blood Recipe

« on: Sep 20, 2012, 11:37 pm »

GradSM, I saw a fight choreographer that I work with a lot today (and who has done many, many blood effects) and asked him this question. He said that there is a kind of blood designed to go in eyes, called Kryolan, but it is expensive and more like eye drops (it can create an effect of someone crying blood). His suggestion was to create something with light corn syrup and jello or kool-aid powder, thinned if needed. It really depends on what the blood needs to do- spray, drip, etc.

My current show uses Reel blood, original version, thinned with water and it sprays in actor's face without bothering his eyes, but it is not designed to get in your eyes- the bottle instructions says to flush eyes if you get any blood in them. It is a little sticky but not hard to wash off of scenery, and comes out of clothes with soap and a little OxyClean.

742

Tools of the Trade / Re: stopwatches?

« on: Sep 18, 2012, 05:43 pm »

I'm looking at mine now- it's a Sportline model 221. It has an alarm but I never use it and haven't had trouble with it going off accidentally. I've had it for a couple of years. It's listed at 18.50 on Amazon.

743

Stage Management: Other / Re: Tosca Recording

« on: Sep 17, 2012, 04:48 pm »

If you have any way of contacting the maestro who will be conducting your production I would ask them which recording they recommend.  They will usually have one in mind that will be similar to the tempos that they plan on using, which can vary wildly from recording to recording.

I second babens' suggestion, and also recommend checking out your local library for recordings. 

744

The Green Room / Re: Home Brewing

« on: Sep 17, 2012, 01:37 pm »

I haven't tried it but my brother brews his own beer- I get to enjoy it whenever there's a holiday or family get together! It's really easy to shop for him at Christmas- I've gotten him different kits, a book about home brewing, and a leather re-usable six-pack.

Have fun with your kit!

745

The Green Room / Re: Relief from insomnia

« on: Sep 17, 2012, 01:05 am »

I'm the same way- I have no problem going to bed early and getting up early if it's my everyday routine, but when my schedule switches back and forth a lot I struggle to get enough sleep and I end up doing the same thing you do. (Especially right after a show- it takes me a few hours to 'wind down' enough to sleep- my mind circles through everything that happened that day and I end up getting more wound up and unable to sleep.)

A cup of chamomile/herbal tea helps me. I've also found if I can get in bed and read a book for 20 minutes, that's usually enough for me to relax and get drowsy. (Without TV or other electronics in the room). My last ditch method is to listen to a movie on my ipad with my headphones in- something that I have seen many, many times- and I can relax and sleep.

746

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: BLOCKING: Blocking notation and stage spikes for 2-level set

« on: Sep 15, 2012, 02:38 pm »

In productions I have done with two levels we have taped the second level in a different color on top of the first level. On the first day of blocking I talk the actors through what is taped out (i.e. "there is a spiral staircase here- you have to make 2 complete circles to get to the second level. The SR door swings both directions but the SL door only swings towards offstage.") There are ways to indicate this with tape but I find that briefly talking through it clears up a lot of potential confusion.

If you have room in the rehearsal space to tape out the second level behind the first, that could work too. (Depending on the set- some sets that might prevent the director from seeing the actors on the second level, if there are folks on the first level). It might not be a bad idea to ask your director if he/she has a preference. The actors are going to have to get used to actually having stairs when you move to the theatre no matter what, so whichever option you go with, make sure that the actors are aware of the distance they need to travel and how to get there.

I'm also at a bit of a loss as to how I can notate the blocking. I'm pretty sure the method of simply putting the second level behind the first will work well for that, I just want to be sure-what do ya'll think?

That sounds like it would work fine- you should do what makes sense for you. I also use underlining to indicate blocking on a second level or platform. "Joe x DS" indicates that he's crossing downstage on a platform or level.

747

The Green Room / Re: The Ring Cycle on PBS this week

« on: Sep 12, 2012, 10:15 pm »

I think comparing Sing Faster and Wagner's Dream is so interesting. So little has changed even with the massive upgrades in technology!.

(Sidenote: They screened Wagner's Dream at Silverdocs this year, MB)

Ha! Awesome, I can't believe I missed it then!

748

The Green Room / Re: The Ring Cycle on PBS this week

« on: Sep 11, 2012, 01:46 pm »

Yes- maybe they will rerun it soon.

749

The Green Room / The Ring Cycle on PBS this week

« on: Sep 11, 2012, 02:12 am »

PBS is airing the four operas of the Ring Cycle (the Robert Lepage production at the Met) this week on "Great Performances". There's a great documentary on right now about the making of this production and all of the automation used. Really interesting!

Side note- If you haven't seen "Sing Faster: The Stagehand's Ring Cycle" check it out- it's a documentary about another production of the Cycle- focusing on the crew and the backstage operations- and is really fun to watch.

750

Stage Management: Other / Re: Circus

« on: Sep 11, 2012, 01:58 am »

A little off topic, but if you're into the circus there's a great book called Under the Big Top by Bruce Feiler- a writer who spent a season as a clown with the circus. Not much info about stage management but a lot of info about the touring lifestyle. An interesting peek into circus life and a great read.