Scott, yes it does seem like the more tools and gadgets a SM has, the better they are. (Read my previous rants and posts about the subject)
My job is managing people, and the computer screen up in front of my face, or my eyes on my ipad just exudes the attitude that "I have something more important going on then what you are doing". But I have been down this path before. Again, I am all for technology that makes my job easier - but the reality is when rehearsal is going on, I need to pay attention to that, listen to the director, get a sense of what's going on. (Again, it helps I delegate blocking to my ASM so I can focus on the room, and running the room.)
About this software, again, I am interested to see it in action, but here are my concerns. And Kristine if you are
1) Do I have to drawn the set, or can I load it in from the autocad? I want to see how the program handles this - it looks like you can draw basic shapes, but what about something more complex. Can you group this line drawings to move as item.
2) How do you edit/change actors' names?
3) I sort of despise the fact it's not tied into the script. You have to type the lines. What happens when you get new script pages, but want to keep the blocking. It sort of seems great for musicals and tie it the counts; but again, what if there is change in lyrics, or counts . . .
4) How do you save versions, or go back to a version? (Okay, let's go back to the version we did last week).
5) How do you make edits on the fly - we want to change the blocking after Mr. Smith enters, but before Mrs. Jones exits.
6) How does this print out?
7) This is not about typing, this is about noting spacial relations, I think you would have to be constantly looking at the screen to find the actor in the green room, put them in the right relation to everything else on the screen, then type the line they cross on.
Forget your ipad? Out of power? Leant your charger to the director . . . then you have to take blocking on your own. Want an actor to look over your script for blocking, and you lending the ipad? Want to share the blocking, does everyone have an ipad?
9) Is this product going to supported in the long run? Would hate to loose your show or the ability to update because the developer can't maintain it down the line with further updates to the OS.
10) One of the reasons I have always been closed off to many SM softwares is the in end they want me to adjust how I do things, how I like to lay things out on the page, how I do my job - to adjust to how the software works. In the almost 30+ years I have been working in theatre, I have learned a few tricks and short cuts - and I would always want the software to be customizable to MY style, since that has a proven track record of working with me.
Again, I think this software makes a lot of sense for the high end commercial shows that are either planning big numbers, or need to document the shows to maintain them, and put people in for months or years down the line . . . and in fact, would love to work with it in that way. I mean, a show is out of previews, open, I would love to spend time with the video tape to put this all in writing, and document the show.
I am not sure in "the heat of the moment", "down and dirty creating a show", "we are working on the blocking" moments this is the right project for the job.
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