Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - GalFriday

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 7
1
The Green Room / Re: Mini Rant---SM T-shirts and products
« on: Jul 20, 2014, 01:20 am »
I have a t-shirt that says..."we'll fix it in post"...particularly appropriate for live theater rehearsals.

2
The Green Room / Re: Tax Season!
« on: Mar 12, 2014, 12:13 am »
I have not worked with H & R Block. I am sorry you had a bad experience.

We searched to find an Accountant with Entertainment experience. And she is proving to be worth her weight in gold. We threw many unique issues at her; Both of us work many 1099's. My husband Incorporated last year. We bought a cottage. We own an apartment in Vegas that we rent...at a significant loss. We moved and rent our primary home which holds his office. I also have multiple W2's...She just kept working through and finding more and more deductions. I have not seen the completed report yet....but I do feel super confident.

Word of advice, work your network and find someone who understands our industry...because not understanding will cost you money.

3
The Green Room / Safety on Set/Stage - Sarah Jones
« on: Feb 26, 2014, 01:41 pm »
I know the Sarah Jones story has hit our community out here hard.

If you are not familiar with the story see here.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-georgia-sarah-jones-csx-gregg-allman-20140221,0,6107161.story#axzz2uS9XsMzZ

As Stage Managers we are the responsible party for the safety of our cast and crew...I have a bit of a reputation for being the "safety police" with my current employer. Of course, if I call out a safety issue before it happens then nothing happens...and I am just a pain in the butt. That is OK with me. The problem is getting people to continue to listen to me as I call out so many things that never happen. I use age and experience but when I was younger this was much harder. No one wants to be the Debbie Downer on that new cool idea. There was an incident last year when I was not in rehearsal due to a family emergency. It WAS a moment where someone should have said NO. In fact, NO was said....but overruled. We have come out of that incident stronger and more focused on listening to every member of our team. Because we are a large corporate environment we also have lots of new rules and regulations...oh joy. I now have to write a complete plan for each automation cue before I ever see it in rehearsal. Our process definitely takes longer...but it is also way safer.

Have you been following this story? What are your thoughts? How could a "below the line" (I know that is a movie reference but think someone who does not attend a production meeting) member of your crew truly know they are safe? How do they know the correct permits are drawn? The question WAS asked on this set...it is all about the trust in who is giving you the answer. Movie making is all about "getting the shot" I think in theatre we are much more safety conscious...however, I know, there are times that I have looked back and recognized we were lucky. I have also had moments of, well it is just for a minute (sometimes while I am standing on a shelf...trying to just reach that one light).

Here was a good perspective I really liked that talks about the business and changes to be made.

http://wehaveembarked.com/were-just-making-movies/

I hope that this incident spurs us to be safer. I know I will think of it every time someone tells me we are "completely ok" and I have that feeling in the pit of my stomach.

And finally...here is the Facebook page where many professionals are paying tribute.

https://www.facebook.com/slatesforsarah

We lost a light in our community and there was NO reason it EVER should have happened. I hope we can go forward with greater caution in our hearts...and heads...

4
The Green Room / Re: Broadway Opening with Major scenic issue
« on: Jan 19, 2014, 07:32 pm »
My IATSE local posted this story. It is nice to see a positive story about Stagehands.

As an Automation person I can say Equipment that is correctly specified, programmed, inspected and maintained can be very reliable...however this is rarely the case and MANY theaters bite off more than they can chew. Including many smaller spaces and a few in NYC. Automation can be incredible but few people take the time to fully understand the implication of automating the entire playing space. Just my two cents.

I am currently running a show with an 18,000 pound set piece that moves throughout the show and is a show canceller if it does not. I programmed it carefully and set up a very specific inspection and maintenance plan....and most of the tech team think I am a pain in the ass regarding that. We just celebrated our 1,000th show without ONE lost to automation.

As a side note we have lost about 50 shows to casting because we do not have swings...hmm.

5
Stage Management: Other / Intellectual Rights?
« on: Oct 31, 2013, 05:04 pm »
Hello -

I was made aware of a video by a good friend of mine. He is celebrating the hard work of his team to create an awesome Video which won a company wide contest. I think that is great. I was impressed by all the disciplines coming together to create a very polished video.

BUT.

After watching the video I recognized the choreography. It is by another friend. It is from a television show. The music used is fairly leading..and it does reference a popular dance video with specific moves. I think it would be difficult to choreograph the same piece and not have some essence of both of the previous pieces. However, this piece is exact - count for count. The only changes are staging based on the stage and removal of small solos. The performance is done by professional performers and, although his post shows it in a PR post...I would imagine the number will probably be performed for an audience. The performance would not be ticketed.

Last year I was in a similar situation at a friends dance concert. it was a college Choreographers Showcase. They used music from one of my former employers. They gave credit in the program for the music. (They did misspell the name of the company.) The choreography was a mash up of a specific artists choreography. Different pieces put together but exact dance moves with exact counts. The moves are iconic. Because it was a "choreographers" showcase I was somewhat off put by the performance. This was a ticketed performance and this number was the finale of the first act.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Is this illegal? Should it be?

Would this be different if it was a group of amateurs performing for friends and family? What about the dance concert?

I know there is a hardline on this...and a very soft one. Where is the line? I tend to draw it at the counts. If I could learn a dance by watching someone else's video of the dance. That crosses a line. If I could learn phrases that is questionable. If I am learning style by watching the video that is inspiration and acceptable.

I was wondering what other people thought?

6
...or you can start programming winches that fly people.  :D

7
Introductions / Re: SM from the other side of the world!
« on: May 16, 2013, 02:09 am »
I did my own doubletake.

Welcome.  :D

8
The Green Room / Re: SMNetwork fundraising drive 2013
« on: Mar 02, 2013, 08:07 pm »
Sigh..I created a Paypal account last time to make a donation...it looks like I am going to have to remember my password.

9
Employment / Re: Salary Requirements
« on: Jan 07, 2013, 02:00 pm »
I had this happen when working for a fairly large company from Montreal.  ;). I was eventually able to make it work in my favor.

They INSISTED on a number. I high balled it. When the offer came back it sounded good....until we did the tax math for Australia. Wow. After taxes the number was about $200 from the yearly salary I had quoted them. In the end I think it was coincidence...However, I used the leverage to go back to the table and ask for more. "You told me that number was only to fill out a blank on a form and had no bearing on your offer...why does your offer now work out to that number?". In the end I was able to get another 15%. Unfortunately that also made me the highest paid technician on tour...not a great place to be as a newbie with a new TD that did not have any say in your salary. It did, however, make a big difference in the money I made throughout the entire career I had with that company. So, negotiate that first number carefully....it can haunt you for many years.

10
December Madness I: 2012 / Re: December Madness!
« on: Jan 05, 2013, 10:46 am »
Awesome Graphic! Thanks for the fun. And the craziness.

11
What, What, What....it is almost like the computer is trying to undo itself??

12


Methinks perhaps you mean CONQUER the world...

Oh yes I did....that is what I get for typing after wine. Thanks for the definition though...

13


With my LAPTOP I can conquer the world!!!!

I am sure it will be reported in the papers....

14
LAPTOP pulls ahead!!!!

PSATW!

15

My question is on SM resume, I am not sure what rigging and automation means.  Does this mean you do rigging?  Rigging is such a highly specialized skill set.  Also, automation - I would be confused as well - does that mean pushed a button?  Does that mean you program?  Does that mean you built the system?  I am just not sure what that means on SM resume.

This is what peaked my interest. I am now seeing it on a lot of resumes and I am not sure what it means. I agree it is a pretty specific skill set. Maybe it means they have experience calling these items. I know when I put automation on my resume it means I have tested and installed full automation systems with over 25 axes of motion (one was 143 axis of motion but that may have been a bit over the top). I have programmed and called cues on a system of similar size. I have done this for top companies...but I definitely straddle the technical/artistic line and I do not think I am at all the best case study. On a side note we are having problems with Automation resumes as well..."Basic Automation skills" covers a whole lot of territory.

Does anyone out there use this on their resume and what are you hoping to represent?

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 7
riotous