Author Topic: Director Notes  (Read 6833 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

VSM

  • Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 714
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • http://www.vernonwillet.com
  • Affiliations: AEA, SMA
  • Current Gig: PSM - Laguna Playhouse
  • Experience: Professional
Director Notes
« on: Aug 18, 2013, 04:20 am »
What do you do with a director who deems it perfectly acceptable to talk to his actors after half hour, or at intermission, during the run of a play?
Equity contract...
Ordo ab chao

RuthNY

  • BTDT Editors
  • *****
  • Posts: 511
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA Eastern Region Stage Manager Councilor
  • Current Gig: ALABASTER
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #1 on: Aug 18, 2013, 09:14 am »
Yes, that CAN be a problem, especially when the director is also the Artistic Director of the institution.... Do remember, that in many of our rule books (including LORT) we have NO rule prohibiting this.... And I've never come up with a really good solution....
"Be fair with others, but then keep after them until they're fair with you."
--Alan Alda

loebtmc

  • Forum Moderators
  • *****
  • Posts: 1574
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, SAG, AFTRA, SMA
  • Current Gig: Caroling, caroling now we go — and looking for my next gig!
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #2 on: Aug 18, 2013, 02:05 pm »
Sometimes there's nothing you can do - but in at least two circumstances, I have had success with 1) telling actors to close (and lock) their dressing room doors when inside after half-hour (but making sure all are unlocked before show starts) with particularly intrusive and unaware directors and 2) taking the director aside and privately telling them I will take notes down, that certain specific actors (whose names are not shared) had asked that they have their time to prepare without being disturbed, but I will make sure the info is passed along.

Protecting half-hour and backstage really does need to be in all contracts.....and codes!

Josh Parkin-Ring

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 12
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • My Website
  • Affiliations: Equity, Stage Managers' Association, IASTE, Broadway League, Broadway Green Alliance
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #3 on: Aug 18, 2013, 04:46 pm »
Typically I start the discussion about "procedures" with notes in the rehearsal process.  Doing this and other things is how I establish a working relationship with the Director and his staff.  It seems to work out great once we get a system going.  They learn how backstage works after half-hour is called.

On Festival Shows and smaller runs I ask the Director to hand me his notes after the performance to compare my notes to his/her.  This really helps with not going to the Actor with the same note and builds confidence with your Director.

Generally, if the Director is a veteran, they understand this and many other Actor courtesies.
__________________________________
Josh Parkin-Ring    http://jpromni.com/

bex

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 298
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
    • Twitter
  • Affiliations: AEA, Auburn University
  • Current Gig: Freelance SM/ASM
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #4 on: Aug 18, 2013, 05:41 pm »
Generally, if the Director is a veteran, they understand this and many other Actor courtesies.

It's the ones who've been around forever I have the most trouble with.
You will have to sing for your supper & your mortgage, your dental coverage & your children's shoes, over & over again while people in desk jobs roll their eyes the minute you start to complain. So it's a good thing you like to sing.

hbelden

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 412
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #5 on: Aug 20, 2013, 02:09 pm »
Protecting half-hour and backstage really does need to be in all contracts.....and codes!

Generally speaking, a director (or designer or stage manager) giving notes during half-hour does more harm to that evening's performance than good; in the middle of a pre-show, performers are often unable to process notes, especially if they're vague or too ambitious.

However, since we can't actually ask actors to do work prior to the half-hour call, if there isn't a rehearsal earlier in the day, I find half-hour to be very useful to give simple, specific notes, such as "bring down the volume of the ad lib section", "Make sure you don't dump that prop in the other actor's way", "Your light in that scene is a couple steps downstage of where you've been landing".  Some actors would rather hear that within the half-hour call, instead of catching them after a performance.  Also, costume designers in particular need to work during the half-hour call as people are getting into costume before a dress rehearsal or a preview.

Because of all that, I'd be leery of pushing for this restriction in a contract.  Just my two cents, and not to detract from the original post, which I agree with - directors need to send their notes through the stage manager, who's in charge of maintaining the show after they leave.  And backstage during a show? Disaster. And what possible help could that be?
--
Heath Belden

"I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right." - Sondheim
--

loebtmc

  • Forum Moderators
  • *****
  • Posts: 1574
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, SAG, AFTRA, SMA
  • Current Gig: Caroling, caroling now we go — and looking for my next gig!
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #6 on: Aug 20, 2013, 07:23 pm »
Yes - the point being, as the SM you watch the actor and know who can, and who can't handle being told things between half-hour and places - or at intermission (in emergency only!)

brettnexx

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 40
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Current Gig: Apprentice; Closer Than Ever; Dry Cold Producions
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #7 on: Sep 01, 2013, 06:28 pm »
Most actors I've come into contact with, if they're not ok with it, they will tell the director/stage manager so. Some actors are very much ok with notes during the half-hour. If someone is not ok with it, but doesn't tell anyone, except the actors, this is where the deputy comes in, they can talk to the director/stage manager themselves (in person or via email) and if that does not work, they can go to equity, and mention the breach of contract. As for the director giving them notes after opening, as a stage manager, I would suggest the director give the notes to me, and so I can give them to the actors, and if it comes to a point where actors don't come in before the half, nor do they want notes after the half. I will catch them before they leave, and if not, I will write out notes, and leave them someone at their station in the dressing room.

loebtmc

  • Forum Moderators
  • *****
  • Posts: 1574
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, SAG, AFTRA, SMA
  • Current Gig: Caroling, caroling now we go — and looking for my next gig!
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #8 on: Sep 01, 2013, 07:28 pm »
FWIW, I've had actors who request me to text them when the director arrives or goes backstage, so they can go into their dressing rooms and lock doors. Cuz some directors just don't get it.....

MatthewShiner

  • Forum Moderators
  • *****
  • Posts: 2478
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, SMA
  • Current Gig: Freelance Stage Manager; Faculty for UMKC
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #9 on: Sep 02, 2013, 02:54 pm »
I run into this a lot . . .

One production, the director dropped off notes at the dressing station before every show - I was so pissed off, but the actors were fine with it.

I try to change the behavior of a director stopping off and giving notes by asking to be present for all notes session so I know how to maintain it - and at half-hour, it's not ideal for me to be involved.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

RuthNY

  • BTDT Editors
  • *****
  • Posts: 511
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA Eastern Region Stage Manager Councilor
  • Current Gig: ALABASTER
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Director Notes
« Reply #10 on: Sep 02, 2013, 07:47 pm »
I am fine with the director dropping off written notes to the actors, as long as I get a copy of the notes. Usually that works out very well.

One production, the director dropped off notes at the dressing station before every show - I was so pissed off, but the actors were fine with it.
"Be fair with others, but then keep after them until they're fair with you."
--Alan Alda

 

riotous