Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Directing yourself

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JCCTony
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Joined: 2/03/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 73

Topic: Directing yourself
Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:22am

Has anyone here ever directed themselves in a play? I'm not talking about a one-man show or anything. I'm talking like 5+ people. I may be put inot that situation and I was just wondering how it'd work.

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
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Posts: 1181

Posted: 3/13/05 at 3:39am

The Legal profession has an adage, that would apply here;-

?A Lawyer who represents himself, has a fool for a client?.

It is done, but I yet to see a reasonably successful production of this type, more often they are total disasters!

If there is any value in the saying, ?Get a Director & don?t handle your self?! take it on board!

If you want to avoid strife, stress & strain, with the production, make the choice, either become the Director or a warm prop - not both!

I have yet to meet that very special person, that can do equal justice to both roles at the same time?

Try it!

But I can bet, you will pull the pin - if you don?t, I think others will!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Topper
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Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 543

Posted: 3/14/05 at 1:14pm

It can be done, but it sometimes creates more
problems than it solves. Especially with theatre
etiquette, discipline and "boundary issues."

For example, I know actors are particularly touchy
about getting "notes" from other actors, but if that
other actor is also the director -- then how do you
deal with that?

Also, the other actors sometimes have a feeling of
abandonment -- especially during the final
rehearsals, run-throughs and tech -- when the
director is necessarily backstage (changing
costume, finding a prop, waiting for an entrance)
while they are acting their hearts out to a bunch of
empty seats.

One way to solve this problem is bring on board (very
early in the rehearsal process, please) someone
who is credited as "Assistant Director." This person
has to be VERY trustworthy with a similar aesthetic
as the director/actor.

It would be unfair and unwise to give your Stage
Manager this added duty as their plates are often
over-full already.

The sole purpose of the A.D. is to watch and take
notes during the rehearsals where the director is
also acting. The A.D. is to give notes only at that time
and then ONLY to the Director who will dispense
them to the others as seen fit.

I've seen this done on only a couple occasions, but it
does tend to avoid stepping on fragile egos.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Linda
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Guest

Posted: 3/14/05 at 4:54pm

I've done it twice. I hated it both times, and I never want to do it again. The first time I thought it be okay if I did a small role. Just a couple of scenes. I couldn't get off the stage fast enough, so I could see what was going on. That was not exactly the best attribute to have in a actor. The second time a major character's husband had a heart attack the week before we opened. We needed a 40 year old woman who knew the lines. That was me. Directing while on stage during tech weeks is just as awful as it sounds. It is like cooking from inside the pot. (May I also add, I don't want to know what the actors are doing backstage ever again.) What helped both times was a really good AD who wasn't afraid to talk to me honestly. Granted the second time was beyond stressful on many levels, but the frustration for me was in not having a overall sense of the scene.

Good luck.

Linda

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Ham
Guest
Guest

Posted: 3/17/05 at 4:07pm

I have successfully done this several times. I prefer the use of a video camera at all rehearsals. This way you can see for yourself how good, bad, or ugly your performance is and hopefully correct it. The down side to this method is the delay in any corrections to the scenes you are in. Having a very patient cast has always been a blessing to me.

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JCCTony
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Joined: 2/03/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 73

Posted: 3/17/05 at 11:35pm

Well the original plan was to just be in it, but I was sort of handed the directing job from my GF who was originally slated. She's got work and a masters program to work on though and she wouldn't have the time nor energy to do it. I on the other hand have already secured rehearsal space, a venue, french scened the show and started getting audition pieces together for when I conduct them. Just gotta round up a crew.

I have already planned on having the video camera present at all times.

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ronophonic
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Joined: 1/29/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1

Posted: 3/22/05 at 1:29pm

This is more of a response to Linda's comment: I DON'T EVER WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ACTORS ARE DOING BACKSTAGE EVER AGAIN.

Oh, how true!

As a director your vision often does not include the antics backstage. However, if you don't know about them, well...........

I have "directed" myself twice and have never been able to disable my "director's sensibility" while being on the stage. I was more concerned about the blocking and the other performances instead of concentrating on my own. I always wanted to stop the action and say "Let's try it this way instead." Not a good way to instill confidence and trust in your actors. Plus, what if they think I could be doing something differently or better?

Think twice about directing yourself.

ronophonic

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Theatre13
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Joined: 4/01/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 0

Posted: 4/01/05 at 12:56pm

DON'T

Jeff
Freelance Director/Designer/Dialect Coach

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Author	Message
JCCTony Star Joined: 2/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 73	Topic: Directing yourself Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:22am
	Has anyone here ever directed themselves in a play? I'm not talking about a one-man show or anything. I'm talking like 5+ people. I may be put inot that situation and I was just wondering how it'd work.

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 3/13/05 at 3:39am
	The Legal profession has an adage, that would apply here;- ?A Lawyer who represents himself, has a fool for a client?. It is done, but I yet to see a reasonably successful production of this type, more often they are total disasters! If there is any value in the saying, ?Get a Director & don?t handle your self?! take it on board! If you want to avoid strife, stress & strain, with the production, make the choice, either become the Director or a warm prop - not both! I have yet to meet that very special person, that can do equal justice to both roles at the same time? Try it! But I can bet, you will pull the pin - if you don?t, I think others will!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 3/14/05 at 1:14pm
	It can be done, but it sometimes creates more problems than it solves. Especially with theatre etiquette, discipline and "boundary issues." For example, I know actors are particularly touchy about getting "notes" from other actors, but if that other actor is also the director -- then how do you deal with that? Also, the other actors sometimes have a feeling of abandonment -- especially during the final rehearsals, run-throughs and tech -- when the director is necessarily backstage (changing costume, finding a prop, waiting for an entrance) while they are acting their hearts out to a bunch of empty seats. One way to solve this problem is bring on board (very early in the rehearsal process, please) someone who is credited as "Assistant Director." This person has to be VERY trustworthy with a similar aesthetic as the director/actor. It would be unfair and unwise to give your Stage Manager this added duty as their plates are often over-full already. The sole purpose of the A.D. is to watch and take notes during the rehearsals where the director is also acting. The A.D. is to give notes only at that time and then ONLY to the Director who will dispense them to the others as seen fit. I've seen this done on only a couple occasions, but it does tend to avoid stepping on fragile egos.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Linda Guest	Posted: 3/14/05 at 4:54pm
	I've done it twice. I hated it both times, and I never want to do it again. The first time I thought it be okay if I did a small role. Just a couple of scenes. I couldn't get off the stage fast enough, so I could see what was going on. That was not exactly the best attribute to have in a actor. The second time a major character's husband had a heart attack the week before we opened. We needed a 40 year old woman who knew the lines. That was me. Directing while on stage during tech weeks is just as awful as it sounds. It is like cooking from inside the pot. (May I also add, I don't want to know what the actors are doing backstage ever again.) What helped both times was a really good AD who wasn't afraid to talk to me honestly. Granted the second time was beyond stressful on many levels, but the frustration for me was in not having a overall sense of the scene. Good luck. Linda
	IP Logged

Ham Guest	Posted: 3/17/05 at 4:07pm
	I have successfully done this several times. I prefer the use of a video camera at all rehearsals. This way you can see for yourself how good, bad, or ugly your performance is and hopefully correct it. The down side to this method is the delay in any corrections to the scenes you are in. Having a very patient cast has always been a blessing to me.
	IP Logged

JCCTony Star Joined: 2/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 73	Posted: 3/17/05 at 11:35pm
	Well the original plan was to just be in it, but I was sort of handed the directing job from my GF who was originally slated. She's got work and a masters program to work on though and she wouldn't have the time nor energy to do it. I on the other hand have already secured rehearsal space, a venue, french scened the show and started getting audition pieces together for when I conduct them. Just gotta round up a crew. I have already planned on having the video camera present at all times.
	IP Logged

ronophonic Walk-On Joined: 1/29/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 3/22/05 at 1:29pm
	This is more of a response to Linda's comment: I DON'T EVER WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ACTORS ARE DOING BACKSTAGE EVER AGAIN. Oh, how true! As a director your vision often does not include the antics backstage. However, if you don't know about them, well........... I have "directed" myself twice and have never been able to disable my "director's sensibility" while being on the stage. I was more concerned about the blocking and the other performances instead of concentrating on my own. I always wanted to stop the action and say "Let's try it this way instead." Not a good way to instill confidence and trust in your actors. Plus, what if they think I could be doing something differently or better? Think twice about directing yourself.
	ronophonic
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Theatre13 Player Joined: 4/01/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/01/05 at 12:56pm
	DON'T
	Jeff Freelance Director/Designer/Dialect Coach
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Topic: Directing yourself( Topic Closed)