Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: backseat directors

Message

   Had to replace an actor two weeks from opening night of a collection of short one-acts and scenes. The replacement came in, understanding the pressure, and began work. He had lots of ideas that amounted to "look at me, ain't I funny" that nothing to do with the piece. So I regretfully had to come down on him hard and tell him a lot of how to do what I wanted. There really wasn't time left for him to discover and develop the character, unfortunately. Opening night (of our two night run) he magically reverted to all his "look at me" antics, and the piece got no laughs. The next day I called him and told him straight out I was uneasy with him discarding all my direction, and that I needed him to play it as we rehearsed it. I hung up, and then began working on memorizing his part, since I fully figured he'd blow off the show. But he showed up, a little despondent, but ready to go. I talked a little more with him, gave him the "good of the show" speech, and we had a great second show. 

A director's gotta do what a director's gotta do. 

Author	Message
theactordavid Lead Joined: 5/29/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Posted: 6/08/06 at 8:43am
	Had to replace an actor two weeks from opening night of a collection of short one-acts and scenes. The replacement came in, understanding the pressure, and began work. He had lots of ideas that amounted to "look at me, ain't I funny" that nothing to do with the piece. So I regretfully had to come down on him hard and tell him a lot of how to do what I wanted. There really wasn't time left for him to discover and develop the character, unfortunately. Opening night (of our two night run) he magically reverted to all his "look at me" antics, and the piece got no laughs. The next day I called him and told him straight out I was uneasy with him discarding all my direction, and that I needed him to play it as we rehearsed it. I hung up, and then began working on memorizing his part, since I fully figured he'd blow off the show. But he showed up, a little despondent, but ready to go. I talked a little more with him, gave him the "good of the show" speech, and we had a great second show. A director's gotta do what a director's gotta do.
	There are no small roles, only roles with a low line-load and minimal stage time. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:45pm
	I was in show with someone who was in a way back seat directing. He would constantly ask me what I thought about doing this or that and simply would not listen to my suggetions that he make his thoughts and suggestions known to the director, not me another actor. Fast forward two years later and and he auditions for me for a production of Proof as the the father Robert and wouldn't you know that he gives the best audition of any of the potential Roberts and just blows me away that I have almost no choice but to cast him. However before I "award" the role to him I have a very frank discussion with him about back seat directing and how he has a reputation in the community for doing just that. I tell him people won't talk to him about it, they just won't cast him if they have an alternate choice. I let him know that if even one report of back seat directing comes back to me that he's out. I don't even care if it's opening night. He thanks me for being so open and frank. Turns out he had no idea of what is reputation was and that in his mind, his back seat directing was simply seeking advice from people he respected. Bottom line I happen to also cast one of the female roles who is also a board member and she along with my SM are essentially my back stage "eyes & ears" on him and I'm happy to report not one incident of back stage directing. And he was great in the role and even came to me with few good ideas about his character. The upshot of all this is of course that things like back seat directing need to be confronted immediately in very unambiguous and crystal clear terms.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:21pm
	B-M-D, Glad things worked out so well. I'm four weeks from opening my own play. Everybody (cast and crew) knows that I am the director and that I have a certain vision of what I want the play to be. That being said, I welcomes ideas from cast and crew alike. And some wonderful, insigthful ideas have come forth. We've tried some things which didn't work and I've said 'let's just do it like we were before.' Nobody has stepped over that 'backseat director' line. One lovely lady (mentoring my ' crew newbies') has offered several good suggestions (usually just a minor blocking error on my part) which she always prefaces with "You can tell me to shut up but I noticed that . . ." There's a tremdous amount of respect among this cast and crew, not only for me as the driector and playwright but for each other, When we are sitting together in a group, an outsider would have a hard time telling who was cast and who was crew.
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 6/12/06 at 3:15pm
	How would an outsider normally tell who was cast and who was crew? The possibilities are endless....
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Posted: 6/12/06 at 5:29pm
	I don't know. But I've worked with some CT's where the actors form a 'click' that doesn't include any crew. That's what I was thinking of.
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 6/23/06 at 11:23am
	As a SM I have had to do a little back seat directing. This most often involes pointing out things the director does not see (background action, a slip in dilect that sort of thing) I tell all directors I work with that this is my habit and if they ask me not to I won't do it, unless safety is the issue. If it is a safety issue I always speak up. Even if I feel the director won't like it. Safety first. However I do not offer charecter choices or that sort of thing.
	IP Logged

Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Topic: backseat directors( Topic Closed)
	<< Prev Page of 2