Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Almost, Maine Set

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cjeszeck
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Joined: 9/17/05
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Topic: Almost, Maine Set
Posted: 1/05/12 at 1:42am

Would anyone who has produced Almost, Maine care to share their ideas for set design? Thanks!

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edh915
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Joined: 11/19/09
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Posted: 1/05/12 at 12:25pm

Check out You Tube:

http://youtu.be/0PkUBnSW3e8

Or, if that link doesn't work, it's listed under "Almost, Maine - Act 1, Scene 1 - "Her Heart"

(performed by Arroyo Grande High School Theatre Ensemble)

It's my favorite set for that show. When I finally get to direct it myself, I'll be using a variation on this basic design. I think it's perfect.

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cjeszeck
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Posted: 1/06/12 at 1:08am

Thank you for taking time to respond. I agree it is a lovely set.

I'm always astounded though, at the blatant copyright infringements of the videos posted on You Tube! Isn't that strictly prohibited by the publishers? I know this topic is often discussed and most will agree it's not to be done, but there are plenty who just turn a blind eye to rules and restrictions. That really bugs me!

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David McCall
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Joined: 1/28/09
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Posted: 1/06/12 at 1:36pm

Ah, you are starting to learn about the way laws work in the USA. We start by electing "law makers" and they make as many laws (acts) as they can so that they are so complicated that they hope you won't notice the "pork" the try to hide in those thousands of pages of double talk (pork = special services and projects that the people that voted for them will appreciate and vote for them again). Often these laws go to executive staff to be clarified (more thousands of pages of regulations). 80,000 pages last year alone.

Law enforcement does what it can to enforce them but the courts and prisons are totally overloaded (we have more people in prison per capita than any other western country). As a result most offenses wind up not being prosecuted due to lack of resources.

Obomber just signed a new law that says that the government can lock up people suspected of terrorism and throw away the key. They don't even have to charge them with anything much less give them a trial.

So, yes they can nail you for putting your hard work on the web, but it takes so much time and resources that they can't get to most of them. I'm told that even if they do go after you, it usually starts with a cease and desist order asking you to remove the offending recording. You take it down and that's the end of it. Just keep in mind that they do pick cases to "make an example". You truly don't want to be one of those.

David M

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jayzehr
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Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 537

Posted: 1/24/12 at 2:38pm

Originally posted by cjeszeck

Thank you for taking time to respond. I agree it is a lovely set.

I stopped allowing videotaping of my shows after participating in this forum and learning the regulations. It's always a huge battle and I always wind up with people upset with me.

However, I do look at youtube videos of other productions I'm doing or thinking about doing and have gotten a lot of good ideas about how scenes have worked for other groups.

I see why this kind of reproduction is prohibited, but it's almost always just excerpts, nobody's making any money from it and it seems like it would only help publicize the play and encourage future productions and future royalties. As a writer I would rather have my show out there no matter what.

But you have to respect the rules established by the copyright holder.

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction