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It's all about style
Oct. 15th, 2004 11:45 amOkay, I've realized that I sermonize when I direct. I take the opportunity to preach about things rather than give a simple direction. Then again, these are teenagers, so driving something home with a 3-minute diatribe is probably more effective in the long-run.
Is it bad to pontificate about things as a director? I don't know. It's all about explaining things. But do I waste time?
Given my actorly insecurities, I of course feel like this is a failing in me as a director and I should change it.
But perhaps it is not a failing.
Example:
I have the kids blocked to "parade" around the stage at the end of the show. (it looks better than it sounds) They were just rushing through it like it was a deathmarch, all clumped up on one another.
I went into a several-minute rhetorical question-and-answer: "As a chorus member, what are the odds that you are going to get a solo bow at the end of this show? Unless you're a lead, you NEVER get a solo bow. I've just handed each of you the opportunity for your own solo bow and you're pissing it away."
They did better after that.
I'm not feeling like I was as "fun" this time around, but perhaps my self-vision is skewed.
And while Lois and Bill are getting better, I am not objective any longer. So I've asked Monte to come and watch Monday night to give me an outside viewpoint. I mean, part of it is making lemonade out of bad casting choices (okay, cutting myself a break - my choices were extremely limited).
Tonight is fixing and cleaning and boy is it needed. Hopefully it will stick.
I feel bad when we're running through a dance and the kids aren't sure what comes next (and not a one of them will speak up, be confident and say "we did this" even though they've done the dance like 5 times and should remember) and the kids ask me and I say "I don't know."
I have to go look at my notes.
Cutting myself slack - I've currently got probably 15 dances in my head. But honestly - once we've run them enough, I know them by heart too.
Ah, I'm just feeling like I could do better.
I'm not a perfectionist.
Shut.
Up.
Is it bad to pontificate about things as a director? I don't know. It's all about explaining things. But do I waste time?
Given my actorly insecurities, I of course feel like this is a failing in me as a director and I should change it.
But perhaps it is not a failing.
Example:
I have the kids blocked to "parade" around the stage at the end of the show. (it looks better than it sounds) They were just rushing through it like it was a deathmarch, all clumped up on one another.
I went into a several-minute rhetorical question-and-answer: "As a chorus member, what are the odds that you are going to get a solo bow at the end of this show? Unless you're a lead, you NEVER get a solo bow. I've just handed each of you the opportunity for your own solo bow and you're pissing it away."
They did better after that.
I'm not feeling like I was as "fun" this time around, but perhaps my self-vision is skewed.
And while Lois and Bill are getting better, I am not objective any longer. So I've asked Monte to come and watch Monday night to give me an outside viewpoint. I mean, part of it is making lemonade out of bad casting choices (okay, cutting myself a break - my choices were extremely limited).
Tonight is fixing and cleaning and boy is it needed. Hopefully it will stick.
I feel bad when we're running through a dance and the kids aren't sure what comes next (and not a one of them will speak up, be confident and say "we did this" even though they've done the dance like 5 times and should remember) and the kids ask me and I say "I don't know."
I have to go look at my notes.
Cutting myself slack - I've currently got probably 15 dances in my head. But honestly - once we've run them enough, I know them by heart too.
Ah, I'm just feeling like I could do better.
I'm not a perfectionist.
Shut.
Up.
