Hey, guess what? Your show is in less than two weeks.
I was getting a huge vibe of lack of energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of anger and general malaise towards this project. That's too bad.
Even though you are nearing the completion of this, it is far from over...your words, visions, pictures, jokes, and hours of hard work are going to go up in front of the whole school, your families and friends. You have worked for many months on this project. Even though all of your thoughts and dreams lie out on the lawn, on the beach, on mountains, in Florida, Delaware, Chicago, Kalamazoo, NYC, NY State, DC and who knows where else...you are at Pennington. For better or for worse, graduation is not tonight! It is in June. So, you need to buckle down, reach into your hearts and minds, get yourselves together as one and direct and tech this show! You owe it your actors, techies, your teachers, but most of all, you owe it to yourselves.
I don't want to wax too poetic here, but there will come a time in the not so distant future, when you will be off living your new life somewhere and thoughts and memories of the Blackbox and all it meant to you will come to the surface. So, let your last memories be of this show and the greatness it can and will be. Don't drop it now and regret it later.
Peter Brook, a great theatre director of our time, described the production of a show like a group of fishermen (or women) going out on a ship to catch fish. There are many tasks to complete. Getting bait, checking weather, setting sail, dividing up jobs, swabbing the deck, sewing your nets, and finally, when the wind is just right, the water calms, and you cast your net to see what you can pick up. Lame theatre companies drudge up a rubber boot, or a tire, or a tin can. Mediocre theatre companies pull up fish that aren't mature enough for selling or eating. The best, most professional, polished and creative theatre companies might be lucky enough to pull up a golden fish.
All of you know, from being at Pennington for so, so long, that we pull up the golden fish each and every time. You want this show to be another one in a long line of gleaming, glittering, golden fish. Resist the boot and tire option. Go for it!
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Also, I agree with the DOD conversation. Let the DOD call hold and then the director who wanted to stop can explain their note. Not a problem.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess today I was of no help considering I passed out and was in my own little world. I will say, though, when I saw Smiley's make up, it frightened the hell out of me. Great job Lena!
ReplyDeleteBy Jove, I'm tired beyond belief. Filming is a tough business and the fact that it is Monday doesn't help. Likely I have a trusty bottle of tonic water on hand to give me life again.
ReplyDeleteFilming today went really well... until we thought we hadn't put the tape in!!! But we had, no fears. Everyone was great and helped out a lot. We got all that we needed and Dillon plans to edit so I think he deserves 6th off soon to work on that. Hats off to Lena and the costume crew, the CTC were really frightening, I didn't want to look at them at all, making my job today hard. Here is a link to the music I was thinking of for the film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gELlSl5dSRk
I feel the apathy (if that is possible) and it needs to end and end soon. If we limp on our actors will do the same and we can't have that this late in the production. We all have the heart to do this, I know it.
make up was really cool, smiley tried to eat me on several occasions. I'l try to be nothing but a stream of sunshine and energy tomorrow. I had fun filming the first run, and I'm ready to focus back on the show with more tenacity.
ReplyDeletez
Dear Mr. Moore,
ReplyDeleteyou're speech on the blog was really inspiring and no joke i teared up a little because it's so true why let our last memory of our show be mediocre and less than all it could be? listening to beyonce wail in the background probably didn't help matters much haha...
But WOW I ACTUALLY PULLED IT OFF!!! i can't believe it, Jake and the whole gang looked amazing!!! i don't even know what to say except maybe...are there any suggestions or changes yall would like to see in terms of directing and stuff?
I can't say how much your positive comments mean ( a hint: A LOT)
I felt that filming went really well and we got some awesome shots i bet..AHHHHH WE"RE SO CLOSE GUYS!!!! don't give up because of a few squabbles or moods but think about the golden fish we'll be catching in a short while...We're so close i can smell it like that awefull liquid latex haha
Don't give Mr. Moore credit for my speech. I wrote that!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI was about to say... isn't that Ms. Houston's name at the end?
ReplyDeletecool to hear the makeup looks good!! lets make sure we push through this thing...as far as posters there are 16 up today 16 more tomorrow THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WILL WANT TICKETS and i am meeting with ms hall tomorrow to figure out how were gonna do all of it!! sounds to me like we have a big couple weeks ahead!
ReplyDeleteWoops!!!! I def read today's post and scrolled down to another one and somehow connected them...I meant "Dear Ms. Houston," haha
ReplyDeleteI think today was a really good day for relaxing people and make them more energetic for the play. Actors were enjoying the filming and the make up for the CTCs was really amazing.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the DOD thing. It's been a long time and we start to lack of energy but I believe we all will take a step and continue to make our show better.
I'd just like to be honest with everyone. If I seem weird lately, I've just been dealing with a lot of personal stuff that has sucked a lot of the life out of me, but I really am going to get myself on track and get this show perfected because we have worked really hard on this play and it doesn't deserve anything less. End run-on sentence. Charles, I really like the music you suggested. The make-up today was phenomenal. I actually wasn't expecting what we got, so you all should know now that it's just awesome if you haven't seen it. Now to that three page English-paper at 11:30.
ReplyDeletetoday didn't feel like much of a productive day, we just finished the final details of the set. However, I did notice that the actors seemed to have a good time filming today. I think all they really wanted was some change other than just sitting in the bbox still. Were slowly getting closer, I really think we can pull this off, but everyone has to pitch in.
ReplyDeleteThe make-up looked incredible, and what I saw of the filming was really great. Hopefully the off day from rehearsal gives us energy and enthusiasm to shift into another gear and have a great last two weeks.
ReplyDeleteLet's all put the stupid things of high school aside, and remember the reasons we love it, like doing theatre here. I'm ready for a great show.
MR. More great post.....not
ReplyDeletehouston i liked it.
but on a serious note i think that we really do need to up the energy. when comparing our excitement from day one to now it has decreased significantly. tech wise its coming down to some more complicated things. i currently am working on my lighting design and creating a plot so that a hang will be possible this weekend.