Interpretational Dynamics

[NOTE: Because I am something of an academic, I attempt to properly attribute any media I might post. That said, this image set has shown up in various sources on my feed for some while. I do not know who originally created the set. Any credit for the image set belongs to them…]

Normally when I see this photo set show up across my feed(s) there is some sort of ‘snarky response’ included. And that sort of response may well have been the intent of the editors/writers of the reality show in question because, after all, conflict helps sell such programming.

However, as one who aspires to various creative fields I think that the set is worth sharing not for any ‘snark’ but rather as an important lesson on one of the proper ways to respond during a critique. Because critiques are about getting better, and about looking at your work through another, potentially neutral, set of eyes.

Don’t get ‘defensive’.

Don’t attempt to ‘bargain’.

Listen.

Take notes.

Even if you still disagree, that is not the point. Say ‘thank you’, consider what was said, and after that then decide how to apply it to your work.

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                                              My school related fundraising site:
                                   Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum

                                             My general, rather eclectic, Tumblr:
                                                     Semi-Random Shavings 


              A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise.

Summertime. And The Livin' Is...

Well. Not too many people who have experienced Summer stock gigs would refer to them as 'easy'. But having a gig is a living. Or at least some badly needed income. So, with that said...

I've held off with this announcement for a bit, because I wanted to be certain to have the contract and related paperwork signed and mailed back. Now that that has been accomplished, I am happy to (officially) announce that I have a gig with a Summer stock company for their 2014 season.

I'll be working as the properties master for the Summer mainstage shows at the Tibbits Summer Theatre, in Coldwater MI. A nine week contract, beginning in June. The season as it stands currently will be: The Look of Love, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, and Alone Together. There will be a properties intern, but their focus will be on producing for the children's theatre shows. So it is, basically, a one person shop. As such I suspect that the workload will be similar to some of what I did previously at TLTOTS (The Little Theatre on the Square). Given the composition of the season, I do not currently have any significant worries.

As I said, I'm happy to have the gig. And I also must say that I am admittedly a bit surprised in how my gig searching turned out. Why? Because of the following:

** There were, basically, three theatres that all contacted me around the same time regarding gigs for the Summer. That is three responses out of ~18 resumes. Plus one response which I believe I may have mentioned in an earlier post, which I really only got the call back on due to an error (since corrected) in my resume (short version of the recap: I had not adjusted my 'expected graduation date' to reflect various changes to my timetable...and the schedule they had would not jibe with my schooling. Shrug.). Not all of the resume submissions were for properties (some were for carpentry gigs, some for scenic design, etc). Basic calculations imply that I had, for this gig search, a ~1 in 6 positive response rate, with a ~1 in 9 job offer rate. So very roughly a 10% positive result. Having had similar searches in the past which never even resulted in getting a single phone call back, I'll take that as a win.

** Of those three responses mentioned, the phone interview from one seemed less an interview and more a "here's how things work with us...would you like it?" sort of conversation. And the other two were pretty 'soft' interviews as well, IMNSVHO.

** And the idea of having more than one venue offer me a gig....As I said: surprising.

I've been told I shouldn't really be surprised. And I do know that, to be somewhat immodest, I do have some skills and talents. I just suffer from the occasional spasm of self-doubt, which many in the creative fields can be prone to.

On practical matters I think that having added the URL for my Tumblr based portfolio (which can be found here):

            A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise. 

to my resume(s) and cover letter(s) may have aided in garnering the interviews. I am hoping that I can get some additional items to post onto it from this upcoming gig. And, if the time allows, perhaps some items from additional outside projects (ie: general drawings, woodworking, etc) as well.

That's the news. 

I'll be back again with another more reflective post, the subject of which has been percolating in my synapses for a couple of weeks now, soon. 

As always, some other aspects of my web presence can be found at the links below (and, in the case of this post, above)...

                                             My school related fundraising site:
                                   Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum

                                             My general, rather eclectic, Tumblr:
                                                     Semi-Random Shavings 

Till later.

Training Nostalgia And Rambling (Chapter The First)

I have, over the past few days, found myself recalling some episodes from the directing segment of my high school theatrical training. Perhaps it is due to reading some of the works of Archibald MacLeish.

During one of the classes, we did some directing projects. And for one of them I directed a scene (the opening scene, to be specific) from the play J.B.. For various reasons I cast two females in the roles of Mr. Zuss and Nickles who, within the world of the play, evoke the personas of God and Satan, respectively. At the same time we (Waukegan West High School) were producing a musical, which happened to be Godspell. And a part of that set, used to hold up the chain link fence, was a unit of portable scaffolding - the sort used on construction sites, etc. As one of the performers cast in Godspell I had been rehearsing on the unit, since it was part of the choreography for my song ('We Beseech Thee'). And as the original textural notes in J.B. call for the show to occur (at least in part) within a circus tent I thought that the bare steel, etc served to echo some of what is seen when you look at circus rigging. So since the scenes where to be presented in the schools auditorium I took the opportunity to stage my scene using that unit.

Admittedly, had you asked me at the time I would probably not have been able to put into words anything close to what strikes me now. As a 15 year old I had no idea what my 'artistic philosophy' was. Candidly, I can't clearly recollect if I even knew what that term meant. But now given the lens of reflection I can see some small fragments of my current, albeit still fluid, 'artistic philosophy'. Simplicity. Silence. Space. In the heady high school days that followed I would read the theories of Konstantin Stanislavski, and the plays of Edward Albee (admittedly becoming a bit obsessed by latters texts). And then one day I heard a phrase that I would, in one way or another, carry as a part of how and why I do what I do. It was a quote from Faulkner, via the mouth of Harlan Ellison. I would later learn that Ellison had paraphrased the quote, based primarily (from what I can discern) on Faulkner's speech at the Nobel Prize Banquet. I have always simply referred to it as 'Faulkner's Dictum', which is:

                The only thing worth the sweat and damn of writing about is
                               the human heart in conflict with itself.

That brings me back to the works of Archibald MacLeish. As I said earlier, I have been reading some of his works over the past few days. And listening to a production of one of his self described 'verse for radio' scripts entitled The Fall of the City.

(Here is a link to an MP3 of the initial broadcast : Columbia Workshop Production of 'The Fall of the City' - 1938 )

The hearing, and the reading, have inspired me to develop yet another project for my next academic year. And the seeming synchronicity that occurs along the path of my training that now finds me once again inspired by MacLeish somewhat tickles my nostalgic soul. Almost as much as, in retrospect, I am pleased by the memory of a putative God and Satan arguing on a set intended for a musical about Jesus.

More to come...later.



Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum

 A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise.  

 Semi-Random Shavings

"Ohh, It's A Saturday Night And I..."

As the subject line implies: A Spring Saturday evening. And here I am with all sorts of schtuff (yes, that *is* how that particular word is spelled) rambling about within my synapses. And since it needs to leak out now and again.....well. Here we are.

[WARNING: Potential 'stream of consciousness' text segments and/or venting to follow]:

First things first: As I mentioned in a prior entry I have, happily, been hired for Summer stock gig. Which will help at least to some degree with the budget for the Fall. And in candor I also have to say that it was/is a bit of an ego boost to have realized that I didn't even really interview for the gig. That apparently my resume, online portfolio, and references spoke for me. As one who, like many artists (or those who are aspiring to be such), has faced various bouts with self doubt and angst I can freely admit that such a situation feels quite good.

I won't go into any further specifics until I get the signed copies of my contract (which arrived late yesterday) mailed back to the producing venue. However, I will say that it is a type of position that I have filled previously and it will almost certainly involve some carpentry, potentially involve some upholstering, and definitely involve some fabrication of 'paper goods'.

One of my hopes is that, even with the demands of the season, I might be able to get some 'project work' done as well. Such things as some carving, sketching, etc. The idea is to achieve some skill building, some potential portfolio items (both theatrical and artistic), and some preparation for some independent production projects I have ideas about.

As for those ideas? Well, I admit that I find myself a bit hesitant to share much about them. In part because "Macy's doesn't tell Gimbles." Yes, I have been bitten in the glutes previously by letting what I am thinking out. Which is part of why this blog is, at times, a challenge to write....But enough of that particular kvetching. What I will say about one of the project ideas I have been working on is that it involves: Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Shakespeare. And the UAF Green Room.

Beyond projects of my own fabrication, there is also a potential lighting design opportunity that has been mentioned to me and that I am hoping to take advantage of. And while I understand that, since I wasn't there this last academic year, I may be out of consideration for any design slots on the Fall mainstage show, one never knows.

I continue to plan as though I know I am going back to UAF in the Fall. Admittedly, at this moment, that is partially an act of 'positive visualization'. I'm still underfunded, even with the potential income/savings that I can add up from the Summer stock gig. I can't let that stop me. I didn't let other situations, such as never having been to AK before...or having to resort to various methods of 'non standard housing' for a full academic year (and then some)...or being twice the age of most of my classmates...stop me. And so I have to keep 'walking the walk'. And questing for sponsorships and/or scholarships.

My plans for my Fall classes are pretty basic. After all, I should only need 11 more credit hours of core courses to achieve my degree. Two 4 hour lab science courses. And one 3 hour mathematics course. For Fall the plan is to get the math and one of the sciences out of the way (at the moment my choice is an Intro to Astronomy course). To those I want to add at least one studio art course. I *really* need some studio time. I have been feeling a bit twitchy without it. To that end I am intending to enroll in Beginning Printmaking. Partly because the professor who has been my art department mentor (as opposed to my theatrical one(s)) once said that printmaking is a good skill set to learn, as it can almost be "like printing money". That is to say, you can pull multiple prints and sell them at a variety of venues much more easily than you might with sculpture, etc. And partly because I have some scenographic ideas that I am curious about. I did some 'block printing' for a costume design class project and I'd like to expand that skill set. So...printmaking class. And if I can't get into that class, I'd go for my third class in Native Arts Studio (ie: Advanced Native Arts). That level of class is basically an agreed on set of independent projects, and I have had some ideas germinating regarding that possibility as well. Then in the Spring I will finish the last required lab science course and fill in with some more studio courses.

I've also given some thought to the idea of doing a Thesis Project course in the theatre department. It isn't required but I've been considering the possibility for some while now. As far as I am aware, there has never yet been a technical student who did a thesis project. Directing students? Yep. Acting students? Certainly. But no tech/design folks. Besides the fact that it would be kind of cool to be the first to do it it would, I think, also help me prepare for my MFA work. Because, after all, that *is* the next step I want to take. So skill building towards that end would be a positive thing. And the project I hinted at above might be a good choice for a thesis....maybe. We shall have to see.

Enough rambling for now. I'll almost certainly be back before the weekend is out with another post (sneak preview: it deals with pathways, training, focus, and a few things Disney). Till later.



Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum

 A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise.  

 Semi-Random Shavings

Adventures In Prop-istry...

Not to place any freight conveyances prior to equine species, but all things staying as they are I should be receiving an emailed contract sometime this evening in regard to a Summer gig.

I will admit that it doesn't start as soon as I might like. Nor is the producing venue close to
the metropolitan locale where I had hoped to find work. And it is not a true 'design position'. However, with those things being said it is still work. And I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised when I was basically offered the gig during my first phone call with the venues rep earlier this week. He even acted as though he wasn't really calling me for an interview, but rather for a job offer. Which means that my resume, online portfolio, and references appear to have spoken for me.

Which kind of floors me, truth be told.

As I mentioned above, I should be getting the packet via email before the next dawn. Once I have it and have things signed and/or sealed I'll very likely post more details. Until then, just felt like sharing a positive, if you know what I mean.

More later.

Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum

A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise. 

Time In Its Passage - Something Of A Memoir/Ramble

It is interesting how my mind can be inspired to reflect down certain historic paths by seemingly unrelated things. And an excellent example showed up a couple of days ago.

On one of the various feeds which now seem to help define my life, there was a posting regarding 'The Fall of Saigon', which occurred at the end of April 1975. And suddenly, virtually unbidden,  came a rush of memories regarding a milestone of my life from that general time.

Spring, 1975. Earlier in that school year (my freshman year at Waukegan West High School) I had auditioned for a school musical ( You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown ), in part due to some input from one of my teachers, Mr Contois. He had taken me, the budding class clown, to the side and suggested I look into what I later learned were called 'individual events' (ie: speech competitions, etc). And so I joined with my sister and auditioned. I got called back, but not cast. And while I cannot really recall precisely why, I went ahead and volunteered for some work calls. My first few hours on a crew were spent with a nail puller on a Saturday morning. Then I began working on the electrics crew for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown which resulted in my being a board operator for at least one of the performances. And this was in a smaller venue at my high school, which had an older (for that day) light control system that involved the classic 'switchboard style patch bay' and a series of large, truncheon shaped handles to control the dimmers. To link the dimmers you twisted the handles into a specific position, which ganged them together. Then you ran the master up or down...

The image below shows a similar, but larger, system at another venue (not one that I have worked):

My freshman year was the last year that both of the cities high schools (Waukegan East and my campus, Waukegan West) would be producing a combined Spring musical. That year it was The Wizard of Oz. I auditioned and ended up being cast in the role of The Wizard. And that role, with its rehearsal process and age makeup and all such things are amongst the memories triggered by the anniversary of the fall of Saigon. In part because of one instance where four of us (the performers who played the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, Dorothy, and I - we hung out together mainly because one of the actors lived near me and so gave me rides to the East campus rehearsals and from there home, etc) were outside of the rehearsal space and, hearing what I believe was a test of a tornado siren, the Tin Woodsman commented 'Oh no! It's Ho Chi Minh!'

And that incident, over the years, has mingled with memories of running out of hair coloring spray, so the adult tech director came up with the idea of putting 'clown white' greasepaint in my hair to accomplish the required age effect for one performance. And of needing to shampoo my hair upwards of six times, including at least one washing using my sisters 'Bonnie Bell 10 o' 6' astringent as part of the process of getting it out. And that same tech director synching his gesticulating shadow onto the cyc to match my amplified voice and serve as a 'special effect' for the Wizards audience chamber scenes.

As I will sometimes say when I am feeling contemplative: Herrmn.

It seems a more than a bit strange to realize that, with an occasional gap or three, I have been involved with the theatre in one manner or another for ~39 years. And thankfully I am, and hope to continue, learning and exploring every day.



Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum
 
A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise.

More ramblings to follow.