I've Done All that I can Do- The Play with the Stuffed Animal in It

 Hello!

I just wanted to start off with a quick thanks to everyone who has followed along with the posts made for this production.

It has been an absolute delight to write them and even more so to see the love that everyone has had for their shows.

It is difficult to let go of a show and leave it up to the audience to love. 

I'll give a recommendation for the premiere of our show-

Watch it over and over again. 

I think that's the absolute beauty in creating theatre through the filming process. It allows the viewers to rewatch their favorite moments or even get the chance to catch something new. Feel free to pause it, rewind, and admire the love and care that goes into our craft.

I'm thankful to be a part of a production that lovingly shows off the versatile skills that exist within the theatre department. 

A part of me hopes that it entices you to take a moment and step into our world. 

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." (Oscar Wilde)

Fetch Finished

 We are in the waiting game now...

This is the part of the process where my job is pretty much done. Lorna is still working with Zavi and Kenzie on the editing process and I am hanging back and letting the creative work flow.

I am still involved in other shows, such as Tilly where I volunteered to help with hair and makeup. Although we already filmed, the joys of doing split screen work means that things can go awry if they don't line up perfectly. I am happy to help out again however, I had a lot of fun getting to do the adorable 40s hair and makeup on the lovely Jessica. 

I'm not entirely sure what else to write for this week, not much else happened. But I'm excited for the end result!

A Bow for Now

 Well the job is done! We have filmed Tilly and are now in the process of being edited. I loved seeing the actors in their costumes and the set being simple and sweet. The actors did such an amazing job to the point of only having to film a couple times. The director has been the backbone of this whole process of making sure everybody would be more than ready for the filming process. I couldn’t have asked for a better director for this show. The other directors and dramatists have also been an amazing support system. You could tell we all cared about our craft and respect the other's art as well. I can’t wait for everybody to see it. I am nervous and excited but I know it is because I care deeply for all of our craft and hopefully the audience will see it as well. I am so glad to have been a part of this and to have learned and grown from this opportunity. Thanks for being part of the process. I am now taking my final bow….for now.

Filming and Saying goodbye to Helping Hand

    Hey All,

    It has been a wild few weeks and I can barely comprehend that it happened at all. I have very few words in this last entry. The filming went well, two takes after getting ready. Learning even as we take the last few steps in the process. It's all part of it. I may forget the lines that we used as jokes and the thoughts I threw out, but the people and the lessons I learned will be remembered - however cliché and romanticized it's kind of the point for those to stick. I can only take my hat off to my cast and crew- Lane, Josh, and Taylor. Without such brilliant talent I doubt the project would be what it is. At the end it was a strange feeling. I felt rather than letting go I had already said my goodbyes to the show and so I was watching it walk on its own. A strange detachment. A far distance. I can only hope to get the opportunity again. Watching it back on the screen there is a different feel to it, and I now truly understand the effect a camera. It separates people from the action, there is a different kind of action needed. The project has its wings all the same and stands strong as a one act. 

    Nich.

The Filming of Fetch

Well, we’ve filmed! Our show was the first to film, the beginning of the filming day was working around the technicals aspects, which luckily there weren’t too many. I got there early and helped make the stage what I had envisioned- it was nice to see it all together! When the actors arrived, I had them run through it once and gave my last few final notes. The biggest thing to pay attention to was the prop movement, but it wasn’t a big concern. 

Then the actors went into the costume shop to get ready. I’m not going to lie, the best part of the day was seeing them all in their own costumes, complete with the makeup, as we hadn’t seen that yet. They all looked great, and it helped bring life to the stage. When they were ready, we had them one by one go through and say their lines with the tracks in their ears. After working out the technical issues with the earpieces, it actually went very smoothly, and we were done filming in two hours- which was great. 

I received the rough-cut shortly after, and it only had a few moments where things weren’t lined up perfectly. That was to be expected though, and it was incredible to see two people acting on-screen together knowing they only filmed one person at a time. I can’t wait to see the other director’s shows and how they all came together- if mine looks the way it does, I’m sure theirs are also going to look great. While this may not be the most ideal way to do theatre, it’s exciting to be able to see actor’s faces and tell a story in some way. 

Filming Fetch!

 What a journey, I mean this was just amazing to see everything start to finish. It was bittersweet to film the show and see it all finally come to a beautiful finished picture, but also having to retire the script for now. Seeing words that came out of my mind not only said allowed but performed with passion and talent from our amazing actors under the direction of the wonderful Lorna Baxter, it was for lack of better word, insane. 

The rehearsal process as a writer was already fairly hands off, only really making script tweaks here and there and keeping track of each rehearsals progression through the rehearsal reports. Filming was very hands off, I basically just got to sit back and watch the actors do their magic. We did run into some technical difficulties but the actors were absolute champions when it came to filming.

I was nervous going in about what the mode of filming would be like, not being able to have any two actors on the stage at the same time without a mask, but I think they did fairly well! We luckily caught some timing issues just from listening to the one person who was filming at the time.

I LOVED the costuming, especially for Queenie (Leah). All the actors looked absolutely adorable. I don't know if it was really what was in my head, or what my idea even was, but I thought they were wonderful nonetheless.

Can't wait to see the finished product!!!

That's a Wrap on A Helping Hand

 That's it everyone, we're filmed and now we just wait until the release day! Filming night was so fun, it was great seeing everything come together, everyone working their magic, and watching the actors come into the world and create this scene in its entirety. There's not much else I can say except for what I have already which is I am so grateful to have had this experience and I am so proud of everyone that was a part of making this happen. In one of the shittiest years for everyone, this truly was a saving grace to my sanity and I'm so happy to have worked along side all of these talented and wonderful people.