Month: February 2010

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Post Table Read

Last night was probably one of the most surreal nights of my life. Ten actors gathered around a table sardine style to read my screenplay out loud and on camera. The incredible efforts they put in to bring it to life are more than I could have hoped for in this lifetime. I just wish I had been there to experience it. I was physically there, but I was also playing director and stage manager so my writer’s brain was caught up in reading the text on the page as they spoke rather than “listening” to the story.

If you’re planning on table read of your own work, I would suggest you hire a friend to handle the mundane details of hosting and getting every one focused and ready to shoot. It’s essential to hear your story without being on book, or worrying about whether the food you made is getting cold, as I was. Luckily, I had a great camera department and we knocked off some great close ups and great sound too. I’ll be able to listen to the story again in the near future.

Physically I was located away from the actors enough so that couldn’t see me write anything down, but I was within ear shot. I have no bearing on whether that made them happy or nervous. I would think they’d NOT want to see me scratching notes down on the script as they spoke.

Overall, I’m really pleased with how everything played out. I did cast the script well, making me wonder if I someday I might want to direct…but doesn’t everybody want to direct?

I think the perfect cap note to the evening was when the actors requested to keep their scripts and had me sign them. I signed them like I was writing a check without thinking about the fact that they were asking for an autograph. Later as it sunk in, the requests made me feel very special.

If you’re in the Dallas area, and you need some great talent, I now have a thick file of actors you will want to work with.

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On a more personal note, I found it difficult to get through this night of excitement with the heavy thoughts of two people in the entertainment industry who thought the universe would fair better without them. They will never know how much I cared for them, but their parents might. To the Koenig and Osmond families, you have my deepest sympathies for the loss of your sons. I do have a dose of experience with what you’re going through and no words will ever be able to describe or acknowledge the grief you’re going through. Only know that those who cared for them outside of your circle of family and friends are thinking good thoughts for you during this crisis.

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Cryptic details.

I don’t speak much about myself on this blog because I try to keep my writing life and my personal life separate. I’m not famous, so who the F cares. I feel like opening up.

Someone on twitter recently asked: “If you could travel through space-time to any location or time, where/when & why?”.

This is a loaded question for me.  My answer would have to be: South Coast Repertory Theatre, 1999, Costa Mesa, California.  I would leave my 1999 self a note that read, “Leave the Play-Doh at Home”.

Cryptic enough isn’t it?  Only a few people would understand the reference.

After analyzing my initial answer it made me re-think everything in a Ghost of Christmas Past sort of way.  If the clay had been left at home, connections would not have been made, muses would have been destroyed and I might not have fully realized my passion to become a writer.  Or maybe I would have in another way or another time. The one thing I now know is that ten years of occasionally brushing up against the past has created a screenplay that is quite possibly about to be produced.  Am I angry about my choices? Sometimes. Looking back I was so naive and someone took advantage of that, whether consciously or unconsciously. The burn still stings.

But from the flames, the phoenix rises once more to assign memories I want to forget to characters I’ve put down on paper.  Let them worry about the past, because what was once mine is now theirs and I no longer have to mull over it.

I guess I’m satisfied with the direction I went. It’s hard to speculate where I would have ended up if I did leave the Play-Doh at home. I can’t imagine what life would have been like otherwise.

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The Next Stage of Evolution

Read ThroughsSo. Here you are. You’re sitting with an option, and an interested producer and you’ve made a ton of changes to please the powers that be. Your script feels ready to send out to actors for casting and attachments.

But is your script really ready? How would you know? You’ve only heard it in your head, and if you’re like me, you feel like an idiot reading the lines out loud.

The next step I’m taking  is to  hold a read through of my screenplay with professional actors.   A table reading is, from what I’ve read, one of the most crucial methods of improving your work. I’m currently frozen with fear at hearing my work read out loud, but it is an essential part of my growth as a screenwriter.

When it came to planning this shin dig (currently scheduled for Feb. 27th, 2010), these are the questions that have rolled around in my head.

What kind of talent can I draw to my script read through?

While I feel like a schmuck for only being able to pay the actors the equivalent of  gas money and refreshments, I feel that offering  some money is more respectful than expecting them to come to your read through for free.  They are just as hard working as you are. They’re professionals and they’re putting in way more time than you deserve so do what you can to make them comfortable.  If you can’t afford to pay actors for a read through, you may need to lower your standards and ask friends or fellow writers to read your script out loud. This is a viable option, but my situation is  different. We’re using footage from the reading for marketing to distribution companies. (Apparently this is now done before an actor utters one word on film.)  It was important to find actors with professional experience.  If you’re well connected with an actors network, I’m highly jealous and you can probably get them to come to your reading as a favor. In Dallas, our networking organizations still operate separately around here, but that’s changing for the better.

Where do I find my talent?

I was afraid to contact large agencies here in Dallas. I thought I’d be wasting their time, so I went more local and put out a casting call with a locally based actor’s networking organization. To their credit, S.T.A.G.E. of Dallas helped me cast 80% of the roles I was seeking to fill within three-four days of posting the ad. They are an amazing resource, not just for actors, but for filmmakers and writers. On a side note: if you’re casting children, you need to double your head count because at least one parent will  attend the reading.

Why am I paying for this and not the producers?

That’s a simple one. The primary purpose of the reading is for your research and reference. Hearing  your screenplay come alive will bring out all of the odd word choices and sections an actor may stumble over because well, your writing sucks at that juncture.  My reading is being used by the producers, but it’s more for me. They’re secondary to the end result. They have generously offered to pay the actors once the budget goes through, but I’ve already told the actors not to hold their breath.  Any film can sit around waiting for production.

How much does a read through cost?

If you hold it in a home, you’ll save money. I’ve spent 300$ so far and I will most likely spend a little more.  Sounds like a lot, but think about what this money is for.  It’s bringing your script to life…that’s a cheap birthing bill.  I did manage to find a hotel with a conference room for 200$/day but due to my camera package limitations, getting a room at a hotel opened up another can of worms all together.

My camera package is kindly being provided by another writer who is also a photographer/filmmaker. This has pushed my run through into a more professional realm and if you can swing a collection of cameras, lights, mics, etc…do what you need to do to make it happen.

Other places you may be able to use for a read through: a library, a college or high school theater, or a friend’s office conference room.  I would steer away from renting a room at a restaurant if you need to tape your gathering. The ambient restaurant sound will drown everything out.

What does the actor get out of this?

While I can’t authoritatively answer this completely, I do know that table readings do offer an actor excellent practice for auditions. Being able to discern a character quickly with little direction is essential to an actor’s skill set.   My actors have already received the script and they’re digesting  pages quickly and we’re still a couple weeks out from the event. They’re amazing people and I can’t wait to work with them in person.

More questions will pop up as I get closer to the date. I’ll add to this as they come. If you have any tips or suggestions, feel free to let me know.