These are the items discussed at the beginning of our meeting:
Collective Comedy
The next Collective Comedy is THIS THURSDAY. This is our only source of fundraising, at the moment, and our last event was not well attended. It is imperative that we hustle however we can to get our friends and colleagues to this event. Our ability to produce our upcoming shows in May and ongoing are dependent on it.
Emails
Promotional emails are available to forward to your personal email lists. Or you can direct people to the web site for complete information about the event.
Your $20
We ask that Collective members also contribute their $20 to the event. We do not ask for dues, and only charge $5 on Monday nights to cover the cost of theatre rentals for our meetings. It costs us about $800 to produce Collective Comedy; so if every member contributes his/her $20, we cover our expenses and every person we get to the event goes right toward our next event.
Our email list
We need to focus on collecting email addresses at the event this week, too. With lots of people changing and/or losing jobs, many of the email addresses we have on file have been bouncing back to us.
The sketch
This month's sketch is co-written by Brandon Snider and Amy Schumer. It takes place in a living room at a birthday party. So, if you are able to provide any/all of the following items, please let us know ASAP:
birthday cake/candles
gift-wrapped packages
folding chairs
party decorations
plastic cups/plates/forks
Set-up
Call time on Thursday is 5pm. Please contact us with your availability so that we can assign people to tasks. We all know how to get this done, but we need to have all hands on deck to make it happen.
May productions (May 11-30)
Melissa Rindell has signed a contract with Center Stage NY for three weeks of productions in May. Week One will be a series of monologues written by Clay McLeod Chapman. Week Two will be two one acts written by Edward Allan Baker. Both of these playwrights will be working with the directors on these productions, and will be holding talk-backs after some of the shows. It is a great opportunity for The Collective to build relationships with these talented writers.
Week Three will be a production of an adaptation of La Ronde. Based on a 1900 German play, this adaptation will be developed through the improvised work of the Collective actors involved. In ten interconnected scenes, sexual relationships at all levels of society are explored. In the structure of "the round," at the end of each two-person scene one of the two characters remains and begins a pairing with a new character in the next scene. At the end of that scene, the new character remains and begins a pairing with another new character, and these pairings continue until the first character returns in the final scene.
The concept was most recently presented in David Hare's "The Blue Room" which featured Nicole Kidman on Broadway. Hare's adaptation was written with two actors playing all ten characters throughout the paired scenes. Rights to Hare's version were unavailable.
There will be needs at all levels of production, so please review your availability during these weeks in May and let Melissa know how you'd like to be involved. In particular, there will be needs with box office and other front-of-house duties for the 15 performances over the three weeks.
Promotional postcards and emails should be available within the next week.
This opportunity came out of the blue with some last minute space availability from Center Stage, so we all need to rally to make these productions successful. Although a short lead-time is not ideal, we know from past experience that when we pull together anything's possible.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
CHECK IT OUT...
UPDATE: COMP TIX for "KNIVES AND OTHER SHARP OBJECTS" (by Raul Castillo, directed by Felix Solis) this Sunday, April 12, 2pm matinee at The Public Theater
Seating is limited, but if you are interested, here is what you need to do:
-email Rebecca Sherman at: rsherman@publictheater.org
-let her know you are requesting comps for 4.12 at 2pm
-let her know how many comps you are requesting
-make sure your email is included.
-she will email you back to confirm that you are on the list.
This Tuesday night (4/14) at 7:30 - 'Humor Abuse' at the MTC stage II. Tix are $35 at the Box Office with playbill promo code ($41 online with same code). Heard great things about this one man show.
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL GO ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC STARTING MONDAY 4/20!
Pheonix Adlabs - The ImaginAsian Theatre - '8x10 TASVEER' (Synopsis)
Quad Cinema - 'TOKYO SONATA' (Synopsis)
Seating is limited, but if you are interested, here is what you need to do:
-email Rebecca Sherman at: rsherman@publictheater.org
-let her know you are requesting comps for 4.12 at 2pm
-let her know how many comps you are requesting
-make sure your email is included.
-she will email you back to confirm that you are on the list.
REMINDERS:
This Tuesday night (4/14) at 7:30 - 'Humor Abuse' at the MTC stage II. Tix are $35 at the Box Office with playbill promo code ($41 online with same code). Heard great things about this one man show.INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL GO ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC STARTING MONDAY 4/20!-Tix are $15 at the box office
-Package tix are still available as well (starting at $225)
RECOMMENDED:
Pheonix Adlabs - The ImaginAsian Theatre - '8x10 TASVEER' (Synopsis)REASONS WHY - The Collective's Own PIA SHAH playing Sally Kohli!
Quad Cinema - 'TOKYO SONATA' (Synopsis)REASONS WHY - Performances of Teruyuki Kagawa and Kyoko Koizumi as Ryuhei and Megumi Sasaki as well as Koji Yakusho as the Theif, Intriguing insight into Japan's culture with regards to family life as well as the workforce
REASONS WHY - Admirable debut for director Steve McQueen, 15 minute single camera scene between Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender) and Father Moran (Liam Cunningham), Good research opportunity with regards to "The Whales of Long Kesh"
REASONS WHY - Brilliant Story telling; specifically 'Shaking Tokyo' directed by Bong Joon-Ho, Performances by Teruyuki Kagawa in 'Shaking Tokyo' and Denis Lavant and Jean-Francois Balmer in 'Merde', Michel Gondry's signature storytelling film making in 'Interior Design'
REASONS WHY - Drivers side view into one of Italy's most notorious gangs; Camorrah, Uniquely shot by Matteo Garrone (almost as if watching a documentary), THIS
Check back often for updates!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Casting Notice
From Krista Amigone:
My scene partner from the Network's One Act Festival freelances with a manager. This woman's name is Rita Silverman and she runs Leap Over It Management. I spoke with her and she is very nice. Right now she is submitting people for a television project -- but she couldn't go into detail.
She is specifically looking for woman with an age-range of 20's through 50's, preferably ethnic. (But I think she is open to seeing anyone as I am not terribly ethnic looking.)
Her phone numbers are 212-873-7183 and 212-787-4010. She only freelances-- so it's a win/win situation should the employment fairies hit you on the head.
When you call tell her I gave you the info so that she has a point of
reference.
My scene partner from the Network's One Act Festival freelances with a manager. This woman's name is Rita Silverman and she runs Leap Over It Management. I spoke with her and she is very nice. Right now she is submitting people for a television project -- but she couldn't go into detail.
She is specifically looking for woman with an age-range of 20's through 50's, preferably ethnic. (But I think she is open to seeing anyone as I am not terribly ethnic looking.)
Her phone numbers are 212-873-7183 and 212-787-4010. She only freelances-- so it's a win/win situation should the employment fairies hit you on the head.
When you call tell her I gave you the info so that she has a point of
reference.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Collective Monday – April 6, 2009
These are the items discussed at the top of our meeting (plus some editorializing):
Moderators
Those working each night should seek out the moderators at the beginning of the meeting to share goals for the work.
Please keep feedback concise, once the moderators have opened it up to the group. We have had wonderfully full dockets lately, and we want to be able to get to as much work as possible. Keep your comments focused on what you OBSERVE in the behavior. We are peers, not directors or teachers. If something is unclear or you have a question about the work, tell those working what you observed and let them choose how to address it.
As always, announced guests are welcome. We ask you to take responsibility for your guests, and we ask that they observe for their first few visits to see how the room operates before offering feedback.
Preparation/Prioritization
We have had a resurgence of requests for time to work. This is great. We have been able to accept requests and schedule them, more or less, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We understand that there are cases where you may not have access to scripts, sides, etc. until last minute, and we will continue to make time for your urgent projects (auditions, etc.). However, for work that is not time-sensitive, please bring in the work AFTER you have taken the time you need to do your homework. Bring in work once you have SPECIFIC goals, not 'just to hear it out loud.' The group cannot be helpful if it is relegated to general feedback about doing your homework. We know that our colleagues can read... what we want to discuss week after week is the behavior; and it is more fully realized the further along in the process you are with your work. We want to learn what choices you've made, what problems you're tackling, and see it play out in front of us. Mondays should be generous and involving.
Blog/Performance Calendar
Please continue to check these online resources. They will be a repository for Collective goings-on.
The blog will continue to have important details from items discussed in meetings, and about upcoming projects. This will also be the place we will post casting notices sent to The Collective, and initiate discussions about what's happening in the industry outside The Collective bubble. (See "A Note from Mike Houston" below.)
The Performance Calendar will be a one-stop shop to get information about members' events and performances outside The Collective. To include your own performances in the calendar, just send an email to thecollective9@gmail.com with all the details. Support your colleagues and go see some shows!
In the Pipeline
Melissa Rindell has been in discussion with Center Stage about some unexpected rental availability they have for three weeks in May. She has proposed a series of works from Clay McCleod Chapman, Edward Allen Baker and Neil Labute. Production budgets, permissions and details should be finalized in the next few days. Once she has this hammered out, and we know what role The Collective will play, we will share the ways that Collective members can get involved in helping to make the series a success. The event is essentially one month away.
A Note from Mike Houston
So I've recently begun to take in more independent and foreign film, having been inspired by Lisa K. and all involved in setting up the 'Hunger' viewing, and thought the Collective blog would be a great way to reach out and make recommendations about films and theatre to see. Not writing reviews or anything, as I believe a person's response to an artistic experience is subjective; Some may love what some may not. But it's just a way to reach out and say, "Hey, you might want to check this out". If you have something you've seen and experienced, and want to put it out there to The Collective via the blog, just shoot me an e-mail (houston76@gmail.com) with the details (project name, location, maybe a brief synopsis) and I'll post it with the heading, "Check it Out". From what I've seen, it's pretty amazing what's happening throughout the independent and foreign film community (although I'm sure this has been true for quite some time) and it can't hurt to broaden the horizon.
Moderators
Those working each night should seek out the moderators at the beginning of the meeting to share goals for the work.
Please keep feedback concise, once the moderators have opened it up to the group. We have had wonderfully full dockets lately, and we want to be able to get to as much work as possible. Keep your comments focused on what you OBSERVE in the behavior. We are peers, not directors or teachers. If something is unclear or you have a question about the work, tell those working what you observed and let them choose how to address it.
As always, announced guests are welcome. We ask you to take responsibility for your guests, and we ask that they observe for their first few visits to see how the room operates before offering feedback.
Preparation/Prioritization
We have had a resurgence of requests for time to work. This is great. We have been able to accept requests and schedule them, more or less, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We understand that there are cases where you may not have access to scripts, sides, etc. until last minute, and we will continue to make time for your urgent projects (auditions, etc.). However, for work that is not time-sensitive, please bring in the work AFTER you have taken the time you need to do your homework. Bring in work once you have SPECIFIC goals, not 'just to hear it out loud.' The group cannot be helpful if it is relegated to general feedback about doing your homework. We know that our colleagues can read... what we want to discuss week after week is the behavior; and it is more fully realized the further along in the process you are with your work. We want to learn what choices you've made, what problems you're tackling, and see it play out in front of us. Mondays should be generous and involving.
Blog/Performance Calendar
Please continue to check these online resources. They will be a repository for Collective goings-on.
The blog will continue to have important details from items discussed in meetings, and about upcoming projects. This will also be the place we will post casting notices sent to The Collective, and initiate discussions about what's happening in the industry outside The Collective bubble. (See "A Note from Mike Houston" below.)
The Performance Calendar will be a one-stop shop to get information about members' events and performances outside The Collective. To include your own performances in the calendar, just send an email to thecollective9@gmail.com with all the details. Support your colleagues and go see some shows!
In the Pipeline
Melissa Rindell has been in discussion with Center Stage about some unexpected rental availability they have for three weeks in May. She has proposed a series of works from Clay McCleod Chapman, Edward Allen Baker and Neil Labute. Production budgets, permissions and details should be finalized in the next few days. Once she has this hammered out, and we know what role The Collective will play, we will share the ways that Collective members can get involved in helping to make the series a success. The event is essentially one month away.
A Note from Mike Houston
So I've recently begun to take in more independent and foreign film, having been inspired by Lisa K. and all involved in setting up the 'Hunger' viewing, and thought the Collective blog would be a great way to reach out and make recommendations about films and theatre to see. Not writing reviews or anything, as I believe a person's response to an artistic experience is subjective; Some may love what some may not. But it's just a way to reach out and say, "Hey, you might want to check this out". If you have something you've seen and experienced, and want to put it out there to The Collective via the blog, just shoot me an e-mail (houston76@gmail.com) with the details (project name, location, maybe a brief synopsis) and I'll post it with the heading, "Check it Out". From what I've seen, it's pretty amazing what's happening throughout the independent and foreign film community (although I'm sure this has been true for quite some time) and it can't hurt to broaden the horizon.
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