Old Hickory on DVD

So I got the DVD of the final Woodstock performance of Old Hickory in the mail yesterday - thank you Matt!

The quality of image and sound were suprisingly good, but the framing of the shots could have been better . . . but I quibble. Another quibble, since I'm quibbling, was that the the wind and rain were really heavy duty that day, and the kind of space it was, that is almost distractingly audible . . . specially with the wind banging the doors and such. The rain really became torrential right at the end, as Jimmy is wrapping things up and you don't want any distractions . . . that was something to battle let me tell you!

It took a lot to watch it, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was not too painful. I did see things that could be adjusted, but overall the performance wasn't embarrassing and it's really nice to have a record of the event. I'm not sure whether I could use this as a marketing tool though, it's not really professional production quality, but if someone really really really wanted to see it, I guess I'd let them. We'll see when/if the time comes.

But it was fun and brought back some warm memories of my sojourn up there. Idyllic. I only wish it could have been recorded with a more lively audience . . . they laughed some . . . but if we had a tape of opening night I'd get that sucker to everyone. It's kind of hard to believe that it's the same show from the audience's reaction . . . but I guess that's the beauty of live theat-uh. It's a wonderful piece and I am going to continue to get it out there, I'd love to do it in the city . . .

Some of my criticisms of my perf. on the disc: I really lost the voice of the Ex wife as the play went on . . . that's a biggy . . . I'll have to watch out for that going forward. I also thought I was rushed at the opening part of the show, Bette didn't think so, but it seemed that way to me . . . there were some things I could tinker with, but all in all it's a nice record to have.

My new piece gets its first public unveiling on Tuesday night . . . can't wait to see how that goes!

checking in

Nothing much new to report. I did finish a second draft of my new piece. Thinking of either Skill Set or Life Credits as a title. Haven't shared the changes with Bette yet, haven't even printed it yet . . . sort of wanted to let it breathe a while. I'll take it to the Playwrights Unit on Tues. I added a couple of characters and cut a lot of the old stuff . . . we'll see how it goes, I think it's getting focused in on something, we'll see.

Old Hickory is waiting for something to happen. Blue Horse mentioned meeting this week, but I haven't heard from them yet. I'm not going to push it because a lot of my energy right now is going into my new job . . .

Going to see Albee's new play on my birthday . . . that should be fun . . . a long story that I don't have time for right now, but he came to the party for my 30th so there is some symmetry there.

Cheers, off to work!

Untitled

I read my new piece for Bette a couple of nights ago. She liked it. She had some feedback, which is good because she generally is very insightful, and it definitely left me feeling that I was on the right track. I like the character a lot and a lot of it is touching and funny, but it will take a bit of work to get from here to there, but that's why it's called play'wrighting'. It's a craft, it's work, and it takes focus and an insane level of commitment . . . but if it can lead to something like the performance at Woodstock, then it's really really worth it. Heck, even if it doesn't lead to a production, it's worth it . . . as a songwriter friend of mine once said in the face of frustration: what am I supposed to do, quit?

Quitting: not an option.

I'd like to have the new piece in shape to submit to the One Man Talking festival this year . . . they liked me and I liked them last year, so I think I'd be accepted . . . if that isn't too cocky to say, I do think my piece is worthy though, and will only get better as I keep working on it.

No name yet, though Skill Set sort of leaps to mind . . . unless something better smacks me upside the head.

Got an email from Penguin Rep today to see if I could do a reading for them on Monday; naturally they start work at 1:30 then have dinner and do the reading at night! A year (almost to the day) I was unemployed and could have done something like this; the minute I get a job . . . oh, well . . . I thanked them for thinking of me for it and told them after my first ninety days I get sick time etc, which I could use for just such a thing . . . timing as they say is everything!

Really stroking

I'm really making progress on my new piece. I don't know how it'll hold together, but I am pretty excited about it. It has been taking itself into places I had no intention of going . . . but once there I plunge ahead; it's another pretty dark piece with humor so, if need be, I can pair it up with OH . . . but that's getting ahead of myself. It's amazing how these things come together.

I read the sales seminar piece to Bette the other night .. . she had some reservations that I was already aware of: rising action, conflict etc, but it may be something to go back to at some point.

Now the hard part of the new piece begins: typing it in. That should be fun!

Progress

I printed the first draft (eight pages) of my newest solo piece recently but haven't read it for anyone yet (or for myself for that matter). It'll be interesting to see what anyone else thinks about it; probably take it to the workshop this fall, and the other new one as well . . . which brings us to: a new comic piece I had an idea for. I don't want to say too much about it, but I'm having fun so that's all that matters.