On Tuesday night I read the first eight or so pages of my new solo piece. It was received well . . . some people had problems with which character was speaking at times, but that's more of an acting thing than a writing thing. Some good feedback though along those lines as well: who am I talking to (always the biggy) why am I talking . . . that kind of thing. It was valuable just to hear laughs. It was nice to get it out there at last. I went hoping to read the whole thing, but then thought better of it, I didn't want to hog the evening and I wanted to get a general idea of which track I was on the right one or the wrong one. I left thinking I'm on the right track, but I want to let this piece settle for a while. For a couple of reasons: 1) I'm on to something else and 2) I have a draft complete, some time to let it settle will do it and me some good . . . I can come back to it with fresh eyes then. It's pretty amazing the amount of stuff that I've cut from it though . . . I've been pretty damn brutal with it, but you have to be; you can't hold on to stuff for dear life just because you have a soft spot for it. practically every play I've worked on for the last ten years (a tad of an exaggeration, but not much of one)has the story of being in the woods and watching a leaf fall . . . which I finally put to good use in Old Hickory!
So now I feel freed from this particular solo piece and can return to it later. I want to work the new two hander, but I'm going to do something for the next workshop meeting that I've wanted to do for a long time: I'm having two of my favorite actors there read Family Matters. they should rock on this. It's the two hander based on my parents, and I haven't heard it read since we did it as a larger cast piece up in Haverstraw, however many years ago that was. I've had readings of it, but always with Bette and I in it, so it'll be fun to get some perspective on it.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Excuses? Yeah I got 'em.
Boy time do fly by, don't it? With best intentions I still haven't posted in over a week, but I do have excuses: my daughter came back from school; I'm reading War and Peace and last but not least - I forget.
So let me catch up. I did take my new solo piece to the Woodstock Fringe meeting, but guess what . . . we ran out of time . . . so next time for sure. And maybe I'll even get to do the whole thing, and get that out of the way. Should be interesting.
I have been working on my other piece fairly regularly, it's the one I started years ago and am coming back to if you recall . . . a two hander that I'm having fun with. i'm writing all new stuff at this point so it'll be challenging to fold this new stuff into the original, but I think it's decent material and one reason for getting the solo bit out of the way is to focus on this one more.
I still haven't decided whether or not to submit the solo piece to the One Man Talking Festival this year; if I do they'll probably accept it (they liked me last year)so I better be sure before I do it . . . we'll see. Also, if I can generate some decent income from this new job maybe just maybe I can work up to doing OH somewhere in the city. there are places where it can be done . . . i might have to beef it up a little more to make sure it runs an hour, but that can be done. I was thinking just yesterday that one thing to explore is the idea that our hero is older than his future ex-wife and he never stopped to ask himself about this when he fell for her, that's one idea . . . I'm sure there are others, like maybe what else he might have tried to be rid of her.
Ok, that's it for now. i may try to upload an MP3 of the interview from the radio in Albany this summer, stay tuned.
So let me catch up. I did take my new solo piece to the Woodstock Fringe meeting, but guess what . . . we ran out of time . . . so next time for sure. And maybe I'll even get to do the whole thing, and get that out of the way. Should be interesting.
I have been working on my other piece fairly regularly, it's the one I started years ago and am coming back to if you recall . . . a two hander that I'm having fun with. i'm writing all new stuff at this point so it'll be challenging to fold this new stuff into the original, but I think it's decent material and one reason for getting the solo bit out of the way is to focus on this one more.
I still haven't decided whether or not to submit the solo piece to the One Man Talking Festival this year; if I do they'll probably accept it (they liked me last year)so I better be sure before I do it . . . we'll see. Also, if I can generate some decent income from this new job maybe just maybe I can work up to doing OH somewhere in the city. there are places where it can be done . . . i might have to beef it up a little more to make sure it runs an hour, but that can be done. I was thinking just yesterday that one thing to explore is the idea that our hero is older than his future ex-wife and he never stopped to ask himself about this when he fell for her, that's one idea . . . I'm sure there are others, like maybe what else he might have tried to be rid of her.
Ok, that's it for now. i may try to upload an MP3 of the interview from the radio in Albany this summer, stay tuned.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A beautiful fall Sunday!
I spent some time this weekend with a couple of the pieces that I rediscovered (see last posting) and found that a) one of them isn't really right to merge into the other, but b) the other one is something I think I can spend some time with and make it better.
Not that column A is bad, it just isn't as close a fit as I thought it might be, multiple characters, multiple story lines, it does have some potential, but it's not really something that i want to tackle just yet. Column B however I read today and made some changes and generally thought about it as stage pictures and as a play with some soul with a theme that is close to my heart (but I won't divulge because it supposed to be a surprise!) So here we go again, right?
It's a big commitment working on a play, you have to spend hours upon hours with it, get it from beginning to end, and then basically tear it down and rebuild it . . . and then, you never know how it will sound coming out of actors' mouths . . . but you do it for the right reasons and the obsession is absolutely worthwhile. And that's what it is when you find a play that you really feel inspired to be working on, an obsession. you think about it when you're sleeping, working, eating, showering you get the idea . . . it takes over and has a life of its own, and the characters say things you didn't expect them to say and then the other character responds in a way you maybe didn't expect . . . it's all so mystical in a way, magical and just plain wonderful. It's like being caught in a wave breaking in the ocean and you have no control over what happens you just give yourself over to the moment in the knowledge that everything will be just fine ... well, of course, people do get hurt in particularly treacherous waves; I'm not so sure anyone has gotten scraped up too badly writing a play! But you get the idea; you get swept away into lives and worlds that you imagine and when it's firing on all cylinders it's truly breath taking. It's like plugging into the great energy of the universe and seeing what comes through to you . . . if that sounds too metaphysical well then too damn bad, but that's how I feel about it. We all live in a state of varying degrees of transcendence and when you open yourself to being a conduit for whatever is out there, special things can come from you. You just have to sit down and block out all your distractions, and allow it to happen . . . and when it does . . . don't think about it at all, just boldly step into the stream and see where it takes you.
I'm getting close to jumping in again, and I can't wait to see where it goes!
Not that column A is bad, it just isn't as close a fit as I thought it might be, multiple characters, multiple story lines, it does have some potential, but it's not really something that i want to tackle just yet. Column B however I read today and made some changes and generally thought about it as stage pictures and as a play with some soul with a theme that is close to my heart (but I won't divulge because it supposed to be a surprise!) So here we go again, right?
It's a big commitment working on a play, you have to spend hours upon hours with it, get it from beginning to end, and then basically tear it down and rebuild it . . . and then, you never know how it will sound coming out of actors' mouths . . . but you do it for the right reasons and the obsession is absolutely worthwhile. And that's what it is when you find a play that you really feel inspired to be working on, an obsession. you think about it when you're sleeping, working, eating, showering you get the idea . . . it takes over and has a life of its own, and the characters say things you didn't expect them to say and then the other character responds in a way you maybe didn't expect . . . it's all so mystical in a way, magical and just plain wonderful. It's like being caught in a wave breaking in the ocean and you have no control over what happens you just give yourself over to the moment in the knowledge that everything will be just fine ... well, of course, people do get hurt in particularly treacherous waves; I'm not so sure anyone has gotten scraped up too badly writing a play! But you get the idea; you get swept away into lives and worlds that you imagine and when it's firing on all cylinders it's truly breath taking. It's like plugging into the great energy of the universe and seeing what comes through to you . . . if that sounds too metaphysical well then too damn bad, but that's how I feel about it. We all live in a state of varying degrees of transcendence and when you open yourself to being a conduit for whatever is out there, special things can come from you. You just have to sit down and block out all your distractions, and allow it to happen . . . and when it does . . . don't think about it at all, just boldly step into the stream and see where it takes you.
I'm getting close to jumping in again, and I can't wait to see where it goes!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
A big surprise!
No the surprise is not that I'm posting two nights in a row, smart ass! I think I mentioned that I had an idea for working on a play that I had begun some years ago and then set aside . . . well . . . I got the flash drive that a lot of my stuff is saved on, and was I ever surprised to see some of the stuff on there . . . there was at least one play that I had written beginning to end and forgotten about, I don't know that I ever printed it! There was also another piece that I had forgotten about, that was about 57 pages . . . and then yet another that is around sixty or so, which I had called Personal Gods. I was taking pages of PG to Blueberry Pond way back when, and people kind of liked it . . .should be interesting to see what it looks like. I'm thinking that maybe I can somehow take Sacred Ground (the one that I was going to work on anyway) and Personal Gods and kind of merge them into one . . . might be do-able, and it might be exciting/fun for me to work on . . . so away we go!
As part of this whole looking through my back pages I also looked at my writing resume. When it seems like your writing is too hard to go back to you should maybe take a look back. Eleven full length plays and however many one acts; and that is just the ones on my resume . . . sometime I should count my plays . . . quite a body of work . . . and I'm saying that as dispassionately as I can, not to brag, but just in amazement at what is there. And most of it in the last ten years. And before that, screenplays . . . wow . . . I wonder what I would find if I went into one of these boxes that are overstuffed with papers . . . really something to be proud of. I don't know if you have gotten the feel from my blog trail, just how much work goes into writing a play. Since I don't ever delete anything or throw anything away, i can tell you that the number of drafts of some of my plays get close to double digits. It's intense. But worthwhile? You better believe it.
Especially if you are lucky enough to get to put it in front of an audience and can experience their reactions . . . that's when you can really find out what a play is. I'd love to get all my plays on their feet some day, but wouldn't we all? So far my one acts have mostly been produced, which is nice and has been fun, a lot of beautiful memories, with a lot of wonderful people (and lets not forget 'The Siler Family Players', but more on that another time) ; Old Hickory is the first play that I have had produced that stood on its feet as an evening of theater. Good thing I'm not easily discouraged. The writing is the thing anyway. Creating a world with characters and being surprised by what happens . . . it's all too amazing for words. There really is nothing like it and I miss it . . . that's what happens if you spend enough time away from it . . . it comes for you and says, 'hey don't forget, I'm here!' To which I say: Hold on, I'm coming!
As part of this whole looking through my back pages I also looked at my writing resume. When it seems like your writing is too hard to go back to you should maybe take a look back. Eleven full length plays and however many one acts; and that is just the ones on my resume . . . sometime I should count my plays . . . quite a body of work . . . and I'm saying that as dispassionately as I can, not to brag, but just in amazement at what is there. And most of it in the last ten years. And before that, screenplays . . . wow . . . I wonder what I would find if I went into one of these boxes that are overstuffed with papers . . . really something to be proud of. I don't know if you have gotten the feel from my blog trail, just how much work goes into writing a play. Since I don't ever delete anything or throw anything away, i can tell you that the number of drafts of some of my plays get close to double digits. It's intense. But worthwhile? You better believe it.
Especially if you are lucky enough to get to put it in front of an audience and can experience their reactions . . . that's when you can really find out what a play is. I'd love to get all my plays on their feet some day, but wouldn't we all? So far my one acts have mostly been produced, which is nice and has been fun, a lot of beautiful memories, with a lot of wonderful people (and lets not forget 'The Siler Family Players', but more on that another time) ; Old Hickory is the first play that I have had produced that stood on its feet as an evening of theater. Good thing I'm not easily discouraged. The writing is the thing anyway. Creating a world with characters and being surprised by what happens . . . it's all too amazing for words. There really is nothing like it and I miss it . . . that's what happens if you spend enough time away from it . . . it comes for you and says, 'hey don't forget, I'm here!' To which I say: Hold on, I'm coming!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
OOPS! No Fringe tonight
Luckily I found out before shlepping into the city that there was no meeting of the WF tonight. Next week! good thing I stumbled upon that bit of info; it would have been a bummer to go in for nothing. I decided to post anyway just for fun; I had promised an update on the new solo bit, but that'll have to wait a week. I did go through it last night and made some more adjustments (read that: cuts). This blog is my most consistent writing activity, if that tells you anything!
I don't feel rushed these days; I don't like wasting time, but I also don't like forcing things. When it means something and it's flowing there is nothing like it, writing that is . . . or little that compares. When it ain't? Fuh-get about it. It's all a journey . . . and who knows where it takes you . . . you just have to be open to the possibility and to the impulse.
The people at work are gradually finding out about who I am. A guy came up to me today and was asking about my postcard of Old Hickory, which I have on the wall . . . he said: That's a tree isn't it? I said: Well yes, but it's a play I wrote too. Then it came out that I'm a writer and actor and he said What are you doing here?
Making a living that's what! I guess people don't realize what life in the theater entails, or just how hard it is to make a living or even MONEY doing it. I told him: Mortgage, kid in college . . . that equals a real job . . . would I like to make a living in theater? Three guesses and the first two don't count.
My mother sent me a story from the Charleston, WV paper about a guy who I did a lot of plays with who also packed up and moved. His name is Beech Vickers and we did, wow . . . how many plays together? I don't even know . . . quite a few though. That was a pretty golden time in some ways, theatrical anyway . . . a lot of very talented folks back there . . .
I'm back in the groove with the blog . . . I'm going to try to do something every day . . . even if it's just a little note . . . as long as it's not just flotsam and jetsam . . . we have plenty of that already.
I don't feel rushed these days; I don't like wasting time, but I also don't like forcing things. When it means something and it's flowing there is nothing like it, writing that is . . . or little that compares. When it ain't? Fuh-get about it. It's all a journey . . . and who knows where it takes you . . . you just have to be open to the possibility and to the impulse.
The people at work are gradually finding out about who I am. A guy came up to me today and was asking about my postcard of Old Hickory, which I have on the wall . . . he said: That's a tree isn't it? I said: Well yes, but it's a play I wrote too. Then it came out that I'm a writer and actor and he said What are you doing here?
Making a living that's what! I guess people don't realize what life in the theater entails, or just how hard it is to make a living or even MONEY doing it. I told him: Mortgage, kid in college . . . that equals a real job . . . would I like to make a living in theater? Three guesses and the first two don't count.
My mother sent me a story from the Charleston, WV paper about a guy who I did a lot of plays with who also packed up and moved. His name is Beech Vickers and we did, wow . . . how many plays together? I don't even know . . . quite a few though. That was a pretty golden time in some ways, theatrical anyway . . . a lot of very talented folks back there . . .
I'm back in the groove with the blog . . . I'm going to try to do something every day . . . even if it's just a little note . . . as long as it's not just flotsam and jetsam . . . we have plenty of that already.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Longest time between posts
for anyone who checks back semi-regularly, sorry for the long hiatus. There has been a lot going on, but the writing hasn't been part of it. That may change tomorrow night when I return to Woodstock Fringe with pages of my new solo bit. Then I'm going to start revving it up for a two hander that's been sitting fallow for a while; I'm thinking of getting it up and running again.
I read over my new piece the other day, made some adjustments and now we'll see how folks react to it. Should be interesting.
The two hander is something that I wrote years ago, and then sort of set aside. It will be interesting to take it out again and see what I think of it . . .
Looking forward to getting back in with the Fringe folks. Lovely people, very talented and warm and welcoming to my work. Can't wait.
I promise to write more regularly again; I go through these stages at times, and the best thing is to just use it to refill the well . . . Anna Karenina did that in spades! Great book, and a lot to be learned about writing from reading it. Tolstoy could tighten the string to nearly breaking . . . and then keep you on that edge for pages . . . truly truly great book. Possibly my favorite ever; but I don't know about that . . . it is artistry of the highest order at any rate!
More after I read my pages tomorrow night, I promise!
I read over my new piece the other day, made some adjustments and now we'll see how folks react to it. Should be interesting.
The two hander is something that I wrote years ago, and then sort of set aside. It will be interesting to take it out again and see what I think of it . . .
Looking forward to getting back in with the Fringe folks. Lovely people, very talented and warm and welcoming to my work. Can't wait.
I promise to write more regularly again; I go through these stages at times, and the best thing is to just use it to refill the well . . . Anna Karenina did that in spades! Great book, and a lot to be learned about writing from reading it. Tolstoy could tighten the string to nearly breaking . . . and then keep you on that edge for pages . . . truly truly great book. Possibly my favorite ever; but I don't know about that . . . it is artistry of the highest order at any rate!
More after I read my pages tomorrow night, I promise!
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