Amazing Character Development & Storytelling

Often in our business we get to create what the audience views as magical.  This video I believe is an example of that.  The character development and artistic creation come together to draw us into caring about this creature/character.  I really enjoyed this TED talk and I hope you will like it as well.

 

 

You may also watch it here: Handspring Puppet Company: The genius puppetry behind War Horse

Working relationships

An article/ blog post appeared in the New York Times about the upcoming Broadway production of “Clybourne Park,” a much-anticipated play that most people have assumed would likely be a nominee for this year’s Tony Award for Best Play.  Clybourne Park’s expected April 2012 opening has been put into question after the departure of well-known Broadway and Hollywood producer Scott Rudin from the production team, at an investment loss of over $2 million.  It appears, according to the article, that his departure is likely due to interpersonal difficulties between himself and playwright Bruce Norris after Norris dropped out of another Rudin-produced project.

We often talk about the importance of maintaining good working relationships with one’s collaborators – that being honest, upfront, a good worker, and a good person to be around can positively affect one’s career, often more than one’s level of talent.

We don’t know all of the details of what went on between the two parties, here.  Other producers are likely to jump onto this obviously worthy project, and the producer will certainly continue work with other writers on other projects – it’s unlikely that anyone’s career is at stake here.  But it’s important to note, that the interpersonal things that come between people in educational or community settings do not go away in the professional world.

Playing Dead

Here the link to an article from the Wall Street Journal about another possible route into the world of performance: playing a dead body.  With a number of television shows and movies in production at any given time that involve crime scenes, actors and makeup people are necessary to make these scenes look real.  The article is written by someone who performed as a victim on Law and Order: Los Angeles.

The loss of a playwright

As many of you are probably already aware, the terrorist attack on the Domodedovo airport near Moscow on Monday, January 24, claimed the lives of 35 and injured more than 100.  Among those who lost their lives that day was an emerging Ukranian playwright by the name of Anna Yablonskaya. While I have no knowledge of Ms. Yablonskaya’s writing, I can’t help but feel the loss of a fellow playwright.  Our prayers and concerns go out to her family and friends, particularly her husband and daughter.

BBC News article

Guardian article

Interactive Theatre for Advertising?

Article

An alcoholic beverage company has commissioned artists of a theatre company called Punchdrunk known for interactive and immersive theatre pieces to create an experience for audience members which involves traveling from site to site where people drinking their beverage can be found.  A new approach to advertising!

Writing tips from David Mamet…

Movieline article *

The link above will take you to an article on Movieline.com that quotes, in full, a memo that Pulitzer winner David Mamet wrote to the writing staff of CBS’ The Unit, the show that Mamet executive produces.  The memo is a mini-master class in the art of dramatic storytelling, with basically all that one would need to know in order to write a great piece of drama, for film, television, or the stage.

* This article does contain a mild amount of language that some might consider offensive.