Friday, July 31, 2009

I need two actors for a reading tomorrow.

I need a male and female who can read for 14 to 15 year-old teenagers. Please send inquiries to thedramafoundry@yahoo.com Please include your stats, and a head shot and resume if you have one.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Meeting Format

This is format is subject to change. We'll try it out, see out it works, and make any changes accordingly.

1. Welcome

2. Meeting Guidelines

3. Reminder of Confidentiality

4. Introductions

5. Shameless Promotion and Announcements – pass contact sheet, Mention any shows, marketing opportunities

6. Overview of the scheduled readings for the evening

7. Feedback session
- Writer introduces the piece and discusses the feedback needed
- Reading
- Initial feedback from session participants
- Question and answer period between writer and session participants
- Intermission

8. Reminder of the next meeting

9. Reminder of eligibility for scheduled readings

10. Pass sign-up sheet for scheduled readings and meeting attendance sheet

11. Meeting adjournment and clean-up

Our first readings: August 1, 2009 1:45pm - 4:45pm

In spite of being a single parent, a caretaker to elderly parents, going on vacation, looking for a job, and having had to look for a new meeting space I have been able to be on top of things enough - cough- to be able to go ahead and schedule our next meeting. Our new meeting space will be at the Upper Arlington Library in meeting room B. Our next meeting is August 1st from 1:45pm to 4:45pm.

When it first came to light that Junctionview Studios was not going to be able to provide the space we needed at the price we could afford (free) I went into a little bit of panic admittedly. However, after several phone calls my problem soon became making up my mind as to which awesome free space to pick. We had several to choose from.

After getting feedback from several members I decided to go with the Upper Arlington Library because they have got great spaces, it's centrally located, scheduling didn't seem an issue, and they have parking.

Rose Anne Kalister and Robert Foor will be our first writers to read for the group. I want to thank them both for their initiative. Rose Anne will be having a part of the first scene of her full-length play Double Dutch read. Robert Foor has decided to make his short film A Good Cup of Coffee a showcase piece. He will be showing up to the meeting and be picking any actors who decide they want to read. I think he is going to be doing it first come, first serve. So if you are an actor and interested in a reading opportunity you may want to drop me a line and let me know you are planning on attending so I can give Robert an idea of how many actors plan on being considered for the reading.

We hope to see you there. I know I am excited.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

My Role

I thought things went well for our first meeting. I also appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm. When I see others get creatively inspired, I get inspired. I have been thinking. I do want to respond to one issue I have heard about in one form or another after the meeting from various people. I am starting to suspect that I have not been clear enough in communicating my role in the group. That concerns me.

So, let me be clear. I am the ultimate authority for this group. I am the founder and I plan on making the group how I want it to be. Now that being said, I am obviously not the only person in this group and I want to share in my vision for the group. I gathered from the meeting there are several other people who want to share in the vision also.

So, in regards to decisions (artistic and otherwise), I am going to defer to the group for feedback, providing ideas, and giving people the opportunity to share their voices in order to help me in making decisions. If we all can't seem to make up our minds and find a reasonable compromise together (like in regards to casting) then the buck stops with me and I will make the decision that I think will best serve the group (i.e., the writers).

Secondly, I can't do everything. I don't have enough hands, feet, or time in the day to do it all. So, I need help in creating this opportunity for all of us. Hence, I am grateful to John, Holly, and Robert for stepping up to the plate and helping out. I am hoping that their participation will inspire others to do the same. If you have any questions or concerns, let me know. I am grateful for the turnout at our first meeting and I am really inspired by all the talented and driven people I met on Saturday. I am very glad to know that there are others like me and I am not alone in Columbus. I have learned so much just from our first meeting and the people I have met. I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

Regards,

Arvin Donner

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

First Meeting Notes: July 11, 2009

Present
Arvin Donner
Chris Shaw Swanson
John Swanson
Holly Magnani (and baby Xavier)
Robert Foor
John Dranschak
Philip Montell
Tom Shafer
Kat Fralick
Amy Talbott
Rose Ann Kalister
Diana Daily

Agenda
General items
Group Format
Critiques
Etiquette
Casting
Next Meeting

General

- DF may allow precasting until more actors start to attend.
- The mission statement of DF needs to be published somewhere.

- The Drama Foundry is a functional group geared toward writers and having their work critiqued.

- Keep in mind that the group is for learning. We are all here to learn and it is OK to make mistakes. This is where we come to practice and improve our craft.

-Arvin is not able to do everything. “It’s not all on me.” He’s looking for help in getting things started. He will remain a facilitator of sorts and be the final word on issues especially when the group is unable to come to a consensus.

- This is a writer’s group. Writers come first.

- Phil asked what the future plans and the focus of the group would be. Arvin said that for right now we are going to focus on getting the writers’ group going and that he had other ideas but did not want to distract the group with those ideas at this time.

Group Format

- Meetings will start out with welcome

- There will be introductions, announcements/shameless promotions, business, and a run down of the evenings work.

- There should be a timekeeper/God who keeps things rolling.

- There will be a rotation of responsibility for certain roles like the time keeper.

- There will be a meeting guide book with a meeting script, rules of etiquette and submission guidelines for participants at each meeting. These documents will also be published on the web.


- The group consciousness should be decided by a simple majority. Keep in mind that new ideas will be a trial and error process.

Critiques

- There should be a laid out structure to critiquing:


The writer shall choose the focus and discussion of the critique. During the initial critique the writer will not speak and shall listen to the participants of the critique. After the initial critique the writer can ask questions to the critique participants.

- The writers who are being read are responsible for the food and drink for the evening.


Etiquette

-When critiquing a writer’s work Arvin suggested these criteria:

The critique participant needs to remember we are all here to learn. The critiques are not for helping the writer rewrite their work. The critiques are not about telling the writer what you like and do not like. The critiques are about helping the writer see what works and does not work in their piece. When critiquing a work always start with the positive and then bring up something that needs improvement.

- Holly suggested that we keep critiques all positive.

Submissions

- There will be a checklist of criteria for submissions of scripts

- There should be nothing that would enthusiastically espouse the virtues of white supremacy, homophobia, violence against women, pedophilia, ect. If unsure, ask.

- Script submissions are open for the first couple of meetings.

Casting

- The larger variety of actors, the better.

- If writers need help with casting, John Dranschak will help writers get actors for their reading.

- Writers can choose actors and or can throw it open.

-How shall actors be cast? Shall casting be left up entirely to the writers? Can actors be picked from a hat? Several participants shared their view on these questions including Holly, Robert, Phil, Chris, John, Rose, and Cat. This is all still up in the air:

Arvin decided due to the time left for the meeting that for right now the group will try and schedule 3 readings per meeting and to try and have at least one reading per meeting be a “showcase” reading. A showcase reading will have the actors picked from a hat. This decision will be reviewed at the next group conscious after our third meeting. Arvin stated that if a compromise is not reached by the group he will make the decision that he thinks will best serve the writers and allow writers to choose how they cast their pieces.

- A reading sign-up sheet and group contact list was passed around for participants.

Next Meeting

- The next two meetings will have scheduled readings. Arvin will serve as the timekeeper for the first few meetings.

- Aug 1st and 22nd 5 pm same place as of now. However, this might change.

- Scripts submissions are open for first couple meeting

-Info for each meeting will be posted on The Drama Foundry blog and Facebook

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Our first meeting was a success!

In spite of me not having the correct address on the Facebook Group Event people still showed up. (I think I counted 11...) During the introductions, I realized we had a wide variety of people with a wide variety of backgrounds. (playwrights, screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers).

There were three basic things I wanted to get out of this meeting for myself. I wanted to know what the level of interest would be in this town for a group like this. I also wanted to get a chance to know what I would be contending with in regards to the group dynamic. (It's a lively, inspiring bunch. I got my work cut out for me;-P )Finally, I needed to listen and hear what people had to say. I got a chance to do plenty of that. I was afraid I would be doing all the talking.

There is a lot more that I need to post concerning our first meeting and the next 2 meetings. The next two are scheduled for Aug 1st and Aug 22nd.

I am curious. What were your impressions of our first meeting?

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Meeting Address Correction

On The Drama Foundry Facebook site there is an error that our friend Holly pointed out to me. We are meeting tonight at 889 Williams Avenue in Grandview at Junctionview Studios and not 889 Williams Road on the near East side. Sorry for any confusion.

Regards,

Arvin Donner