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stephenmhunt
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 10:47 am |
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Quite a bit has happened since my last news (June 10th) re my play I Am Not An I.
Not only did I get an English star to appear in my play, I got two! The first was Hildegard Neil - that came from persistent, quite cheeky approaches to a good number of agents.
With Hildegard aboard, some interesting people wanted to audition for the role playing opposite Hildegard, which resulted in Ben Onwukwe joining us.
With Hildegard and Ben now in the cast, I now have two actors of Royal Shakespeare Company experience to direct. I've directed before, but feel quite daunted by this new challenge which I hope to rise to. All hints, tips and advice will be very much appreciated!
I Am Not An I opens September 9th for a three week run at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, London. http://www.i-am-not-an-i.webeden.co.ukLast edited on Sat Aug 9th, 2008 10:49 am by stephenmhunt
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Potabasil
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | New Hampshire USA |
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 03:02 pm |
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Stephen
Wow you must be really excited.Congratulations
Potabasil
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in media res
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 10th, 2008 03:00 pm |
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This is terrific!
Hope it goes just swell!
Let us know.
best,
in media res
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 10th, 2008 05:28 pm |
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Ullo Potabasil
Thanks for your kind wishes. I had a feeling in January that something might happen this year. Whatever effort I've put into writing my play, its taken 50 times as much effort to get it out there. I've have to find a way to keep believing and keep grinding and grinding away, trying to get the right people interested.
Mine has been a long process of moving from one small positive stepping stone, on to another.
I hope good things are happening / will happen for you too!
Best wishes, Stephen
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 10th, 2008 05:42 pm |
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Ullo in med res
Thanks for your enthusiasm. You might like to know the play is designed for the transatlantic market. The central character is a feisty, no-nonsense woman from Detroit on holiday in Rome. On eerie, mist-clouded steps she's accosted by a rude Italian man who challenges her grasp on reality.
Some see the script as a comment on American foreign policy, while others pick up on its feminist thread. What its supposed to be is a comedy/drama about the human condition - we stay sane by misconceiving the world, others but mainly, ourselves.
So yeah, I'll keep you posted on how it goes. If its well received, maybe it'll even cross the Atlantic!
With best wishes, Stephen
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Mon Aug 11th, 2008 01:52 pm |
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Another thought...
As I mentioned, the lead character is from Detroit (not the most affluent area either, she's also 2nd/3rd generation Polish). And its probably the case that (as an Englishman) my guesses about the phrases / language she'd use are less than accurate.
So if there's anyone out there with the appropriate knowledge who'd like to earn a credit as "specialist script consultant" - or something like that - I'd be pleased to hear from them.
With best wishes, Stephen
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proptart
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| Joined: | Mon Jul 21st, 2008 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 01:55 am |
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CONGRATULATIONS STEPHEN! What great news. It's nice when all the hard work pays off.
If your character is of Polish descent there's a good chance she grew up in the Hammtramack section of Detroit. Although I'm not from Detroit myself I have several friends who are grew up in and around the Detroit area. I'd be happy to "bounce" a couple of question off them on your behalf.
Best Regards,
PropTart
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 09:10 am |
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Thanks proptart for your kind words and generous offer.
I don't need to be too worried at this stage about being 100% accurate about all the characters lines. Juts for starters, it'd be good to know the typical idiosyncratic expressions used to convey anger, surprise, distress, pleasure, happiness etc.
How's your own work coming along?
With best wishes, Stephen
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proptart
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Posted: Wed Aug 13th, 2008 12:01 am |
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Stephen,
"I'll put my foot on the gas and get going." Is a phrase that always makes me think of Detroit.
I should also mention that I spelt Hamtramck incorrectly in my original note to you. Got it right this time!
Here's a link to to restaurant reviews for the Polish Village Cafe which my friends all say is the best place for Polish food in Detroit. Perhaps you can pick up some other phrases from patron's reviews.
http://detroit.citysearch.com/profile/5228363/hamtramck_mi/polish_village_cafe.html
Thanks for asking about my work. I'm new to playwrighting and have only recently begun submitting my work. Generally I'm receiving good feed back but it's to earlier to know wheather or not anything concrete will materialize for me. My themes are usually dramatic and dark. I love exploring "socially flawed" characters and have yet to write and ending which could be classified as happy (read commercial). Good thing I have a day job so that I can keep writing for myself!
Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.
Best,
ProptartLast edited on Wed Aug 13th, 2008 12:02 am by proptart
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Paddy
Moderator
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Posted: Wed Aug 13th, 2008 03:10 pm |
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Stephen.
Well met!!!
The only directing advice I can give, which you probably know, is avoid 'showing' them how it should be, but ask as many questions regarding the character you can, so they find the voice themselves.
In directing, in life....asking questions is the way to go.
I think.
Paddy
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in media res
Member
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Posted: Thu Aug 14th, 2008 03:48 pm |
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paddy,
But, you know, sometimes, especially when time gets tight, you just gotta show them!
in media res
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 06:09 pm |
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Ullo Proptart - interesting username!
The link to the Polish cafe is really interesting: Is "..called out on her mistake.." a Detroit phrase?
I Am Not An I also started out as me writing for myself, I was interested in organising / clarifying some ideas I'd been carrying around. The initial ideas turned into a dialogue, the dialogue turned into a radio play, which turned into a stage play that eveyone who read it hated.
That bugged me. My challenge became - make it likable. The darker side of it worked a whole lot better once set against some comedy, as it always does.
If only to develop writing skills, I heartily recommend rewriting material specifically for those who feel alienated by the original. It required a huge amount a discipline for me to do that and I'm sure it moved me further forward.
Best, Stephen.
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 06:12 pm |
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Ullo Paddy
I find out about that the hard way - the actor responded furiously to my demonstartion with
".. look *&%$! - I'm the *&%£&*& actor, OK!.."
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stephenmhunt
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 06:13 pm |
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If you're up for that, I may ask you to come over and show'em!
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in media res
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 06:45 pm |
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stephen,
Pity.
Poor fella, he was probably off his meds.
Slip a Xanax into his tea.
best,
in media res
P. S. Now, I REALLY want to know how it goes!
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proptart
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Posted: Sun Aug 17th, 2008 05:51 pm |
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Stephen,
"I called her/him on the mistake" is a phrase I've heard in other parts of the US, not just Detroit. "I called her out" may be a more localized version of the phrase.
Here's two more to add to the list: "It's below sad" and "revved up" The car euphaniusms are endless. Two common nicknames for Detroit are "Motown" and "Motorcity"
I have an email I can forward to you that my friends are passing around amongst themselves right now. It focuses on how bad things continue to be in Detroit and contains some profanities. It contains several photo images of the city as well. I won't send it to you without your prior OK.
Thanks for your advice. You're right, it would require a lot of discipline on my part to rewrite my work and if nothing else would be a great writing exercise. I would be curious to see your original work that everyone else hated!
Regards,
Proptart
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