Memed Again!
Le Axelrod has created a meme and generously tagged your truly with it. Here's how it works:
The purpose of this meme is to get people talking about their passion in life. It’s called the 5/5 meme. Five questions, then pass it to five people. “Expertise” could be your profession, hobby, or area of intense interest.
If I haven’t named you specifically and you would like to do it, feel free. I’d love for everyone to answer these questions. I’ve named five just to get it going.
Remember: This is a “get to know you” meme. It’s supposed to be breezy and fun.
Here are the questions:
Name your area of expertise/interest
Theatre. Specifically directing of. But directing of also includes history/theory of. Writing of. Designing of. Acting of etc. But I like to study all those other ones. Directing's the one I do.
How did you become interested in it?
Theatre has always felt vocational to me. I can't remember a time when I wasn't going to grow up to try make a career in it. In high school, that meant acting which, for a high schooler, I was pretty good at. In college, I had a couple of experineces which made me realize that I didn't want to act anymore and I wanted to study directing. Telling my parents was akin to what I think a typical coming out conversation is like. are you sure this isn't just a phase? was actually asked of me at some point... But once they got over the shock, they've been very supportive.
How did you learn how to do it?
Watching other directors. Directing lots of plays. Being a drama major.
Who has been your biggest influence?
People I've met or worked with: Joy Zinoman, Ernie Johns, Les Waters,
People I haven't met or worked with: Peter Brook, Michael Kahn, (as a writer) Anne Bogart
What would you teach people about it?
Be as giving as possible all the time and remember that leading doesn't mean coming up with all of the ideas or having all of the answers. Nothing is going to get in your way more than your ego.
NOw I have to tag five others... eh? Okay...
Hey Isaac - I'm curious about Anne Bogart's influence (as a writer). Do you mean her writing has influenced you as a director, or that she has influenced you as a writer? And do you mean that her stage work has not influenced you? I'm not trying to pick apart your answer, I'm just a big Anne Bogart fan.
Posted by:Slay | June 19, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Hey Slay,
Good question. I meant that, having not seen an enormous amount of Bogart's work, I can't claim her *DIRECTING* as a major influence upon me as a director. Her *WRITING* on the other hand, has been quite influential on me as a director (And thus as a blogger, I'd guess, I've been tagged by the meme twice, so I'm going to do another one on blogging).
I haven't read her latest book yet, but I am looking forward to it.
I will say as a postscript that I think we could hold a blogospheric (nay, perhaps nation-wide?) debate on the merits of the Viewpoints (particularly when used by people other than SITI company members) and I'd find myself making points both pro and con.
Posted by:isaac | June 19, 2007 at 11:29 AM
I did a posting on a few of my thoughts on (non-siti) viewpoints last month.
http://jayraskolnikov.blogspot.com/2007/05/oh-humanity-viewpoint.html
I love A Director Prepares, and am also looking forward to the new one.
Posted by:Tony | June 19, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Her new book is amazing. I reviewed it on Theatreforte, you can find it in the archives if you want.
I'm up for the debate. I've actually considered trying to create some kind of message board or group blog or something for Viewpoints practitioners. I worry, though, about perpetuating any incorrect stereotypes or enabling people who shouldn't work with them to do so. Then again, I'm not sure anyone should be so protective.
There was a ViewPoints conference in 2000 or so, but I've never seen any official documentation. I wasn't there.
But hey, let the conversation begin. Who wants to start?
Posted by:Slay | June 20, 2007 at 12:44 AM