Wednesday

Need to go garden, have taken the whole week off, forecasted rain never seems to fall here, and haven't watered in over a week, plus it's getting overgrown.  Feeling queasy.  Not sure if it's lack of sleep or something sketchy I ate from a food truck over the weekend (not quite hot enough.)  Ugh.

We finally got around to shooting our film over the last couple of nights, and now I think we will have to re-shoot the whole thing as the actor who has been flakey, showed up to the first night's shoot, said, "See you tomorrow night!" as he departed, and then failed to show up last night.  We were all tired, I got home around 3:30 am after the first night.  He didn't even call, and the director tried to get ahold of him.  (Same actor that missed most of our run-thrus.)  I don't think we can even use the original footage as we'll have to get a new location, and he's obviously in a lot of it.  The director had to secure permits, hire security (for which I was grateful, lots of sketchy action on the periphery of the filming; and so many rodents!), rent a vehicle, and find crew...it's just lame to not show up, and not at least call or something.  And if he had missed the first night, at least we could've brought on another actor, and could've used the footage.  Money, and time.  The screening is in a week.  I don't think we'll shoot tonight, though, so can get some sleep.  (I have an inability to sleep past 8 am.)  I don't know what we're gonna do.  We quit a little after 2 am this morning.  Waiting to see what the plan is now.

We are half-way through the physical-theatre class.  I'm moving more intentionally in general.  What I'm picking up this year is that 1) you are never the most important person on stage; 2) it's all about being your best within the group, but contributing to the whole picture is what matters, it's not about "being interesting" and standing out, but about an awareness of the stage and what is needed.

It was mentioned that this training in the States is useful for working in the group, as our culture is very individualistic.  It raises awareness of what is going on around you, to offer what is needed, and not just trying to "make something happen."  (Which goes back to the idea of a production being about the story, and how the acting, directing, staging, lighting, sound, costume, props, etc., should all be in harmony and in agreement as to what that story is, not for any one element to draw attention to itself as if to say, "Look at me!  Look how clever I am!")  While that might serve the ego, it doesn't serve the story.  You serve the bigger picture, even if it doesn't serve you immediately.  Not everything is about you.  It's reading and feeling for the other.  There is a bigger world out there, sometimes what's best for the most isn't what's best for you, but you choose it anyway, because it serves a greater good, even if it doesn't give you exactly what you want.

(I guess he fell asleep, and we don't have to re-shoot the whole thing, which is a relief.  I like him, I just want him to show up.  Fingers crossed everyone shows up to the make-up shoot.)