Directing would mean interacting with real people <shudder>
Good luck with the play Griff. It is not too far of my patch so I will try to catch a performance.
Do Writers make the best Directors? Page 2
I foolishly agreed to direct a commercial once.
Surrounded by millions of pounds worth of kit, a seasoned crew of about 20 and three professional actors, this bloke comes up to me and says -
"Morning, guvnor. So, where do you want the camera?"
There is no more frightening question in the known Universe.
You'll be on The Apprentice next, criminally underusing Sian Lloyd
Dan
Quote: Lazzard @ June 4 2009, 9:43 AM BST"Morning, guvnor. So, where do you want the camera?"
There is no more frightening question in the known Universe.
How about, "Would you like the barbed wire pulled out of your mouth or your anus?"
As a writer I write my words then watch the performance in silence, bitter hatefilled silence.
Like a none musical Phantom of the Opera.
Quote: David Bussell @ June 4 2009, 10:09 AM BSTHow about, "Would you like the barbed wire pulled out of your mouth or your anus?"
Put a nurse at each end and floss your colon.
Quote: David Bussell @ June 4 2009, 10:09 AM BSTHow about, "Would you like the barbed wire pulled out of your mouth or your anus?"
Funnily enough, that was his second question.
I'm going to Griff's play. But don't worry about me, folks - I plan on taking a good book. 
Quote: Griff @ June 4 2009, 11:18 AM BSTIf you mean my humble play Don, make sure you come and say hi.
The Kings Head is great Griff. It's even name checked in, ahem, Hard Evidence!
You mean Hard Evidence, available in all goo-
Oh, I just can't be bothered anymore...
Dan
Its a bit of a schlep from here I am afraid, but will try!
There's not many seats in that theatre mind you!
Looking forward to the play Griff.
Do they still do that really annoying thing at the King's Head where you buy a beer and instead of telling you how much it costs in real money the barperson says 'That'll be 47 shillings and eleven pence ha'penny please'? It really winds me up - or at least makes me want to pay them in old coins
Quote: Griff @ June 4 2009, 12:19 PM BSTI'm talking about a glass of beer etc etc etc
Sounds dangerous if things turn nasty. I'd rather have a paper cup thrown at my head. Er, not that things are likely to turn nasty.
Congrats Griff.
To address Darren's first point, the whole thing is (as has been pointed out) a co-operative of many talents not a puppet show where one person controls everything. Wanting total control will mean either: you end up self-producing; or you sit in a studio alone, because everyone has pissed off after being told how they should do a job they'd done for far longer than you've been writing.
An example of a great writer / director / actor is Woody Allen; however, he didn't start out as all three (as far as I'm aware) but he learned the trade over a long period. His success has earned him the right to control but I suspect that even he is very careful how he deals with the talent that he wangles for his films.
Unfortunately Darren, the person least in control in the process is often the writer, especially newbies. Everyone will have an idea or suggestion for the script. Some will improve, some won't. Some you can veto but changes you won't like, will be made. This is not always a bad thing, often writers have seen something in their characters that they never saw until an actor played the part.
A director once told me that he doesn't sees a script as a rigid railroad that the production inescapably trundles down. He sees it as a rough roadmap that tells him where, when, who, why. He chooses the direction, the route, the pace and lets the actors deal with words. As long as they convey the gist, he doesn't worry. That's an example of what a writer can face after many weeks poring over each sentence, looking for perfection.
If you want total control, go into animation.
Quote: SlagA @ June 4 2009, 1:01 PM BSTlets the actors deal with words. As long as they convey the gist, he doesn't worry. That's an example of what a writer can face after many weeks poring over each sentence, looking for perfection.
While I imagine this is true for drama and film, I can't see the 'gist being conveyed' working in a comedy script. You can't really stray from that 'rhythm' that scripts need for comedy.
If the comedy is supposed to be part-improvised in the first place (ie The Thick Of It) than maybe a little more, but even that is improvised, rewritten, improvised, rewritten and the final version is actually a script itself, not the 'improvised' version.
Dan
Yep, you're right, Dan. He was a feature director. I gave it as a non-specific example but should've clarified.
Agreed, a script is key in comedy. Even in something less improvised and more rigid like BlackAdder the cast were throwing in or amending lines at rehearsal.