Stage Director Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Othello. What interpretational possibilities can cinema provide the movie director yet not the stage director? How did Branagh deal with the text and Shakespeare’s directions (give examples) and why do you think he did so?

Answer: Branagh is usually very true to the text -- unlike say, Mel Gibson's Hamlet -- but the film version of ANYTHING allows for the close-up, coming in tight on a facial reaction, which probably won't be seen at the back of a theatre

Question: differences and similarities between a stage manager and director? i have to do a research paper for my drama class and my topc is: the differences and similarities between a stage manager and director, but i have no idea what to write! can someone please help me and give some basic similarities and differences?! and/or anything else you think might help me! it would be MUCH appreciated! thanks!

Answer: A stage manager is mainly over tech crew. A director is over the entire cast and company but their primary focus is on the cast of actors. They know the sm is there to lead the crew, so its their duty to lead the cast. Stage manager is the leader of tech. They organize information for the technical side of the production and assign the techies their jobs. They have to decided on set, furniture, props, costumes, lighting, and sound. The director has basic input on these things but the stage manager picks everything out and gets it all together. Hope I helpedd!!!!! :D

Question: How much should I be getting paid as stage director for this Theatrical Production? ? There's not much to it but most of the actors are brand new. I know that the house will bring in at least $7,000. I told them before agreeing to do it that I would ask for an amount between $500 and $1,000. At this point, I want to ask for $1,000. Is this too much?

Answer: Hmm... its really hard to say with that information. Ordinarily, $1,000 wouldn't be an absurd amount but if the house is only bringing in 7 times that then i'd maybe consider $700 or $800. A lot depends though on what city you live in, how much the rights to the play cost, the cost for renting the space, etc etc etc Best of luck

Question: What are the important jobs in a theater? For example, director, stage director, etc..? Thank you

Answer: All of them. Try to have a play, make the stage hands mad and see what happens. One of the most important jobs in theatre is that of playwright.

Question: what does an Assistant Stage Director do in opera?

Answer: Everything depends on the director you are working with. Every director is different, but you basically do whatever the director wants you to do; you are there to make the director's job easier.

Question: what does a stage director do? can u please tell me a broadway stage director does? thanks

Answer: Usually has a say in casting the actors. Works with them developing the staging, putting them in spots on the stage, having them work on bits of action, getting a performance out of them that adqueatly interprets the play as the direct sees it. Works with the lighting to create mood. Works with the costuming and set design to make a world. The direct stays with it generally until one week after premier unless there are problems that need to be corrected. The director continues to get a royalty over the first broadway run.

Question: Post- High School Advice for someone who wants to become a successful working stage/film director? I am a 17 year old who is about to complete his High School career. (I am graduating ahead of my class through accelerated coursework.) I have no film experience whatsoever. What advice would you give to me? Gaining a spot in a respected University my long(er) term goal, but I believe I am correct in believing that I would need previous experience to get a spot there. All advice is welcome, Thank You!

Answer: It is my son's goal to direct in films. He is already working in the industry as a production assistant or Key P.A., depending on the budget of the movie. He has done some directing for rock band videoclips and TV pilots as well. He is expecting to get a job confirmed this summer as second A.D., which is promising to him. Once he put his foot in the door, it seems that work found him rather than the other way around. He's been there since March 2007, so he is just starting, but still.... He has not gone to school, but he hustled a lot. He met with a few people who were in the business, sent hundreds of résumés, and put his phone number in everybody's cell phones. It seems that the ticket to success is to be aggressively ambitious and confident, but without stinking. Another is to be extremely dependable, thoughtful and have initiative. Although my son did not go to college at all, I think that film school is a good idea because it organizes for you what you need to know, like skills, technology and the industry in general, as well as giving you plenty of practice in general. By the way, there are plenty of film schools here in Montréal and it would be much cheaper to study here. If you cannot speak French, it is not a problem at all. Look it up on the internet. Good luck to you !

Question: What musicals have you seen on stage recently and if you were the director how would you stage it differently? what detail would you focous on, how would the layout of the set change ect. It doesnt nesisarily have to be the last one youve seen just ones that you belive you would change.

Answer: Just recently, the last week in October, we went to see Mary Poppins at the Edinburgh Playhouse. The only problem was that it was based on the book version and i'd never read the book, only seen the film so i was a bit confused. There were a few aspects that, as a director, I'd be sure to miss out myself because they didn't seem appropriate for the numerous young kids that were there. There were too many scary parts that i heard the kids complaining about, otherwise it was okay. I still prefer the film. I'm a bit of a musical junkie, so we've been to see Scrooge with Tommy Steele, Chicago with Marti Pellow, Beauty and the Beast, Annie etc...if it's a music we try to go. Next year we're going to see Riverdance...am definitely excited. Elle xx

Question: What is a Stage Manager? Director's Assistant? My friend asked me to be his stage manager (He's the director of a musical) but I have no experience in anything theatre!?!?! Anyway... I said no and now he wants me to be his Assistant? Well.. exactly what does a Stage Manager do? ANd what about an assistant????

Answer: The stage manager's job is NOT to yell at the actors when the director can't. What the stage manager does is: - keep track of blocking (who is standing where, when) - track props (where do they come on from, who do they come on with, where do they end up?) - organise scene changes - keep notes in rehearsal so that if the director says "I want a sound effect of a car crash here" that information gets to the sound designer, for example - keeps the director running to time in rehearsal - distributes rehearsal schedules, tech week schedules and all other information the actors and production team need - is basically the point of contact for the director, the actors and the production team - all information goes through them. - when the show is running, they "call" the show - tell the lighting and sound operators when to take each cue, and supervise the scene changes. Discipline is not their job, certainly in rehearsals; sometimes during a show there's the odd bit of cracking the whip necessary when backstage hijinks get out of hand, but it's certainly not their primary role. The director's assistant job will vary from show to show - often it's taking notes for the director, maybe running the odd rehearsal while the director is looking at another part of the play.

Question: stage assistant director? how to learn the craft of stage assistant director ?

Answer: Watch, learn, and do as your told or asked. Go to the nearest community theatre and volunteer your services. Assisting the director is not generrally too hard a task, but there can be a lot involved and if the director depends on you for anything you better be on top if it. Have a script, take good notes (in pencil), and be ready, willing, and able to do anything that needs to be done. good luck!