My first question for ASK BK day inspired by the notes.
I am the kind of director who plans ALL blocking out in advance - and then I give it to the actors, then we walk thru making changes as we go. I also LISTEN to any suggestion an actor makes.
Now....Mr Bisque - are you the kind of director an actor likes? And part two, are you the kind of actor a director likes? Give examples.
I was trying to answer this, but couldn't even use the quote function via AOL or Safari - website not responding - so I came in through IE, where everything seems fine. WHY IS THAT?
I always have a general idea of things, and I do for Deceit. I have a "look" for the show that's in my head. I had my opening number in my head for the LACC show, but just the "look" of it, not the exact steps or patterns or anything. When I began on it, I just started with the "pre-show" stuff, which led me to the way to begin the number proper. Then, I experimented with the big entrance of the first group of people - that took a few minutes, but once I saw what I liked, the rest of that section just came instantly. Same with the third. Then I couldn't figure out the final long counterpoint section, so I went home and slept on it, then figured it out at the next rehearsal, just seeing where they were before that section started. So, I like to think on my feet - doesn't work for everyone, but it's always worked for me - it's the same way I write. Just notes, no outline.
I think actors like me - certainly singers love the way I work, and since I work in a similar way with actors, I'm sure they do, too. I can be very specific when necessary, or I can give them as much space as they want and need, and then just tell them what's working for me and what isn't and why. I listen to every suggestion, ponder, make very few instant decisions on suggestions, and basically just do whatever's necessary to make things work.
I was an actor who LOVED to give the director whatever he/she asked for - unless I thought they were an idiot, in which case I did what I felt like.