Working with Pendant people

[cmdrhobbes]

rfrancis and I had this discussion on Dino a week or so ago, and I’ve been mulling my thoughts on the subject to clarify them before releasing them into the wilds of the intarwebs.

My thesis statement: When working on a Pendant show, you don’t work WITH most of the people on the show.

Now, let me clarify that statement somewhat before everyone

Comments

[cmdrhobbes]

I'm not quite sure what you would be bashing. You basically agree with all of my points. I specifically called out Jeffrey (writer on the shows I've worked on), Jared and Bruce (ADs for my shows) and Tom (for whom I was AD for a few episodes).

This is only the second case of interaction between directors and actors in all of my discussions about Pendant. Pete and his rehearsals, which for the most part directors don't have time for, and M. This seems to bear out my point that it is a rare thing to be in a situation that you as an actor or director are working with people at Pendant. I mean, it IS a generalization, not a hard and fast rule.

[spiralsequin]

Interesting stuff - thanks v much for writing it. I know what you mean about not really working together as we would if we had some glorious Pendant studio building in real life and could actually all meet up & rehearse and discuss and properly interact. [/dream

[cmdrhobbes]

I think this meshes very well with rfancis' stance, and I'm not about to suggest you're wrong; it's not cut and dried. And if it wasn't clear, I have only worked with Pendant, so don't have experience with Hess groups that rehearse.

[cmdrhobbes]

Stupid iPhone typing sucks. With these

[spiralsequin]

Well, on the whole I do agree with you that there isn't really a to-and-fro working relationship much of the time. But then I think about directors like Perry Whittle, who would to and fro maybe two or three emails every episode (not just for The Kingery or Pendant productions) on notes on the lines (on the ones he liked as well as the ones he wanted redone), on the character in general and on their relation to others and other takes

[cmdrhobbes]

Speaking as primarily a director, while one-sided is better than nothing, I still don't consider it a functioning working relationship. In fact, as I ponder this further, I and others who direct in a similar manner are a large part of the cause of this situation. I'm not sure anything needs to change, except maybe a little more communication between actors and directors.

I find it interesting that you and I basically feel the same, I wonder if it is due to our stage acting 'roots'.

[cmdrhobbes]

As I tried to dance around in my reply to Marleigh, I'm not sure this is a problem either. The initial discussion with rfrancis was a dispute about whether he and Tom worked together during Ex Tempus. I say no, he says yes. I also think that for the most part it works out fine for Pendant.

As far as animation projects go, I acknowledge that it may be the way it is done. But that may be due to he same concerns that apply to audio drama, like schedule and location. Your point about face-to-face acting being easier to get good chemistry is a telling pint, because that is the point of working together... To help the scene through personal chemistry. (note: iPhone typing sucks, may follow up once I read what I wrote)

[cmdrhobbes]

Not the only point of working face to face but a major point.

[rfrancis]

You clearly mean Philip, as I didn't direct Tom at all on Ex Tempus, and have directed him many times on Wonder Woman

[greenlion]

Just sayin': you want to do a local show, I will show up in your basement to record.

[cmdrhobbes]

There's the small matter of finding someone to write scripts on a regular basis. Otherwise, I'm down with that.