Hi,

    I need some help with ideas, guys.   Meeting with an entertainment critic/reporter Monday morning.  He will be writing a story about my next project which is the World Premiere of my next full-length play.  He wrote a lovely article about me last year when my first full-length premiered here in my home town.  This article will not only profile me but my lead actor as well (the play revolves around his character).  A photographer is coming to our rehearsal on Sunday night.  The reporter wants an edgy photo. 

     The play takes place in the 'great room' of a summer cottage on a private island.  There are three areas to the room though they are really just one big room.  The 'dining area' where there is a table and benches- a 'livingroom area' where there is a sofa, rocker chair, fireplace- a 'bedroom area' with bed and lots of pillows.

   Any ideas on something edgey but tasteful my lead actor and I can do beyond the standard photos that usually appear in the papers.

    The play has a cast of 8 including 3 kids so we need to be somewhat family oriented.

Woah there!

If the reporter wants an "edgy" photo, it is up to the reporter to relay this to his photographer. It's not your call to set up a  photo, it is the photographer's. I would briefly let the photographer know what the play is about and the type of character the lead plays IF the photographer wants any input. The best photo will be a result of letting the photographer do his job.

PS - I am a photographer AND a director. Trust me.

 

Hi Dan.

   Thanks for the comments.  We got some nice shots of my lead actor and I going over the script on the set.

     Met with the reporter and my lead actor this morning.  Talked for almost an hour.  I was able to answer the reportor's questions without sounding too muddled.  My lead actor was so gracious and charming.  He said some wonderful things that showed me how much insight he has into his character and how very  passionate he is about the play. Didn't realize how highly he regards the role he's playing and the play.

     Got to wait until the end of the month for the story to appear in the paper.

When staging a photo I never worry about how the play is represented.  What I mean is, if there is a cast of three and they don't appear on stage at the same time I will still put them all in the shot.  The other directors I work with feel the same way in terms of setting up an interesting, well-composed photo as opposed to an "accurate" photo. We want folks to look at the published photo long enough to read the blurb and decide that the show sounds interesting enough to spend their time and money on.  I recently played Hook in "Peter Pan" and one of the best shots was with Wendy and me in a staged shot that never occurs during the show.  The photo DID give the viewer the idea of how the young girl was being threatened by the mean, old pirate with the hook. 

As an aside, consider the ubiquitous movie trailer.  The previews are not produced by the studio, but rather by one of two or three companies that specialize in this work.  The studio sends clips from the movie and the trailer is produced.  Often using scenes not to be seen in the final cut.  A fact you don't even realize (if you notice it at all) untill you've seen the movie.  Which is the idea for the trailer in the first place.  To get you to buy a ticket. 

So....Director, if you feel comfortable, stage your own shot.  Use different levels.  Use at least three, but not more than 5 or 6 of your actors in the shot (too busy).  If you have a cast of 7 and feel badly about leaving someone out, by all means block them into a few shots and let the publishing entity take the blame for the shot chosen.

cute 10 year olds can really pack them in!! Good Luck, I hope the play turns out great!