And that’s the end of the R&D for now. Although it will continue to have a life. I’m hoping to remain attached. Creatively it is very fulfilling. I’ve loved working with good new writing forever. I’m aware that someone else was in the frame for these first few days. Have I done enough? Are they too busy or too sick? Watch this space kids…
I did a last minute replacement test reading for a film awhile ago where the me guy pulled out at short notice. He was already cast, and known to some of the actors – this was just a reading to tweak the script before filming. They’d done a short, got funding and extended it. He jumped ship quite suddenly, and a friend of a friend got muggins here in as happy temporary replacement.
One of the actresses expressed great affection and relief at the reading, performatively expressing how good I was in that part. It was clear she hoped I would be doing it henceforward. I get the sense the OG guy was tricky to work with… Too many men my age are, frankly. Even with As You Like It, it took a while before some members of the company could entirely trust that I wasn’t gonna start telling them how they are wrong about all the things. We are all very different from each other, but until we are massively known we are replaceable. Particularly when there are people like me with fast memories.
The film, they went back to OG, but I got good feedback from the casting director, which might count for something down the line. Casting directors have been my blind spot for too long. I hope the guy showed up and wasn’t a douche.
This script today and yesterday? Who knows what the life of it will be, I’m attached to it now in myself, but I’m realistic. I’ve sat in theatres with friends of mine many times before and they’ve said: “I was in the first R&D for that role,” as we’ve watched someone celebby remembering their way through it chunk by laborious chunk.
We worked through it with care and thought. Every single actor in that room was bringing something positive but different to the table. It felt a very zingy room. The writer was present and flexible throughout. The director was precise and measured and really knew his shit. I could happily spend weeks in that room safely, and the work would come out great across the board.
Still we take what we take. If this is it, this is it. If there’s more, there’s more. Good to be working. Good to be able to bring my decades of solving things to a lovely clever friendly room like that. I stopped worrying if I’m good at this shit long ago. I just do it when I can, but I know now that I need to get myself seen. If a tree falls in the forest etc. There’s not much imagination at the gates. If you’ve done it you’re allowed to do it more. Knock knock.
AlBarclay 