This post is late in coming. I’ve been up to my ears playing Falstaff in The Baited Bear Players’ production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Believe me, I tried to figure out how to shoot the show while I was in it. The best I could do was some shots from a rehearsal and some from the wings. But that is another post!
Despite it all, photo gigs will come! Once again, I’m thrilled to be shooting for the Nylon Fusion Theatre Company. This was another in their This Round’s on Us 10 minute play festival series. This time the theme was, appropriately, Halloween. It really is a pleasure working repeatedly with a company and getting to know their people and their style. While each show is different, there is a certain common energy to their productions, which I hope I am capturing on my sensor. I certainly see it!
As with the last iteration, TROU: Independence, TROU: Halloween was in the Gene Frankel theatre, which the Nylon Fusion people use to its utmost – they fill that place to the rafters! I took my now customary spot on the corner of the L they create with their seating and got to work.
While “Halloween” led to a few darker plays, thematically, despite my worries, they were generally bright, technically. Shooting went well throughout, with no technical challenges. For each shoot, I try to learn and grow. This time, it was about the nature of the show and how I cover it, shot-wise. During a traditional, long-form play, I shoot several shots per scene, depending on the action of the scene. Two people at a table talking will get fewer shots than a fight scene, obviously. But for eleven ten minute plays? I feel like I’m shooting more than I normally would for those “quieter” pieces, because I don’t want them to get short-changed at the end of the culling and editing process. Then during the culling process I’m trying to keep things even, so I’m maybe a little harder on the more “active” plays, really focusing on the best of the best so they don’t overwhelm the gallery.
Ultimately, they did a great job. If my hardest job is to be spoiled for choice? I’ll take it!
Next up is the Pearl Theatre Company’s production of And Away We Go! So happy to be shooting for them again. And rumor has it, I’ll be dealing with a VERY interesting challenge for Nylon Fusion’s next show (or duet of shows) coming in 2014! Stay tuned!