If you received a link to this page then I am inviting you to help create a scene study group. The purpose of this group is to give us a chance to work scenes to keep our craft sharp and create meaningful connections with other actors. While the group will meet at various locations in person and actors working the scenes will meet on their own to rehearse as they see fit, the group itself - including any upcoming meetings, announcements, etc - will be a private Facebook group. This will allow us a single location to find all of the information for upcoming meetings, post anything we feel others in the group will find helpful, and share any personal industry-related news, updates or triumphs. Below you will find more information regarding my initial layout ideas but understand that I have no intention of making this "my group". I feel it should be community based with ideas discussed and agreed to on consensus. I do feel a few rules are in order and will list them here as well. if you feel this is a group you would like to be involved in please respond in the Facebook message I sent this link through and I will add you to the group.
REFERENCES: If you know of someone who might be interested in this group please forward their name to me and have them email their headshot and resume to me at wscottbroughton@gmail.com. I would like to limit the group to actors with college or advanced training and/or solid acting credentials.
MEETINGS: All members will be able and invited to hold scene study meetings whether they have an available performance space or want to host them at their residence. It will be a simple process: the host will simply post a minimum two weeks in advance the date and time, location, number of scenes, number of spaces/seats available in the Facebook group. I would recommend three hours. The number of scenes will be determined by the host based on the amount of time they have available in the space, how much time they want to allot for each scene, etc. Interested actors will confirm their space - first come, first served. Once all spaces are confirmed or it is a week before the meeting date - whichever comes first - the actors can reach out to one another to choose a scene or work on a scene they already have picked out. Any actors in the group can reach out to each other ahead of time if there is a specific scene they want to work together and then find a meeting they can both/all attend.
If a host wants to use a fee-based meeting space (Ripley-Grier, Atlantic Theater Company, etc.) then the invitation should be made well in advance and each participating actor - excluding the host unless the host is participating - will be required to provide their equal portion of the payment. The host shall be responsible for scheduling and securing the space. Any actor reserving a slot and not paying their share will be asked to leave the meeting and their place in the group will be heavily scrutinized.
(*Note: If the some actors are quicker to jump on the Facebook posts and get accepted to meetings and others are not able to get into meetings, it can be at the discretion of the host to ask the regular attendees to step aside to give the others a chance at their meeting. This group is about respect for each other and this should not be used to 'play favorites'.)
SCENES: The actors will reach out to each other and choose a scene they want to work. It can be from a play, television, film, original work, etc. The only limitation will be the amount of time the host has allotted for each scene. Movement- or prop-heavy scenes should be avoided if the host's space does not allow it. Also, if the host has only allotted for (6) 20 minute slots then it wouldn't make sense to plan a 12 minute scene because you'd only get to run it once. But if (6) 30 minute slots are available then you'd get two runs at it.
FEEDBACK: The purpose of this group is for support and feedback. After a scene has finished, the other actors at the meeting will be invited to provide feedback at the discretion of the performers. This is NOT an opportunity for giving direction, coaching, etc. Feedback should be helpful, considerate and respectful to the time and effort the performers put into the scene. After feedback has been given the performers can run the scene again if they so choose, up to the amount of time allotted per scene.
HOSTS: It will be the duty of the host(s) to: provide a safe, well-lit space with adequate seating for the number of members invited; have the space available at least 20 minutes prior to the meeting time; keep track of the time allotted to each scene and make sure no group goes over (except at the consensus of the other attendees); communicate to the attendees the order the scenes will be run; make sure that the rules set in place for the group are adhered to. Meetings should begin on time with the first scene being presented as quickly as possible.
RULES:
1. Respect each other at all times. We all have our own views of characters, performances, etc. but there is no reason a respectful demeanor cannot be maintained. If any issues arise, the host of the meeting will calmly ask all parties to quietly desist or even leave the meeting if they feel it is warranted. If significant or continuous issues arise, the offenders may be asked to leave the group.
2. Respect each other's time. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Each host will have to make the space available 20 minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting so there should be no excuse for tardiness. Should an emergency arise, communicate with your host and scene partner(s) as quickly as possible.
3. A period of silence will be observed for the 15 minutes prior to any meeting inside the meeting space. Please enter any meeting space as quietly as possible and refrain from talking, playing music, etc. This tradition is followed at many professional companies and has proven to be effective at allowing actors to mentally prepare for their upcoming scene(s).