h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

For anyone who read my last journal entry, I have happily been accepted and then rejected from the competition I entered. YAY, I had what it takes to be a writer, didn't have the cash they were looking for to turn me into them. There is something fundamentally wrong, in my eyes, when they say they are giving you an opportunity and ask for money to do so. A lot of money. Some of the stuff they said made sense, we got the first weekend free, but some of the other stuff they said sounded like they wanted you to be new, but not. Confusing for those of us with talent.

On a lighter, but still entertainment based, note. Once again I will be hitting the amateur boards of the theatrical world in Brisbane. The director of Nash's production of Midsummer Nights Dream asked did I want to be in it. I said yes, but don't get to play puck...oh well, I may get to play Oberon. For those that have never been involved in the amateur theatre scene, I will briefly explain something; If you don't get any lead roles, or try for them, you will forever get cast as an extra. This does not apply to lucky people. You see, the lead role, most of the time, is often coveted by Actors, not actors. These Actors tend to be very fragile, and while being exceedingly good at what they do, a generalisation here, tend to be not very good at much else. Where as actors are very versatile people. They tend to be able to not only act, but work front of house, build sets, clean, stand in for missing people and generally make up for the lack of technicians in amateur theatre. Don't get me wrong though, Actors can be lovely people. They make a show wonderful, they bring in audiences and they tend to be full of compliments.

The other thing about amateur theatre, the bit that I really love, is that you are usually building a set on little to no budget. This means you have to use your imagination a lot to create the right kind of set for the director. If you can do this on left overs from other shows and stuff you can find for free, legally, you are worth your weight in gold. Most of the amateur shows I have enjoyed building and designing the set for cost fifty dollars or less. It is very rewarding to step back and admire a finished set. It is even better when you hear people being astounded by the quality of the work. This is usually where Actors come in handy, they can boost egos better than most people. If your set is particularly outstanding, or monumentally crap, you will get mentioned by the critics. Which tends to get you more work building sets. Unfortunately, it is done for free.

This is the bane of most of the amateur theatre people. For free. Acting is done for free, set building done for free, in fact most of it is done for free. Except advertising, which is usually where most the budget goes. So why do we do it. The love of entertaining a crowd, the chance to get your fifteen minutes of fame and also a high degree of masochism I think. Every one on that stage usually wants to be noticed by someone, and get cast in something really big, but most of them are just happy with that as a pipe dream. Me? Yeah I want to be famous one day. Mainly as a director though. I don't think I will ever give up the amateur theatre scene though. When you find the right group it is like you have become part of a very big family. That's part of the reason I love it. That and I love top be creative, and it is one of the few avenues I get to excersize a lot of creativity.

Until next time, have fun and dream of following something grand, even if it is just to watch it fall later on.