Moving in the write direction

So I don't know if you've been following the drama of the writers' group but we've been proceeding at a very leisurely and meandering pace, with things not having progressed much further than week 1.

Prior to last Tuesday Nicholas had written two scenes, neither of which really fit the play or any play I can think of. Meantime, as new writers' coordinator Bethany read them and said they were brilliant, which gave me a dilemma. Say nothing and just focus on my bits or try help Nicholas (or at least give my 2 cents) and risk whatever antipathy or hurt feelings may ensue. I decided on the latter, but as it turns out Nicholas wasn't present this week, it was me, Bethany and Nick. 

With Bethany back in her new role of writers' coordinator after 2 weeks of ill health things do seem to have moved up a gear, or maybe three. Bethany shrewdly observed that we can do this play like a group of friends having a laugh or we can get professional.

To begin with, I expressed my constructive reservations about Nicholas's scenes and Bethany agreed with my observations and made notes, which she later passed on privately to Nicholas. Of course, immediately there you have an unnecessary dumbing down of the communication process (why don't I talk directly to Nicholas?), but at least that's a step forward. With respect to her change of heart, Bethany later said to me that it was like when she watched the Last Jedi and thought it was amazing and then a week later thought it was a travesty. Go figure.

As for the scene Bethany and I were supposed to be collaborating on, that is already 75% my work so far, and will probably be more so as I finesse it. That's a pity but I'm happy with what I can get. The original idea was that this week Bethany and I would each bring our own version of a scene we developed from a recorded role play we did back in April and find a way to blend the best bits of each together. However, Bethany simply didn't do hers and I did mine (she had a whole month). Then when Bethany read my scene with Nick she said she couldn't top it and it was fine, we'd go with that.

We also looked at Nick's scene. (Nick is not Nicholas). It was ineffective. I suggested he scrap it and go back to MY ORIGINAL IDEA, which he was very happy to do. Bethany is reluctant to upset and said he could try and fix what he's got but I thought if you make the idea simple in the first place it's harder to mess up. What I've tasked Nick to do is write two scenes, one in which a person is kind and caring in public, then another where they are verbally and perhaps physically abusive to a spouse in their care. I suggested it could be someone at the uni who offers pastoral care to a bereaved student. Actually, the idea that appeared in my mind on day one was an old professor who rescues a dog from a lake and then goes and abuses his disabled wife. The students wanted their input on my initial character suggestions so in this particular case, the idea ended up getting changed to a woman who goes to a therapist to talk about how she goes out looking for fights, which sounds funny but is tricky to make work.

Also in that meeting I suggested we really need to figure out the plot, something I'd been urging Nicholas to do to no avail. However, Bethany was on board with this and just the two of us met on Friday to discuss.

And in regard to the Friday meeting, that was mainly me suggesting things and Bethany going along with them. This works very well, because I'm merely filling a vacuum- rather than trying to dominate- and Bethany is a complete pro who just wants the best outcome for the play. In all honesty, I'd like to be challenged more than I am being in this group. My scenes have flown through readings so far with barely a demur from anyone and I'd like help taking them to the next level; which I think will have to come from me being my own worst critic. We now have some shape to Act 1 and I suggested that the following Tuesday (today, but I'll write about it next week) the group role play scene 1.

I don't think any of the group realises yet, but this play is most likely going to end up a comedy. If it's curated and intended by as a serious play I think that will be the happy result.     

And that is about all I have to say about last week because as far as I know, I have no more assignments or exams. If I made some kind of error in that respect, or turned in work that didn't quite pass muster, I believe I'll have to do some re-sits in late June. Scary thought to think that my presence here next semester is by no means a given.