Rehearsal

I hate blocking rehearsals. Well that is not completely true. As an actor I actually really like blocking rehearsals. Sure they can be long and its hard to act and remember where in the world you are suppose to go. But as an actor blocking is great for building a character. The Director tells you were to go and its your job to give that movement motivation.

So the only time I really hate blocking rehearsals is when I am not acting. Like if your stage managing and you have to write down everything. And once you get it written all down, it will more then likely change. The last time I SM I '-re-organized' my script five times just because of blocking changes (That means taking a script that is almost impossible to read because of the number of times I had to make changes, and re-writing all of the information into a new script, making it easier to read, that is until I have to change something again).

Then there is the Director's blocking rehearsals. A director does not come to the rehearsal with nothing, no the director usually knows what they want, even if it is really ruff. Thus the reason why I hate Blocking rehearsals, as a director I want the choices of movement to come from the actors, not me. Sure I might have some basic ideas of pictures at some moment in the play. But other then that...

This is why I hate blocking rehearsals, getting actors to make good choices all on there own is hard. Yes I am selling actors a little short. I am an actor I love it when a director can give me exactly what he is looking for and tell me when to move and how. I really love it when the director works off of my own movement (which is how I want to direct).

Tonight I have a blocking rehearsal for a play I wrote (and a couple plays I am helping with). Lucky for me I have a good idea of what I am going to be doing and what I want it too look like. (Also it is a short play). Of course after tonight we move into my favorite rehearsals, changing everything and finding characters!