Blog 11: Lesson 1 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your lesson, and why?

I am honestly most proud that I made time. I was very afraid that I wouldn't make time and I would fail completely.

2. What assessment would you give yourself on your lesson? Explain why you earned that grade using evidence from the component contract.

I think that I would have earned an AE on this assignment because I thought about what I was going to say and how it would flow together. I think I got a fair assessment because I didn't do this blog until it was too late.

3. If you could go back, what would you change about your lesson?  How can you use that knowledge to give a better Lesson 2?

If I could go back, I would try to speak slower and use a better visual for my presentation. Maybe something like a timeline. I think that since the next lesson is longer, I will be able to take my time and breathe between sentences.

Blog 10 - Interview 2 Reflection

This is the link to my interview clip: https://soundcloud.com/jenelle-huck/interview-2
1. Please explain how you are spending your mentorship time (Is it at a workplace or somewhere else?  Are you shadowing?  Are you able to do tasks that are meaningfully related to the topic?  If so, what?  Are there other people who are experts in the location?  Etc...)

I spent my mentorship hours being an assistant stage manager in a professional show with SCSF. It was a very hands on experience that gave me a lot of responsibility and a sense of what it is like in the profession. I, with the other two assistants, was responsible for the pre-show preparations,  making sure actors costumes were right before they go on stage, and the post- show clean up and costume check ins. I consider the three people I worked close with to be my mentors and they were all very knowledgable in my topic.

2.  How did you find your mentor?  How did you convince this person to help you?

I emailed the chair of Cal Poly Pomona's theatre department who referred me to Linda, the producer of SCSF. Linda then hired me as an assistant stage manager where I was basically doing whatever the stage manager Joyce told me to do. Joyce was my mentor and I watched what she did and how she handled situations.

3. How would you rate your comfort level with your mentor at this point in your relationship?  How does this relate to the time you've spent so far at mentorship/with this person?

I am very comfortable with my mentor! I have been fortunate enough to have such a nice mentor. Even though I am not currently working with her, Joyce told me to text her if I ever need anything. I was able to get comfortable with her because I spent so many hours of rehearsals with her and the other ASMs. They were all super down to earth and eager for me to get the most out of my mentorship. I pretty much had three awesome mentors at once.

4. What went well in this interview?  Why do you think so?  What do you still need to improve?  How do you know?  How will you go about it?

This interview went extremely well! I met her at the restaurant she works at, and we talked for about an hour. First she answered all of my questions, then she kept thinking of ways to help me find research and ideas for my presentation. Joyce is incredible. I need to improve on follow up questions and coming up with better questions to ask in the first place. I know that because there were a few awkward pauses. I will fix this by being more creative with the questions I ask, and thinking about what follow up questions I can ask before hand.

Blog 9 - Advisory Prep 3

1. State whether or not you currently have a mentor, and what the status of your interview is with that person (I have completed the interview, I have scheduled the interview, I have not scheduled the interview, etc).
I dont have a mentor currently, but I also dont need one because I have all of my hours done. I am doing the interview with my previous mentor next week.
 
2. At this point, your research is probably guiding your studies toward more specific areas within your topic.  Name the area or two you find most promising and explain your reasons.  
A few areas i am looking into are the tools a sm needs and generally how to be a good stage manager.
 
3. What kinds of sources do you think will help you in the next month to gain more research depth?  Where will you go to get them?
 I think more interviews would prove the most helpful. I should just go to Cal Poly and talk to someone there.
 
4. Write down a possible EQ.  Please don't worry about wording other than ensuring that it provides the option for multiple correct answers.  At this point, the senior team is most interested in understanding your thought process.
What tools does a Stage manager need to be effective at what they do? 

Hogan sent this to me and it made me laugh so hard because its true.

 

Blog 8: Independent Component 1 Proposal

This is what being a stage manager feels like a lot of the time. Yet, I love it none the less.

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to spend more than 30 hours on my independent component by running every rehearsal for Midsummer/Jersey by Ken Ludwig. Not only will I be running the rehearsals, but I will also be running the technical aspect and overseeing the set and all other aspects of the show (except the acting, I can't act). This will culminate to more than 30 hours, guaranteed.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will be showing the calendar that Hogan and I have created for the rehearsals along with a log of how long it takes me to make the charts and other necessary aspects of the show.

3.  Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

I believe there is no better way to learn something than to just dive in and do it. I have been stage managing for the past 2 years at iPoly, but now that this is my independent component, Hogan is relying on me a lot more than previous years.

4.  Update your Senior Project Hours log.

I really do need to do this...

This is me by opening night of the show.

Last day of mentorship

This is not a required post for the senior project, but I felt the need to post about it because it applies to my project.

Tonight was the last night of "Macbeth" with the Southern California Shakespeare Festival. It was extremely bitter sweet to say goodbye to the set, costumes and props as the cast and crew took everything down and put it all away. 

As the first professional show I have been assistant stage manager for, I feel an extreme attachment to this show. I have had so many good memories with the cast and crew and will never forget my experience with this company. They have helped my passion for theatre grow immensely and I cannot thank each one of the cast and crew enough for that. The memories we have made will forever be in my heart and I hope to keep in contact with many of my new friends and hopefully work with some in the future. 

I recommend that everyone experiences a show by SCSF one day because everyone works very hard and gives each show their best.   

Please excuse the man in his underwear, he decided to be in his costume for the "Drunken Porter"

Blog 7 - Second Interview Preparation

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?  If their workplace does not reflect their expertise, what makes them an expert? 

2.  What five questions will you ask them about their background?

1. When was your interest in theatre started?

2. How did you get into stage management?

3. When did you know stage management was the career path for you?

4. What schooling are you going for to be a stage manager?

5. Do you think that you will be stage managing for the rest of your life?

Blog 6 - Advisory Prep

Me when everything is happy and good during the show.

1. What has worked well for you concerning senior project this year?  What has made it a positive experience for you? 

Something that has worked well for me this year concerning the senior project was that  i really opened myself up to new experiences with new people. I have met so many new people through my mentorship and I am really happy that I have met these people because they have given me so much advice about stage managing. The people I work with have made this a very positive experience because they have been super kind, supportive and helpful. 

2. What are you finding difficult concerning senior project?  How can you adapt to make that portion work better for you?  How might the senior team help?

I think that keeping up with all of the logs and wb pretty difficult. I should stop putting off the things I need to keep up with. I should also start actually working 4th block like I say I'm going to. The senior team really can't do too much to help my procrastination problem... unfortunately ...

Me when everything is going wrong during the show.

Blog 5 - Interview 1 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  Is there anything I would do differently for other interviews?

The most important thing that I learned from this interview is that you really need to have a passion for theatre to be able to be a stage manager. Spending your days and nights inside of a theatre takes a lot of devotion and discipline, especially when you have to watch the same show over and over again to get cues exactly right. 

2. Did I get additional resources and contacts?  What is the most useful?  Why?

Johanna told me that I should talk to Jeff in the theatre building at Cal Poly because he is always eager to help young theatre lovers. This one was the most helpful because Jeff has been teaching the technical theatre class at Cal Poly for many years and is an active stage manager at the same time.

3. What makes my interviewee qualified to help me? 

Johanna is an assistant stage manager with me at the theatre and is always with me. She is great at answering my questions and is qualified because she has stage managed so many more shows than I have. She is going to Cal Poly right now for technical theatre and is going to graduate soon and wants to be a professional.

This is the link to a portion of my interview.

https://soundcloud.com/jenelle-huck/interview-1-sound 

Blog 4 - House Advisory Prep 1

This is me when I get to go see a play.

Through my senior project topic I hope to figure out if this something I want to do when I get out of high school. I know I have a passion for stage managing but I am not sure if it is something I would want to do with my life. I would also like to learn how to make my last shows at iPoly the best Hogan has ever put on, at least the best set and overall tech.

Blog 3-Interview Preperation

1. I plan to interview Johanna from my mentorship because even though she is an asm with me, she has been a stage manager for quite some time and has really helped me get the most out of my mentorship.

2.The additional questions I will be asking are:
- When you do SM, how much time outside of the space do you spend on the show?
-What's your favorite part of being an SM?
-BONUS! What is your least favorite characteristic in an actor?

Blog 2- Summer Mentorship

1. List the contact name, phone number, and organization of the person with whom you volunteered.

Linda Bisesti. 

 (310) 993-3735

Southern California Shakespeare Festival 

2. What qualified this person as an expert in your topic choice?   

Linda has been in the theatre business most all of her life. I am not mentoring directly with linda. Linda introduced me to Joyce Hwang, the Southern California Shakespeare Theatre Company stage manager. 

  

3. List three questions for further exploration now that you've completed your summer hours.

How much time do you spend outside of the theatre working on things for the show? 

How involved are you with set design and building?

How do you stay organized?

    

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

Well one skill I have gained from this is some pretty serious janitorial skill. I tend to do a lot of the dirty work and chores around the building for the stage manager. This is okay with me because of everything else I have learned from my experience thus far. The picture below is of one of the note taking techniques that I had to use when asked to take notes for a few actors. These note taking techniques are what everyone in the company and department uses to practice their lines and get better. Im definitely going  to incorporate

this method into the plays at iPoly this year.

5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did mentorship help you make your decision?  Please explain.

I am going to continue with stage management as my topic.

This is the stage for the CalPoly shows. It's amazing how fast they set up the sets!

Blog 1-Senior Final Lesson/Interview Reflection

 1.What three lessons were most helpful for you to see, and why?

• The three that were most helpful for me were one really good one, one really bad one and one that was mediocre. The really great one that I saw was actually about a boring topic, but she made it very engaging and fun to watch. This one showed me the potential that a senior project has. The really bad one showed me what not to do. It was really bad. Then, the mediocre one showed me a good activity and gave me ideas for my own project.

2. List one thing that you learned about the senior project in interviews that will help you get off to a good start?

• One thing I learned from interviewing a senior was that the project doesn't have to be miserable. If you make it fun, then it will be fun. The senior I interviewed told me that no matter the topic, if you engage the audience it will go well.

3. What topic(s) are you considering, and why?

• I am most likely going to choose theatre management as my topic because I have been doing that for 2 years and it is a passion of mine. I don't think I will get bored of it and my mentorship will give me more skills to apply to my stage managing in drama.

4. What EQ do you think might be interesting to consider in guiding a project like this? (Please don't worry about any sort of formula...we want this question to come from your genuine interest).

• What is the best way a stage manager can make a show run as smooth as possible.

5. What are some ideas you have about finding summer mentorship?

• I spoke to Hannah Tran who did technical theatre as her senior project and she said she did a mentorship at citrus college. I think that citrus college is a great place to mentor because they have a great theatre program and I can get some skills out of it. But for during the summer, I think Im going to mentor at the Chino Play house. They do summer plays that I can get involved with.