Alright
It's almost the end of the summer and I've been simmering in the thoughts we stirred up while I was there in June and the ones we've accummulated on this blog since then. I didn't have much time with you then and we haven't written tons on this blog (yet!), but what we have in the pot so far is very concentrated and has certainly gotten me dreaming and thinking and... just about ready to start writing your play. In fact, I might even start today. I'm hoping you'll join me in a new phase of this project -- the phase where we select and round up our ingredients, throw them in, and turn up the heat.
Here's my goal: by the end of September (just before I start my new teaching job in France) I'd like to have a cast of characters whose personalities, histories, and dreams I know really well; I'd like know the ins and outs of an environment where these characters unfold and interact; and I'd like to have a slew of short scenes written where these characters begin expressing the themes of the play. So, I'm not shooting for a first draft -- I'm shooting instead to get everything on the table and the play in action, but not plotted out, per say. I'm looking to have an in-depth exploration of character, environment, and theme.
Here's what I need from you: to each develop a character and his/her environment by responding to and branching out from as many (if not all) of the prompts I post here in the next few weeks; to define and flesh out the themes of the play by participating in in-depth (long) conversations on this blog.
Theme: right now I'm really inspired by stars and sunlight, specifically the sound of stars and taste of sunlight. Please continue responding to the posts titled "On Sunshine and Space" and "what about stars???" to find and explore the themes of the play. I'll be posting questions and thoughts there to fuel the conversation.
Character: let's start finding these characters and their environments by imagining someone tasting the sunlight or listening to the stars (check out the posts mentioned above). Once you have a clear image of someone doing this, write a description of that image. Here are some prompts: Where are they? When are they there? What's it like there? What sounds and smells surround them? What are they wearing? What do they look like? Why are they there? What's going on in their minds? (respond in the comments to this post)
I'm really looking forward to reading your responses and starting this play. I hope you'll inundate me comments so that this play can truly be yours (and so that I don't have to be so lonely writing it!).
Also, very soon in this process I'd like to introduce you (electronically) to the kids from the first Rain and have them add to your discussions. If you'd like to get a head start on that introduction, check out their blogger (the posts from march-may 2005 are the best ones) at www.rainplay.blogspot.com
Here we go! Wahoo!
posted by Joy @ 11:36 AM
7 Comments:
do you want us to send them to you, or just post them in here...ANTICIPATION...hahahah IM SO EXCITED FOR SOME REASON
It'd be great if you'd post them here, but if you prefer you can email me at janis.craft@gmail.com
So you want brand new characters for a brand new play? No more sequel? or is this the sequel? only with completly different characters and a completly different theme?
yep, new characters, new play. you could think of it like a sequel because it started with Rain and this play will fit well with Rain (like a series) but as of right now i'm writing a new play inspired by you guys... and stars.
Right now i am picturing a young girl, around 16 or 17 years old just waking up, and stepping outside into the sunlight. it is early morning, perhaps 7:30 am on a school day. She is very tired. As she first opens her eyes and looks through the door, the sun seems to burn her eyes. She closes them again and waits for them to adjust before once more opening her eyes to face the day. the sun burns her skin as she steps outside. She starts walking to school, With every step the sun seems to drain her of even more energy. She longs for the night time. Oh yes, the night time. when the heat of the day seems to vanish and the cool tranquility of darkness takes over. Every night when she gets home from school, and all her work is finished, and darkness has settled, she goes outside and lies down in the field not far from her house. she looks up into the nighttime sky and stares at the stars. Sometimes, if she stays for long enough, the stars seem to speak to her. she makes up names for each of them and tells them of her day. she has even picked out her very own star - one of the smallest near the bottom of the big dipper. She named it Susan, and often likes to think that she discovered it, even though she knows that she couldn't possibly have.
the first few nights that she started doing this her parents started to worry, as they did not know where she was. at first they did not like the idea of her sitting outside alone at night, but eventually they became accustomed to the idea.
there were days when she would stay outside for hours, sometimes until three or four o'clock in the morning just talking to her stars, but she never got tired. She could never fall asleep during her late night starscapades, she would fall asleep in social class or in math instead. To her, school subjects were less important.
Well, that's my character so far. I hope this is somewhat what you are looking for.
Quick song lyric that relates to our topic:
"The twilight tells lies of a buried sunrise"
so heres what i think.
sunlight is great.
but really.
its sunset that gets everyone.
from time to time i go up to this building.
its in city centre and really.
its a car park.
its ten stories.
and has an amazing view.
i usually go up there when i want to think.
or when i am sharing it with someone who means alot to me.
and it is most always at sunset.
i think that sunset makes things just that much better.
ive been having quite a wierd summer.
ive been trying to get through my break up with this guy that i went out for with eight months.
and lived with for eight months.
(i didnt move in right away, but i stayed for an extra two months after we broke up).
its been hard and its been crazy.
so after i moved out of the apartment we rented together.
i moved in with nathan.
just as roommates to clarify.
i had no other place to go and he told me rent was only 150 a month.
so i was all go for it even though me and nathan arent really the best of friends.
or honestly.
friends at all when it comes down to it.
so.
i was getting back on my feet again.
my best friend, who lives in germany, came to visit for three weeks and stayed with me the enitre time.
so i had someone to take my mind off things and have a good time with.
but then.
nathan decides to move out.
without notice to me.
(my side of the story, im sure nathan will vehemently disagree, but i stand by what i say.)
so.there i am.
the day before rent is due.
no job.
and no roommate to pay for a whole chunk of the rent.
(the rent is really 700, long story of the dividing up of it before.)
so i just barely managed to scrape things together.
anyway.
things like this have been happening to me over the past year.
i keep trying to make choices that i hope will keep me on my feet.
but appartently i dont do so well.
and choices made by others often make me fall.
anywhoo.
that was just to give you some insight into my life right now.
so back to the original topic.
i often have a great many things to ponder and mull over.
so i go up to this building.
and i just watch the sunset turn into night and then i just watch the stars.
it helps me.
it relaxes me.
i think what im trying to say is that sunset has the taste of hope.
of peace and wonder.
its has the taste of believing in yourself and the choices you make and the people you surround yourself with or choose to let go off.
it calms you and makes you think.
its ok that everythings falling apart around me.
its ok that i dont have enough money to eat for the next week.
its ok because there is so much beauty in the world and so much stuff that we just cant comprehend that everything is ok.
sunset brings me hope.
i can taste that hope when im up there on that ledge and im staring out at the city and the world and all the possibilites it has for me.
im sorry if that was wierd and off topic and random.i cant exactly explain where i was going with that.
i think except to say that i think the sunset is a much better muse than sunlight.
or something.
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