Director's Notebook for "dark is a different beast" (2010--2016)

This page gives a behind the scenes look at my process during the life-span of "dark is a different beast," starting with the writing, through production of the short film and into the stage production. Click on the buttons below to see the pages for the film and stage production where you can find out about cast, awards, see production photos and video.

Writing and Workshopping

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I started writing the piece in 2010 based around sculptures like this one.

Imagining the sculpture as a set, I would think: "What would happen here?"

Towers or "perches" became a defining element in the piece.
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Ute Zaunbauer created the perches for the film in post-production.

​My long-term collaboration with Kim Gambino started with her performing early scenes of "dark is a different beast" during the Great Plains Theatre Conference Fringe Night. Here she is doing Moriah's "America, Open for Business" monologue.

I produced the Fringe, and in the beginning we got all crazy, like performing on moving buses and hauling the audience all over the place. After this year, we were told to reign it in, but this will always stand as one of my all time favorite moments from the whole development process.
in 2013 I got a grant from Puffin Foundation West to workshop the idea of kinetic sculpture that attaches to actor's bodies. They can manipulate it, similar to puppetry. It can also hook together and become parts of the set, making the actors physical structures within the set. After trying to raise more money to fund the full workshop, I decided to make a short film using excerpts from the script. This idea was pushed along by filmmaker Dave Jerrett who was interested in working on it. 

So then we made a film.

​Pages from my high-tech storyboard for the film. As crude as they are, they were our bible and the film stays pretty true to it.
The World Powers were meant to be part puppet. Or one creature made up of many bodies. For the film, I went with children in adult business suits.

The most adorable rehearsal in the video to the left.

Our intrepid young actors on set above with Dave.
Dave edited the film and created the "multiple head" effect.

I was lucky to work with composer David Kesler on both the film and the play. See examples of all their work in the trailer to the right.
Once the whole film was done, I sent it to Puffin Foundation West with the explanation of why I'd used the money differently than expected. Here was the response:
  • I  have never seen a film like yours before. THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE THING!   I was so deeply engaged from the beginning.  The imagery, the words, the music, your actors, the set, the pace, every effect.
She gave us a 2nd grant for the remaining expenses incurred during the film. Angels do exist. Her name is Java Kitrick.

She also helped us get into the Columbus International Film Festival where we screened opening night. (But before that I got into the Seattle Transmedia and Independent Film Festival in the experimental category. And I got that by my own self!)
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So then came the stage production...

I returned to the kinetic sculpture idea with bad-ass sculptor, designer, woman China Tamblyn.  Some of her initial design drawings.

​China and her husband, Elton, own Light Rail Studios, where we had the final production.
Initial design read-through. China in the background and Randy Wong-Westbrooke, another designer, to the far right.

Dance of Mutually Assured Destruction

The World Powers are defeated with a dance!

Here's a series of rehearsals.

First, to the left, Shoresh and Robin work out their final moment with choreographer, Sarah Kermensky.

Below, we put it together with Ashley, Pascale, and Jason Gonzales, our 2nd composer who ended up running all sound live on stage while playing the 2nd World Power. 

Sidenote: Pascale was the one actor who crossed over from the film to the stage production. She played the Dancer in the film and the Voice on stage.

Teaching full time has its benefits, like using our MPR for rehearsals. Gotta love that tile!

Below is a picture of where we were headed.
Click the links below to see more information and images of both the film and stage productions.