I was thrilled yesterday to get an invite to a friend’s table read.
She’s written a new play and is gathering a handful of trusted pals to hear it performed for the first time.
Table reads are magic.
It’s been around 25 years since I held my first (in a pub in north London). There’s something quite wonderful about allowing your words to spread their wings, like fledgling ducklings.
I’ll be honest, it was only when I started working closely with actors in that way did I realise just how much heavy lifting they do.
Sounds obvious I know but unless you hear it you can’t really understand the importance of their energy, emotional choices or inflections. It’s something to behold and gave me a huge appreciation of their craft.
(Yes, I used the word ‘craft’ like a proper luvvie).
A few years ago I directed a table read of my movie Jeannie Miller, at Ridley Scott’s production offices, in West Hollywood. The actors were assembled by a wonderful casting agent, who was brought in by the producer.
One of them, Desean Terry, now stars in The Morning Show, and Susan Wilder, who played Jeannie, was in one of my favourite movies of all time, Big.
It was a fantastic experience and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to hear such a brilliant cast bring it to life. As a writer, you spend so long by yourself piecing it all together and leaving your heart and soul on the page, that it’s almost a religious experience.
I’m told that I was sitting in Ridley’s chair, which if I’m honest, might be the pinnacle of my movie-making career. Scrub that, I think that was the day I peaked.
What was even better though was the discussion afterwards. Armed with many of their amazing suggestions and critique, I squirrelled myself away and wrote another draft. A better draft.
This is why we do this, right?
To share stories.
To hear different interpretations.
To feel the excitement.
To get a reaction.
To share some truths.
To entertain.
Better get on with it then.
Good luck with your writing this week!
Lisa
#noslacking #noscrubs