IGNITE 2. Time Warner ignite Evaluation

Transcription

1 IGNITE 2 Time Warner ignite 2011 Evaluation 1

2 Background The Old Vic is a landmark theatre in London. It has been the home of great productions for nearly 200 years, and continues to attract the very best creative talent. For us, great theatre is about great plays, great performances and great nights out from the moment you step through the door. As important to us as what goes on stage is our award winning education, community and emerging talent programme, Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) which aims to support emerging actors, writers, directors and producers, inspire young people and open up theatre to new and diverse audiences. Part of our emerging talent strand, the OVNV Club offers a unique opportunity for actors, writers, directors and producers, between the ages of 18 and 30, to participate in The Old Vic s awardwinning training and development programme. We offer year-round activities dedicated to supporting our members professional growth, including unrivalled career support and a dynamic programme of masterclasses and networking events. In 2006 the OVNV Club formed an inspiring partnership with Time Warner with the aim to fund and support a wide variety of projects over a number of years. Their support and collaboration has been crucial not only to the growth of OVNV but to the professional development of our Club members. In 2010 OVNV and Time Warner developed their most ambitious project to date: Time Warner IGNITE which enabled us to give our Club members the platform to produce and stage over 16 new plays inspired by our season at The Old Vic. Four of these plays would also be turned into short films, a new medium for many of our Club members. We are currently at the halfway point of Time Warner IGNITE with the selected four plays currently in pre-production before their transformation into film, which is scheduled to take place at the end of IGNITE 2 2

3 Time Warner IGNITE Time Warner IGNITE is a bespoke programme aimed at propelling the careers of our Club members to a totally new level. Open to all specialisms, the programme offers a select group of practitioners the chance to build creative bonds with their peers; meet the most daring established professionals; showcase their work to a transatlantic audience and transform their talent for theatre into a flair for film. Most importantly we are able to offer this project to our Club members for free. Each Time Warner IGNITE session brought together a different company of four writers, four directors, four producers and 20 actors. All of these participants were invited to attend a performance at The Old Vic during Season Seven and then take part in a creativity workshop delivered by top industry professionals exploring different artistic interpretations of the production they had seen. IGNITE 3 IGNITE 2 During the workshop the participants had the chance to bond and network with each other before the producers paired up the writers and directors to create four brand new companies. After this all 20 actors performed a monologue to the group and then each company selected five actors to join them. Following the workshop, each of the four Club writers were given one week to work up a 15-minute play inspired by the production and the creative workshop. Once the scripts had been completed they went into rehearsals with each director, taking the play from page to stage. The four plays then had technical rehearsals at the Waterloo East Theatre, our partner venue for this project, before being presented to an audience of Old Vic friends, industry professionals and mentors at the same venue. After each Time Warner IGNITE performance one play was selected by a judging panel to win a place in the next stage. All winning companies will work with the best emerging film-makers to turn their play into a short film. Four films will be made in the first year all of which will be premiered at a special screening at Time Warner New York, introduced by Kevin Spacey. 3

4 Contents Aims 5 Impact 11 IGNITE Companies 12 Participant Testimonials 14 Summary 16 Facts & Figures 17 Recommendations 18 Supported by Time Warner Time Warner IGNITE An original idea by Steve Winter, Director, Old Vic New Voices Director OVNV Steve Winter OVNV Project Manager James Quaife ONVN Administrator Hannah Putsey Presented by Old Vic New Voices and hosted in partnership with the Waterloo East Theatre 4

5 AIMS The Programme had five clear aims: 1. To integrate OVNV Club members 2. To create a programme which connects with the seasons at The Old Vic 3. To develop partnerships with industry professionals and prominent organisations 4. To provide a professional opportunity for Club members to create and showcase new work 5. To explore and develop the medium of film IGNITE 3 5

6 1 To integrate Club members One of the most important elements of carving a career in theatre is not just networking with industry professionals but also networking with your peers. This is a key aim of the OVNV Club. Many partnerships between Club members have formed through projects run by OVNV. These collaborations have always been fully supported by OVNV however we noticed that there was little integration between the different years of the Club. By giving a platform for different years to network together it would allow for a richer and more diverse collaboration between our members. Time Warner IGNITE is that platform. It has allowed us to create a project that amalgamates members of the Club who have joined us over the last three years into one project, enabling greater networking opportunities with their peers. IGNITE 4 Through Time Warner IGNITE, Club members were able to bring the knowledge and experiences gained from their respective years, and share this within the companies. This integration also meant newer Club members could work with more experienced peers and stretch their ability and skill within their chosen profession. The best part for me is meeting and working closely with such talented people. The connections with peers in the industry are the most valuable aspect Actor To be able to be a part of The Old Vic and network with members of staff who attend the IGNITE performance is incredible. You feel they really support your work and respect you as an artist Director 6

7 2 To create a programme which connects with the seasons at The Old Vic We believe that the projects that we create and make available through OVNV should have an association with the work that is produced on the main stage at The Old Vic. Between four and five productions are produced per season, and as Time Warner IGNITE spanned over two years, we felt it would be key to fuse both the project and the productions on stage. The productions from Season Seven which were used as inspiration were: Nöel Coward s Design for Living, Georges Feydeau s A Flea in Her Ear, Terence Rattigan s Cause Célèbre and William Shakespeare s Richard III. After watching the play, Club members attended a creative weekend with industry professionals exploring the themes of the production to spark ideas in response to the work. As a result, the plays IGNITE 4 written for the Time Warner IGNITE performances clearly responded to the themes and ideas that appeared in the respective Old Vic productions; for example, success and fame as seen in Design for Living and power and treachery as seen in Richard III. Linking the play at The Old Vic to the new piece that would be created for Time Warner IGNITE gave the writers a structure and jumping off point for their commission. It also gave an overall format to the Time Warner IGNITE performances which allowed the judging panel to have a contrast between each of the IGNITE showcases. Being a part of the project as a whole is a great experience. From seeing a show at The Old Vic, then working with the writer to create a play, through to rehearsal, tech and then seeing everything come together at the performance is an amazing thing Producer Having the opportunity to see an Old Vic production and then write a piece in a response was an interesting and exacting challenge Writer 7

8 3 To develop partnerships with industry professionals and prominent organisations Many projects that are run through OVNV are one-off events, with relatively short timescales. Time Warner IGNITE lasting over a two year period meant we have been able to build long-lasting and fruitful relationships with external organisations, which have assisted in the development and shaping of this project. One of the key partnerships that we formed with this project was with Waterloo East Theatre, a new and exciting fringe theatre in the heart of Waterloo, where all of the Time Warner IGNITE showcases were performed. Through this partnership we have been able to build a secure association with the theatre and Club members have been able to build a solid working relationship with the Artistic Director. We have also been able to build a strong relationship with the Jerwood Space, one of the premiere rehearsal venues in London. They were able to provide rehearsal studios for all of the Time Warner IGNITE plays resulting in the very best rehearsal rooms being made available aiding the rehearsal period greatly. Due to the prestige and timescale of the project, and the association with Time Warner, we were able to negotiate a discounted rate for our Club members. Along with the partnerships formed with organisations during the development of the project we have also had the support of industry professionals who have attended the IGNITE performances. They have included the National Theatre, the Young Vic, United Agents, The Agency, Finborough Theatre, Paines Plough, Rogues Gallery Casting, International Artistes, Curtis Brown, Donmar Warehouse, Alan Brodie Associates, HighTide, the Bush, Amanda Howard Associates, Troika, the Old Red Lion, Ambassador Theatre Group, Battersea Arts Centre, Southwark Playhouse and the Globe. New partnerships were also formed with the judging panel which included: theatre director, Charlie Westenra (Lower Ninth, Trafalgar Studios and Kiss of the Spider Woman, Donmar Warehouse); BAFTA nominated film director, Tom Harper (Misfits, The Scouting Book for Boys and Cubs) and guest judge, actor and writer Jessica Hynes. It s brilliant that this opportunity is available. To be able to develop your craft, showcase your work to an audience full of industry and then network with them to discuss your work is amazing Writer To have the chance to produce a play and have it staged is wonderful. But also to be able to network with industry who appreciate and respect the work is amazing Producer 8

9 4 To provide a professional opportunity for Club members to create and showcase new work OVNV feel that a crucial part of developing the skills of an actor, writer, director or producer is actually having the opportunity and resources to create and show work to an audience of industry professionals. Time Warner IGNITE has been able to offer Club members a professional engagement which gave them a chance to develop their skills and craft, and also be contracted and paid a fee for their involvement. By being paid a fee for their time and expertise, Club members were able to fully focus and commit to the project, extracting themselves out of the pressure of balancing other work commitments. By employing a full time Project Manager we were able to provide significantly more ongoing support and better resources for the development of each play. The Project Manager acted as a mentor and dramaturge supporting the writers in their commissions and making sure that the full week allocated to them was not spent on administration or other distractions. Producers and directors were supported in a similar way with the former able to use resources at The Old Vic and the latter able to plan their rehearsal sufficiently because of the dedicated three week rehearsal space offered to them. All of which created a structured and supportive environment for them to create in. The commissioning process and longer timescale of Time Warner IGNITE meant that OVNV could create a wholly professional process for Club members which would build their confidence. They were able to fully invest in their work, and have the time needed to produce a high quality showcase that they were proud of. The best part is forming a company and having the time to work together and put on a 15-minute production that will be shown to an exciting panel of industry professionals Actor Often a lot of what you write does not get to see the light of day. With Time Warner IGNITE I am able to write something that I know will be shown to an audience and have the chance to get feedback on my work Writer 9

10 5 To explore and develop the medium of film Most projects that have been created and run by OVNV have been rooted in theatre. The OVNV team are specialists in developing emerging talent in live performance but it is vital that young artists are adaptable and can work across a variety of media with equal flair. Time Warner IGNITE has allowed us to enhance the existing skills of our Club members and to extend them further by offering an opportunity to apply those skills to film. Once the four plays have been selected, from the IGNITE performances, they will then begin the process of being turned into a short film. For this we are collaborating with IGNITE 2 RADA who will lead and guide us through the filming process. RADA were recommended to us by Deborah Lincoln at Warner Bros London as they have an existing and successful relationship with them. This has turned out to be an added bonus for the project as the Warner Group have now linked up two of their supported organisations as part of the project that would have ordinarily worked quite separately. All four films will be shot on location, providing a unique experience for many of our members who have previously only worked in theatre. Currently the films are in pre-production with locations being scouted and scripts being edited ready to begin shooting at the end of this year. All four films will then be presented in New York at the beginning of Time Warner IGNITE has allowed us to explore working in film further and to be able to offer this opportunity to our Club members has been incredibly rewarding. Not only has this enabled OVNV to offer something new and stimulating, it has also pushed and challenged our Club members experiences. I have only ever written for theatre so I am looking forward to the challenge of adapting my play into a film script. There are so many projects and opportunities to develop your writing within theatre but not in film, so this is a wonderful opportunity Writer Having only ever directed for the stage I am looking forward to directing for film. It is something that I have always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. IGNITE has not only given me the chance to direct for film but also the opportunity to learn and develop my skills for directing on camera Director 10

11 IMPACT Time Warner IGNITE has had an incredible impact on our Club members. By bringing Club members from several years together it has expanded their networking opportunities and has provided some new and exciting partnerships. Most recent collaborations have been: The Circle Game by Elinor Cook which was taken to the Latitude Festival with the original cast and team from Time Warner IGNITE 3. The Circle Game is also being developed into a full-length play. The Spies in Room 502 by Jonathan Brittain was also taken to the Latitude Festival with the original cast and team from Time Warner IGNITE 2. Sex Toys by Gabriel Bisset-Smith is now being developed into a full-length play by the writer and the producer Tom Atkins from Time Warner IGNITE 1. IGNITE 4 Other partnerships and collaborations which have formed due to this project are: Writer Jonathan Brittain (Time Warner IGNITE 2) and producer Lucy Jackson (Time Warner IGNITE 4) are taking two plays to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with one of them being directed by Natasha Nixon (Time Warner IGNITE 4). The cast also includes Helen Duff, Michael Lyle (Time Warner IGNITE 4) and Alice White (Time Warner IGNITE 2). Samantha Kissin and Rob Cavazos (Time Warner IGNITE 4) will be performing in the same play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Actor Tom McDonald (Time Warner IGNITE 1) has been working on Recalculating for the Arcola s Miniaturists 30 season, directed by Alice Lacey (Time Warner IGNITE 1). Having the chance to meet with other professionals and discuss the possibility of developing new work is brilliant! Producer Meeting really talented people of my generation and getting to work with them, keeping my skills and craft alive while I am in-between jobs and being able to network with industry professionals. This is why the projects run by OVNV are so important and that s why I always want to be a part of them Actor 11

12 ignite Companies Ignite 1 Performed on 3 December 2010 In response to The Old Vic s Design for Living Custard Writer: Ella Hickson, Director: Alice Lacey, Producer: Emma Laugier Cast: Daniel Hanna, Drew Horner, Joel MacCormack, Ruth Middleton, Leah Whitaker Defined By Design Writer: Arinze Kene, Director: Andy Brunskill, Producer: Mark Cartwright Cast: Abigail Andjel, Jessica Ellis, Paul Joseph, Richard Maxted But Otherwise Went Well Writer: Alison Carr, Director: Alexander Summers, Producer: Charlie Payne Cast: Lorna Beckett, Daisy Brydon, Ben Dilloway, Ian Keir Attard, Deirdre Mullins, Sex Toys Writer: Gabriel Bisset-Smith, Director: Laura Keefe, Producer: Tom Atkins Cast: Okorie Chukwu, Luke Courtier, Joan Iyiola, Sam Marks, Iris Roberts Ignite 2 Performed on 28 January 2011 In response to The Old Vic s A Flea in Her Ear The Wind Doesn t Sing Writer: Corinne Salisbury, Director: Alex Brown, Producer: Dan Baker Cast: Kezia Burrows, Natalie Duvall, Jake Ferretti, Annemarie Gaillard, Matthew Gammie Hollywood Writer: Kieran Lynn, Director: Jeff James, Producer: Amy Letman Cast: Vivienne Bell, Roanna Davidson, Emma Fenney, James Joyce, Tom McDonald Country Feedback Writer: Kenneth Emson, Director: Stef O Driscoll, Producer: Lucy Oliver-Harrison Cast: Nicholas Banks, Leah Brotherhead, Orlando James, David Mumeni, Brennan Reece The Spies in Room 502 Writer: Jonathan Brittain, Director: Natalie Ibu, Producer: Tara Wilkinson Cast: Nicholas Lawson, Joshua McCord, Helen Millar, Amy Morgan, Alice White 12

13 Ignite 3 Performed on 15 April 2011 In response to The Old Vic s Cause Célèbre All four plays were produced by David Luff WLTM Writer: Laura Neal, Director: Alex Brown Cast: Abigail Andjel, Marsha Henry, Adam Jackson-Smith, Richard Maxted In Case of Emergency Writer: Daran Johnson, Director: David Wright Cast: Asher Amis, Tom McDonald, Charlie Platt, Sophie Roberts The Circle Game Writer: Elinor Cook, Director: Olly Hawes Cast: Caroline Bartleet, Sarah Calver, Lekan Lawal, Brennan Reece Rubble & Dust Writer: Mwewa Sumbwanyambe, Director: Elizabeth Newman Cast: James Baldwin, Okorie Chukwu, Theo Morton, Alinka Wright Ignite 4 Performed on 7 July 2011 In response to The Old Vic s Richard III Busted Writer: Laura Neal, Director: Adam Lenson, Producer: Tom Atkins Cast: Leah Brotherhead, Calum Callaghan, Michael Lyle, Michael Quartey, Max Saunders-Singer An Arrangement Writer: Alex Christofi, Director: Joseph Hancock, Producer: Alex Segal Cast: Nari Blair-Mangat, Graeme Dalling, Helen Duff, Paul Joseph, Roberta Mann Assassins Writer: Steven Hevey, Director: Natasha Nixon, Producer: Lucy Jackson Cast: Rob Cavazos, Jessica Ellis, Samantha Kissin, Eileen O Higgins, Joseph Radcliffe The Baron Writer: Sarah Solemani, Director: Kirsty Patrick Ward, Producer: Tom Atkins Cast: Sian Breckin, Max Krupski, Robert Macpherson, Naomi Said, Alinka Wright 13

14 Participant testimonials Thank you for the brilliant opportunity you gave us all with IGNITE 4. The process was yet again nerve wrackingly fantastic and exciting! Thank you for continuing to give us this platform to expand and showcase our talents; Old Vic New Voices support system means a lot to me as young actor trying to make it in this industry Actor I learnt LOADS on this project. I would really like to thank Old Vic New Voices and Time Warner for this opportunity Writer IGNITE 2 Thank you for all your hard work and support during IGNITE. It was a brilliant few weeks and I was chuffed to bits to win. I m hugely looking forward to making a film and I know the cast are too Director Thank you so much for the opportunity to take part in IGNITE 3, I had a fantastic time working on the play and made some really good connections and friends! Actor 14

15 I can t wait to start the process of turning the play into a film. It will be a big challenge but I am excited to do it. Having never worked in film it will be interesting to see what the process is like Director IGNITE 2 IGNITE 4 IGNITE 4 Firstly I just wanted to thank you all for another great experience. You ve all been faultless as usual Actor The networking on this project has been invaluable for my career and from taking part in Time Warner IGNITE I have had the opportunity for my play (which won) to be produced at Latitude this year Writer I had a great time on Time Warner IGNITE 4, loved every second of it. It was a shame not to be The Chosen One but I definitely think the best play won in the end Actor I just wanted to say thank you for offering me yet another great opportunity with OVNV. It is a huge compliment to be asked to be involved by such a great theatre and, considering the talent that is within the OVNV Club, it gives me great confidence to continue as an actor Actor 15

16 summary Time Warner IGNITE has been hugely successful in the way it engaged so many of our Club members in a professional context. Providing funding to directly commission members was a significant change from our previous projects and enabled participants to give full focus and commitment to the project. Linking Time Warner IGNITE with The Old Vic productions allowed Club members to experience a full scale production, and reflect on it creatively through the workshop and rehearsal process. Using Season Seven as inspiration meant each Time Warner IGNITE had a clear focus for participants and audiences, and provoked a great range of stimulating material. IGNITE 3 Previous OVNV projects have been solely focused on theatre, so to be able to offer film experience to our Club members was a great opportunity and innovation to our usual practice. Filming the shortlisted plays also enabled us to forge new connections with film professionals to provide expertise for this and future projects. The prospect of the final screening at Time Warner in New York has already created a real buzz with our Club members, and will act as figurehead for the kind of ambitious work we want to continue to develop. Having a longer term project has allowed us to develop more established relationships with other organisations, notably Waterloo East and the Jerwood Space. By inviting an audience of industry professionals, we introduced them not only to the Time Warner IGNITE scheme, but also created opportunities for Club members, with many producing theatres, casting and literary agents attending. The decision to integrate Club members from different years was a great achievement. Many relationships developed through this programme have continued long after the curtain came down. Two works commissioned by Time Warner IGNITE have been performed at Latitude Festival, and a further one is being developed into a full-length play. In addition, several intergenerational groups of Club members have taken other productions to the Edinburgh Festival together. Clearly, working in this way creates strong lasting networks and a creative legacy for Time Warner IGNITE. 16

17 Facts & Figures In Year One, the project has reached: 256 emerging artists An estimated 40,000 online members In Year One, the project has created: 1 documentary film to capture the whole project 4 showcases 4 short films 16 original plays 28 hours of intensive workshops with industry professionals 300 hours of rehearsals In Year One, the project has engaged: 10 producers 14 writers 14 directors 71 actors 130 free tickets were given out to participants to see an Old Vic production 1,000 audience members IGNITE 4 17

18 Recommendations Areas that could be improved in the future are: The engagement of designers and technical crew In the future designers and technical crew will be engaged at an earlier point. This will ensure they have full ownership over their project, and there is consistency across all productions in terms of support and quality. More time spent in the theatre for technical rehearsals To ensure the showcase is professionally presented and finished to the highest standard more time should be allocated to technical rehearsals. This would be supported by having technical crew involved at an earlier stage so that this time can be successfully planned into the schedule. The creation of the individual companies In the future more attention should be given to the creation of the individual companies, in particular the selection of actors. The group should spend a full day together focused on bonding which is then followed by the creative workshop and selection process. This will allow networks to be created across all years, and not just within the individual companies, and will mean there is a better spread of interests and experiences in each company. Producer handover to ensure industry relationships are followed up Each showcase involved different producers and as such the industry contacts made for one showcase were not followed up for subsequent productions. By having a hand over process we can build on relationships made with industry contacts and ensure we create long-lasting partnerships with significant individuals and organisations. IGNITE 4 18