Blog
APT Peer Conversation Project: Michelle Langille x Kat McCormack
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Michelle Langille meets with Kat McCormack (Artistic Director, Eastern Front Theatre) in studio, to capture a podcast recording of their conversation about accessibility in theatrical contexts.
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Michelle Langille meets with Kat McCormack (Artistic Director, Eastern Front Theatre) in studio, to capture a podcast recording of their conversation about accessibility in theatrical contexts.
APT Peer Conversations: Tsholo Khalema x Jan Alicia Jennings
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Tsholo Khalema meets with Jan Alicia Jennings (Singer, Playwright, Poet, Songwriter, Visual Artist, Art's Facilitator, Dramaterg and Comedian) to discuss creation, art, digital spaces + more in a series of three conversations.
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Tsholo Khalema meets with Jan Alicia Jennings (Singer, Playwright, Poet, Songwriter, Visual Artist, Art's Facilitator, Dramaterg and Comedian) to discuss creation, art, digital spaces + more in a series of three conversations. You can see all of the responses that have been released to date and read more about the ATP Peer Conversations Project here.
Conversation #1
APT Peer Conversations Project: Maricris Rivera x Kodie Rollan
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Maricris Rivera speaks with Kodie Rollan (Artistic Director, Chromatic Theatre) to unpack ways to minimize harm in the creative process and value humans first, before the art.
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Maricris Rivera speaks with Kodie Rollan (Artistic Director, Chromatic Theatre) to unpack ways to minimize harm in the creative process and value humans first, before the art.
APT Peer Conversations Project: Ryan G. Hinds x Julie Tomaino
JT: “You have to ask for what you want. You can’t just
sit around and expect that everyone’s gonna be like
‘Oh, Julie Tomaino you should do this’. It doesn’t work
that way. There’s too many people in this industry,
especially if you’re an emerging artist, not to be clear on
your goals”
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Ryan G. Hinds meets with Julie Tomaino to discuss artistic visioning, pushing through, and change making in the performing arts. You can see all of the responses that have been released to date and read more about the ATP Peer Conversations Project here.
Ryan G. Hinds x Julie Tomaino
Director, Choreographer, and Former Performer Julie Tomaino and I have worked
together twice, both times with her as Choreographer and me as Actor. In our
conversations for Generator, we covered a lot of ground, named a lot of names, and
spoke openly about our successes and challenges.
On Having A Clear Artistic Vision
JT: “You have to ask for what you want. You can’t just sit around and expect that everyone’s gonna be like ‘Oh, Julie Tomaino you should do this’. It doesn’t work that way. There’s too many people in this industry, especially if you’re an emerging artist, not to be clear on your goals”
RGH: “I wish schools would be more honest and say ‘there’s no work out there and there’ll be a bunch of you going for a handful of jobs’. You have to know how to push for an opportunity you believe in, or know how to make your own opportunities.”
Photo of Ryan and Julie provided by the artists
On Pushing Through
JT: “I can hear ‘no’ a thousand times and still say ‘...but what about?’ I have so much persistence and resilience.”
RGH: “I find it really hard to let go of challenges and ‘No’. If something doesn’t happen, I’m going to keep trying and keep trying to make it happen in the way that I want it to.”
On How To Be A Change-Maker
JT “That’s how you incite change: playing the game until you’re in a position where you can make structural change. Every time I have a little ounce of power to make a tiny bit of change, I make little steps towards the industry being a bit better.”
RGH: “Big changes don’t happen overnight, but there’s more and more of them happening because more and more of us are getting into these positions that affect the decision-making. We’re not just artists anymore.”
APT Peer Conversations: Jordan Campbell x Andrew Tay
Toronto is hardcore
conservative
intense
hustle
back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back
As part of the APT Peer Conversation Project, Jordan Campbell meets with Andrew Tay (Artistic Director, Toronto Dance Theatre) to discuss and ultimately question the systems/frameworks of production in theatre/dance in Toronto. You can see all of the responses that have been released to date and read more about the ATP Peer Conversations Project here.
Toronto is hardcore
conservative intense hustle
back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back
What is a producer?
The person who makes things happen. The person who gets the money and controls the money.
supporting development making opportunities for artists
hiring people programming artists
In Europe, producers act like agents, representing the show.
ARTIST - PRODUCER RELATIONSHIP
who is being programmed at this event? does the producer trust me?
do I have creative freedom?
do I have the information I need?
do I want more support in my process? are they open to what I want to try? why am I here?
speak the language of the people you’re working with
“Think: festival” “You won’t get the performer’s music until a few hours before the show”
“What CAN’T I do in this space?”
“I’ve done this before”
SCHEDULING
the new generation is talking about ways to avoid burnout
4-day work weeks
spread out tech weeks
split tech schedules in a shared space
boundaries around checking emails
paid weeks off after a project
how do we take a break? how do we get away from the work?
when are we working?
Boundaries
when will I check my email? what needs to be done today?
how many shows can we do in a row? how long can we tour?
when do I need a day off?
I DON’T WANT TO WORK ON SUNDAYS
intensive work periods
s l o w d e v e l o p e m e n t s
Low investment - High payoff
What if someone isn’t available to tour?
first right of refusal
royalty fee are we willing
to do this without them?
saying NO
does my work belong here? is it worth it?
what work will this entail?
what if my NO means a NO for others?
shows that other artists can be thrown into shows that create a container which can tour shows with small, tight teams
shows with huge installs and big international teams
bigger budgets, bigger stars, bigger problems When things get more expensive, will the politics of the piece align with the spaces that can afford them?
cool
WHAT MAKES SOMETHING COOL?
it’s outside the status quo
there’s a mythology around it
it’s a special thing, not everyone knows it a group resonates around it
ease
don’t try too hard
going with the flow
is something NEW or DIFFERENT going to happen?
am I going to meet new people? will the space be comfortable, exciting, sexy? will people be taking risks at this event?
maybe live performance isn’t cool anymore
do people want to go outside their scene and try something new? what if the show makes people uncomfortable?
HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
about what’s going to happen?
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
interaction
what are we getting ourselves into? I don’t want to trick the audience how do we maintain surprise? embodied consent
giving options
CONTENT WARNINGS
trigger warnings how are they worded? when do you receive them?
is nudity offense? are the sounds really that loud? what is my responsibility?
do I want to see this?
how long is it?
ARE YOU THIRSTY TO TOUR?
practice talking to people about your work
short exciting specific to the other’s interests invite people to little showings
showcases
events
parties
community
not just selling one show… talking about your whole practise
it’s a long game
The CONTEXT of a show is important does the producer understand?
“MAYBE DO THIS AS A HALLOWEEN EVENT”
can we still hold space for risks as the stakes get higher?
safe choices are easier
if you’re going to take risk, you have to be okay with the results
if you give yourself a challenge, expect it to be hard
how much capacity do you have for this risk? do we have the right resources?
who does? is someone going to get hurt?
why are we doing this?
What makes a successful art piece?
What makes us happy?