There’s something to say about getting nervous from anytime my work is presented in front of others. Whether it be in person or virtual, it’s a natural emotional response to become anxious and “worried” about feeling judged, or bored, by an audience since it’s your work that is taking up their time. But for this reading of JULIE AND THE STARMAKER, I didn’t feel any of that because I know that, despite my own reluctance to advocate for it, it’s needed. And maybe moreso, now than ever, I need it. It’s a play about not trying to face my own mental health issues, it’s about hoping that one day this play can help someone, especially in my community. So, that’s my push.
But the only way to get there is through the trials of putting it out there and GET BETTER at telling the story! So below are a lot of random notes that will mostly only be relevant to ME, but for all the other writers out there that can relate to your own randomness in pursuit of having your work connect to others, maybe this jumble will feel familiar to you.
Credits: Bindlestiff Studio for hosting the Kwento Times Staged Reading Festival! Aureen Almario for producing the event! Our Fearless Leader!!! Tonilyn Sideco for directing. Dave and Darius for holding down our Technical needs of light and sound! Our conversations alone has made me believe in this piece so much that I can’t let them down! Our amazing reading cast (in order of the photo above): Ava Tong, LO, Jowy-Jhan Cumareng, Miles August-Williams, Soluna Ibarra-Tacdal, Aura San Migues, Oliver Wijayapala, and Joe Cascasan. Seeing actors who not only breathe life into my words, but also elevates the story, is a true gift and testament to their talent, intuition, and time spent on their craft! And a special thank you to JULIE PLUG for inspiring the world we helped to create! I am truly indebted to all of them for the first step of JULIE AND THE STARMAKER. Cheers for Next Steps!
Julie and the Starmaker Notes from Rehearsals and Reading at Kwento Times
another reading at 4pm
pg 22. Starmaker is sung by Julie
Sigh. Scenes feel TOO LONG now 🙁
too MANY instances of Starmaker telling her to Julie… Julie.. JULIE!
Maybe make the beginning of Act 2 before What can I say longer
Remind Toni of the slower version of Listening to Astrud
When Starmaker tells Julie that the ferry was for souls that took their own life.
Explore more of the relationship that The Starmaker and The King had!
I had no choice…
Have more backstory about Michael through others!!!
Build up to Micael…
Something abou the father that she needs to know about him and give back to Laura
Build that connection between Julie and the House
What can Julie hold on to with the dad.
More than “Mahal kita”
River
Water
Did the dad know they were leaving?
What’s that connection
E-DOG… e-dog… what the hell am I trying to do with him? what’s up with his use of AAVE language? is it TRUE to him?
One things I love to do is break stereotypes. Is his speaking style appropriated? what is the reason that he speaks like this?
Think Malibu’s Most Wanted.
what does michael mean when he said that he didn’t have any other choice than committing to suicide.
omg! i wonder if michael has dealt with depression for so long that he was scared that his mental health issues would be passed along to Julie if he was still here 🙁
What did Michael think when he first saw Julie?
Pg. 51 – Stress that ONCE SOMEONE GOES TO WANDERLAND THAN THEY CAN’T GO BACK.
Change: p4. Is he from there too? Is FREDDY from there too?
Change: p9. Different that those animals around her.
Change: p25: Change genders of GRaff and Lion
Add more references to more people in Wanderland has met Michael.
Would love to reference the name of the therapist in the early scenes so that when Julie talks about her in Wanderland there’s that connection
Add in parts for Guards 1 & 2 in Act One
FROM THE READING (May 1, 2022 1pm)
Change the part where Laura says, “Damnit Michael Twice!” in 2 different scenes
Is there any way I can reference the month of June so that when Laura sings SOMETIMES IN JUNE, then it would make sense. Lol
Update G.R. Aff to Cara Bao and E-Dog to T-Dog (Tarsier Dog)
Make the Cara Bao and T-Dog scenes more overt for the audience to know that they are in “depressed town” and “anxiety city”.
The scenes are too subverssive
Edit down the dialogue between the Starmaker and Julie when starmaker first comes alive
Expand Dolphy’s role: they become a major part
Need a backstory of why King Lion feels betrayed by the Starmaker
Type out JAY WOW for The Starmaker to say
Does the King Solve their problem of finding dad? Like he says, if you do this then I’ll help you find your dad… but does he actually HELP them find their dad? It’s actually E-Dog who tells The Starmaker and Julie where to find Michael, not the King.
What if #1 and #2 were former customers of Laura? Looking for ways to incorporate them in Act 1
Look at the pronouns used for the Giraffe and the Lion. I’m pretty sure I mixed them up.
Change the Merida Festival to be in June!
- Not sure why I wrote this. I think it was to set the play in June so that Laura’s song, SOMETIME IN JUNE made more sense.
Speaking of Laura… why did I pick the name Laura? Just a question, but the name isn’t resonating with me right now.
Shorten Scene 2
Kill the Thrifty Ice Cream bits.
- It’s a BIT. it doesn’t move the story along. And it’s one of my babies that give me pleasure, but still doesn’t feel needed. Extra.
Kill Laura’s plea again to Michael on the line, “If you’re up there?” page 20
Julie and The Starmaker scene (Act 1, Scene 3) is TOO LONG. Felt like a lot of repetition.
Kill the Julianna Hatfield line! Pg. 33
Act I, Scene 4
Laura’s talking on the phone but TO WHO?! Stacey? Might be a good spot to add more backstory about Michael.
Ulk… there’s another “Damnit, Michael!” dialogue in here. Remove please.
Maybe have a reference to “June” in here for Laura’s Monologue to have something her song can relate to?
Tighter space between songs?
Let’s Go! – A CTA to Act II.
- Is that too overt? Lol… maybe only to screenwriters 😉
Let Julie tell Mr. Leo what Micheal told her.
Get to the point faster! (I don’t know what that means)
Tighten up Leo’s lines… I know you do too.
- Maybe the point of understanding between Laura and Leo: both of them lost loved ones before it was time.