Hi all, hope your projects are going well. I'm currently organising a table read for a new TV pilot. I've never organised one before and I was wondering if any of you had, and if you had any tips?
The script is 53 pages. I've worked out that I can cover all the parts with seven performers plus a reader for stage directions. I've found people to cover those roles. I'm providing food and drink. I'm not taking part myself so that I can take notes. I'll provide scripts in advance with everyone's parts highlighted.
I'm thinking we just start from the beginning and read all the way through. I can record it. Any other suggestions gratefully appreciated.
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Sounds like you have everything covered, John Clive Carter. Hope the table read goes great!
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I thought of something, John Clive Carter. You could ask the performers and reader for feedback at the end. Feedback on their roles (from the performers) and the story.
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Depending on the setting, drinks and snacks. Plan for breaks. I've done a few reads and they're fun. It's a great way to see if the story flows like you expect it to and if the dialogue flows well when spoken out loud. And I guess figure out if people need hard copies or if they'll read on a computer/tab/cellphone.
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Are you inviting an audience? That's always fun. I worked individually with the actors and then did at least one rehearsal with everyone there, so it was really tight.
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One thing I would suggest is to tell the actors that you're not looking for a "performance" level read - it's just to get comfortable with the words and each other. This could help defuse any insecurity, or competitive anxiety - so the actors won't feel they're going to be judged. Give them permission to be bland and they will come alive!
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If you know any actors who regularly attend or involved in a local acting school, many of them are often looking for projects like this to practice the table read process on. Source: did one last year for a director. So get involved in the community and do some outreach. There's surely some places out there who might jump at the opportunity to get reps!
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First, good on you John. Table reads are lots of fun, my 5 cents -
If you can, try and make sure you get a few folks who have done a table read before. A few decent actors will get those pages popping! You want to hear that dialogue come alive. If you have all newbies reading, that kind of talent tends to sound like they are reading a book without much emotion. This lets you know where you are when it's done right..
If you can toss em a few bucks for their time…its worth it if you can. If not…feed them for their time. Costco has some great finger foods, snacks and sandwiches on a Tray.
Make sure to record the table reading. This way you can always look back at it to see how certain scenes play and feel.
Let us know how it went!
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It sounds like you're going about it the right way. Its often tempting to read the scene description stuff yourself as its "the boring bit", but it is better to have someone else do this so your only job is to "watch" your screenplay from the perspective of an audience member. My only suggestion would be to give yourself time to have it read through twice - The first time for you and the readers to go through it as it is and discuss notes and then go through it again with the changes.
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video tape or record. hand out forms for anonymous feedback with a few specific and a few open ended questions to actors and audience.
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I’m in a the Tennessee Screenwriting Association’s Zoom group that meets each week. We do this kind of thing. Go to this link for info: https://tennscreen.com/attend-meeting/
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The most benefit I have ever received from a table read is when I am not managing anything.
I would NEVER give a performance suggestion or how a line should be performed. Just sit and watch, like you have said.
It is super tempting to jump in and suggest. Mostly because you think it is going off the rails. But resist that urge. When someone reads your work when you are not there (99.99999% of the time), they don’t get that info. So note where it derailed and fix it on the page later.
I use read hrough.com now for a few reads before asking humans for involvement. It shows the easy to fix problems.
This is just me. I find the most valuable feedback is how did they feel.
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I'm thinking of starting my comedy table writing group back up again,, here in Phoenix again this summer. (Might as well....it's too damn hot to do anything else. Lol.) We are called The Rising Phoenix Comedy Troupe. We don't meet every year, but when we do meet, it's pretty fun! I'll put some more info on NikiGaliano.com when I get back from open mic night tonight.
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On second thought---it's too damn hot to stay in Phoenix even one more summer. I think I"m moving. I'd like to spend the summer on a lake somewhere....
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Wendy Weisling, a quick question about your group. Do you have to have a synopsis and treatment in order to have your script read? Because I'm actually animating my own screenplays with A.I., so the only person who is going to see the screenplay is me. I would just like to have a group of writers to listen to the 10 pages,, and give feedback.