Please select a question Who writes the plays? In GOCA, why did you ignore the beat of the pentameter so often? Will there be more authors featured in the future? Where are they filmed? How are they filmed? Who is your director? How do you find your actors? Will there ever be a true audition? If so, will it be open? How can I contact an actor? How did Grey nearly get electrocuted? Who stabbed her? Did she have it coming? Who designed the Web Site? What is the best way to watch the plays? What do I need to achieve the best overall quality experience? Why won't the Flash Player control bar go away while I'm watching a scene? How can I avoid "tiling", where the graphics on a page appear more than once? Will the plays ever be made available for sale?

 

Q: In GOCA, why did you ignore the beat of the pentameter so often?

A: Two reasons: since all of Man's speeches are iambic, to hear a pronounced beat on every second syllable was at best unnecessary, and at worst soporific.  Also, using the beat to occasionally accent the most important or telling lines seemed far more effective than beating the audience over the head, as it were, with the fact the speeches are in pentameter.

Q: Will there be more authors featured in the future?

A: More than likely.  Once the five we have on deck are filmed, a call for scripts will be prominent on the site. 

Q: Where are the plays filmed?

A: God's Own Cartoon Anvil and Writing a Woman were filmed in Houston, at a location whose contract forbids mention of their involvement. Wonderful stage and great people, though. 

Q: How are they filmed?

A: The plays are filmed using one camera from one perspective, rendering a genuine theatrical experience: a single point of view that never changes.  It is always tempting to break this formula, but to do so would not present a play; some sort of cinematic/theatrical hybrid would result, truly playing to nor fulfilling the strengths of either art form.

Q: Who is your director?

A: For God's Own Cartoon Anvil, its author, to his horror.  The original, alleged director drifted away into the pastures of Brenham, Texas, with his paycheck, never to be seen again. We hope he was eaten by cows.  For Writing a Woman, Brian Hamlin directed.  Reesa Graham directed both Confession...(A Hell of a Thing) and Once Removed.  Debra Schultz has agreed to direct Sebastian, Right, for which casting is beginning as this is written (mid-February 2008).

Q: How did you find your actors?

A: Many of our GOCA actors were involved with the original production at Stages Theater in Houston, through the Albee New Playwrights Workshop at the University of Houston; the same is true of Heath and Angela in WAW. For CAHOAT, we had auditions at UH, and for OR, we advertised online for actors, which is where we got Wes, who (thank god) knew Freeman.

Q: How can I contact an actor?

A: Each actor has their own e-mail address on the site (NAME@playsinperpetuity.com). Our actors lead busy lives, but try to answer their mail.

Q: I read the Mission Statement. How did Grey nearly get electrocuted? Who stabbed her? Did she have it coming?

A: No. Someone decided to use a real knife onstage, with obvious results. Apparently there were blocking issues. As far as electricity goes,

"[Grey] was sitting in the wings watching the show & was in charge of the telephone ring.  Well, they had taken an old rotary phone & screwed it onto some plywood (minus the plastic cover) and next to it was a light switch.  When I manually flicked the light switch, I was in control of the ringing. I was sitting at a desk chair and was facing the stage watching the show & didn't realize that my elbow was so close to the open phone.  So I got attached to it for about 10 seconds or so."

Q: Who designed the Web Site?

A: Actually, I did/do, and I collaborate with T Squared Design in Houston, Texas. They handle the production/technical parts.

Q: What is the best way to watch the plays?

A: Adobe's Flashplayer is required, and is the only viewing option.  We decided a 98% market penetration, coupled with a quick and easy download, made the most sense.

This is hard to write, given the plays were composed on a Mac, edited on a Mac, and rendered and uploaded on a Mac, but there is a problem with Flash files on the new Intel-based Macs.  Fortunately, there is a fix.

http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash 

Q:What do I need to achieve the best overall quality experience?

A: Adobe's Flashplayer is required, and is the only viewing option.  We decided a 98% market penetration, coupled with a quick and easy download, made the most sense.

This is hard to write, given the plays were composed on a Mac, edited on a Mac, and rendered and uploaded on a Mac, but there is a problem with Flash files on the new Intel-based Macs.  Fortunately, there is a fix.

http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash 

The limitations of individual computers have to be considered as well.  If you encounter bumpy performance (stops and starts, etc.), try closing any other open applications which might be using up available resources, and, again, make sure you have the latest version of Flashplayer.

The Large files are the highest quality Flash can offer; this naturally requires the most of a computer and its service provider.  If the Large files can't be made to work, the Small will hopefully suffice.

Q: The Flash file looks choppy, and starts and stops. Is there a solution for correcting this problem?

Right click within the Flash window (on the play). You can adjust your Flash preferences online through Adobe. Up the memory, and all should be fine.

Q: Why won't the Flash Player control bar go away while I'm watching a scene?

A:  Pass your mouse over it.  The control bar should vanish.

Q: How can I avoid "tiling", where the graphics on a page appear more than once?

A:  Adjust the size of your browser window. Grab the bottom right corner with the mouse, and shrink the window until the repeated graphics are no longer seen.

Q: Will the plays ever be made available for sale?

A:  If there is enough interest, something might be arranged.

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