so far we're going really well, i mean, in terms of organization we`re kinda ahead schedule (which is a huge help) so we can relax.
JAA

no, there shall be no relaxing until we're done, completely done. so far in terms of directing the actors i think i'm doing pretty well, i have learnt a whole lot from watching and being directed by roberto, patty, carlos, valentina, and miss alicia when i was in her class so even though we haven't been truly sat down and taught how to direct we are still able to because we have been directed all along, so, this makes me think about paucartambo and how they get someone to be the caporal, they don't choose the young one, they choose the old and experienced one because he has been learning all of his life and acting all of his life, and in a way, haven't we been as well? we started when we were 5 and now we're 17 going on 18, that's more than ten years of theatre training and learning, so, this makes the process much more dynamic since we don't stop our learning process as actors to begin one as directors, we learn as actors and then, from that process translate it into directing, at least that's what i'm doing and so far i'm doing pretty well.

it is frustrating when a group has been taught something for the past 3 weeks and still they don't do it, but i think those things happen because they don't feel the pressure we do, they don't realize how little time we have to put this play together (some do, some work really hard and have the movements in their pocket, which for me, as a director can be very rewarding.) However, so far the process has been that of training and coaching them in the kabuki tradition, actual directing of scenes comes in the next rehearsal where i will really be directing the actors and moving them along the actual scene. that will be a challenge but i can't wait.

set design has been really important this past week and arianna is in charge of it, i feel that i and all of us should be a part of it along with her (which is what we're doing) and i understand that i must let her work by herself but, i decided to give her deadlines on certain things that really need to be done so that we can all work properly and on schedule, at first i kinda saw that she wanted to kill me, but, it had to be done so that she sets deadlines for herself and delegates to form 5, i've also asked esteban to give me the plotline of the play with annotations on where there should be music and how it should be like, according to each scene. this will not only help me but it will help the musicians and the play overall.
during our first production meeting not a lot was done, i think we need to stop wasting time on trivial things like who got kicked of the play and concentrate on more important things, i also thought it was rather frustrating that i had to ask and push form 5 into giving us proper and relevant comments and suggestions, but in the end i think they understood that they are there to work with us and not just for us.
now, the cyclorama business was decided but i don't agree with it, i thought it was supposed to be the palace resembling THE forest and the forest resembling THE palace (not any palace and any forest), i think it would me much more cohesive and simple for the audience yet i do agree that it would be predictable and rather monotone-ish if we limited ourselves to just one interpretation so in the end i'm convinced and in the end it's not JUST my decision, even though i could get up and say i wanted things done one way because i said so, i'd rather save that for times when it is desperately needed and when a something that could potentially harm the play would take place, not in cases when it helps, if executed properly.

this idea of learning and of this process to become a director still floats in my mind, i can't seem to decide whether you have to take a class on directing to be able to or if it comes on its own, maybe some people just can't do it and maybe you learn by being taught, do you know what im saying? by being directed by somebody else you are learning rather than having a teacher come in and teach you how to direct, i know this seems contradictory with what i have said before but, in theatre there is this fantastic world that keeps growing and keeps you on your feet so that one thing you thought worked can change and evolve into another thing that works even better. so, can you learn how to direct? and if so, how? what is the best or more proper way to learn and to actually direct? because in the end, isn't it all up to the actors during the performance? to do what they have been directed to do? because if one actor is bitter and decides not to do anything, would that be because of the director? and how do we identify when it is an actor's choice or an actor's performance that has been decided by the actor or a decission and product of the director?