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Journal of Biting Dog Media Trainee
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May 19. 2006
Hello. My name is Michelle and this is my first official entry into my Media Trainee journal. Before I dive in, I thought I would tell you a little bit about myself. I love theatre! I have been involved with it since I was twelve years old, and to this day it still brings a smile to my face. Whether I am onstage, apart of the audience, behind the scenes, at rehearsal, or doing marketing coverage, as long as I am involved, life is good!
For this traineeship, I had some marketing experience before at a production company in London. However, this position is allowing me to explore marketing much more in depth. This was my first week on the job, and it has proven to be fun, exciting and very different every day! Heather has been great and has explained my duties which involve taking photographs of each group, interviewing the students, doing write ups of their plays, and being liaison with the photographers that come every day.
So far the best part of the job is seeing all of the group’s interpretations on the empty script. Reading it myself, it seemed like a challenge and I was looking forward to watch the different groups take it and run. Yet when I saw the extreme storylines, zany characters, and hilarious musical numbers, it proved to be so much more exciting than I ever imagined! Each school has such a different dynamic, that no matter how many times I see each show, it never gets boring!
A part that is proving a bit more difficult is writing up the summaries for each show. Because there is so much going on in such a short amount a time, I want to write long detailed scenarios, but we only need a few lines. The technical trainees have also been really great to meet and they all seem to be just as excited as me and are having just as much fun. If the rest of my traineeship is like this, I am sure it’s going to be some of the funniest weeks that I have been involved with in a long time!
May 26, 2006
Hey, Michelle here again reporting in for week two of my Media Traineeship with Biting Dog. This past week has been very full on and exciting! Since starting, I have now seen 19 group performances from 13 different schools! And all 19 performances were completely different ranging from comedic to dramatic to psychological thriller to commedia dell’arte with great masks and costumes! Whenever I close my eyes I either see a montage of costumes and lighting or can hear the words of the script echoing in my head!
Some new challenges I have tackled have been helping write the media releases on the festival for the Border Mail. Although I did do a lot of writing in uni and high school, I have never written for a formal newspaper before. I get a little bit nervous thinking about how many people may read my article, but it is also very exciting to think about my words being published!
I have also taken a lot of photos this past week. This is one of my favourite aspects of the traineeship! I have always loved taking pictures of my friends and family, so I find it very enjoyable to pick out the key moments of each piece and capture them on film. It’s great to go back and see what photos turn out and what faces I seem to catch at just the right second! They make me laugh sometimes.
This year has been really good in terms of media coverage for the festival. We have been lucky enough to have a few extra opportunities with the radio and a Victorian education newsletter. The more exposure for Biting Dog, the better! I think it’s a great opportunity for HotHouse, the festival, and the Border community!
It’s also very exciting to think that the festival opens on Wednesday! I can’t believe it has snuck up on us so quickly! I am also fortunate enough to usher for some nights of the shows so I will be able to see the final performances. This will be a real treat to see how far each group has come since their first tech rehearsal, and see if there are any changes or improvements from the last time I saw them.
However, there are still a few more groups to go for Monday and Tuesday, so I must get back to work! Speak to you soon!
June 7, 2006
Michelle again with another exciting update on the Biting Dog Festival!
Now that it is in it’s second week, the students have really been able to shine in front of sold out audiences, friends, and family. Fortunately, I have gotten to usher for some of the shows, and for the rest of them, I am coming in as an audience member! Although I am not involved directly with any of the schools or their progress, because I have interviewed all the groups and seen them from their first tech rehearsal, it’s been great to see the journey and the transformation of all these groups.
Also, the technical trainees backstage have been getting to learn a lot now that they are in charge of the shows lights and sound! It’s great to see them on their feet and just take everything as it comes. In rehearsal is one thing, but once they are out there actually running the show, it gives them a lot of confidence that they can pull it off. Everyone is in a great mood after the night is over.
I just would like to thank Heather Broadfoot, the Marketing Coordinator at HotHouse Theatre for giving me this great opportunity. Without her, I wouldn’t be there and I am grateful for everything! Also, all the staff have been really great. HotHouse is lucky to have such a wonderful, passionate group of individuals who believe strongly in the arts and theatre like myself, and it’s been great to get to know all of them.
As for everyone else in the community, or who have been involved in this festival, I would like to thank you for your support and your own contribution to Biting Dog or to HotHouse. Without volunteers, parents, teachers and patrons, the theatre wouldn’t survive! Cheers for live theatre and education!
Michelle Exarhos
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