Desigining a show. Temporal Considerations.

Okay, I’m a person who has at times struggled to self start.*  So; I have to write a script for my THEA/FILM 405 Script Writing class (at VUW) I have a final script due in soon. As I have already set myself a challenge I’m going to combine the two and pray that I can use my hatred of failure and these deadlines to kick my ass into gear. We can hope; right?

Now to think about what my deadlines should be. Hum…

For this show, I’ve decided that I want to be able to enter it in one or more of the up coming Festivals that I have an interest in. They are, in order of nearatude, the Wellington Fringe; the Dunedin Fringe; and the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. The Comedy Festival would require that what ever I do be funny, and I don’t know if what I want to do is write something funny. It probably is, but you know, what if it isn’t? So, that means I should aim towards one of the two Fringe Festivals, I have decided to go with the Wellington Fringe because it’s nearer to me, in time, and also, it is situated where I live. Also, if I want to perform in the Dunedin Fringe, I could just use the show afterwards… As long as the show I create is one that can travel. Either way; Wellington Fringe = Win!

The Wellington Fringe Festival’s application dates are rapidly approaching; 5pm on October the 17th to be specific. The actual Fringe doesn’t start until the Sixth of February. This date is known across New Zealand as Waitangi day. The Festival closes on May the First. So; if I wish to do a Fringe show, and I do, I have a few concrete deadlines. The first is I have to have my performance’s concept nailed and presented in an application for staging at what ever performance place I decide on, hopefully one of the better ones such as Bats though that can often be a pipe dream.  I have then got to make sure that I have my final application form into the Fringe office by the Seventeenth of October.  The Third, is an actual performance, or more likely performances that have to take place between The Sixth of February and the First of March .

So, let’s look at the dates.

01/10/08 – The last day to apply for performance space at Bats.

17/10/08 – is the final day my final script is due to my lecturer.

17/10/08 – is also the final submission date for the Wellington Fringe Festival. Not that conveniant, because I need to have actors attached to the piece by then.

06/02/09 – The first day of the Wellington Fringe.

01/03/09 – The last day of the Wellington Fringe.

26/03/09 – The first day of the Dunedin Fringe.

05/03/09 – The last day of the Dunedin Fringe.

??/05/09 – The New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

So, now I have set deadlines, I should get to work. Or you know, implode under all this pressure I’ve just given myself.  Actually; I think I might make myself a curry. Yeah; that sounds like a tasty indian treat.

*Anyone who has googled up my failed attempts at doing a long form comic on DrunkDuck.com will be well aware of this.