Talk to me, writers

My heart is with the writers. It always is. In some ways the entire festival is about the writers - they create stories overnight. In other ways, the weekend belongs to everyone but the writers. For instance, every non-writer at the Artists Meeting is chatting and laughing - they're a little nervous, sure. But they're having fun. The writers, on the other hand, normally confident, gregarious people, are not having fun. They pace. They glare. They clench their jaws. They laugh loudly and then go silent. They are like spouses in the maternity ward. And in the morning they will deliver the scripts into the hands of the directors and actors and then go home. No one will really want them around. Tonight, while we sleep, the writers will be having their shining moments. Alone. So, I ask the writers to email me tonight - when they're done or as they're working through their plots, developing their characters, struggling with what to say. "Just tell me anything," I say. Paul Mullin and virgin writer Jerry Kraft say they will email me. Brian Neel says, "Sure!" So does his writing partner, Paul Shipp. Anita Montgomery (also a virgin) looks doubtfully at me as I stop her on her way out the door to explain that I'm blogging and I'd like to hear from her - but she takes the piece of paper with my email address. I've missed Louis Broom and Glen Hergenhahn - they slipped out - I'll get them tomorrow. But Celene Ramadan is still here - lingering with friends. She also takes the paper from me. And then all the writers are gone and the directors are still meeting. Everyone else is drinking beer and talking quietly. As I head off to sleep, I'm thinking about our dear writers and I'm wondering what kinds of emails will be waiting for me in the morning. I'll let you know.

Becky Hellyer

Mazen

Jodi Paul announces that Brian Faker is the winner of the Mazen award this weekend. I love it when a winner is described as being difficult - difficult people are sometimes the best people, I think. And when Brian takes the stage he says, "This is so sweet because I know how much you all hate me. It's kind of like Bush's Farewell tour!" And he tells us how he hates theater but loves people who make theater. And I'm remembering that he was my first director when I was a virgin writer. Quite an introduction to 14/48 for me! And then he chooses the theme - Neutralize the Threat.

Becky Hellyer

Who do I know?

One of the first things I do when I walk into a 14/48 Artists Meeting is to look for who I know. Who have I worked with? I'm not alone in this. I like to see Stan Sheilds. He was in one of my most successful scripts therefore, he is one of my favorite actors. Same with Kate Jaeger. And I'm glad to see Paul Mullin and Brian Neel, both writers I admire. I embrace Karen Jo Fairbrook and Nicole Boyer Cochran. I see Teri Lazarra, Peggy Gannon, Lisa Viertel, Shawn Law, Tim Hyland, Anthony Winkler, Peter O'Connor, Mark Boeker, Alex Samuels. I love the kisses and the hugs - a reunion, of sorts. And then someone speaks what I'm thinking, "Isn't it nice to see all these faces we know?" And Andy Jensen says, "I like seeing all the faces I don't know. That's really what it's about." And, it's true. And now I'm looking at all the faces I don't know and looking forward to getting to know them.

Becky Hellyer