-Marina Belisle, Patron Cultivation Manager

Starting with our last production, Sex With Strangers, Curious Theatre Company has begun making promotional trailers to accompany the launch of our upcoming plays. Our long-time patrons have loved it, new guests have been introduced to our work, and our team has been proud to promote the shows we’re so connected to in a new way. But being behind the lens for the process is a lot of work. Even for our actor(s) in front of the camera, reciting the same monologue 50 times in a row for a video (no exaggeration) is tedious. At the end of it all though, the result, like this one, makes it more than worth it.

I am fairly new to Curious Theatre Company. I started in January with my experience prior primarily in broadcast journalism (a news station). Though I have always enjoyed theatre as an audience member, working at Curious has been a completely different world from my past “home” in a newsroom. My title may be a bit confusing, but essentially I am Curious’ marketing and PR manager. In addition to the programs you receive when you enter the theatre for a show, the press materials our colleagues in the media get, the posts to social media you see, and all of the like jobs I fill, I was thrilled when I found out that my job description would include being a type of “field producer” for our video shoots.

Of course, the crew included more than just myself on-set. Two of our fabulous company members turn out to be production wizards. Michael Morgan and Brian Landis Folkins were the masterminds behind the camera and audio. They had the vision, equipment, and background to make it all happen. Thony Mena, Elliot in The Elliot Plays, is the star of the video. He was patient and kind, funny yet focused. We shot for two hours getting video of Thony performing the monologue, making hand and face gestures, and filming from different angles. Michael, Brian, and their intern set-up the background ahead of time and got the tripods, mics, and props ready. Our costume designer, Kevin Brainerd, made sure Thony looked the part and secured war-appropriate pieces with fairly short notice. Still, being in an older (charming) building, the shoot wasn’t entirely seamless. We had to stop when helicopters were overhead, the radiator turned on, and cars honked in the streets. In hindsight, those breaks were a nice break to refocus and push forward. But the night ended on a high note– we knew we had good material and a great video to make from it. However, the process wasn’t even close to done when we wrapped– Michael still had hours of editing to complete, colors to correct, and text to overlap ahead of him. When it was all said and done though, the final result? A trailer that gives viewers a quick glimpse and insight into what they’re in for: a play that addresses war, the return home, and how it affects the person who goes. We accomplished what we set out to create.

Will I get to use my video experience in my work at Curious everyday? No. But it was so rewarding to marry my present with my past and contribute in a way I know how. For everything else, I’m learning something new all the time at Curious, and I guess that’s kind of the point here… To remain curious, and on the edge of your seat for what’s next. I sure am.

For more information and to buy tickets to Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, click HERE.