r/directors

I’m the director of an amateur dramatics musical theatre group. I’m absolutely devastated after this week finding out a member of the company took her own life.

She’s been a part of this theatre group since she was 10 years old. She was only 18. I’ve been crying on and off since I’ve found out and I know everyone else who works there and the students are devastated too.

I’ve had a few messages from cast members and parents of cast members whether the production will still be happening. As I’ve said this week rehearsals are cancelled and for the upcoming weeks we won’t be doing things relating to the production for now it will be more to meet up and process this and lighthearted.

I haven’t replied to the messages as I really don’t know. I honestly don’t want to do the production anymore but tickets have been sold. I’m considering possibly turning it into a fundraiser for the parents but I don’t know if that will come off performative.

I can’t imagine doing the production now. She was the lead role. I can’t imagine giving the role to someone else under these circumstances. I know there will be disappointment but I just really don’t know what to do. I feel devastated by this loss. And I know a lot of others are too. I don’t know what to do about the production. The rest of the team don’t know either we are all really struggling.

I don’t know if anyone’s been through something similar. This is a lot to process.

Hey, I'm a Producer that's looking to make a short film. I used to work for a multi-award winning Indie Producer so I have a lot of experience with development & festival strategy.

Here's a synopsis of the short: A group of streamers play a game live that, of course, starts killing them IRL when they lose. As the rounds progress, the ensemble of deeply online characters have their interpersonal dynamics hilariously fall apart in front of their live audiences.

I have a draft of the script but looking to attach a Director with great comedic instincts & genuine understanding of gaming/streaming culture to refine the jokes & pacing.

In terms of tone, it's very Bodies Bodies Bodies meets Deadstream/Unfriended.

This would be done in screenlife format. Which means no geographical restrictions and more of a found footage horror vibe.

The goal is to get this ready for October's Horror short festivals. Funding is secured, so posting here to hopefully discover the right talent for the project.

First of all, I would like to apologize if this is not the right place to ask this question, but I have nobody else to ask lol. I’ve been in acting for a very long time, and a director who’s working on a big project contacted me recently, to call me to audition for the lead role. He saw me perform a couple years ago. The problem is - I have two facial piercings now, and those are not very sufficient for the role, from what I’ve read. Of course, I’d take them out and let them fully heal for the role, but I’m not sure whether it’s worth it to take them out before the audition, since I’m not sure whether the role is mine or not. My question is: are my piercings a dealbreaker for the role, are my chances gone as soon as I show up with my facial piercings, even if I tell them I’m completely fine with taking them out? Ps. they’re an eyebrow piercing and a nose stud, my appearance overall is not edgy, and is very suitable for the role, which is why he contacted me. Any advice is appreciated, thanks in advance :)

My 7 year old daughter attends a theatre group every Tuesday for children and teens aged 5–19. There’s an 18 year old student there who has always been friendly to my daughter, and I’d never had an issue before.

The Saturday before last was my daughter’s birthday, and we took her for a meal at a restaurant/bar. Half is a family/restaurant side and half is a more mature drinking bar area While walking past the bar area to go to the bathroom, I noticed a very drunk girl kissing her boyfriend and slurring her words. My daughter went over and said hello and I then realised it was the older student from my daughter drama group. I wanted to get the conversation over and done with and said “hey great to see you. It’s her birthday today that’s why we are here for her birthday meal”

She said hello to my daughter back, wished her happy birthday, my daughter asked what she’s drinking and the girl said “Summer on the beach” substituting the real cocktail name. My daughter said she wants to try one. And she the girl said that it’s just orange juice a pineapple juice so boring but offered to buy her a “Cherry Bakewell” Mocktail since it’s her birthday because that’s what she thinks it’s the best mocktail. It was a nice offer but she was visibly intoxicated and nearly fell going to the bar to order it for my daughter. After that we managed to get back to the table but later I also saw her vaping outside.

My daughter thanked her for the drink, but I felt uncomfortable the whole time. The student was clearly drunk, vaping, and behaving inappropriately in public while interacting with my child.

Last Tuseday, after dropping my daughter off, I spoke privately with the drama group director. I explained what happened and said I was concerned about the example this older student was setting.

He reacted sarcastically at first over dramatically gasping, then when I didn’t change my expression said she is 18 and legally allowed to drink and vape. He also said he didn’t care what students did outside drama unless it harmed children or affected the group. I said I don’t want my daughter to think it’s ok to grow up like that and vape or drink irresponsibly, he dismissed me again saying “Well done that’s good parenting to teach that to your child.” Then walked away.

I felt brushed off and disrespected. Was I overreacting, or was it unprofessional of the director to completely disregard my concerns?

How does one make a good short film with no creative friends with same interests? Or community . Seems hard with no experience and confidence not sure how to start or where. And how to even enjoy it with the fear , cuz no community and someone to discuss and learn with and validate and collab with for more confidence , like im not alone u know

Im turning 25 with graphic design degree and I realized now what I love to do is tell stories through variety of mediums like writing stories for manga and films and art etc . Not corporate design .

I have no experience though and considering going back to study film but it does not seem like a good financial investment , and I’m not talented or confident / able to overcome the fear of cringe etc yet so seems hard ….

I have lot of video ideas and like content creation but often find it stuck in idea phase because it takes too long to make and is hard …. With full time job it’s hard to keep the content creation rapid schedule

But I do think I have a lot of creative and unique ideas and storylines and I have potential , but not sure how to develop it out to organize into a good final story. How do I find ppl that can help me …. Or recognize my potential etc to work with … even if just fun own projects at first

Do you have any advice to someone wanting to start out after a degree ?

Even acting and directing !! I love entertainment and media and creative field … like actual creative fields . That some design works in too but most jobs now are corporate which isn’t exactly considered a creative field , it’s more about marketing and ads which suck

This is quite a long post so apologies in advance but I want to say the full context so I know if I’m overreacting or not. I (18F) am very anxious about reporting it because I don’t want to ruin my relationship with the director or falsely accuse anyone or how to even go about it. But I’m 18F. But when I was 12 I was in a musical theatre summer school thing for a month. Where a man was working as the choreographer.

I find him quite creepy. At first I thought I was just a “favourite” I’m terrible and dancing especially when I was 12 but he’d always compliment me saying I’m a beautiful dancer and have the right look for a dancer. I brushed it off as the time as being nice and it’s pretty normal to say.

But it got weird after the summer school was over. A few hours after it finished he somehow added me on social media on his personal account. I never added his professional account or anything to do with theatre on my social media and we didn’t appear to have mutual friends. I again didn’t find that weird and followed him back and thought it was pretty sweet.

He then started DM’ing me though almost every day with videos. First normal videos like dance videos. And sharing ones of open auditions for things. He offered one time to make me a showreel. Which I thought was kind. But slowly over time they became less about theatre related things.

Like I remember at like 14 he sent me a video of relationship advice. I didn’t respond because I was a bit weirded out and it was really random and I thought maybe it was an accident. And he saw that I saw the message and said “sorry was that too much? You’re a young lady now so saw that and thought of you. Wish someone would’ve given me that advice when I was younger just divorced my second wife.” Which was really awkward and I was like “oh sorry to hear that. No it’s fine”.

After that things started to get a bit weirder. He saw me in town one time and I was vaping with a friend. He recognised me but I didn’t notice him and he approached me and snatched it out of my hand and I looked at him and realised it was him. He started laughing saying that’s bad for your singing voice. I felt awkward and just said “oh yeah haha” he gave it back and said “just because you’re mature for your age doesn’t mean you should vape.” I said “haha yeah…” he kept going and said he hopes I’m not getting them off the street because they could be drugged especially now I’m a teenager.

I said “no I don’t thanks though” he said if I’m ever in trouble to call him. And I said ok and he walked away. My friend was really creeped out by this asking me who that was and that he seemed really weird. I told her who it was and I was creeped out too so I stopped responding to his messages for a while. But he kept on contacting me eventually I thought he got the message and he stopped. Until I started a new YouTube channel at 16 which got a lot of subscribers and he’d found the channel.

He was very supportive in the comments. He watched a lot of them and was commenting supportive things. I thought this was kind. Me contacted me on Instagram again saying my videos are very cool. I responded for some reason saying thank you. He then again started messaging me all the time and I felt back and would respond maybe once or twice a week.

I started a TikTok channel too. And he found that one too because I said in a YouTube video about my new TikTok. So he started DMing me on there too. One video I made when I was 16 really creeped me out. It was me and my friends at a Halloween party I had alcohol and my Halloween costume was Elle Woods in the costume party scene inspired. He sent me the video and said “love the costume it suits your shape nicely” then a second message “alcohol? You’re only 15! Don’t get too drunk” and I said “I’m 16” “and he said really? How time flies. I remember you being that little kid always knew you’d grow up to be a fun and beautiful young lady. Didn’t think it would happen so soon.”

I started to feel a bit sick. At around 16 or 17 my parents also started noticing how much he would comment on all my stuff and how he’s quite weird. I agreed with them and they told me to avoid him. Now I’m 18. After I turned 18 it got even weirder. I posted my rice purity test on my TikTok story and he responded to that about how he thought it would’ve been lower. (The lower the score the less “pure” you are). I made a video about being broke and he DM’d me saying “same. It’s a shame I’m not a girl or id start an O F”. And one about how my dream date would me taking me to musical themed bottomless brunch. And he commented “that’s a great idea”. I didn’t respond to any of the weird ones since turning 18.

But today he’s messaged me. Basically this theatre group ive been in since I was like 7’s choreographer has retired. I got a message today from the choreographer from the summer school saying he’s going to be working there. Obviously I’m 18 now so it’s not really a big thing for me even though I’m creeped out but he’s been doing things I think might be creepy since I was 12. And it’s a group for all ages. So I’m worried not just for if he starts being more creepy to me but if he’s also creepy to the little kids.

I kind of want to warn the director. We are very close and he’s very kind and understanding. But I’m worried what if he doesn’t take it the right way. Or the choreographer actually had good intentions. If you was my director and I came to you with these concerns especially because I’m 18 now would you take it seriously? I’m not sure. I don’t want to cause any issues.