Open Forum

Hi all,

Here in Kansas we were the first schools to close for the entire semester, so we've known for almost a month now we wouldn't be seeing our kids again.  To that end, I had to pretty much scrap two of my shows.  One is student-written and directed, however, and she is also using it to earn her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts, so I couldn't just scrap that.  Since there were no royalty issues, we will be doing a virtual staged reading.  Our plan now is to record each scene with just the actors in that scene, and then edit the scenes together (rather than doing it totally live or having everybody logged in for the whole show).  There are the obvious options like Zoom and such, but does anybody know of a software platform that would give my student director more control over the screen layout during the recording session?

------------------------------
Jason Coats
Shawnee Mission Northwest HS
Thespian Troupe #888
Shawnee, KS
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi all,

Here in Kansas we were the first schools to close for the entire semester, so we've known for almost a month now we wouldn't be seeing our kids again.  To that end, I had to pretty much scrap two of my shows.  One is student-written and directed, however, and she is also using it to earn her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts, so I couldn't just scrap that.  Since there were no royalty issues, we will be doing a virtual staged reading.  Our plan now is to record each scene with just the actors in that scene, and then edit the scenes together (rather than doing it totally live or having everybody logged in for the whole show).  There are the obvious options like Zoom and such, but does anybody know of a software platform that would give my student director more control over the screen layout during the recording session?

------------------------------
Jason Coats
Shawnee Mission Northwest HS
Thespian Troupe #888
Shawnee, KS
------------------------------

Jason,

Have you thought about an editting tool, such as WeVideo?  It has some great features, and would work with media from a variety of platforms.  We use WeVideo with our students, and they are able to import video files from Dropbox and Google Drive to manipulate in a final product.  If you are interested, I can share some resources I have gathered.

------------------------------
Christa Danner

Speech and Drama
Blue Valley Middle School
Stilwell, KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-21-2020 13:58
From: Jason Coats
Subject: Software Platforms for staged readings

Hi all,

Here in Kansas we were the first schools to close for the entire semester, so we've known for almost a month now we wouldn't be seeing our kids again.  To that end, I had to pretty much scrap two of my shows.  One is student-written and directed, however, and she is also using it to earn her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts, so I couldn't just scrap that.  Since there were no royalty issues, we will be doing a virtual staged reading.  Our plan now is to record each scene with just the actors in that scene, and then edit the scenes together (rather than doing it totally live or having everybody logged in for the whole show).  There are the obvious options like Zoom and such, but does anybody know of a software platform that would give my student director more control over the screen layout during the recording session?

------------------------------
Jason Coats
Shawnee Mission Northwest HS
Thespian Troupe #888
Shawnee, KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 4/30/2020 3:44:00 PM
From: Christa Danner
Subject: RE: Software Platforms for staged readings

Jason,

Have you thought about an editting tool, such as WeVideo?  It has some great features, and would work with media from a variety of platforms.  We use WeVideo with our students, and they are able to import video files from Dropbox and Google Drive to manipulate in a final product.  If you are interested, I can share some resources I have gathered.

------------------------------
Christa Danner

Speech and Drama
Blue Valley Middle School
Stilwell, KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-21-2020 13:58
From: Jason Coats
Subject: Software Platforms for staged readings

Hi all,

Here in Kansas we were the first schools to close for the entire semester, so we've known for almost a month now we wouldn't be seeing our kids again.  To that end, I had to pretty much scrap two of my shows.  One is student-written and directed, however, and she is also using it to earn her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts, so I couldn't just scrap that.  Since there were no royalty issues, we will be doing a virtual staged reading.  Our plan now is to record each scene with just the actors in that scene, and then edit the scenes together (rather than doing it totally live or having everybody logged in for the whole show).  There are the obvious options like Zoom and such, but does anybody know of a software platform that would give my student director more control over the screen layout during the recording session?

------------------------------
Jason Coats
Shawnee Mission Northwest HS
Thespian Troupe #888
Shawnee, KS
------------------------------

Jason,  

Your best bet is to have the students record themselves individually and submit their videos to you to edit to look like Zoom.  With scenes, you have the actors connect with each other through their cell phones (audio only call) because audio has no latency.  They connect their cell phones to a bluetooth or wired earbud that goes into their ear so they can hear the other actor but the video recording will not pick up the other actors voice.  When the actors are ready they let each other know they started recording, stare into the video camera lens that is recording them as if it is their other and act out their scene to the video lens.  When the scene is complete, have them hold their moment after for at least three seconds before breaking character.  When each actor feels that the take went well, they each send you their part of the scene to edit.  WeVideo is a real basic program you can use to edit as is iMovie.  Below is a link to our play.  The hosts, you will see each are on headset/cellphone call with each other while recording their scene so their is hardly any latency with their reactions to each other.  Let me know if you have any questions or need help in any way.  All the best!

https://youtu.be/-u8mfMoWurE





------------------------------
Scott F. Cooney
"Lover of Life"
NJ State Thespian State Board
CTE Acting/Theatre Instructor
BCIT Medford Academy of Performing Arts
Medford, NJ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-21-2020 13:58
From: Jason Coats
Subject: Software Platforms for staged readings

Hi all,

Here in Kansas we were the first schools to close for the entire semester, so we've known for almost a month now we wouldn't be seeing our kids again.  To that end, I had to pretty much scrap two of my shows.  One is student-written and directed, however, and she is also using it to earn her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts, so I couldn't just scrap that.  Since there were no royalty issues, we will be doing a virtual staged reading.  Our plan now is to record each scene with just the actors in that scene, and then edit the scenes together (rather than doing it totally live or having everybody logged in for the whole show).  There are the obvious options like Zoom and such, but does anybody know of a software platform that would give my student director more control over the screen layout during the recording session?

------------------------------
Jason Coats
Shawnee Mission Northwest HS
Thespian Troupe #888
Shawnee, KS
------------------------------