Magazine Continued.. 09/09/11

Ideas for the cover

• A Black Minstrel powdered white. Solid grey background
• Young actor/actress in old costume
  
• Images through the ages - different representations of theatre over time, with a central figure representing where we are now
• Images places strategically on the cover
• Timeline

It was felt that a photograph/photographs should be used. There were also discussions about whether or not it should be controversial - what do you think?

Possible Articles

• Editor's note - should be a personal article - maybe on the accessibility of black theatre and the journey of discovery
• Article on Dawn Reid's 'Clockwork Orange' - a remake with a fully black cast. points of interest could be the public reaction, obstacles she/the cast had to overcome,inspiration for the idea. it could also be linked to a discussion about casting roles for particular races - the possibility of crossing over or not being limited by this - people go through similar things regardless of race and stories/scenarios can be adapted to reflect any differences. (Peter?)
  
• the 60s and 70s theatre movement - is black theatre the theatre of the alienated or dispossessed? points of interest - Norman Beaton
• Theatre that promotes identity issues - to be (contributed by Yvonne Richards)
• The abandonment of Black Theatre companies - what we have now. Points of interest - Tallawah, Temba,Blue Mountain (Miranda)
• A personal View - the impact of black theatre/the project on the contributor. Why has it being difficult to become successful? Glass ceiling - build your own room (Rivimbo)
• Young peoples points of view - why they are not accessing the theatre. The theatre can be seen as the voice of the voiceless - why are young people not taking advantage of this medium? Make a case for using the theatre more for expression of views and an opportunity to work creatively. Glass ceiling - build your own room (Annelise)
• Glass ceiling - build your own room -choose a figure or a few to focus on. getting the mainstream to kneel to the demands of the artiste - rather than conforming to the desires of the mainstream. Changes in the way these artists see themselves and the way that the industry sees them. Possibly interview Don, Lorna, Tyrone Higgins (maybe Simone and Tonia to help with interviews/research)
• Photographs (possibly Dwayne, Nathan)

What do you think? do you have any more suggestions?
can everyone start doing their research - talking to people, gathering information etc and bring this to the next meeting. Also, a plan for how the article might look, the point that you want to come across, things you want to come through etc.

Bless

Greetings

Hello Everyone,

Hope you're all good.

So today we were just discussing content that'll be going in the magazine and I think we got up to either page 6-7 including the front page and whole load of stuff I'm sure Miranda will update us on.

Quite a productive day I'd say.

Workshop - 02/09/11

We met and discussed the magazine, the screening tour and the workshop with Soweto.

A: The Magazine – (so called until it is named)

What should it be about?

It should add variety and be a compliment to the magazine

Target Audience:

• Young professional people
• Mixed gender
• Also appeal to an older group

Language:

To appeal to the target audience. It should be informative but not academic, using everyday language but with substance in the content and a hint of humour and wit. To inspire and encourage readers.

Task

1. Find examples of magazines that reflect the desired image of The Magazine (eg Super Super magazine)

Content

• reinforce information in the documentary by expanding on sections, like footnotes to the film. E.g. do an article on Mama December
• things to watch, things to read, things to look out for
• ways to engage with the theatre
• article that documents the history with a timeline – linear chronicle and/or an analysis.
• what theatre meant then, what it means now
• profiles on key people – challenges they faced, how they overcame and changed/set the scene e.g. Robert Adams – started his own theatre in the 1940s. Lessons to be learned – nothing should hold you back. Also, what are the obstacles that could hold someone back today? Is there a glass ceiling? Are people able to go through this or are they prepared to make their own room?
• contemporary theatre and artists – profiled people and people with less of a profile (upcoming)
• contemporary theatre – is there a conflict? People want to be innovative and original. Who or what represents contemporary theatre? Xena Edwards, Toyin, Jonzi, Charlie Dark, Imani Neptali, Ragga Muffin
• comparison between the American black theatre journey and the British.

Design

• Front Cover
  

-Young actor in old fashioned costume

-Graphic designed

• Font should be consistent across the project – on all printed material. Name of The Magazine should be the same as the film eg From Margins to Mainstream
• Length should be about 20-30 pages
• Have online magazine. May be able to have it on a CD

Revised roles

• Annelise to do the editing. Miranda to help
• Peter for design with Tonia, Nathan and Dwayne
• Rivimbo, Sherelle for research – interviews etc
• Simone and Sherelle for articles

- Everyone can play their part across these areas

Sponsorship Possibilities

• Red Stripe, Western Union,

Discussion points

• Is the magazine going to be a one off or a usual publication
• Can it be supplemented with a blog? (for updating purposes)
• Should there be a regional or national focus?

Possible resources

1. www.issuu.com
2. www.sustainedtheatre.com
3. Super super magazine

To link with young people in London for The Magazine

Arrange for a representative (an editor) from a magazine to come and talk about putting one together

B: Screening Tour

Everyone there was asked if they were willing to be a part of the screening tour. Everyone agreed. Tasks that will be needed to be carried out include Technical things such as setting up lighting etc, someone to present the project and film, a presence and involvement overall.

Possible venues – Midland Art Centre, The Drum, secondary schools and colleges, drama groups, community centres, community theatres, Libraries
Possible schools – Holly Head, Handsworth Girls, Aston, Wolverhampton schools, drama schools

C: Workshop with Soweto

1. Do a piece without lyrics, score music
2. Do a piece with lyrics
3. Poetry to the music

Piece should be bold, high impact at times, also mellow. Verses should show stages – changes in composition based on the timeline. Create the music – from black and white to colour. Can introduce the different cities with the track.

please add your comments and bring any ideas you have to Fridays session

Oral History Training Documents

Hi,
just backdating a little bit. As you all know, Roger Kitchen came down on the 19th of August to further the groups knowledge on carrying out interviews and capturing peoples oral history. This was a very beneficial workshop, as those who came could tell you. At the end of the session everyone had a go at conducting interviews, static and on the go. Roger has sent a copy of this which we can watch in Fridays session. He also sent all the material that he gave out on the day. Please have a look at this as it is useful information and will serve as a good reminder in the future. There is also a document on the video making process - the steps of putting a documentary together - which I believe is invaluable.

1. Oral History Training
2. The Video Making Process
3. Setting up the Interview
4. Setting up the Frame - Picture Composition
5. The Recording Agreement

As I said, please go through these if you missed the workshop so you are up to speed with what has been learned.
Bless

Interview with Nigel and magazine ideas

Hi Everyone,

It was so good to see a full group out last week. It was a very good day, with Ruvimbo doing an excellent job working her interviewing techniques and putting some really good questions to Nigel Moffatt, the writer and recording artist who we interviewed. To be reminded of what he has done check here. Dwayne was in charge of filming and Peter was doing the sound check, with Yannis supervising and guiding the whole process. Overall the interview went really well and it was interesting to hear Nigel's perspectives. Hopefully we will be able to see a raw cut of the interview in the near future.

In terms of the magazine, we started going through ideas of the content and the roles people could play in making it as shown below . These are in no way solid and are just the preliminary ideas thrown out by the group.

Name: Beyond the Drum
About: 190 years of black theatre - documentary supplement
Format: A5, 20 pages, colour
Roles/Strengths:

• Editing - Ruvimbo
• Photography - Tonia, Dwayne (Peter?)
• Design - Tonia, Nathan, Annelise
• Journalism - Simone, Ruvimbo, Annelise

Content:

• Voice of the street - peoples viewpoints
• extracts from interviews in the documentary
• mini bios of interviewees
• personal profiles of young people involved in project (everyone to write their own, including picture, interests, 3 words to describe yourself, aspirations)
• History of black theatre - find ways to make it interesting, e.g. gossip style
• Upcoming theatricals (if relevant, since this is a one-off publication)
• Interesting contemporary plays, points of interest, recommended courses
• Promotions and sponsorships - if relevant
• Games page - crossword of black theatre, wordsearch, quizzes etc
• photos of actors, actresses and people involved in the theatre, shown in a glossy way

Sounds good guys! If you have any more ideas add them here for us to think about before we meet on Friday :)
Bless

Hi guys,

So sorry I couldnt make it. I did text Don early hours of this mornig saying that I have been throwing up and running a fever for the past day, I went to the doctor this morning and they think ive got food poisoning again, i'm not sure if Don got my text as I had missed calls from the office this morning. I tried to contact Don today on his mobile and sent another text message from my mothers phone as i dont think my phone is delivering text messages. I hope I havent missed out on too much, I was looking forward to today as always. what was the aganda for today was it Dons workshop on black theatre since the 1960's or had the agenda changed? . love and blessings as always and see you all next week xx

Oral History Training

Hi
please see link below for course outline

Oral History Relevance

Bless