Day Twenty – A Last Day of Preparation

Sunday is the big culmination: the tours of the studios in the morning, and the writer’s presentation in the afternoon. The staff was touring the artists’ studios for feedback, and to identify the piece of art the artists would leave behind for the chateau (an expected donation). For the writers, it was the last day to polish our work before Sunday, and to wrestle with the printers to create hard copies of work. The rule is clear: no one reads from a phone or a computer. Thus, the printer was running all day long, and it was mostly cooperative, despite Flora’s warning on the first day the printer had been “possessed by a demon.” This is particularly concerning in a town with an empty church. But at the end of the day, everything got finished, and both artists and writers were ready.

I had already printed the copies of my play, so happily I was already finished with the administrative part of the process. In the afternoon, I met with Tilly, Sommer and Maddie about the play. I was reading stage directions, but there were a few places where I wanted to remove some of my directions–I don’t have to say the characters “exchange a look.” The actors can do that without my description. I thought it would be a better experience for the audience. So, I clarified those edits and we read it again. I think they are all going to do a terrific job and I really can’t wait for the reading on Sunday. I am very touched by their enthusiasm and energy.

And I kept writing. I had found another unfished prompt response tucked in a corner of my Google drive. The prompt was “Someone needs to get out.” For some reason I had decided that it was a person in a laundromat trying to exit, but she was but blocked by two burly men who meant business. I don’t recall why I set it there, and where I was going with the story. So, I began the process of turning it into a short film script. I decided to keep in a laundromat, as that is a good, cheap, short film setting. I just have to figure out why she’s there and why those dudes won’t let her leave. We don’t head back to Paris until Tuesday morning, so I think I will have time to finish it before I leave.

When I went to bed, the moonlight was right outside my window. I took two photos–one with flash, one without. I like them both.