Directing Duds

I'm beginning to feel like a director. Some of these feelings stem from good things, some from bad. Guess that's how life is, right?

We'll start with the bad first, okay? Youth. I have such mixed feelings about it. The kids are so fun, I enjoy them all, but they don't listen. They don't care. Someone, I think it was Dixie, told me that I can't force anyone to love what I love. That has been made abundantly clear through working with them. I am learning loads about myself and what I can deal with. I pray they are learning something in the process as well. If nothing else, a little bit of structure.

Something I am learning I can't deal with are eye rolls. Irritates the heck out of me. But they're in junior high, I should expect it. What kills me is the fact that they are all great kids, every single one of them. They've just counted themselves out because everyone else in their lives have. It breaks my heart. If they don't learn anything else from these last weeks, I pray that they walk away with the knowledge that they can make a difference with the words they speak and write.

Tomorrow night we have our final performance. Our work for the last seven weeks comes down to this. I am praying it will go well. I pray more than four girls show up...

The good news is that the kid's films are 99% edited. I just have to add the names to the credits and they will be done. It is only by the grace of God that the music I found this afternoon in a blind rush fit perfectly into the movies. They both turned out really, really cute. I'm excited for the kids to see them tomorrow night.

So the best part of being a director (or assistant director, as the case may be)? Rehearsals like tonight's. Up until now, we've been cursed with an every-other night streak. One night will be amazing, the next not so much. Last night, such a good rehearsal. Tonight, even better! We broke our streak! The cast has really found their characters, made them their own. It's so exciting to watch! Stevie and I just sit there and grin, nodding our heads, laughing our butts off, giving each other an occasional high five. Such a good feeling! I get to give notes, and the notes I gave last night, they tried them tonight, and a lot of them were good notes! Bah, so great!

It's all falling into place. My heart is so happy, even if my mind is racing with all that I have left to do in the twelve days I have left in Waco. It's a little overwhelming, but by this time tomorrow, half of the load will be lightened. Then again, final week of rehearsal usually adds to the weight of a load. I'm so excited, though. It's going to be amazing!

I'm excited, can you tell?

Until next time, remember to take the good with the bad.