James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight
Playwright Spotlight features a new playwright every episode to discuss the tools of the trade and solutions to the obstacles we face as writers in hopes of making us all better and more successful playwrights.
James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight
Technology, the Dangers of Missing Deadlines, and Making Musicals Look Simple - Playwright's Spotlight with Ian Kim
Recent Harvard-Westlake graduate Ian Kim swung by the studio to sit in the Playwright's Spotlight after the successful production of his second musical - Bakery of Love as part of HW's Playwright's Festival. We talk about making it look simple, the dangers of missing deadlines, musician collaboration and singer coordination as well as the meaning and benefits of safeties in a musical and writing for ranges. We also discuss transitioning from traditional playwriting to musicals and the process of the latter, commons songs types found in musicals, and terminology such as the bridge of a song. We wrap things up with trimming and cutting, cross-casting, changes during rehearsals, finding outside opportunities, and monetary prizes versus getting produced. Ian's a charming and talented musician with insight that will take him without doubt to a successful future. I hope you find inspiration from his interview. Enjoy!
Ian Kim playwright, actor, and filmmaker as well as a recent graduate of the prestigious Harvard-Westlake in North Hollywood, California. His musicals Unauthorized Aid and Bakery of Love were both selected for the school’s annual Playwright’s Festival, and the former was produced at the California Young Playwrights Contest in San Diego, California. He begins attending Harvard next fall with an undeclared major.
Click below to view the video format of this episode -
https://youtu.be/20RJdGE8Nos
Links to resources mentioned in this episode -
MuseScore -
https://musescore.org/en
Stephen Sondheim: Finishing the Hat -
https://www.amazon.com/Finishing-Hat-Collected-1954-1981-Principles/dp/0679439072
The Blank Theatre's Young Playwright's Festival -
https://www.theblank.com/ypf
California Young Playwrights Contest in San Diego -
https://www.playwrightsproject.org/programs/contest/
Unauthorized Aid Production Video -
https://vimeo.com/832110714
Socials for Ian Kim -
IG - @ianbkim
Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -
Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com
PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com
PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html
James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer
Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la
FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions
Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight
Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html