Hello everyone,
I'd like to table read my screenplay. Never done it before though. Does one require a director to do it or can I simply reach out to actors? Any advice will be appreciated. (I am London-based). Many thanks.
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Hi Catherine, London-based actor here :) It depends - if you would like an audience present at the table read, then you may consider having a director. However if the aim of the table read is to hear your screenplay read out loud, see how things flow so you can make adjustments, then I don't think you need to have a director. From table reads I've been part of, writers have reached out personally or posted online requesting actors. Hope this helps :)
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One of my early "Member Spotlights" is talking with Louisa Burton about how she navigated her first table read as a writer (although she has experience with directing and acting as well): https://www.stage32.com/blog/Stage-32-Member-Spotlight-Louisa-Kendrick-W...
Thank you Eyiara, very helpful. do you.know where do I post online for actors?
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Karen, I will watch it.Thank you.
You can post in the job boards here on Stage 32 to find actors!
That's a great idea, thanks.
If you have Facebook, there is a group called Actors UK that you can post it in. Or just as Aimee suggested too.
Thanks. What do you think would be more efficient?
I recently did a table read for a writer and it was done on a zoom meeting. It was her first time too. She posted on several New Mexico Facebook film pages that she was looking for readers/actors. She asked for resume to choose who would read. We could see each other and there was conversation during the read by the author on things she wanted to change. After the 3 hours of going through the script, there was feedback session. It was very helpful to her and also to me as a new screenwriter. We all were volunteers and it was educational.
Dear Nancy, many thanks for sharing.. I am about to post a job, but I am thinking about in-person meeting. Your experience is very interesting.
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So I've posted my table read job. Let's see how it goes. Thank you all for the suggestions!
You are most welcome! Keep us posted!
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The long story short is - you don't need a director, but you'll have to make some choices before the reading starts, and determine what you're hoping to learn from the read.
Who should read the narration if at all? Do I skip it, do I read it myself or do I ask an actor to do it?
You can enlist an actor to read the narration, and you'll need that. Action speaks louder than words, right? It informs the dialogue, so you'll need both.