Writing just because

I typically direct comedies but for the first time i did a period drama and as i was sitting in the audience opening night i realised i wasn't calming down at the audience's positive reactions like i usually do. and the words of Randy Feltface echoed in my head.

"If I tell a shit joke, you tell me it's shit by not laughing, and I stop telling that joke. But with a book, I won't know it's shit till it's out there!" - Randy Writes a Novel

when i direct a comedy, from the first laugh, i know the audience are having a good time and it's fine. but with this period drama its mostly silence. there's some sensible chuckles at witty lines, but otherwise just quiet. was it a quiet of contentment or boredom? i couldn't know if the audience were having a good time till the end when they started clapping and relief hit me like a truck.

Every political part would fall apart if there weren't people on the ground in every community keeping them running.

I do theatre. A lot. So much of my work is unpaid but i and everyone else puts on these shows because we want to make work for audiences. The audiences come because they want to see good work.

Every con i go to would end in a riot if the volunteers weren't there helping everyone out, from the guests, to the panels, to the tickets, to the quiet rooms.

All the music gigs that wouldn't happen without the labour of those who love it

All the local sports teams because people just want to get together in a community and play and compete.

all the pride events that started because people just got together and did it.

the litter pick ups, the ocean clean ups, the park runs, the charity fundraisers, the church and charity shop workers, the people who drive their friends or neighbours to wherever they need to be

But recently I'm AD on a show and I do a lot of the set up and locking up of the theatre.

I set the props and set pieces we need ready to start. And i switch on the lights and then after we've had our fun and made some progress. the actors go. And its me. I put the props and set and now costumes away. I lock the cupboard. I go into the office, a secret place not only off limits to the public but to the actors. To many of the crew. I put the keys away.

I go into the booth and power down the lights. mine are the last eyes to see the stage that night.

Then the director locks the doors and we bid goodnight ready to do it all again a day or so later.

In The Vengence Factor, a woman is throwing himself at him, and he's been very attracted to her this whole time and not hidden that fact. And yet when she starts making out with him telling him she'll do whatever pleases him sexually he tells her hey no i'm not your owner. i only want to sleep with you if you think you'd enjoy it and therefore want it for yourself.

In one of the Q episodes a barely adult has a crush on him, and he goes nah i'm not interested. (he does kiss her after she brainwashes him but that was not his choice).

There's other examples they've just fallen out of my brain at the moment.

I just, so often this kind of guy character will take every opportunity no matter how ethically dicey to get his rocks off. but unlike other womenisers, he genuinely loves and respects women. He says no.