Pat Tuesday: we're goin' to Big Bear!
Hi everyone!
It’s a pretty big week—first off, I don’t have to tell you I’m raising money. Because you helped me RAISE it. Thanks to your kindness and unbridled belief in me, we are now making BIG BEAR for a dream budget of $80k!!! This is going to allow us to do so many things, not only in higher quality, but in legitimacy, which rocks. Your excitement in this has me excited to bring it to you. Rewards will be coming soon, including t-shirts and pins and videos of table reads.
Also, tickets are available, both live and streaming! Check the dates and times out here—and be ready for them to go fast! We expect it to be a wild time and I want you to be there.
And now, all that’s left is to actually make the damn thing. Funding was thrilling, but after all that talk, of course the imposter syndrome is creeping in and I’m questioning whether or not I’ve been literally lying to all of you. There’s no script. There’s no cast. There’s no team or set or merch. This was a ruse and I will get caught and punished like I deserve. I will go to jail for fraud and all will be right.
Sorry, I just had to say that out loud to know it’s untrue (fun fact: that’s an anxiety-coping skill of mine-if I feel like anything is a huge concern I’ll film myself talking about it and watch it back and realize how silly I look— give it a shot, it’s a blast). I am in fact so ready and excited to make this show happen, and I’m lucky enough to dedicate this entire month to shepherding it into existence.
After a couple preliminary rehearsals with most of the cast we have the entire thing temp-blocked, and I spent all of Saturday ironing out the script based on how it’s been playing in the room—a section that Angela Giarratana has deemed “Monologue City” needed some clearer roads and infrastructure. But despite minor kinks and scheduling snafus, this show is slowly taping shape—the tiles of the mosaic are finding their places, and the picture is becoming more clear. As costume concepts come in and set design elements begin to solidify, as props begin to scatter the rehearsal room and areas begin to find their lighting, we’re gonna see this thing live and breathe, and I can’t wait to see what that’s gonna be.
Making a play is different from a film production because there’s an immovable deadline—this show IS GOING UP. October 9th-11th. It’s happening. Films can happen then take time to edit, maybe re-shoot, maybe tweak tone. This package has to move together, and this crew has to carry this gigantic beast at the same time. It’s maddening and illogical and I’d be lying if it hasn’t already caused me about a dozen sleepless nights, but these are the challenges we want, right?
PAT’S CORNER - stuff of mine to check out
AOAOAOA with Patty Guggenheim - a favorite episode of recent, including NEW SNL CAST MEMBER JEREMY CULHANE! I love this man so much and am so excited to see him kill it every Saturday!
WORDPLAY at Dynasty Livestream - I had the MOST fun on Rekha’s WORDPLAY show at Dynasty Typewriter on Friday with my teammate Angela Giarratana—check it out to see us win (sorry spoiler)
PAT’S PICK - something I love this week
ALIEN: EARTH on Hulu - the new ALIEN show on FX shouldn’t be as good or original or interest or relevant as it is. But I’m the biggest Noah Hawley fan in the world (the FARGO show is a dream creation) so of course I love it, and you will too!
Thanks y’all! Love you!
Patrick