I don't know why I missed this thread earlier. But here's my 2 cents worth. I use the same procedure Footer and Van described if at all possible.
However, under your circumstances, if it was just me, a director and some newbies this is what I would do...
1) Clearly mark out the center of each area on stage so you can tell a newbie to stand on the big read #1 and they can follow along.
2) Leave your director on the board... it makes them feel important... it's also a really boring job.
3) You take one or two newbies with you up in the catwalks. You focus yourself for a while then you turn it over to them. Once you turn it over to them you scoot back and forth between the two newbies and help them clean up their work. They can quickly learn to pull the shutter cuts out, sharpen for focus, aim the hot spot and begin the shutter cuts... you then step in and help them finish the shutter cuts the way you want and soften as needed. While you are doing that with newbie #1, newbie #2 can be getting set up on the next instrument.
It's a lot slower than having pros do it but you are training for the future. Next time they'll be faster. The time after that maybe you can run it from the deck like we do.
However, under your circumstances, if it was just me, a director and some newbies this is what I would do...
1) Clearly mark out the center of each area on stage so you can tell a newbie to stand on the big read #1 and they can follow along.
2) Leave your director on the board... it makes them feel important... it's also a really boring job.
3) You take one or two newbies with you up in the catwalks. You focus yourself for a while then you turn it over to them. Once you turn it over to them you scoot back and forth between the two newbies and help them clean up their work. They can quickly learn to pull the shutter cuts out, sharpen for focus, aim the hot spot and begin the shutter cuts... you then step in and help them finish the shutter cuts the way you want and soften as needed. While you are doing that with newbie #1, newbie #2 can be getting set up on the next instrument.
It's a lot slower than having pros do it but you are training for the future. Next time they'll be faster. The time after that maybe you can run it from the deck like we do.
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