Land of Spirit

Four shows and THE LAST HARD TIMES is put to rest.   Don’t miss the opportunity to see Land of Spirit’s FIRST community performance.  There are approximately 85 wonderful, extremely talented, local community residents in the cast - and, another 50 volunteer crew members.  They all will make you feel at home and a part of this production. 

When the idea for this play began, about four years ago, no one ever expected a show of this magnitude.  The writing by Jules Corriere is some of her best work ever. . . the stories submitted by the community are perfect to relflect similar stories of the economic times of today.   Heater McCluskey composed some of the most heart warming and lively songs for this production.  Mix CIP Professionals ( Richard Geer, Jules Corriere, Joe Varga, Brackley Frayer and Iaga Kevin Jeff) with the local talent of Northeast Georgia and you have a performance that rivals that of any in the nation!  

Shows for this weekend are:  Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:30 and the Saturday Matinee is at 2:30.     CALL 706-356-8202 or 706-356-1926 for ticket reservations TODAY.  Don’t miss out - it’s an experience  you will not forget any time soon.  

Folks from all over Georgia, and even out of state, have been coming to catch this premier production of Land of Spirit. . . YOU can join this elite group by coming to see us this last weekend. 

See you at the theater, Judy 

  

I now have more respect and admiration for videographers than ever before!  I  purchased a Canon Camcorder back in the summer with all intentions of learning to use it.  Well, as usual I procrastinated and waited till the fall run of shows to get it out and try to use it.  I had thought that if I could use my Nikon digital cameras, then the Canon Cam couldn’t be too difficult.  What a surprise I had!

Now, it’s not the Canon product that is the trouble - it’s me - learning to follow directions or even to  read them.  I carried it to the theater and filmed the Mule Team. 

Mistake 1:  I did not even think of using electriciy - I used batteries and it took two because of the length of the show.  Now, why did I just not plug it in and not be concerned throughout the show that my batteries would not last.  DUH!

Mistake 2:  I thought that if I closed the LCD panel it would stop the filming - wrong.  It puts in on pause (I think) IF you actually close it.  Whatever I did wrong, it ran the entire time of intermission.  15+ minutes of wasted space and use of batteries.

Mistake 3:  Tried to download and edit without any training and only glancing at the book.  Worked for hours and still could not get it to work properly.  DUH!  It couldn’t be that hard to do. . .

Solution:  Go to Best Buy and purchase Adobe Premiere for Video.  I already use Photoshop 7 (older version) for my still pictures so I thought - yes, this could not be too difficult either.  I used all my reward points from Best Buy and got a deal on the software.

Mistake 4:  I take the camera back to the theater.  It was Mule Team playing again.  Things went better and I got a decent recording - came home and tried to download.  LOST a section of data from the middle of the show and the rest was worse than the first video. DUH!

Mistake 5:  I take the camera back to the theater.  It was Cotton Team playing this time.  Filming went great - however, I noticed I did not have as much time on the 16 MB card as I should have.  Yep - I had forgotten to delete all of the previous films.  I calculated how much time was left in the show and the camera told me how much time I had left on the card - It would be close, but I could make it.  I relaxed and finished filming, being careful to stop the film during break.  OR, SO I THOUGHT.  I had done it again - left it running during break - now, time on the card was crucial.  Guess what - it ran out on the last song of the show - got in the Sweet By and By song and just as they began the Land of Spirit closing song - it cut off.  DUH!  Well, I would just try again. -

Mistake 6:  Cotton Team is not playing again until Thursday - the final weekend.  So, I decide to use the first film I had shot for the Mule DVD - and I would edit the intermission and all would be good.  I worked on it for hours - thought I had it just right.  I began the process of burning the DVD.  It slowly moved up the monitor scale - in the end,  it took 5 HOURS to burn the DVD of the show - most of the night.     But, at least it was finished.  I would wait until tomorrow to take a look at the finished product.

RESULTS:  I printed a fancy cover for the DVD, using one of the digital prints from the play.  . . popped it into the TV and set back to watch and admire my work.  It starts off a bit ‘quivery’ (if that’s a word) but gets better  as it goes along - all goes well until it gets to the intermission.  Hmmmmmmm, there is the intermission scene still in the video - I just thought I had taken it out! DUH! 

Well, I took the video to Vivian to see if she could make copies so that it did not take 5 hours to burn a DVD - if she can, then we can share with the cast - even if they have to fast forward through the intermission.  Maybe one day we will be rich enough to hire a professional to come video the show!  Or, maybe one day I will find a class to take on how to make a video or at least how to properly edit the film - using the Adobe software.

The real problem is that I do not have any children - thus, no grandchildren.  If I had, I could have called the grands to come over and they would have had that camera and computer working beautifully in just a few minutes.  I have no doubt - young folks are not nearly as Technology Challenged as I am.

I’m taking the camera back this Friday night to film Cotton Team again - it’s the last weekend of the show - I have to get it right this time.  Any one have any grandchildren for rent?  IF so, give me a call or send an email!  Duh!

 See you at the theater, Judy

If you have not seen Land of Spirit’s THE LAST HARD TIMES, you only have one more weekend to catch the show.  Next Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances and the Saturday Matinee are the last for this season and then the play is retired!  In 2009 there will be an all new play!

The timing for this production could not have been more perfect.  In these tough economic times, it does one good to look back in history and see how previous generations survived the Great Depression Years - how they pulled together and made do with what they had.  It’s a lesson that young and old alike need to learn for addressing our current economic situation.

It’s just past midnight on Saturday and we had two shows today - both were wonderful!   Cast members were highly energized and the crowds were right in there with them - especially the Matinee audience this afternoon.  In both the matinee and evening show we had lots of folks to come from out of town - even out of the county - and, from out of state!   There were church groups, a Teen- Age group of 20 from a South Carolina Camp, family groups, and even the Jaguar Club came to support their fellow member Tommy Scott.   It has been a FULL day of laughter - meeting old friends - and, making new ones.

During tonight’s show I began to think ahead to next Saturday night - our closing performances.  We’re all tired from a fall run of 13 shows (+ four remaining) - but, I’m already beginning to feel a little sad about the closing of the show.  It has been a remarkable journey. . . four years in the making. . . and worth every ‘blood sweat and tear’ we put into it. 

Tonight, I sat and watched 90+ year old Louise Allison perform with all her heart and soul.  Through this entire year - from submitting personal stories early last winter, to auditions in March, through all rehearsals  in the spring, 17 performances in June - three weeks of rehearsals in the fall - and now through 13 fall performances, Mrs. Allison has not missed a single time when she was to be at the theater. . .  she has been there faithfully every single day and on time!  What a trooper - and, you can always bet she is there with a smile on her face.

And then, there is Jerry King.  Jerry had a heart attack right before fall rehearsals began.  However, as soon as he was released from the hospital he was back at the theater.  I must admit it makes me a bit nervous when he comes up and says to me - ” Now Judy, if I fall dead on that stage - just tell everybody I was doing exactly what I wanted to be doing - I would not miss this show for anything - so, don’t feel bad if it happens here on the stage.”  I’m happy to report his death has NOT happened, and Jerry is a trooper just like Mrs. Allison.  They both understand the word ‘responsibility’ and have been outstanding role models for our younger cast members.  

We’ve missed our Non-Returning cast members from the spring, but new cast members for fall have done an admirable job - with only three weeks of rehearsals under their belt.  It’s unbelieveable how many cast members, new and returning, have played new roles this fall - they have stepped right in and taken over when someone is out and the audience has still received spectacular performances.

Today between the matinee and evening show the cast had Pizza and Pot Luck for dinner - and, following the dinner we had a real treat.  Younger children in the cast ‘peformed the scene “Who Fried the Rooster” for older cast and crew members.  They were so very funny - each of them had memorized the lines of their teenage mentors and their performance was outstanding.  We’re going to miss them this winter, but we’re hoping they will ALL be back for spring!   

One must watch Henry McConnell every single moment to fully understand all he contributes to the play.  He comes early and sets props; he stays late and re-sets props;  In between, he has roles in almost every scene; and, he  helps others in setting their props.  He is especially helpful in handling those heavy items for the ladies.  He’s there to help us clean up - inside and out.  He goes about doing all of this in such a quiet way that people have a tendency to overlook Henry and not appreciate what he does.  When fall first began we thought Henry was not going to be back - what in the world would we have done without him.    His contributions have been immeasurable and throughout the entire process I have never heard Henry complain  - about anything.  What a joy to work with someone like Henry McConnell!

Just noticed how late it is and I will try and blog more tomorrow - early church is going to come even earlier if I don’t get some sleep tonight. 

See you at the theater, Judy