Tag: Suitable

by David Burgess on April 12, 2023 0

The Best Free App Promo Video Templates To Download

There are a lot of free app promo videos out there. How do you know which ones are the best?

Well, we looked at a lot of them and found the best ones to download for you.

Here are the 5 best free app promo video templates to download:

App Promo Video Template

This app promo video template is easy to use and can be created in a few minutes. It has a basic design and is suitable for any app or product.

App Promo Video Template – Video Creator

This app promo video template is also easy to use and can be created in a few minutes. It has a basic design and is suitable for any app or product.

App Promo Video Template – Video Editor

This app promo video template is also easy to use and can be created in a few minutes. It has a basic design and is suitable for any app or product.

App Promo Video Template – Video Creator for Facebook

This app promo video template is also easy to use and can be created in a few minutes. It has a basic design and is suitable for any app or product.

App Promo Video Template – Video Creator for Instagram

Introducing the best free app promo video templates to download! These templates can help you create dramatic and engaging promo videos for your upcoming app launch. Whether youâ€™re looking for a simple video introduction or something more elaborate, these templates are perfect for getting your app name out there.

There are a number of great free app promo video templates you can download to create your own promo videos.

Some of the best free app promo video templates include:

App Promo Video Template: This template has a sleek and modern look and is perfect for creating promo videos for apps. It’s easy to use and has a number of different templates available.

App Promo Video Template: This template is designed for creating promo videos for Android and iOS apps. It’s easy to use and has a number of different templates available.

App Promo Video Template: This template is perfect for creating promo videos for any app. It’s easy to use and has a number of different templates available.

App Promo Video Template: This template is perfect for creating promo videos for any app. It’s easy to use and has a number of different templates available.

App Promo Video Template: This template is perfect for creating promo videos for any app. It’s easy to use and has a number of different templates available.

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by David Burgess on November 10, 2022 0

How To Install The Blink Outdoor 2 Camera System

If you’re looking for a Blink Outdoor 2 Camera System from Amazon, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a quick guide on how to install it.

First, remove the Blink Sync Module from the box and plug it in to an outlet. Then, download the Blink app and create an account. Once you’re logged in, go to the Blink app’s main menu and tap “Add Device.” Select “Outdoor Camera” and follow the instructions to connect your Blink Outdoor 2 Camera to the Sync Module.

Now that your camera is connected, you can start using it to monitor your home. To do so, simply tap on the “Live View” button in the Blink app. This will bring up a live feed of what your Blink Outdoor 2 Camera is seeing. You can also use the Blink app to view recorded footage, set up motion alerts, and more.

Thanks for reading! We hope this quick guide was helpful. If you have any other questions about the Blink Outdoor 2 Camera System, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Installing the Blink Outdoor 2 Camera System is a quick and easy process that can be completed in just a few minutes. The first step is to find a suitable location for the camera. It is important to choose a location that has a clear view of the area you wish to monitor. Once you have found a suitable location, simply screw the baseplate into the chosen location using the provided screws.

Next, you will need to connect the power adapter to the camera. Once the power adapter is connected, plug it into a power outlet. The camera will now begin to power on. Once the camera has powered on, you will need to pair it with the Blink Sync Module. To do this, simply press and hold the sync button on the back of the Blink Sync Module for 3 seconds. The pairing process will now begin. Once the pairing process is complete, the LED on the Blink Sync Module will turn green, indicating that the connection is successful.

The final step is to download the Blink app and create an account. Once you have created an account, you will be able to add your Blink Outdoor 2 Camera to your system and begin monitoring your home.

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by David Burgess on May 25, 2018

My favorite oil pastel sets from cheap to expensive

How to choose your oil pastel set for sketching and serious art work

Oil pastels are one of my favorite painting and drawing medium. Based on my personal experience I want give answers to the question: What is the best oil pastel set to buy or to start with? It depends on the purpose you want to use it for. If you are looking for a set to be given to children you might want to look for a water soluble and more harder oil pastel or wax crayon. Illustrators who mostly do not exhibit their work but store it after scan in a drawer away from light can use a cheaper quality if they prefer a certain brand or set at lower price.

For more ambitious wor the set shown on the image is a portrait set of oil pastels by Sennelier available on amazon.com might be better. It contains those colours best suitable for portrait work i.e. for skin and hair colours. Sennelier is a producer of highest quality oil pastels. Work created with their oil pastels is suitable for long term exposure under normal room daylight, which still contains some of the UV-light that causes colours with less and cheaper pigment load to fade over time.

A fairly good guideline for quality is the price of oil pastels. The competition in this field is very strong especially in the low segment. Therefore you can be sure that a more expensive quality will be the better quality: the sticks last longer, more vibrant colours and better light fastness along with some better properties in handling.

The second reliable criterion is the brand name. Choosing from long established renowned brands will make sure that you get a good quality. That does not say that an unknown brand is not good enough. I try unknown brands on a regular basis if they have colours that seem interesting to me and make a good addition to my sets.

What are the best oil pastels brands

best quality oil pastel brands ,some choices
Of course each artist has his/her own preferences. But when you investigate which brands are used by professional artists or have been used on really stunning art work you most probably will find the same brand names again and again. I do not want to put these brands in a ranking order, it is more about being on that list or not: Sennelier, Holbein, Caran d’Ache, GretaColor for highest qualities and Pentel, Sakura and van Gogh for more price worthy qualities. Most of these brands or companies are known for great colours also in other fields like oil painting or coloured pencil.

The expensive artist oil pastels typically cost around 1-2 $ per small stick, the less expensive ones are very well below 1$ per stick.

Holbein offers an expensive artist oil pastel grade and a less expensive studio quality. Sennelier is famous for their very creamy and pigment rich oil pastels in small and big stick, whereas Caran d’ Ache has developed a range of different grades between soft artist grade named “Neopastel” and less expensive and harder , even water soluble brands named “Neocolor”.

It is possible to use different qualities in the same work, for example a layer of harder pastels as under painting and softer qualities on top.

I have used Caran d’Ache Neocolor for the oil pastel study painting after John Constable’s sketch Dedham lock & mill

Which colours are critical in oil pastel sets ?

Critical colours are those colours that you use more often and in larger quantities than others! The second category of critical colours are those which tend to fade faster than others due to their nature.

1. Colors that you use regularly and which you need in larger quantities

What you need to know before you buy a set is whether colours that are used up can be replaced easily. Is it possible to get that greens you need in spring easily via online order or at your art dealer not to far away? That could limit your choice already quite a bit. Imagine you started a piece and you run out of a certain colour hue. If you need to continue with a different brand your work might not look as good as you wish. I usually need more often natural greens,ochre,all grays and browns, blues and white which are the main colours for landscape work.

2. Which colours are critical due to pigment.

What I have learned from my teachers is that certain colours in pastels as in other colors tend to fade quicker than others due to the nature of the available pigment for those colours. It is commended to use the best quality of colors if possible for work that contain delicate red and pink colour hues. The same applies for orange hues. Therefore artists who specialize on flower still life will pay particular attention to the light fastness of their oil pastels.

The Caran d’Ache oil pastel sets

48 and 96 color sets

Caran d’ Ache 48 color setThese are the sets that I own. The first one is the smaller 48 color set. The colors are ordered in 12 groups of four colors each. This order is very helpful to develop an intuitive understanding of colors and hues, their relations ships and mixing potential. As Plein air painter I appreciated the many shades of green in this selection.

Caran d’ Ache 96 color setThe 96 color set expands the range considerably. There are even two metallic colors, bronze and gold, which are nice to have for special purposes. The consists of two boxes which are stored on top of each other. Cpmpared to the 48 color set the range of greys is large. Also there are very nice hues of “beige”, which I consider warm greys I really appreciate for outdoor painting. In addition to that the range of browns and blues are much bigger.

Thanks for looking .. I hope you will have lots of fun with your new oil pastel set..

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by David Burgess on May 8, 2018 0

Theatre Breaks For Families In The UK

Theatre Breaks For Families

Are you looking to take your family to the theatre and stay overnight? Have you thought about a theatre break family package? You can save money by booking both the show and the hotel together as a package.

Here you will find a collection theatre breaks for families – some of the best London west end family shows and family friendly hotels together, at the best prices.

Take full advantage of getting to see one of London’s West End Shows for families, and afterwards stay over in one of the best family friendly hotels. For me one of the benefits of doing it this way is that we get to have a nice family outing together, without the long, tiring journey back home after, where the kids are screaming and everyone is exhausted and grumpy. Instead, after the show has finished you can head back to the hotel, relax and enjoy the facilities for the rest of the evening, and head home the next day when everyone is well slept and refreshed.

Sometimes it can be hard to find a family friendly UK break. Theatre breaks are perfect for families with children of all ages (yes even grown up ones!). The excitement of getting to see a show together and spend some family time, without all the rushing!

Here you will find a selection of the best West End shows for families, and the best London hotels for families reviewed and rated, and you can combine the show you would like to see with the hotel that is most suitable for your family, to create your perfect family theatre break.

Family Theatre Tickets UK

Enjoy a Family Trip To London!
At the top half of the page you will find a selection of the best west end shows for families. And the second half of the page lists and reviews several family friendly hotels that you can stay at. If you click through using the links given you will be able to combine the show you would like to see with the hotel you would like to stay in for your ideal family theatre break.

PRICES START FROM AS LOW AS £140 FOR A FAMILY OF 4. THIS INCLUDES YOUR ACCOMMODATION AND SHOW TICKETS!

Prices are correct as of February 2013 and are an estimate only. They will vary depending on the deal you chose and are subject to change.

The Lion King

West End Show For Families
The Lion King is a visually stunning production which brings to life this captivating family tale using costumes and colourful performance. If you loved the film you will love the show. Simba’s journey, portrayed through dazzling dances and displays of colour, make you feel as though you are in Africa!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHOW IS AIMED AT CHILDREN AND ADULTS ABOVE 7 YEARS OLD. CHILDREN ABOVE 3 YEARS ARE PERMITTED IF THEY CAN SIT IN THEIR SEATS AND ARE ACCOMPANIED BY ADULTS AT ALL TIMES. STROBE LIGHTING IS USED DURING THE SHOW

Matilda the Musical

Based on Roald Dahl’s classic novel, this show is loved by children and adults alike. The songs are composed by Tim Minchin and along with Director Dennis Kelly, brings fun and hilarity to the story.

If you don’t already know the story Matilda is an extremely intelligent young girl who possesses psychokinetic powers. She is neglected by her family and finds solace in a female teacher who is impressed by her wit, and an unlikely and touching bond if formed.

THIS SHOW ONLY ADMITS CHILDREN AGED 6+

Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot the film was a HUGE hit, and the show has the added benefit of music from Sir Elton John! This is a spectacular show better suited to older children and teenagers, as well as adults. With lots of singing and dancing, this high energy performance will leave you all buzzing with plenty to talk about over dinner.

The story is about a boy from a small mining town where life is tough and the men are tougher. He is being brought up by his single Dad and life if not easy. When Billy takes an interest in ballet his father is not best pleased but Billy is enthralled by the dance and starts a quest to become a successful male ballet dancer. It’s an emotional tale full of ups and downs and ultimately a feel good show.

THIS SHOW DOES CONTAIN SOME BAD LANGUAGE AND IS RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN ABOVE 12 YEARS, ALTHOUGH CHILDREN OVER 7 WILL BE LET IN. UNDER 16’S MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

To book your family theatre break to see Billy Elliot click here: Theatre Breaks with Superbreak

War Horse

Set at the beginning of world war 1, this is the gripping tale of a young boy’s love for his horse. When Albert’s horse Joey is sold as a war horse to serve his country, the young boy sets out on a risky and dangerous journey to find the horse again. It’s based on a novel by Micheal Morpurgo and has been called a work of genius.

THIS SHOW IS SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OVER 10 YEARS OLD

To book to see War Horse click here: Theatre Breaks with Superbreak

Shrek

This is a new production based on the film Shrek, with all the familiar characters including Donkey and Fiona. This musical is full of comedy value and a real treat for the ears.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SHREK THE MUSICAL ONLY ADMITS CHILDREN AGED 5+

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a magical tale with lots of imagination about a young boy living in poverty with his family whose luck changes the day he finds a golden ticket inside a bar of chocolate. This story is so well known and well loved that is has been made into a film several times over, most recently starring Johnny Depp as the eccentric and interesting character of Willy Wonka.

The story was written by Roald Dahl and is brought to the theatre by Sam Mendes.

THIS SHOW WILL PREMIER IN JUNE 2013 AND IS EXPECTED TO BE A HIT. BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.

Stomp

Stomp is a unique and amazing show, not least because the music is created using everyday objects such as dustbin lids and brooms and the choreography is based around that. It’s ingenious and fascinating to watch as the performers build the music and routines up to a crescendo.

This is an award winning family show that will stay in your memory for a long time to come.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The hotels listed below are a sample of what is available with one of these packages, along with reviews. They are up to date as of February 2013, however this is intended for information only and no guarantees can be made that the hotels will be available at the time of your trip.

Travelodge London Docklands

This hotel is a good choice for the budget conscious, although the facilities are still very comfortable and clean. It’s a 3 star, family friendly hotel located in the London Docklands, with easy access from the A13, and is about 2.5 miles from the west end. If you stay here as part of your package you will save yourself some money, so perhaps you can treat yourself to an extra special family dinner.

There is a cafe restaurant at the site as well as on site parking (although there is a small charge for the parking).

London Novotel Excel

This hotel is ideally located really close to the centre of London with stunning views over the Thames and a fabulous restaurant facility. This is a very clean and luxurious hotel and provides a tranquil retreat amongst the hustle and bustle of central London.

There are also gym facilities on site.

Novotel London Greenwich

This is a luxury 4 star family friendly hotel located in Greenwich, which is an area of London that is steeped in history. The hotel is located by the train and DLR lines providing very easy access to central London. There is wi-fi, a gym and two restaurants.

This is a truly lovely hotel with excellent reviews.

The Savoy

If you like a little more luxury this option is for you. Perhaps it’s a special occasion and you want to treat your family to a special family London trip?

This iconic hotel has hand a recent refurbishment and is now proud to offer its customers the best of luxury. It’s a very traditionally British hotel with an Edwardian theme.

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by David Burgess on May 8, 2018 0

Playwright Zoo

Zoo playwriting?

A resource linking you to some of the coolest new trends as well as classics particular to playwrights and their craft. — And check out the Playwright Zoo Archive for past musings and featured artists.

Polar Bears

The coolest.
Michael R. McGuire is one of the playwrights whose opinion I trust. He’s a theater artist working within his community as a major contributor to the local arts scene in New London, Connecticut. He is a self-taught self-starter who also helps other theater-artists see their work produced. I’ve know Mike for a few decades, and we’ve worked together to co-produce new-play festivals and full-up productions. He founded a playwrights group that meets regularly throughout the year where members bring new work to have it read and discussed (then we all go out for food and beer). He’s the kind of guy you want to have around when you’re trying to get a new piece on its feet. Everybody should have a friend like Mike.

Michael R. McGuire has written plays for the past 16 years. His play SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I MISSED THE TRAIN was part of The Lark’s 2004 Playwrights Week and showcased by The Planning Stage at The Golden Street Gallery in 2006. He was awarded a CT Artist Fellowship in 2005 for his play THE NEW GIRL with which he produced a showcase at the Avery Point Playhouse. His plays PERSEPHONE RULES! and THE MISJUDGMENT OF OENONE are published by Brooklyn Publishers.

McGuire founded the playwrights reading group Writers’ Roundtable in 2000.

The interview:

Michael R. McGuire – why the “R”?

There is another playwright in America named Michael McGuire. We were getting one another’s rejection letters returned. The other McGuire has been around longer so I added my middle initial. Plus, it sounds cooler.

You’re a playwright based in Southeastern Connecticut. What are some of the challenges to you as a playwright not being in a big city?

The biggest challenge is the lack of opportunity to network with theater professionals. Literary managers have no face to put with my name. Of course this might also be an advantage…

What are the benefits?

I enjoy being an outsider. Because so many playwrights live in NY, they tend to have a New York sensibility. My New London, CT sensibility is a bit different and informs my writing.

Living in a small arts community like New London County, how essential to you and your work has been the acquisition of production skills?

I have produced, directed and also acted in many of my own productions. It is essential for a playwright to see the work in front of an audience. If opportunities do not present themselves, you must create them.

What makes you want to produce the works of others as well as your own?

I sometimes come across a script that I simply must see on stage. Your play TO DIE FOR WANT OF LOBSTER was one of these. (That it had a great role for me had nothing to do with it)

I do not consider myself an especially skilled director of the works of others and prefer to leave that to others when I can.

Being outside of the mainstream loops and circles that life in New York or another theater hub could offer, how do you get your work out there? Do you have a marketing plan? If so, how does it work?

I wouldn’t call it a plan so much as a dogged tenacity to submit my work to every theater I can find that might be appropriate. In addition to Dramatists Sourcebook, I also search online and scour the resumes of playwrights I admire for theaters they began in.

I keep a database of all my submissions and mail frequently. How does it work? I’m not so sure it does!

While the stereotype of the struggling playwright places him/her in a room, alone, flushing out genius across pages, waiting for discovery – how does it really work from your experience? Are you alone or do you depend on others?

I write in coffee shops. I need a bit of hubbub to write. Silence is deadly to me. I read a great deal and consider all writing as part of a larger conversation. Nothing is created in a vacuum. Our playwrights group Writers’ Roundtable has been a valuable resource for feedback and inspiration.

How did you find other artists in your small-town community to work on your plays?

Mine is a theater-heavy small-town due, in part, to our proximity to The O’Neill. New London has an artistically thriving if financially struggling community. I am also fortunate to have an actress girlfriend, Heidi Harger, who has inspired imagery for more than one of my plays.

What resources are do you use to expand your knowledge of writing? What’s available when you’re off the beaten path?
Given Amazon.com everything that is available elsewhere is available here. The works of Gary Garrison, Jeffery Sweet and Stuart Spenser have been valuable, especially early on. Reading the works of current playwrights has also been important. I have to travel a bit to see professional theater, but every playwright should watch live theater.

You recently participated in a 24-hour play experiment, which was the first of it’s kind in the New London area – what was that like? What was unexpected?

We were given an assignment in the evening and had to have a 10 page play written by morning. The plays were handed off to randomly selected actors and director who rehearsed and had the play before an audience that night. It was fun for me because I didn’t have to direct it myself, a rare treat.

Unexpectedly my director, unknown to me before the project, is interested in an on-going collaboration on future plays.

You’ve also participated in the now defunct Local Playwrights Festival at the O’Neill Theater Center, which was produced and performed by all Connecticut and Rhode Island based volunteers to present workshops of plays by local authors – how relevant was that earlier experience for you?

Having an early play (WHAT’S GONNA SET YOU FREE?) selected for that festival was the encouragement I needed at that time to let me know I might be in the right business. It also introduced me to other playwrights and the local theater community at large. It is impossible to overstate the importance of that event. You may blame them for all my subsequent scribbling.

Any plans for the short play that came out of that?

I’m not much of a short play writer in general, but I may send it out here and there.

What are some recommend reads for playwrights?

I mentioned some writers above, and of course read any play you can get your hands on, but also read magazines, novels, comic books, essays and everything else. Ideas are everywhere. I could live ten lifetimes and not run out of ideas.

What do you recommend a playwright order from the bar when being taken out after a showing of one of his/her plays?

If the show went well, have a Guiness or two. Remain sober enough to absorb the praise. If the show went poorly, start pounding whiskey. I accept no responsibility for anyone who follows this advice.

Anything else?

Learn the rules and then break them with style.

The Monkey House

Musings on the state of theater-arts

A Playwright & Web Forums: How to Use Them for the POWER OF GOOD
(your good & others)
from the mind of Kato McNickle

There are a lot of playwright specific forums, groups on Facebook or MySpace, and other web-based cyber-groups floating around. One thing I’ve noticed from participating in these forums and groups is that about 1 outta 50 playwrights actually knows how to interface, interact, and maximize the potential of these virtual porticoes. How savvy are you when it comes to participation thru posting? Are you that one or the other 50?

If that forum your a member of was a theater — what would you do with it? Would you really only tap on the mike once our twice, see if it was on, and only leave a brief calling card — or would you do more? Can you do something more memorable, more lasting, more significant with your stage-time?

I think sites such as these are like stage-time. How can you do more than leave a calling card? How can you use this forum to make a statement — to leave an impression? From impressions come connections. The connections are what we seeks as artists.

Visit the Playwright Zoo Archive.

Creative Creatures

Workshops for the writer @ Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Writing as a spiritual practice, a creative path, or as a way to re-vision your life story helps you access the thoughts behind your thoughts and experience a new intimacy with yourself. Writing helps us make friends with our inner critic, freeing us to create and express without inhibition.

Kripalu provides a welcoming environment in which to turn inward toward the words that are calling you-and offers you a variety of skilled teachers to guide you on the next step of your writing journey.

FastLinks to theaters

These theaters accept unsolicited plays

Actors Theatre of Louisville
Louisville, KY. National 10-minute play contest.

Act II Playhouse
Ambler, PA. Full length plays, musicals, and solo pieces.

African Continuum Theatre
Washington, DC. Multicultural work relevant to African-American community.

Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Montgomery, AL. Plays from Southern writers with Southern or African-American themes.

Amas Musical Theatre, Inc.
NYC. Multicultural casts and themes.

ART Station
Stone Mountain, GA. Full-length plays, musicals, solo pieces that describe Southern experience.

Asian American Theatre Company
San Francisco, CA. Innovative rendrings about the Asian American experience.

Bristol River Theatre
Bristol, PA Cutting-edge works, plays that experiment with form.

Celebration Theatre
West Hollywood, CA. Plays not previously produced that provide a prgressive gay and lesbian voice in contemporary theatre.

Centre Stage-South Carolina
Greenville, SC. Full-length, unproduced plays.

City Theatre
Miami, FL. One acts only that represent a diverse mix of subjects and themes.

Columbus Children’s Theatre
Columbus, OH. Social issue one-acts acceptable for audiences in grades K-5.

Dad’s Garage
Atlanta, GA. Full-length nontraditional plays, comedies.

Detroit Repertory Theatre
Detroit, MI. Full-length issue oriented plays.

East West Players
Los Angeles, CA. Plays by or about the Asian American experience.

El Centro Su Teatro
Bilingual and/or Spanish language plays, plays dealing with the Chicano/Latino cultural asthetic or political experience.

Express Children’s Theatre
Houston, TX. Plays for young audiences.

5th Avenue Theatre
Seattle, WA. Adventure Musical Theatre: ongoing program that commissions original musicals performed for K-6 students.

Foothill Theatre
Nevada City, CA. Seeks full-length plays. New Voices of the Wild West: annual spring series of plays about the rural American West.

Growing Stage Theatre
Netcong, NJ. Accepts plays with a production history suitable for family audiences.

Hangar Theatre
Ithaca, NY. Accepts one-acts for for young audiences only.

Huntington Theatre
Boston, MA. Accepts plays from Boston area playwrights only; agent submission all others.

Jewish Theatre of the South
Atlanta, GA. Works on Jewish themes.

Jobsite Theater
Tampa, FL. Topical, politically and socially relevant theatre; plays appealing to 20- and 30- somethnings.

Kitchen Dog Theater Company
Dallas, TX. Plays from Texas and Southwest playwrights.

Kuma Kahua Theatre
Honolulu, HI. Plays set in Hawaii or dealing with Hawaiian experience.

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
Auburn, NY. Plays for young audiences.

Mill Mountain Theatre
Roanoke, VA. Accepts unsolicited one-acts for CenterPieces reding series only.

Miracle Theatre Group
Portland, OR. Hispanic playwrights, plays that deal with the Hispanic experience.

Mu Performing Arts
Minneapolis, MN. Asian-American expeience, plays combining traditional Asian performance with Western theatre styles, short plays suitable for school tours.

New Georges
NYC. plays by women only, works with vigorous use of language and heightened perspectives on reality.

New Jersey Repertory Company
Long Branch, NJ. Work not produced professionally, social or humanistic themes.

A Noise Within
Glendale, CA. Translations or adaptations of classical material only.

Oldcastle Theatre Company
Bennington, VT. Accepts musicals and plays.

OpenStage Theatre & Company
Fort Collins, CO. Accepts full-length plays.

Oregon Children’s Theatre
Portland, OR. Plays and musicals for young and family audiences.

Playhouse on the Square
Memphis, TN. Full-length plays and musicals.

Playwrights Horizons
NYC. American writers only, works with strong sense of language that take theatrical risks.

Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
Chicago, IL. Full-length and one-act musicals.

Sanctuary: Playwrights Theatre
Brooklyn, NY. Accepts playwrights with at least one professional production only; prefers plays with unusul structure, radical core ideas, epic form, work that’s off the map or otherwise seen as impractical.

Seattle Children’s Theatre
Seattle, WA. Accepts unsolicted plays for Drama Summer School season only: one-act plays suitable for young actors.

Seem-To-Be-Players
Lawrence, KS. Plays for young audiences.

Soho Repertory Theatre
NYC. Accepts unsolicited scripts for Writer/Director Lab only, deadline: May.

TADA! Youth Theater
NYC. Plays for young audiences.

Thalia Spanish Theatre
Sunnyside, NY. Plays with Hispanic themes.

Theater by he Blind
NYC. Works by and about being blind.

Theater for the New City
NYC. Experimental American works; plays with poetry, music, and dance; social issues.

Trustus Theatre
Columbia, SC. One-acts for late night series – 45-75 minutes in length. No topic or experimental structure is taboo.

Two Chairs Theater Company
Grand Junction, CO. Full-length, one-acts, 10-minute plays. Annual short play fest, deadline Jan. 31.

Unicorn Theatre
Kansas City. MO. Full-length contemporay social issues.

Victory Gardens Theater
Chicago, IL. Accepts plays from Chicago residents only. All others submit 10-page sample and letter of inquiry.

VS Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA. Accepts unique and edgy full-length unproduced plays with submission form.

West Coast Ensemble
Los Angeles, CA. Plays not previously produced in Southern California.

Wings Theatre Company, Inc.
NYC. Gay themed musicals and plays only.

The York Theatre Company
NYC. Small cast musicals.

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by David Burgess on April 26, 2018 0

The Mystique of Love – My Photography Class Project

My Experience Doing Outdoor Photoshoot at Night

I joined a photography class for beginner in June 2012 to learn the basic knowledge of this art. At the end of two months course, they gave an assignment to make a photography album consists of at least ten photos. There should be a meaningful story in the album, and the theme of the story is about Indian culture. There is no restriction for the subject of the photos and we should be able to finish this project within one week.

Thus, I decided to do this work, titled “The Mystique of Love”. I worked with two models (actually, they are my friends) to create a story about Indian culture. In this article, I wanted to share some of the photographs for this assignment. I am looking forward to your comments, feedback, and opinions.

The Preparation and Concept

It’s should be about “India”

Creating a photo shoot with a specific theme is not an easy work. You need to allocate a lot of time to do proper research, planning the costumes, locations, and poses. Moreover, I only had one week before the date line of this project. So, I contacted Nooreen and Varsha, two of my friends from Mauritius whom I worked with in a previous photo shoot titled “The Night Song”. I requested their help to participate in this project as models, and luckily both of them had completed their exams, so they could help me.

The story of these photos was created based on a traditional Indian folklore, about a painter who brings her subject to life with a magic power. For this project, I wanted to combine the modern as well as the traditional aspects of Indian culture. Thus, one of the model would wear a modern shirt, symbolizing a modern, liberal woman in the society; and one of the model would wear a traditional “saree”. I also wanted to capture both of the models in a frame, but they should not be aware of other’s existence. There should be no direct contact between the model, just as they live in different dimensions.

The Execution of the Concept

It’s more challenging than my other photo shoots.

To be honest, the pressure to do this work was much higher compared to my other works. It was because a requirement to get at least “B” for this assignment, otherwise I won’t be qualified to get the certificate. I was forced to think some very different concept that I have never done before, and this one should be better than my previous works.

I decided to do something different by doing an outdoor photo shoot at night. We went to Landscape Garden in Osmania University to get the “forest look” for these photos. Unfortunately, we had only less than an hour to complete the work because the garden were closed on 7 PM. I worked in a rush to complete my plan, before moving to another location.

The next location was just outside the garden, near a small tree. I wanted to create some “mythical” and “dream-like” environment without having to work with Adobe Photoshop. So, a tree under the orange bright light of street lamp would be suitable for this concept. Everything seemed well until a group of man who live in that area came and approached me. They watched from faraway, whistled to the models, said something in their local language, and laughed. Thankfully, me and the models did not understand their language, so we could carry on. Nonetheless, it wasn’t the most comfortable condition to work, for both the photographer and the models. Thus, I had to finish the photo shoot as soon as possible to avoid worse situation. Fortunately, we could finish our work in forty five minutes.

I submitted my photos the next morning, and I was very happy to know that they met the requirements of the course. I got a good mark, and happily received my certificate,

Tips to do an outdoor photo shoot at night

If you are a beginner photographer, try to avoid it
Technically, doing an outdoor photo shoot at night is a very difficult thing, especially for newbie. You will need a very good digital camera that enables you to shoot in high ISO without too much noise in the photo. Sometimes you will also need a very good lighting, as the default camera flash is not good enough for any serious photography work. So, if you can find another theme, just avoid to take photo in this condition.

Tripod is a must
You need to make the camera to be stable because small shakes can make your images to be blurry and out of focus. Even with a tripod, this happens a lot. So, tripod is a compulsory thing for any low-light photography.

Think about the environment
Be sure that the place you are going to do the photoshoot is a safe place. Try to do it in a family garden, tourist spot, or university park. Never try to do this kind of work in an unknown place, where you don’t know exactly who is its owner. Always have an assistant, and it would be better if the assistant is the local resident where you do the photo shoot.

Always set your camera to the best image quality
It is recommended taking the pictures in RAW format, so that later you have more freedom to work with the exposure. Post-processing is a vital work whenever you take photos in the dark. You might want to crop, desaturate, or highlight them. Thus, you should always select the highest resolution and highest image detail.

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