I have witnessed various negative attitudes against Harvest Rain for a number of years. In fact, when I ceased working there in 2007 I shared them - gossips at backyard bbqs, thinking we were all so clever because we definitely knew better. Since that time, Ive cut out a path producing and directing with Oscar, and I am able to work on projects that I am (and have to be) deeply passionate about. Theatre making is hard - financially - regardless of scale. A 6 person show at the Cremorne faces the same challenges as a 30+ cast and orchestra in the Concert Hall. The biggest challenge for me and many of my peers still remains : money. Can you produce a show on a low budget? Yes. Can that show be excellent? Of course! But can you commit to paying for staff, performers, suppliers, teachers, tech crew, licensing, venue, materials, insurance, etc on a regular and ongoing basis without the foundation of a working commercial model? No. Absolutely not. Of COURSE Harvest Rain make commercially savvy programming and business decisions. Borne from necessity. They are, after all, financing a great many QLD performers, and have done so for a number of years. And I applaud that! Do we all have to love and adore them? No. You dont even have to support them. But we can support their place in this industry and respect the tremendous growth the company has experienced in recent years. I remember when I worked there the push was to pay performers, and now that they have found a way to achieve that there is a new debate raging about the ethics of their internship program and the label of professional and snicker snicker sneer sneer. Now, Im all for open debate if it betters the industry and every single one of us working in it, but the vicious behaviour that appears to surface around times like this and this company in particular is so unnecessary. Check your facts, and check your attitude. I think we sometimes get caught up in semantics (pro-am, professional, independent - what do these terms even mean?) and while this is a valid debate, the issues get clouded with petty schoolyard jibes. If its a debate worth having, then lets have it. Does it matter whether their label is pro-am or professional? Was this just a news article? Misinformation? (God forbid there should be anything incorrect printed in the NEWS). Or is it a valid claim from the company? And who cares (legitimately)? Audience? Industry? Im interested in these questions. Im not interested in how capable you think their teachers, or how great you think their work. Comments of that vein are destructive and, for many of us, hypocritical. After all, shouldnt the audience decide? Isnt that who were all making art for? And Id say, given the commercial success of Harvest Rain, theyre doing a helluva lot right in that regard. Have they made errors? Yes. Have I made errors? Yes. Can I learn from that? Can you?
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 23:55:24 +0000
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