Cold Reading Series (CRS) has been a successful live script-reading event for writers for 10 years in Vancouver. During the events, writers can receive feedback and network with actors and filmmakers. After attending the series, Victoria’s Andrea Smith-Peak wanted to bring the unique event to Victoria, so she did: a local chapter will begin on Monday, November 31.
“It’s an opportunity for writers to have their plays and screenplays read out loud by professional and community actors,” says Smith-Peak. “It’s such a valuable part of the re-writing process. Writing is re-writing, so that’s the idea behind it. Everyone gets to practice their craft, everyone gets a chance to collaborate, and hopefully some projects are born out of this.”
The night begins with community and professional actors gathering at the Victoria Event Centre at 6 pm on November 30. They’re interviewed and cast for up to 40 roles in plays and scripts written by local writers of all levels. Actors read live at 8, with little time to prepare, in front of an audience. Smith-Peak says that comedies do well in the improvisational environment.
“Everyone is welcome to come. The idea is to have an audience there so you can judge how an audience is feeling about your stuff,” says Smith-Peak. “With comedy, sometimes you can change the order of two words, and it makes it funny or not funny; that’s why it’s so important for actors to stay true to the words on the page, so the writer can figure out what’s working and what isn’t.”
Not only does the audience lend feedback to writers, but the actors also make choices about characters that writers may not have seen before. Writers live with their characters for so long it’s sometimes difficult to see them clearly; it can be beneficial to the re-writing process to see how someone else interprets the scripts.
“The great thing about cold reading is the actors themselves can bring so much life to roles that have been living in your head for weeks or months. I find when actors read your work, it’s even better than you could imagine,” says Smith-Peak. “We have this vision in our headsŃwhat their flaws are, their sanity, what their perspective is on lifeŃbut then an actor will make some decisions and add a whole new depth to that character.”
With a bar in the venue, the organizers stress that they try to maintain a welcoming environment for all. Smith-Peak herself has her own work (about aliens coming to Earth in the form of Suri) in the series. She says she knows how vulnerable it can feel to have work read in public, but she hopes that doesn’t discourage artists.
“We really try and make the writers comfortable. We’re there to hold your hand,” says Smith-Peak. “It’s a way to see where your expertise comes from. You’ve got to put yourself out there to get the feedback. You have to start putting it out there, and you’ll get better and better.”
The writers’ submission deadline has passed for the November show, but the Victoria reading series will host more events or table-readings if there is a large turnout. All actors are welcome (email coldreadingvictoria@gmail.com for info) and admission is by donation to encourage a large audience to support the artists in a relaxed atmosphere.