Have all of the directors stand in a circle. One by one select a writer
to enter the circle and spin a bottle to randomly pick a director. Of
course you can do this a variety of way (picking from a hat is popular)
but spinning the bottle is fun and gets everyone up and mingling. Next,
have the actors stand in a circle so the directors can take turns
spinning the bottle to select actors. The actors should be divided up as
evenly as possible.
Meet and Greet
The casts should have a short meeting conducted by the writer who will
interview the actors to get a feel for who they are. Writers should
take advantage of type-casting possibilities. Also, they should find out:
What each actor was hoping to get out of the experience
What experience each actor brings to the table
What special skills the actors have - like the ability to play an
instrument, whistle Dixie, or do a back flip for example.
Then, all of the cast members should exchange contact information and
decide on a time to meet the next morning.
Friday Night’s Alright for Writing
The writer needs to take the information gathered from the cast and
create a 10-minute long script. It needs to be in the hands of the cast by
the next morning. Some writers have admitted to laboring all night and
some writers, blessed with inspiration, have accomplish the task in a
few short hours.
You should tell the writers to leave room for improvisation. It will be
virtually impossible for the cast to remember the script word for word
in such a short time. So, writers shouldn’t hinge any pivotal moments
on the perfect recitation of the lines. Additionally, writers should
keep in mind the experience of each cast member and try to give the
heavier parts to the more accomplished actors. Writers should keep in mind
the time it takes not just to read the words, but to perform the script.
Copies of the script need to be in the hands of the cast members by the
prescribed meeting time. It can be emailed to the director, who will
make copies for the cast, it can be emailed to each cast member
individually, or it can be presented to the cast by the writer in the morning.