Pre-Publicity: To run before the run
Demands for sophisticated and versatile imagery have increased as digital photography has made turnaround virtually instantaneous. For theaters that can afford marketing departments, or have company members with the tools and talent, photographs will be taken as early as the first day of rehearsal.
To get pre-publicity shots for its 2016 production of Romeo and Juliet (running through May 6 and reviewed here), A Noise Within contacted Daniel Reichert. One of the region's most reliable actors (Theatertimes' review of his performance in The Weir is representative), Reichert is also a fine photographer.
To discuss what would fit director Damaso Rodriguez' concept, Reichert turned to the production's set and costume designer, Angela Balogh Calin.
"She gave me a clear sense of what Damaso wanted," Reichert said. "She said to avoid anything gorgeous and lush that smacked of the Zeffirelli film. 'Damaso wants a gritty, urban feel.'"
Reichert was to shoot both studio and "location" shots. His studio is in downtown Los Angeles, where "there's plenty of grit to be found."
"I wanted a sort of Italian Neo-realism look," he said. "Like something out of a Rossellini or De Sica movie, but in a contemporary setting. I had a couple of locations in mind, one of which was an alley around the corner from me."
Those assembling at Reichert's studio included Will Bradley and Donnla Hughes, the actors in the title roles, ANW co-Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Managing Director Michael Bateman, as well as Rodriguez.
"We started in my studio, and everyone contributed ideas, which was great. The actors, who barely knew one another at this point, were remarkably open, and managed to convey real intimacy. As we began, we agreed that Donnla was looking too pretty, and too 'put together.' So we smeared her mascara to make it look as though she had been crying. I didn't want dreamy-eyed lovers; I wanted a kind of raw, emotional nakedness. I told Donnla to bite Will's lip, which she did, good sport that she is. And Will took it well.
"The studio session served as a great warm-up, and we headed to the alley, which Julia and Damaso loved. I didn't realize it at the time, but the set design included large dumpsters, which the grimy alley furnished plenty of. We talked about conveying a sense of danger, a feeling of these romantic outlaws being on the run. It seemed fitting to have them run down the alley in front of the dumpsters. That's how we got the shot.
"It was a truly collaborative effort. When everyone (actors, designers, directors, photographers) has a good sense of what needs to be captured, it's a lot easier to create stuff in the moment."
For information on Daniel Reichert Photography visit his website.