MHTC, Pt. 4 – Rehearsal

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Guinn Terry Davis

Rehearsal was the name of the game today as myself and BJ were under the direction of Jackson, Mississippi’s very own Amile Wilson, co-founder of Pippin and Maxx Entertainment and director of MHTC. Using Barber Auditorium at Belhaven College as our space, we were able to chip away at defining the characters in the script, and (unfortunately for me, the writer) the script itself.

This may have been the hardest moment for myself, seeing the criticisms that the words I had so meticulously crafted just months earlier, now being altered and shifted at the merest whim of everyone involved with the film. How freely they expressed their opinions….

However, I do realize that most of the changes were necessary, and much of what I said in the previous paragraph is meant to be taken tongue and cheek. But it still stings a bit to see what you considered to be sacred and reverent to be dismissed as one of many directions that the script could take. I suppose this is how every writer feels when there script is up for production.

This is probably how every parent feels watching their child grow up and making mistakes that cause them to hurt themselves. How sombering it must be for parents to see their children discover that they are only human and not perfect. But it must be equally satisfying to see their children learn from these setbacks and grow to become stronger than before.

While there are many differences between scripts and children, it is truly the greatest feeling to see something you’ve created become what it is destined to be. What is MHTC destined to become?

I honestly can’t say, and I won’t find out tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another rehearsal day.

Photos in this article are for your enjoyment, courtesy of our associate producer, Kate Brewster. Ciao.

MHTC, Pt. 3 – Make-up!!

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Guinn Terry Davis

Those with observant eyes will notice that I shortened the title from Mr. Holloway’s Toy Company to MHTC. Just did that to save the few precious seconds that I’ll have this week, and wanted to clarify what the acronym meant in order to avoid confusion.

That being said, today was the day that my fellow actor, BJ Johnston, and I went to have our test make-up done by our very own make-up artist, Pam Bass.

Some of you may recognize BJ Johnston from my posts around a year ago on our now infamous WhaleBone Tour (aka, my trek to California). He will be playing the title role of Mr. Holloway, and I am very honored to be working this talented actor once again.

BJ currently has a one-man show about the life of John Wesley, titled The Man from Aldersgate, that he tours internationally and he has found favorable reception to his performances. (plug for your show, BJ; after all, it’s all about you).

Here are some pics from the session. More details to come, such as cast and crew list, rehearsals, etc.

Mr. Holloway’s Toy Company, Pt. 2 – Genesis

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Guinn Terry Davis

So how did this project about a man named Mr. Holloway and toys originate? Those who know me will realize that I have no heavy involvement in toys (not the kind that Mr. Holloway makes, at any rate; stuffed animals, wooden toy soldiers, etc.) and I have never met anyone named Holloway in my life.

As far as how the script came about, it began several years ago when I was still in college, when I was enrolled in a script writing class. Our ultimate assignment in the semester was to write a one-act play based on the story structuring that we had learned in class. While many seemed to already have their ideas mapped out, I had a bit of a struggle coming up with mine.

My initial idea was to have a bar setting where many mythical, holiday season beings such as Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, etc. all got together to drink, get away from the work place, and discuss how misunderstood they were. Although it seemed like a funny idea, it was hard to find a universal meaning in the story.

Continue reading →

Mr. Holloway’s Toy Company, Pt. 1

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Guinn Terry Davis

Hi, all. I realize that it’s been awhile since I’ve last posted, and for that I apologize. The lack of posts can be attributed to a mixture of reasons, such as deadlines that had to be met, life situations (nothing too serious to write about), etc. So, in order to redeem myself, I decided it would be fair to give a little insight into what I have been working on for the past several months. I consider it to be the first of many, the tip of the iceberg, scratching the surface, among other countless cliches. May I introduce my first film: Mr. Holloway’s Toy Company.

Over the course of the next week, yours truly will be deep in the South (Mississippi, to be exact) to share to the world a story of a toymaker who must choose between pursuing his passion, or allowing his life to be dictated by his circumstances. Follow the link above to learn more.

By following this blog, you will be kept up to date on all the latest gossip and details on the set long before Variety can tell you about it. Crew fights, lively debates, scandalous love affairs, all-night after parties, mysterious accidents, etc. The drama behind the drama, as it were.

However, none of that will occur today, for this is a day off for all involved. So the best thing to do is to tell you how all of this occurred, which for the sake of longevity, will be explained in Pt. 2 of this series. See you there. Ciao!