Short Summary
The HOT BLOODed Theatre Co. was founded in 2014 by actor Daniel Csutkai as a result of his need to explore a different kind of theater with the goals of producing work that would immerse audiences in the piece and allow actors to
explore their personal process and craft.
The HOT BLOODed Theatre Co. is an ensemble-driven
collective of artists who work within a number of guidelines to produce theater. We eschew the need
for a director, which allows us as actors to explore the vision and aesthetic of
the production throughout the rehearsal process, as opposed to rehearsing and
developing the show with an unchanging vision in mind. Instead, extensive research and experimentation allow us to develop an ensemble vision of the play. Nothing is blocked beforehand – movement,
dance and space are played with, explored, and improvised throughout rehearsal to create a work that flows and is driven by text and
an understanding of character; the work evolves naturally as actors make
new choices driven from their evolution within the work.
We work in unconventional
spaces so that both audience and actor may develop a deeper understanding of the work. We
use minimal props, set pieces and costumes, allowing our actors to be fully
present and vital in their own agency. Our audience
is a part of the process – this means that they may be seated,
standing, moving in the space, adding the
fundamental energy that makes our work necessary. Our theater is immersive,
adaptive, dynamic and experimental.
In 2015, we developed our first work, THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov, with the Rocks Pop
Up Project in Sydney, Australia. This
year, The HOT BLOODed Theatre Co. will develop its first show, DEATHWATCH by Jean Genet, in its new home,
New York City. One of the lesser known plays by absurdist master Jean Genet (other works include THE MAIDS and THE BALCONY), this is a
play about prisoners in a unknown jail in an unknown place and was largely influenced
by Genet’s own imprisonment in France. DEATHWATCH is an exploration of identity, desire, and social conventions in the direst of circumstances.
What We Need
Whether or not we reach our total target, every little
bit helps from booking a rehearsal space to being more flexible with our
costume or lighting choices. A micro budget is still a budget.
Every cent will go towards creating this show and
future shows.
Breakdown:
Play Permissions:
$875
Venue: $1155
Rehearsal Space:
$845
Actor Stipend:
$200
Marketing/Promotions:
$200
Photography/Videography:
$225
Costumes: $300
Set/Properties:
$500
Lighting: $200
Music/Sound
design: $200
Miscellaneous
Expenses: $300
Insurance: $200
Total Estimated Budget:
$5000
If we reach our target, the money will allow us to create with impunity! If not, whatever we raise will go towards our
primary expenses and will attempt to balance our funding in other areas
The Impact
Theater itself is a dynamic and experimental form. We love feedback from our audience; inviting them into our world allows us to figure out new ways to create new and exciting experiences. When you enter our space, you are leaving the world as you know it and
immersing yourself in something new.
When
we had our first foray in Sydney, we activated an old
museum foyer, and delved our audience into an intimate and private world.
We took classic theater and, without modernising it, made it accessible and
immediate.
Risks & Challenges
Theater
making is a challenge even with a budget, there are an enormous number of
variables that can halt us, propel us and confound us. Collaborative theater
making introduces argument, disagreement, and a micro budget introduces many
sacrifices in terms of our potential for set, costume and properties (although
we are minimal, we still need the essentials).
Our
major challenge will be our ability to covert the space, which will require a
lot of time and energy and is where most of our scenic/costume/properties budget
will be spent.
Additionally, as a member of the company you are expected to be a jack of all trades, which means that anyone involved in a project with the HOT BLOODed Theatre Co. will not only be an actor, but will also be from time to time a costumer, a graphic designer, a carpenter, basically any role involved with making a production come to fruition. Reaching our target will alleviate some of these stresses as we have some
budget to work with.
We
will achieve theater whether we reach our target or not, as we work closely with
people to collaborate and foster relationships that allow us to overcome our
obstacles and achieve our goals. When producing THE SEAGULL, we managed
to create a wonderful energy and interest just from fostering our relationships
with other theater creators and artists in Sydney and we intend on doing the same here.
Other Ways You Can Help
There is a saying, “Take of my flesh, not of my wallet" and while we value your financial contribution, if you have any skills you are
willing to offer – photography, painting, costume design, etc., we would love to
hear from you!
Please also share our campaign with your friends and
family; anyone interested in creating theatre is our friend too.