Annual General Meeting

WOMEN'S CAUCUS
Fifteen women and Rex Deverell had a lively discussion at the Women's Caucus meeting on Friday, May 11.

Women's Caucus Chair, Marcia, proposed we find some way of congratulating companies for producing women's work. Thus, the award, the "Bra d'Or" has been launched.

The Bra d'Or will be an actual bra, possibly painted gold, stuffed with chocolates and given to a company or individual who has done positive things for women playwrights. As the assembled agreed, it is a way of saying "We noticed..." and gain coverage of the issue in the media.

The first recipient was identified and will be presented with the Bra D'or very soon. But it's a secret.

If you have any nominations for a company or individual that has done well in terms of women playwrights, pass it along.

We also considered another award called "The Sagging Bra" for companies that continually focus on testoterone-based programming.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
There are three messages one can take away from the AGM.

1. Playwrights like talking to each other, when they actually manage to pull themselves away from their computers (or other writing implements)


2. We're all not exactly rich. So we need the Guild to help us get paid more for what we love to do.


3. The Guild wants to give you the services you need. What are they? How do you want them delivered?

There was other news.

1. The Catalogue is being published this year, so look out to get your new scripts in there.


2. PGC operated in the black last year!


3. The National Council has done a large outreach to the members in the past year to find out why they are (or not) paying their dues.


4. Playwrights Canada Press is doing very well.

However, when the Canada Council gave out its $33m splash of funds in celebration of its 50th Anniversary, PGC was not a recipient. Which leads to the next item...

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CREATING OUR FUTURE
Canada Council Head of Theatre, Roger Gaudet, gave a whirlwind presentation (as in, 30 minutes). Kim Selody sat beside him, smiling.

The $33m given out to organization was done through a jury process. That means that PGC was competing with theatres for cash. With such a competition the question becomes: how does a non-producing arts service organization compete with producers? How is that measured by the jury?

Because of some of the questions raised by the competition for these extra funds, Roger was there to tell us about the new Strategic Planning they want to do. Which means...

THE CANADA COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU.
If you visit the Canada Council website you'll find a link to "Creating our future: an invitation to contribute to the strategic plan of the Canada Council for the Arts."

You can download the document, read it and respond to the number of questions they want artists to answer for them.

PGC wants to hear from you, as well. What do you think PGC should bring to the Canada Council for playwrights as a whole?

PGC Conference

Mind the Gap - Building a Bridge for Young Audiences
May 10-13, 2007
University of Calgary

There's a large market for TYA which few of us are tapping. That was one message that came across loud and clear at this conference in Calgary. Everyone walked away itching to write.

Dennis Foon gave a thoughtful and fun keynote address where he discussed how he began writing for young audiences and some of the bold decisions he made. Can't write a play about serious issues such as divorce or abuse? Think again. Kids want the serious questions; they ask them themselves.

Conference sessions dealt with questions that led to thoughtful discussions:

• Focus on story. Kids don't have memories that will allow them to connect to a story in the same way as adults. Thus, action means more for them. But writing action (emotional action) creates great theatre for any age.
• DON'T start with an issue. The issue is how companies sell the play to schools. The best plays start with personal experience; some way that you've been touched.
• DO write a beat sheet before writing. Focus on the verbs, as they contain the emotional action. If you find yourself in possessions of a mess of a play, go back to the beat sheet and look at the actions.
  
• "If you want to change the world, start with the children."
  

David S. Craig gave the ending address. He pointed out that there is more of a market for Young Audiences than there are companies to service it.

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP
Dennis Foon was quite honoured and touched to receive a lifetime membership. As he waved and left the conference he made the point that there has probably never been a conference on Theatre for Young Audiences. He thought the Guild should be proud of itself for doing so.

NEXT CONFERENCES
Next year: Toronto. Working theme: Canadian Theatre Past / Present / Future.
2009: Vancouver. Possible theme: Canadians on the International Stage.