"Lentertainment"

By Len Caspers

Step 1: Inspiration

When I start making something I always do it out of something that moves me.
Something that makes me angry, sad, happy etc.
If the subject of your work does not interest you, then it will not be interesting for the audience.

Maybe it is something that makes you angry in your own life, in someone else's life or in the world.
For me most of the time it are subjects around unfairness, minorities, politics and other subjects in that area.

So take a walk in your neighbourhood, talk to your friends, what are they angry about? Or what do they think about the subject you are angry about?
What do you see on the streets, on the news? or did you read anything in a book?

Found your subject? Let's go!

Step 2: Research

When you have found your subject it is time to start your research.
This can vary between many ways.
You can read a book about the subject, or watch some videos, read articles etc.

But you can also go and do research outside of your house, on the streets, in a bar with friends, at your school, at work or wherever there are others.
Talking to other people about the subject always gives you more perspective.
For sure when you work with subjects like politics. This is a subject where almost everyone has another opinion about.

Step 3: Think

Most of the time we rush ourselves in making something.
Because of how society works we are trained to think about the result, not the proces.
But take your time. Think again, what is your subject really about. Why do YOU want to tell a story about this? What is your perspective. What have you learned from your research, has this changed your opinion? Or strengtened it?

Places where I like to think and get inspiration:

- The train
- The library
- In Nature

Step 4: Write, play, move

Alright, now it is really time to put some words on paper or make some movement on the music.
But how do you start?

For me free-writing really works.
just put your pen on the paper or your fingers on your keyboard (Whatever you prefere) and start writing about the theme and the subject.
Write everything down that comes to mind and don't you dare to stop writing something down.

After that, or before that you can also get on the floor with your players.
Put on some music and let them walk through the room with the keywords of your theme.
Or let your players make little peformances about this theme.
Letting your actors be involved in the proces does not only give you more perspective but also makes your players more involved.
They also have an opinion about this theme.

Step 5: Create

Now that you really are creating something it is time to give it the shape of your play/ performance/ film/ podcast or other work you are making.

What will the structure be of your work?
What is the overal theme? Is it sad or is it funny?
Find yourself a way to make your work exciting until the last second. Don't say everything you want to say. Make the audience work a bit to understand your work.
And don'r forget what you really want to tell them.

Make scenes and connect it with each other.
And don't forget to have fun. It is still a proces and whatever you are making now does not have to be the end result.

Step 6: Frustration

This might not happen to you, but when I am making something there will always be the moment of frustration. Your work is starting to get a real form but it just... does not work.
Why not? What did I do wrong? Am I just not good in this?
No stop right now with thinking like that.
This part is a gift.
getting stuck or not knowing what to do is the worst feeling there is, believe me. But it also opens everything up again.
Most of the time we get so sucked in to our own work we forget to look around, take a distance from our work.
We can lose track of what it should be really about.
This frustration is your impuls of taking a step back.

What can you do if this happens?

- Call in help, it is never a bad thing to ask someone to take a look at your work and listen to their opinion.

- Go back to your research and all your talks. What was the main theme? What was the reason why you began this project?

- Just take a walk. get your head cleared out. You can not be creative if you are stressed or frustration.

Step 7: Dots on the I

Now you are really getting there.
Your whole work is finished. Only rehearshing or finish editing is all you can do.
But never stop being open for changes. Maybe in the last repetition something happens that is like a big present for your work.
Always keep an open mind while working.
Also if you haven't start thinking about the audience. Where do you want them? How do they need to be immersived in your work.
What is their role?

The audience is really important because if you want your audience to walk through your work you need to instruct your actors to play with that. Or you need to put up all your paintings or pictures all around the room.

Step 8: Enjoy

Also think about lighting. Or decor! Never forget these things because they need time. And take your time for this!

Sit down and look at what you created. Enjoy the show!

And don't forget to talk to other people, what did they think?
it is not bad when you get critical feedback. Not everyone can like your work. And you learn more from critical feedback then just a, "Yeah it was really fun!"