You're Gonna Need A Bigger Stage
Adapting a film to stage is difficult. But adapting a film to a stage sized 6 feet by 14 feet, with not a single cent to your name is exhilarating.
I saw Jaws when I was far too young and it scarred me deeply, however at the same time it left an indelible mark on me which would never go away. 20 years after my original viewing of this classic film (out of some kind of fever dream) came the idea to adapt this adventure as a live Shadowcast performance.
Shadowcasting came into existence with the advent of the Rocky Horror midnight shows in the mid 70s, but still to this day is almost an entirely un-mined, under-utilized art form. It creates a space for the collective experience of film - a format that’s highly isolated regardless of the fact that in going “to the movies” we do watch with an audience.
In the past 20 years especially there has been a revisiting of modern classic films and viewing them in ritualistic collective ways - midnight screenings etc. All of these films we know by heart we can share with other people who feel the same way.
Jaws is absolutely a modern classic and, of course, one of the best films ever made...and is one such film that people continue to revisit. In mounting the production onstage we were not only able to re-tell this story the way we re-tell theatrical stories, but we also proved that even when stripped down, the story of Jaws is so strong that people emotionally engage at the exact same level regardless of what format it’s presented in.
COMPANY QUOTES & AUDIENCE REACTION
“I had the joy of playing the youngest Brody boy, Sean, as well as the local reporter Harry Meadows for both instalments of our Jaws shadow cast production. I have always been a bit of a Jaws fanatic, but the creativity and vision that Kathleen brought to the table in regards to this highly immersive project, solidified my love for this cinematic masterpiece.”
“Before being part of our productions of jaws I always loved the film. When I was in college we studied it briefly and that gave me a greater appreciation. But after being apart of both these productions I am in love with the film and I can’t imagine my life without it. I thank Kathleen for this. Her passion and creativity really brought this to life on stage and gave me a new understanding of shadow casting.”
“I had the honor of playing Quint in both of CC’s mounts of Jaws and without a doubt it was one of the most challenging but rewarding roles of my career. I sought to embody the true essence of this character, a classic anti-hero. Kathleen was the director who helped me achieve this, encouraging and skillfully guiding me to the artistic level needed to achieve this character. She went above and beyond the classic definitions of shadowcast, introducing the cast and audience to possibilities of this craft not explored by many. Through her vision, prowess and dedication the cast successfully brought the audience into the movie’s story. Not as spectators but fellow residents of Amity Island, sharing in the horror instilled by the killer beast. She brought them on to the Orca, where they simultaneously experienced the fear but stout determination of the three leading characters. It was a show like no other, one that I look forward to sharing with future audiences.”
“I loved diving into Jaws as Hendricks in the 2nd mount- Kathleen’s perspective on the film really turned the production into a theatrical film analysis- there’s so much more to shadowcast that let us utilize a lot of pent up creativity in a medium that encourages us to use everything we have lying around. Plus I got to play with sand.”
“Not only does the skill and precision of the Cardboard Classics company breathe new life into your favorite movies, but they elevate the movie-viewing experience by immersing the audience into the world as the story it unfolds around you”
“The commitment to the characters by all the actors, especially the main three, was remarkable. It was clear that the rehearsal process was incredibly detailed and they really strove for character perfection. The staging was exciting and engaging, as was the rest of the production.”
Words, quotes & clips written and supplied by Kathleen Hefferon
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