Jennifer Bobiwash

by Jennifer Bobiwash

I mean, I am a playwright? I know. Strange title to start off with LA FPI, should this be one of my first blog posts? Especially on a playwriting blog. To me the term/title playwright is just that. Something that identifies you to a particular segment of the population. What’s in a title?

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When I was approached to contribute to LA FPI I happily said yes. That’s what I do. I say “yes” then after it sinks in I wonder “what the heck have I done”. Trust me, if you knew me, you would know that saying yes first and asking questions later is so not in my wheel house. Most decisions are well researched with lists and talking to people and several lost hours on the internet. I need facts before I make a life changing decisions.

Where is this going you’re wondering? For me it begins with the title of Playwright. You see, after saying yes, THEN doing my research on the other women of LA FPI, I felt out of my league. I am still playing house-league hockey, the ladies of LA FPI are truly NHL material (yes, I’m a hockey fan). I have a problem with titles. When you’re a college student you are dreaming of the big corporate job you’re going to get after graduation, you do job searches based on the title the job carries and once you get the job, you are defined by that title on your business card.

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted a big fancy title and a stack of business cards to hand out to say “look at me”. But it wasn’t until I went to work for a non-profit I realized how difficult and pointless a job title can be. I was listed as Director. That meant that I was in charge. Ok. But what the people I was talking with didn’t realize that I was also the Executive Assistant, Public Relations, Fundraiser, Social Media Manager, Volunteer Wrangler, and IT. I was a staff of 1, reporting to the President and Founder. Knowing this secret, I always smirked when someone asked for my card, like I was part of an inside joke they would never know the punch line to.

Networking events are the worst for me. The inevitable question “So what do you do?” is a tough one. I’m not trying to be evasive you see, I do a bit of everything, so it takes me a minute or two to decide what to say (I really need to work on my elevator pitch). Ever have that problem? But, the addition of playwright to my ever growing resume is a hard one for me to wrap my head around and I am always forgetting to tell people about it. I love to write. This past year has been filled with “writer” me. My play was chosen to be workshopped, where I got to sit back and just write. An actor performed my words. I had conversations about the theme of my play and how people related to it. When I began writing my show I never thought of the ramifications of it. I just wanted to write. Now, I’m an artist-in-residence (another interesting title) and working on my next show that will be workshopped next year. What does it all mean? I guess for once I just don’t feel worthy of the title. A playwright to me is this deep thinker of a person, they know stuff (oh, I am sensing a theme in my life). I’m just a perfectionist and I want to make sure everything is perfect before I send it into the world. Structure, storyline, character arc, all that writer-y stuff. I guess that’s why it took me so long to finish my one-person show. That and after awhile I just wanted to complete something. I had to let go of all the crazy thoughts in my head that were stopping me from writing and just write. I am a playwright? Yes, yes, I am!

How many titles do you have?

by Jennifer Bobiwash

I spent this past weekend in a casting session for an upcoming play. As an actor, it’s an interesting place to be. I sat and listened as actors came in and recited their monologues and sang a variety of songs. Having not taken the traditional route to acting (you know, going to college studying theater or getting an MFA) I am not as well versed as I could and should be on plays. It is always a fun to hear other monologues and get ideas for things you’d like to do. As a writer it was interesting to sit next to the playwright as he sat and watched the actors, asked questions of them and offered deeper insight into his play. As a producer, I sat and watched how the producer worked the room, considering all the options of actors to bring back, how they would look together, how they acted in the waiting room, or if could they handle the material. I walked people in and out of the room, chatted with actors making sure they had the correct sides and were ready to enter the room.

At the end of the day, I sat watching as the production team discussed their front-runners, put headshots together so they could remember the person and listened as they strategized scheduling and finding a place for a rehearsal since it was such a big cast. It was a reminder of the dos and don’ts of an actor. Sure we have entered the digital age, but when the call asks for 2 headshots, they do have a reason, they don’t just want to torture you. For us it was so we could keep one for our records and another was for the director to take home at the end of the day, so she could look at her potential new cast. Those people who were still chosen despite not bringing in a headshot were lucky, but if the director can’t remember your face, you could still be replaced by someone else’s look. Another actor note I took was to know your material. As actors we’re told to have two monologues prepared, ready to go. Some of the actors came in with their monologue in hand, they were still working on them. Not an impressive move. You need to know it!

As Sunday came to a close I sat contemplating the fascinating rediscovery of my love of the theatre. After a year spent writing and creating a show, it’s an amazing feeling to watch people do their job to make your words come to life. It was also a reminder to keep working. That warm sensation that comes over you as you’re watching an actor work. The smile that appeared on your face without even thinking about it.

That is the magic I want to feel every day.