Let's Begin: The Cold Reading Series Melbourne

 The Cold Reading Series Melbourne (CRS Melbourne) is an exciting initiative where actors, writers, directors and producers can come together and be creative. 

 The Cold Reading Series Melbourne (CRS Melbourne) is an exciting initiative where actors, writers, directors and producers can come together and be creative. 

Once a month in St Kilda, a group of artists read scripts and practice their art in a fabulous networking experience.  We spoke with Co-creator and Script Selector for CRS Melbourne – Fiona Elloise Bulle – about the project and its humble beginnings.  AT: What prompted you to set up the Cold Reading Series?  The Cold Reading Series was an event that began in Vancouver, where I lived about six years ago. A group of us met up in Melbourne who had all lived there at some point and we were discussing what a great event it used to be. So we contacted the woman who runs the Vancouver CRS, which has been in operation since 1993, and asked her if it would be okay to start our own here. The initial idea was basically to give writers a chance to hear their work read out loud in front of an audience, to gather audience reaction before heading into production for their screenplay or play. Our other aim was to supply people with a monthly networking event to meet others working in the industry.
AT: How long has the project been in existence?  Our first Cold Reading Series in Melbourne was in July, 2010. Since then we have run the event on the first Monday of each month, with the exception of January.
AT: Is the project for actors, writers, directors… all of the above?  All of the above. For the writers it’s a great chance to hear their work read out loud to an audience, or to come along and hear other people’s work. It is also a great chance for writers, like myself, to meet actors, producers and crew members, which can help get the work off the ground. For actors it gives them a chance to practice their cold reading skills, as they are given the scripts only half an hour prior to the reading, and it is also a great chance for them to try out new things. On many occasions this has also resulted in casting in plays or screenplays which have gone on to be produced. For directors, like writers, it is also a great opportunity for them to hear the works read out loud, with an audience reaction. We also get producers looking for new scripts to work with. Most of all though, it gives a chance for all of these people to meet and discuss the bodies of work. At the end of each reading we get the writer up to have a short Q&A and feedback on their scripts, which gives them the chance to really hear the audiences opinion.
AT: What do you aim to achieve (creatively, personally, theatrically etc) through this project? Mostly we want to give people a place to network, to push new work through the door and to be around other creative minds. We have had many people come through who have come in just to watch and have ended up taking part in one of our writers’ challenges or reading on stage, when all the intended to do was come and hear some new work. Who can become involved in the Cold Reading Series? Anyone can become involved in the Cold Reading Series! We have all sorts of people who turn up, some of whom have nothing to do with film, but just enjoy having a free event they can go to and hear new scripts.
AT: How can others become involved?  For those who wish to be involved as a writer we ask that scripts be submitted at least eight days before the event as we announced the scripts for that month one week prior. Actors need to turn up on the night at 6:30PM for casting. Since there is no preparation all they need to do is rock up. The event is free so we encourage people who are curious to just turn up and see how it goes. It’s not necessary to get involved with the writing or the acting, people are more than welcome to just sit in the audience, as the audience is just as important as the scripts and the actors.
AT: What is your theatrical background? I come from an independent filmmaking background. I began as a screenwriter and am now a writer / producer. This year I wrote and co-produced a webseries named Going Our Way, which we cast and crewed through the Cold Reading Series, which is currently online and can be found at goingourwaywebseries.com. My involvement with theatre has been limited to a youth drama theatre and seeing others’ plays, but many of our regular attendees of the Cold Reading Series are heavily involved in theatre and I’m finding more and more that the two worlds crossover quite regularly.
AT: How would you describe the ‘vibe’ of a Cold Reading Series event? I’d say the vibe is very laid back. We have many regular attendees, and they are very welcoming to any newcomers, so unfortunately the shy writers who sometimes like to hide in the corner are often dragged into conversations by the regulars. This has made for a great atmosphere each month though, where most people will hang around afterwards and grab a drink and mingle and many have gone on to produce films or plays together.  The next Cold Reading Series will take place on Monday December 5, 2011 7pm (arrive 6:30PM for casting)Felix Bar11 Fitzroy StSt Kilda   For More Information email [email protected]