Sam Scott's advice to aspiring actors and directors is to "make sure you want to be an actor, not a celebrity - for directors - if you can, be an actor somewhere in there, it will make you a better director."

The seasoned director of theatre (Massive Company founder and artistic director), television (Shortland Street) and film (His Fathers Shoes), says she enjoys the rewards and challenges of teaching and "opening up new ways of thinking about how theatre can be."

Scott is directing Massive Company's latest production Whero's New Net, a new play by Albert Belz featuring an adaptation of stories by Witi Ihimaera. It explores the pains, joys and adventures of young Kiwis chasing their dreams while on their OE in the UK.

Sam Scott's advice to aspiring actors and directors is to "make sure you want to be an actor, not a celebrity - for directors - if you can, be an actor somewhere in there, it will make you a better director."

The seasoned director of theatre (Massive Company founder and artistic director), television (Shortland Street) and film (His Fathers Shoes), says she enjoys the rewards and challenges of teaching and "opening up new ways of thinking about how theatre can be."

Scott is directing Massive Company's latest production Whero's New Net, a new play by Albert Belz featuring an adaptation of stories by Witi Ihimaera. It explores the pains, joys and adventures of young Kiwis chasing their dreams while on their OE in the UK.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
I think mornings are my most inspiring time generally in my life, I love the freshness of a new day and all its possibilities - .for my work, I work when I work..so this can change..I am inspired by many things - .sometimes through reading..listening to music - but mostly in working with my casts - so whenever that is is when I feel inspired.

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
My house is a real mixture - someone recently described it as a "kind of art gallery" I like having things around me that are from people and luckily my friends and family have VERY good taste - .but its eclectic, no one idea.
My dress - I am "smart casual"..I love boots and have quite a collection - .I love coats - .I look good in "structure" but I spend a lot of time in rehearsal gear.
My work - .I hope its dynamic and visually strong - I am often looking for the Images in the space , alongside the words or physical - .the devised work is heightened realism and often stylised - the text based work is still heightened but based in the real - but it must be for the theatre!!

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
Working with people - ..collaborating, trying out an idea, playing.

How does your environment affect your work?
A lot - .I always need to work in a clean and clear environment - these days I also like to be warm..I have spent too many rehearsals in the past being really cold in really cold vast spaces and I just don't want to do that anymore - I like space..I like to see around and through what we are making. I also like good light..preferably natural but as long as it is bright light I am not that fussy. We have lots of "gear" with our work, so its important we have all of that around us to use as we want - for example music is huge in our work - we always have a long table set up with a huge range of cd's..probably around 100 - so I can just reach for a cd as I might need it.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
Both - As Artistic Director I look at the Big Picture based on a very specific vision. When I direct I have both in my hands - and one doesn't exist without the other - I must know what the big picture is in order to apply and focus on the details to achieve the whole story or concept.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
Have a vision and stick to it and then have a good mixture of "dream' factor and "reality" factor - so that you can get real about how to "survive".

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
ALICE IN CYBERSPACE,STORM ON THE LAWN, THE SONS OF CHARLIE PAORA and UP CLOSE OUT LOUD - .plus lots and lots of teaching experiences.

What does Massive Company's latest theatre production Whero's New Net explore?
Following your Bliss - .discovering what is important to you..what are the life forces you need to acknowledge in order to stay balanced in your life - ..where is and what is HOME for you.

Why did you want to direct Whero's New Net?
Because it is a great and challenging script with great heart and it was made for Massive.

What do you like about directing theatre compared to directing television?
I love the time in directing theatre..the time to work with the company, the cast, the ideas, the piece - some of my work is devised and I love finding the way to express the ideas..the feelings - the stories - I love that freedom and the ability to create that which can express best the idea explored. I also love the control of the vision in theatre - in television it is ultimately the Producer who has the overall vision and as a director you are serving that - .in theatre I often (with others) come up with the idea to make a show, what it could be, who might write it etc etc and see it through from "wo to go".
In television I loved working with the actors..the huge range of actors - and I loved the pressure, the challenge to find the best way to communicate direction in such a short time to such a wide range of ability and experience.

What are the challenges and rewards of teaching?
Opening up new ways of thinking about how theatre can be - this is both the challenge and the reward - .I often work with young people who have quite a limited experience of what they have seen of theatre - .sometimes having not seen any live shows - .so Shortland Street or CSI is their only way of thinking about how to tell a story - .I mainly teach ways to devise and very much the Massive way which incorporates many elements and forms eg stylisation, physicalisation etc - so often its hard for the students to imagine what this could all look like - we now have dvds of our work so this helps give them insight - .I recently taught a week long workshop in Gisborne and the students there were mostly used to musicals or really standard plays - .they were pretty sceptical at first - .but over the week and once they saw the dynamic work they and their classmates could make, they really got excited about this new way of seeing and making theatre. Reports from their teachers continue to be really positive of how they are using the work and what they are creating.

What advice do you have for aspiring actors or directors?
Really want to do it and make sure you want to be an actor, not a celebrity - for directors - if you can, be an actor somewhere in there, it will make you a better director.

What are your hopes and passions for the future of New Zealand theatre?
For it to thrive and for us in the community to be generous towards each other and what we all do.

What challenges does the industry face?
Size of our country and funding as a result of our size, plus the that we still have to convince people of the importance of the arts - .it's still not part of our "fabric" as a nation.

Who or what has inspired you recently?
I read a lot, and this year I have powered through so many books - .writers who have captured just the best way to "see" the world in words that have inspired me are, Ann Patchet, Sally Vickers, Meg Rosoff, Rose Tremain,Geraldine Brookes - .to name a few.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
I don't want another career, this feels absolutely right - but if I somehow hadn't been doing this then maybe design of some sort? Making /designing chairs - I love chairs - but as I write this down I don't think this would be enough - .I need to do something that has some social relevance and resonance (which lovely as chairs are I don't think this would "cut" it).

What place is always with you, wherever you go?
When I am here, in Auckland, then Reading Pennsylvania is always with me (I was an exchange student there many years ago but now go back annually to be with my friends and "family" there)..and when I am anywhere else other than Auckland, then Auckland in many forms is with me.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
LOUD - I just like it that way.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
I hope the fabrics good fabric - like got a great pattern or colour - then I'd make a flag for Massive.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?
Its less advice and more what I learnt from doing Shortland St - that time there allowed me to really learn how to stop working - by that I mean I worked really hard when I was doing the job, but when I wasn't, I really stopped and switched my head to other things - .I learnt to trust my ability to be "on" when I was directing - that what I needed was in me.

What's great about today?
Working with my cast and having SOOO much fun..we just laugh so much and they are just so wonderfully playful.

What's your big idea for 2008?
To somehow find the funds to get Massive Company a permanent (we own it) rehearsal and workshop space with offices for us all and an apartment attached for our out of town guests or just for when Massive people might need it. We would also have a good kitchen /dinning room and a huge big table in it for all our meals together!!

Win a double pass: Win one of two double passes to the opening night Saturday September 13, 7.30pm, Herald Theatre, The Edge.

Email: The editor@thebigidea.co.nz with the subject line ‘Whero tickets'
Include: Your TBI username, your full name and contact details
Eligibility: To be eligible you must be a member of The Big Idea. You must be able to attend the show and tickets are non-transferable.
Entries: Need to be received by midnight Thursday September 4.
Winners: Will be contacted by email on September 5.

Massive Company and STAMP at THE EDGE® present
Whero's New Net

A new play by Albert Belz (winner 2006 Bruce Mason Award) featuring an adaptation of stories by Witi Ihimaera.

Director: Sam Scott
Designer: Tracey Collins
Lighting Designer: Jeremy Fern
Composer and Sound Designer: Tama Waipara
Cast: Wesley Dowdell, Kura Forrester, Bree Peters, Jarod Rawiri, Madeleine Sami, Blair Strang and Tainui Tukiwaho.

Monday 15 September - 4 October
Herald Theatre
$25.00 - $30.00*
*Service fees will apply
Book at THE EDGE, (09) 357 3355

28/08/08