Righteous Insanity

What are your goals for the new year?

What's that? Haven't thought about it?

Whether you're doing sketches every week, dabbling with video, or putting on full-blown dinner theaters and Easter pageants, every drama ministry can benefit from a little goal setting. Do you need to grow your company of actors? Do they need training? Do you want to learn to incorporate lights and sound better. Do you want to learn how to write your own scripts?

Set a few goals, then sit down with your team and set some benchmarks for meeting them. Is there a training class you can take at the local university? Is there a regional CITA conference you can attend? What about Lillenas Drama Conference? Or Lifeway? 

Go to the bookstore (or Amazon.com) and find a book on acting, directing, writing. Find a website online with other like-minded Christian drama people. Send friends requests, ask questions. Be willing to share your own answers and experiences.

It starts with dreams, but dreams do not happen unless you map out goals to get you there. 

If you don't know where to start, email me. I'm happy to help any time. 

"A Really Meaningless Play" - Now 25% more meaningful!!

If any play in the Righteous Insanity catalog can be considered a "cult classic," it's our comic take on the book of Ecclesiastes, "A Really Meaningless Play." This has always been a play you either loved or hated. Structurally, what story there is plays out like a cross between the mystery plays of the middle ages and an episode of Mr. Show or Monty Python's Flying Circus. A random assortment of characters search for meaning in wisdom, pleasure, power, work, and religious ceremony. Like Solomon, they find every pursuit on Earth to be meaningless, a chase after the wind, with the only real meaningful pursuit being the pursuit of God.

Although it has some great comedic moments, the play suffered from two factors. One, people don't know Ecclesiastes at all. And two, the lack of central narrative made the story hard to follow.

To address both these issues, the play has been revised with a new character added to the mix - a religious scholar who guides the audience not only through the play, but in understanding Solomon's message. If any man had the gravitas to address the issue of the meaning of life, it was Solomon, and his message is one that every man, woman, and child can learn from. If the man who had everything, including wisdom, found nothing meaningful under the sun, we better listen to what he does deem to have meaning!

"A Really Meaningless Play" is one of Righteous Insanity's royalty plays. These plays are free to download, print, and read, with no purchase required. A small royalty is requested if you do produce the play, but it's nothing that will break your budget.

You can find "A Really Meaningless Play" and the other royalty plays by going to www.righteousinsanity.com, clicking on the Free Stuff button, then following the link for royalty plays. Or you can download the script directly by right clicking the link below and saving it to your computer:

http://www.righteousinsanity.com/freestuff/meaningless.pdf

Thank you!

To everyone who purchased skits, commissioned skits, printed skits off the blog, watched or used videos off the RI website or youtube page, or just emailed for advice in the past year, I just want to say, THANK YOU.

Righteous Insanity reached two milestones this year: fifteen years of ministry, and more than 1000 scripts now available. It's a blessing to still be writing, producing, and encouraging other drama folks after so many years and so many scripts.

It's not often I hear back from people, but I've heard some wonderful stories as of late. From the ministry team that performed "Christmas Smackdown" at a women's shelter, bringing some laughter where it is much needed; to the prison ministry that shared "Stages of Christmas" with prisoners in an interactive way. It's very exciting to know that people have taken something you've done and made it a blessing to someone else. 

Looking forward to doing ministry with all of you again in 2010. Have a Merry Christmas!

Last minute Christmas script

For anyone who needs something last minute...

Burden of the Christ Child

By John Cosper

www.righteousinsanity.com

 

CHARACTERS

Gabriel – An archangel

 

Gabriel walks into a spotlight. A chair is set in the spotlight, facing the audience. Gabriel sits down. His face is somber; a great burden is on his mind.

 

They’re entering Bethlehem now. Your father sent me here to make sure you’re ready. Won’t be long now.

 

Pause.

 

I don’t have to tell you, the world is a different place than the one your father made. It’s not just the sin. The people are divided between those who believe in Him, and those who believe in something man-made. Those who believe in your Father are not the majority. Nor are they the ones in power.

 

This is not your world. You’re going to find that you don’t fit in anywhere. You’ve already laid a heavy burden on the ones you will call Mother and Father. They’ve handled your impending arrival with grace and obedience, but that doesn’t lessen the embarrassment and the pain they’ve endured, thanks to the mysterious nature of your birth. They’ve suffered a great deal because of you. In time, they’ll suffer more.

 

Right now, your parents are miles from home, thanks to Caesar. Seems he has the same timing as your father – which is only making things harder for them. When they arrive, they’ll quickly find there’s no room for them – or you. Your first room will be an open stable. Your first bed will be a damp, dirty feeding trough.

 

Despite all the prophecies your Father gave his people, there won’t be any welcoming committee. If your Father hadn’t chosen to reveal your birth to those shepherds, your birth would be completely unnoticed in Israel. Right now, the only men keeping watch for you are pagan scholars from the East. Ironic, isn’t it, that a group of Gentiles who followed after the teachings of Daniel are the only ones who will note the birth of the promised Messiah. But that’s the point, isn’t it? This isn’t just about redeeming the Lord’s elect. You’re going to save the world.

 

There’s another irony to the Magi who will come to witness your birth. When they arrive, you will be marked for death. When Herod learns a new king is born in Israel, he will stop at nothing to hunt you down. Hundreds, maybe thousands of infants will die because of you. You’ll be forced into exile in Egypt, like your people before you. Then when you return home, you’ll grow up in obscurity.

 

Many people will flock to see you when you are revealed. But you’re going to be disappointed with them as well. Most of them will come for themselves – heal me, touch me, destroy Rome. But when it comes time to make a decision, to lay down their lives for you, very few will stay. Most of them will have no trouble turning against you when it comes your time to die. And yet, you’ll be asked to die for them, just the same.

 

Yours will only be the first of many. Millions will die in your name. They’ll face torture and imprisonment for speaking your name. There will be no end to the suffering you cause to your people. By the blood of martyrs, your gospel will live on.

 

If it were in my power to do anything about it, I’d ask if you were sure you wanted to go through with it. But if I know you, like I know your father, that choice has already been made. There’s no turning back. There never has been. I only hope they don’t miss all that you are willing to suffer for their sake. 

Perseverance

Perseverance is a word not often used to its fullest potential. Perseverance is usually used in grand terms, looking at the big picture. Perseverance is applied to the dream of becoming a Hollywood actor, becoming a great singer, or writing the great American novel.

 

But perseverance happens in the trenches, in the little things. Perseverance means going on with the show when you lose two actors the day before you open. Perseverance means re-typing the 30 pages that you just typed and failed to save before Windows crashed on you. Perseverance means trying plan C, D, E, F, G, up to Z and beyond when trying to figure out why you keep losing the sound when you transfer that video to DVD. (After a week of fighting with iMovie and Fluffy 3, I finally solved that problem last night.)

 

Deadlines are helpful. So are paychecks. But perseverance means powering through the set backs and doing the little stuff when there is no incentive. Just a benchmark that gets you one step closer to filling in that big picture.

Who is using drama?

Again, my own observations here. Broken down into three levels, here's where drama skits are being used in the church.

Who uses drama a lot: I hear from these folks all the time, both for skits in the catalog and new material. In no particular order:

Children's ministries

Youth ministries

Sunday morning worship services (Sunday morning)

Women's ministries

The first three are what most people think of when they think of skits in the church. What's always surprised me is how much women's ministers LOVE drama. I write at least a half dozen new skits by request each year for women's retreats on a variety of topics.

Who uses drama sparingly: I hear from these folks on occasion, but not frequently.

Christian schools/ home school groups

Folks who minister to seniors

Overseas ministry (Missions and Military)

Prison ministry

Homeless ministry

A lady I've corresponded with over the years just used the skit "Christmas Smackdown" with a group of homeless women. The skit depicts two moms having a WWE style throwdown over a Christmas toy. They LOVED it.

I wish I could get more connected with schools and home school troupes. Maybe getting into full-time teaching will be a bridge to that group. There's a definite need for good curriculum and scripts there.

Who rarely uses drama: Almost never hear from these folks.

Singles/College ministry

Men's ministry

College and singles are into the "throwback" style of worship that focuses on meditation and scripture, so not really a surprise. I do find it interesting that men's ministry ranks so low. Ironically, I have a lot of new film materials aimed at men's ministry due out in 2010. Might be a fruitless endeavor, but it's what God laid on my heart to do.

Question for you readers: where do you use drama the most? Where do you think drama could be used more effectively?

Top 5 Occasions When People Ask for Skits

Based on my own interactions and observations, these are the top five occasions when people are using drama skits during the year. (This does not count church events such as VBS, camps, etc. but major holidays and celebrations within the church.)

1. Christmas

2. Pastor Appreciation

3. Mother's Day

4. Easter

5. Father's Day

Question for you, readers: what other occasions do you use drama? Are there any special days or events that you want to use something but can never find a script?

Updates on two long-awaited projects

Had a good time catching up with Denny Grinar last night. Denny's a long time friend and an actor who has appeared in dozens of Righteous Insanity shorts. He's probably best known as Adam in the Adam and Eve flicks.

 

Denny borrowed my camera to shoot the final scene for Fluffy 3 this week. He also happens to be the director-designate for two long-awaited film projects. After last night, I am very optimistic both films will see the light of day in 2010.

 

"The Telemarketer" is a sci-fi comedy adapted from a short story featured in the book Tolerance: Aliens, Vamps, and Other Lousy Dinner Guests (www.johncosper.com/books.html if you want to take a look). The issue here is location, and soon as Denny can nail that down, we're a go.

 

"Chasing Leia" was the first real film project I ever took on. The original version can be seen online: www.righteousinsanity.com/film/leia.html. Last night proved to be an interesting one regarding this project, which takes place in 2002 and spoofs Star Wars, Star Trek, and Chasing Amy. Denny's got an interesting take on the film, and we're going to make some changes that will make the new version not only more current, but much more funny. Sometimes projects have to wait for their time and proper inspiration. I am hopeful "Leia" has reached that point.

 

While I plan to act as producer and help with the promotion and back side of the film. Denny has both films, shooting and editing, if he wants them. He's got a real eye for visual storytelling, and I am very excited to give him the chance to try his hands at film making. Not bad for a guy I met while teaching band camp who couldn't march and never learned the school fight song.

Refocus

The end of the year is as good a time as any to reflect and refocus. We should be continually reflecting and refocusing on our calling daily, but most folks save it until year's end, at which point they make grand resolutions to change things - resolutions they quickly forget.

 

I've found reflection and refocusing to be a constant this past fall. I'm getting ready to move into a new career in the next year, God willing. I'm going to be a full-time teacher. The question that keeps coming up is, "How does my ministry as a writer and drama person fit into this?"

 

The question has led me to peel away some of the fringe projects I've dabbled in. I once owned more than fifteen domain names. I'm on my way down to ten - three of them variations on righteousinsanity.com (.org, .net, and .tv, which may give way to something else). Still, I'm wanting to focus even more on the core of what I do best - and what I do best is short sketches - on stage, and on film.

 

That doesn't mean I'm not going to write fiction or film scripts or longer plays. Certainly if the paid work comes (or a really, really good idea) I'll roll with it. But I want to reconnect with all those who are doing sketches - weekly, monthly, quarterly, whatever. I want to tap into that network, offer my experience and expertise, and help people with a passion for ministry and a knack for drama to connect with their audience.

 

Story is how we learn. Not outlines, not bulletpoints. Drama is story in three dimensions. It is inescapable. It is far more powerful than the average viewer understands. Story moves people to action, Story evokes change. We need more storytellers doing what they do best in church and out. It is how the gospel was given to us. It is how we must convey the gospel to a world that is fed up with being preached at.

Me and "Me and Orson Welles"

I'm dying to see "Me and Orson Welles." Odds are I'll be renting it on video, but I am very eager to see this movie, as I always am when a new look at one of the greatest Hollywood icons comes out. I've been a Welles fan to some degree since high school, when I did an English research paper on his "War of the Worlds" broadcast. That fandom grew a decade ago when Ann Bogart directed an avant garde presentation of Welles' career as part of Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New Plays. (Wish I could remember the show's title.)

 

Following that play, I went on a quest to hunt down some of the films (other than Citizen Kane) from his career. Here are four - again, excluding Kane - that must be seen to appreciate the genius of the actor, writer, and director who changed Hollywood.

 

The Lady from Shanghai - A great thriller written, directed, and starring Welles. It's a bit off-putting at the start to hear his booming voice tinted with an Irish accent, but the film is a knockout, straight through the climactic shootout in a house of mirrors. If memory serves me right, this was one of several Welles films on the AFI's original top 100 films of all time.

 

The Stranger - Another little known, under-rated thriller about a Nazi hunter who tracks a Nazi war criminal to a small town. Welles wrote, directed, and starred in this one as well. Very intense, and a powerful, frightening performance by Welles.

 

Othello - A true must-see for indy film makers. Welles made this movie over a series of years, financing it himself. He'd shoot until the money ran out, do a paying job, shoot til the money ran out, do a paying job... you get the idea. The chase through the Turkish bath was an on-set improvisation; someone forgot to ship all but two of the costumes to the location, and Welles could not reschedule. Forgive him for playing it in black face. It was a different time. And this is a true labor of love. (His more polished film production of MacBeth is worh viewing as well.)

 

The Third Man - Considered his second best film after Kane, which is ironic because Welles neither wrote nor directed this masterpiece. What's more, Welles himself does not appear in the film until half way through. Nevertheless, the film is remembered for Welles' portrayal of Harry Lime, who takes full command of this post World War II thriller and never lets go. Another of AFI's top 100. 

 

Needless to say, you should also see Citizen Kane and listen to War of the Worlds. While you're at it, check out some of the Mercury Radio Theatre's other productions. Dracula is one of the best interpretations of the Bram Stoker story ever.