BrooklynTransWritersWorkshopFeedbackFramework

AdaptedfromLizLermansCriticalResponseProcess

Paperbackavailable:LizLerman'scriticalresponseprocess:Amethodforgettingusefulfeedbackon
anythingyoumake,fromdancetodessert/byLizLermanandJohnBorstel,ISBN:9780972738507

NB:Artists(oradesignatedrecorder)shouldtakecopiousnotesduringthediscussion
toaidinthewritingofanyreflectionsandthefurtheringofthedevelopmentoftheir
craft.

STEP1.StatementsofMeaning:Respondersstatewhatwasmeaningful,stimulating,
surprising,evocative,memorable,interesting,exciting,striking,touching,challenging,
compelling,delightful,different,anduniqueintheworktheyhavejustwitnessed.

Philosophy:theCriticalResponseProcessbeginswiththephilosophythatmeaningis
attheheartofanartistswork,andtostartwithmeaningistobeginwiththeessenceofthe
artisticact.LizLerman

Tips:
Avoidstatingopinions(thoughitisoftendifficulttoavoidthis).
Bespecific.
Avoidusingthewordlikebutkeepitpositive.
Nothingistoosmalltonotice.

Examples:
Ifoundthepacingoftheplaytobeexciting.
Ifoundcharacterinteractionsevocative.
Ifoundthestagepicturescompelling.
Ifoundtheconceptofthescenicdesigntobestimulating.
Ifoundthesounddesignchallenging,yetmemorable.

Asktheartistsiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP2.ArtistasQuestioner:Theartistasksquestionsaboutthework.Aftereach
question,therespondersanswer.Respondersmayexpressopinionsiftheyareindirect
responsetothequestionaskedanddonotcontainsuggestionsforchanges(alsocalled
FixIts).

Philosophy:Byhavingtheartistsaskquestionsfirstabouttheintentoftheirwork,the
respondentswillbebetterabletoframethediscussionsaroundtheneedsoftheartists.
Thesequestionsareaskedbecausetheywanttoknow.

Tips:
Giveartistsexamplesofpossiblequestions.
ArtistQuestionscanbegeneralorspecific.
Artistsshouldavoidaskingifsomethingwasliked.
Feelfreetohelptheartistsfinessetheirquestions.
Artistsshouldaskopenendedquestionsaboutspecificthings.

Examples:
Howdidyouexperienceourtransitionsfromonecharactertoanother?
Weworkedparticularlyhardonthewayweexpressedcharacterobjectivethroughoutthe
play.Whatdidyouthinkoftheclarityofthecharactersjourneys?
Wechosethecolorsofthecostumedesignforveryspecificreasons.Whatwasyour
interpretationofthosechoices?
Couldyoucommentonyourabilitytohearandunderstandusonstage?
Wehadthechallengeofcuttingdownathreehourplayto90minutes.Howeffectivedo
youthinkourcuttingoftheplaywas?

Askiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP3.NeutralQuestions:Respondersaskneutralquestionsaboutthework.Theartist
responds.Questionsareneutralwhentheydonothaveanopinioncouchedinthem.For
example,ifyouarediscussingthelightingofascene,Whywasitsodark?isnotaneutral
question.Whatideasguidedyourchoicesaboutlighting?is.

Philosophy:Formanypeople,forminganeutralquestionisnotonlydifficult,buta
seeminglyridiculoustaskifcriticismisthepointOftenthesearetheveryquestionsthat
theartistneedstohear.LizLerman

Tips:
Practicecreatingquestionsfromyouropiniontobesureyouropinionisnotevident.
Thisstepisaboutunderstandingtheartisticvaluesoftheartists.
Artistswilllearnmorethroughadiscussionthanthroughalecture.
Avoidquestionsthatmightcausedefensiveness.
Askquestionsthatencouragereflection.

Examples:
Ifyouweregivenanotherweekofrehearsal,whatwouldyouworkon?
Whatlessondoyouwantyouraudiencetowalkawaywith?
Whatdidyoudoinrehearsaltodevelopyourcharacter?
Howwasthediscussionfacilitatedtounifyyourdesignelements?
Whatguidedyourdecisionsabouthairstyles?

Askiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP4.PermissionedOpinionTime:Respondersstateopinions,subjecttopermission
fromtheartist.TheusualformisIhaveanopinionabout______wouldyouliketohearit?
Theartisthastheoptiontodeclineopinionsforanyreason.
Philosophy:formingtheinitialstatementoffersamentalwarmupforstatingthe
opinionitself.Fortheartists,itaffordsachancetoreadjusttheirfocustobecomereceptive
toanewidea.LizLerman

Tips:
Alwaysaskpermissionaboutsomethingspecificandwaitforyes/no.
Honortheanswer.
DObecritical.Everyonehasroomtogrow.
Tempercriticalfeedback,pillowedwithsomethingpositive.
Avoidgushingpositivepraise.
OffertheopinionwithoutaFixIt,ortellingthemhowtodoit.
Allowtheartisttofindthesolutionsoownershipremainswiththem.

Examples:
Ihaveanopinionaboutthepacingbetweenthetwoacts.Wouldyouliketohearit?
Ihaveanopinionaboutthespecialeffectlightingchoiceattheendofactone.Wouldyou
liketohearit?
Ihaveanopinionaboutyourchoicetohaveliveinstrumentationonstage.Wouldyoulike
tohearit?
Ihaveanopinionabouttheexpressionofcharacterizationamongtheminorroles.Would
youliketohearit?

Askiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP5.FollowUpandFollowThrough:Artiststhensharewiththeresponderswhat
theirnextstepsareinthedevelopmentoftheirwork.Ifthisisafinalperformance,theycan
shareareflectionofwhattheywillbesuretofocusonwiththeirnextproject.
Philosophy:Theatreisalivingart,whereweasartistsgrowwitheverynewexperience.To
maximizethisbenefit,statingfuturegoalsguideusonthatjourney.
Basedonwhatyouveexperiencedinthisconversation,whatgoalsdoyouhavefor
yourselfinworkingonfutureprojects?
Thankallparticipantsinvolvedintheprocess.