Chronicling the near three-year journey of a theatre company based in New York, The TEAM Makes a Play is a documentary film that lays bare the creative process and takes the audience into the lives and travails of the actors involved in the making of 'Mission Drift'.
Opening in early 2009, just after G.W Bush's $600 tax rebate was signed into law, the film sets out the company’s vision for a play based around American capitalism. The film is mainly split between footage of creative group sessions and workshops, as well as much more intimate talking head interviews. Through the sessions and workshops we see the creative process at its most raw and are allowed an unprecedented view of some truly excellent actors and writers at work. Where the documentary really comes into its own is with the talking head interviews, as we are taken deep into the emotions and thoughts of all the members of TEAM. A particularly poignant example of this was with a member interviewed in the bath of his bathroom-meets-kitchen about the challenges of raising money just to keep the project moving, as water cascaded from the shower onto him.
Underscoring all of this is music from the play itself that acts as a soundtrack to the film. Composed by Heather Christian it both perfectly accompanies the (at times rocky) road of the film and tantalises the audience with excerpts from what went on to become an award winning show.
This is a film that will appeal to both the experienced and new theatregoer alike; those experient will identify with the people on screen and feel privileged to watch experts of their craft at work. Whereas the newcomer will, through this film, fully be able to appreciate and understand the sheer amount of sacrifice and effort that goes into making and putting on a play.
