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Directing

Directing. The Basics. Step 1. Choose your play (scene) and interpret it What is this play about? What is the mood? What do I want my audience to get out of the performance? What is your vision? How do you see the characters, costumes, set, etc.?. Step 2.

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Directing

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  1. Directing The Basics

  2. Step 1 • Choose your play (scene) and interpret it • What is this play about? • What is the mood? • What do I want my audience to get out of the performance? • What is your vision? How do you see the characters, costumes, set, etc.?

  3. Step 2 • Audition (try to find people who fit your vision!) • Cast your show

  4. Step 3 • Block your show • Write in your script when and where the actors move in your head! This can always be changed later, but you must have a plan!

  5. Step 4 • Set your rehearsal calendar – Work backwards! • You always need a dress rehearsal • If you have lights or sound effects, you always need a tech rehearsal • You should have several full run-throughs (fully memorized) before tech/dress • It’s a good idea to break the play into sections (if it hasn’t already been done – scene 1, scene 2, etc.) so you can concentrate on small pieces at a time

  6. Step 5 • Start rehearsals! • Things to look at: • Stage pictures – If I took a picture at any moment, would it be interesting to look at? • In most cases there needs to be movements – if you find the stage picture is the same for a long period of time, find a way to change it. • Angles (cheat out – with your set, too!) • Levels (high/low) • Planes

  7. Angles

  8. Angles

  9. Levels (Height) • When possible, have your actors at different levels (sitting, standing, leaning, on platforms, etc.)

  10. Planes (Depth)

  11. Planes NO!  YES!  And look! We magically created an ANGLE!

  12. How many levels?How many planes?

  13. How many levels?How many planes?

  14. How many levels?How many planes?

  15. Last (but not least!)…Don’t forget to work the ACTING! • Give the actors flexibility to explore their characters, but at the same time if what they do conflicts with your vision, help them out! • Your actors need to trust you! Be positive and encouraging and you will get better results. • Encourage projection! • Think, “WWWD?” (What Would Wortham Do?) Ha ha! ;)

  16. Ready?LET’S PRACTICE! Levels/Planes/Angles

  17. Stage Picture PracticeRemember: Levels, Angles, Planes! • Create a stage picture for each of the following scenes: • Scenario 1: Students hanging out talking outside after school • Scenario 2: Family at dinner – parent grounds child for bad grades on report card • Scenario 3: Students behaving badly while a substitute teacher’s back is turned • Scenario 4: Students trying to make their friend feel better after a bad breakup

  18. Directing Project:How It Will Work • You will be divided into groups of 4. • Everyone will choose their own scene to direct, written for 2-3 characters. Your cast will be the other people in your group. • Each director will have one week to rehearse and perform their play. • Actors will be graded on their acting at the same time directors are graded on their directing (see rubrics).

  19. Actor Expectations • Treat your director with the same respect you give me! • Scenes should be next to memorized (meaning you can call line if you ABSOLUTELY need it)! THIS IS POSSIBLE! • You will be given the scenes ahead of time so you will have extra time to memorize • If you make good use of your rehearsal time in class, you will run the scenes over and over and over again (which will help you memorize). • YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR MEMORIZATION (Translation: Homework)!

  20. Director: Choosing Your Scene • Your choices: • Do a scene with all actors available to you • Do a scene with 2 of the actors available to you and dual cast one role. If you have attendance concerns, double cast that role so you aren’t stuck. EACH PERSON ASSIGNED TO THAT ROLE WILL PERFORM THE SCENE (which means your scene will be performed twice). • Do a scene with 2 of the actors available to you and use the other actor as a stage manager/tech person. • If you are in the group of 3, I will be your fourth person if you need an understudy or have tech needs. • You can use a guy for a girls’ role and vice versa, as long as it’s a choice that fits within your vision and it does not alter the scene dramatically.

  21. Rehearsal Calendar • Week 1: • Day 1: Scene read-through, give actors blocking (blocking only – don’t work on acting yet) • Day 2: Review blocking. When set and comfortable, start on acting direction. • Day 3: Finish acting direction (mold the scene into your vision!) • Day 4: Run-throughs, finish with a dress rehearsal • Day 5: Performances • Week 2: We do it all over again with the next director in your group (same for Weeks 3 & 4)!

  22. Directors, Now you’re ready to…CHOOSE YOUR SCENE!

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