Blocking

1. The precise movement and positioning of actors on stage. • First, you must be familiar with the locations and abbreviations for areas of the stage floor. Blocking

4. The act of notating on your script where you enter, exit, or cross. • Actors will write abbreviations on their scripts to tell them where they are going and on what lines or actions. Blocking

5. Enter = En • Exit = Ex • Cross = X Blocking Symbols

6. Enter upper stage right. • Cross to stage left. • Cross to downstage center. • Cross to stage right. • Exit upper stage right. Try writing these in symbol format:

7. En USR • X L • X DC (or X D) • X R • Ex USR Did it look like this?

8. Avoid flat blocking. Plan movements that are angles or diagonals. • Implement triangles with actors and set pieces. • Cross downstage of furniture and other actors. Rules for Blocking

9. Create “shared” scenes with two conversing actors. • Create motivated movement. • Use blocking to build a scene. • Cross between lines or to break up a line. Rules for Blocking

10. Both of these actor are full front. Stage Positions: Full Front

11. While the middle actress is full front, the women on either side of her are ¾ front. 3/4 Front/Cheating Out

12. Both of these actors are in profile. • Use profile briefly during highly emotional lines. Profile

13. The male actor is ¾ front; the actress is ¾ back. 3/4 Back

14. It is obvious which actor has his full back to us! Full back