Web-Theatre : director: classes

Lessons of Acting2

Mon, 05 May 2008 23:19:20 GMT

* 2008 : FOCUS : Character into Role : characteriZation, physicaliZation, visualiZation, vocaliZation [ 3+ levels, including film as "+" ] : dictionary { "4 Zs" -- masterclass? ebook? Total Actor Files? }

Form and Format -- ?

Instructions must go online! [ page to work on ] Where? In Method Acting directory? [ "Method Acting for Directors" ]

Total Actor Files [ "Screen Nostalgia fo Stage" ] ?

Questions, again!

Week before finals

Fri, 02 May 2008 20:32:18 GMT

Updating FINALS pages in acting2 and directing courses:

criteria

theme?

"20th century : dramatic popuri"

Lab Theatre May 9, Fri. 6 pm.

Run-throu day [ raugh cut ]

direct.vtheatre.net/2008

Talking about Theater - MSN Encarta + Directing

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:42:43 GMT

Fri. Directing class -- next : TEST (textbook)

Quote

Theater - MSN Encarta
for dictionary/glossary pages.
R/G are Dead (overview) -- prepare for "200 words" mini-review.
Topic : Presentational Theatre
Directing Genre -- Take Two (first : http://direct.vtheatre.net/1/genre)
Comedy as Tragedy (Postmodern Theatre).
Time of Tech weekend and what does director do?

Fri. directing class

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:13:16 GMT

Unit Four : Public -- Stage (Space & Chronotope = subjective time and dramatic space).

and new page -- http://direct.vtheatre.net/4/hamlet2.0.html -- analysis in class of my process with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

My Notes to post on directing forum/list.

Next -- Part 7 (textbook) -- The Whole Picture, 305

My last web subdirectory -- Directing for Genre

new page -- Caligari Project [ to work on ]

* test on textbook.

Theatre Biomechanics with Anatoly, Students

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:48:20 GMT

del.icio.us Tags: acting, theatre, stage

Theatre Biomechanics with Anatoly, Students

"Journal" pages at acting one and http://method.vtheatre.net/0.html (Acting3)

Homework (scene work) outside of class == how to moniyor?

http://google.com/group/acting2 -- student (personal) pages -- summaries of progress?

Calendar to use?

Not knowing how to do their homework is the biggest problem in actors' training.

Assignments daily?

youtube.com submissions?

(for monologues, at least).

"Web-Acting" -- something to think about.

Page updates : directing shorts

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:40:43 GMT

del.icio.us Tags: directing film theatre bergman philosophy poetry cinema notes, students, shorts, one act

"We're tightrope walkers. When you walk the wire in a movie, the wire is painted on the floor, but when you walk it on the stage, it's a hundred feet high without a net.... You've got to do it, because you're on the wire and there's no going back again like you can in the movies. That does a whole different thing to you psychologically. It's with you all the time--you know you've gotta walk that wire." --Al Pacino, actor * The Images (old) --> (new) Stage Directing Album *

* 2007 -- class & Power Lunch + Danny (WS) analysis assign. paper * post to google.com/group/directing Script Analysis Directory & DramLit

Meyerhold @ Work *

Meyer sum

Summary

Play Analysis

1. First impressions: notes of reactions to play on initial reading, including images, colors, etc.

2. Research: Summarize the most important insights you have gained from your research into your play. Discuss specifically how your research findings will influence your interpretation and/or production of the play. List sources consulted (in bibliographic form).

3. One-sentence statement of action (root action/significant action).

4. Structural Analysis: identify and briefly discuss inciting incident, each major complication (in order), major crisis (turning point), major structural climax, major emotional climax, resolution. Give enough detail in your analysis so that the reader can identify the point in the play that you are talking about and why you consider this the inciting incident, etc. For complications, note the effect of the complication on the action.

5. Brief discussion of theme. State theme clearly and support your choice of theme with evidence from the play.

6. Brief discussion of style of the play. What choices are you making about style for your production? Why?

7. Spine of the play--identify and discuss briefly.

8. Character Analysis--Biography.

9. Motivational Units: Break your scene into motivational units and number/name the units. Present this portion of the analysis in promptbook format, with starting and ending points of each unit marked; unit analysis should be on page facing page of text.

10. Discuss any particular directorial problems posed by the play and the scene.

NOTES: biblio, references & ect.

Questions

Evaluation of Directing:
Play/Production: _______
Theatre/Company:
Dates:
Director's Name:

Interpretation/Concept:

Visual Elements:

Aesthetics:

Ensemble:

Acting:

Names of Principle Actors and Characters:

Supporting Actors & Characters:

Evaluating the Designs:

Scene Designer/Set:
Costumes:
Makeup:
Lighting:
Sound:

Show Box Score:

Writing: 1-5
Directing: 1-5
Acting: 1-5
Set: 1-5
Costumes: 1-5
Lighting/Sound: 1-5
[ rating online? ]

Notes

1. Everything I see problematic in Winter Shorts I see in my directing class.
2. Stage management class is missing.
3. Many didn't take DramLit class before and not familiar with script analysis.
4. Some without acting experience.

Film Directing (class): script breakdown 10%
the production team 5%
directing terminology 5%
camera 10%
scripting 5%
editing 5%
class participation 10%
directing 50%

Storyboarding: Please, read acting for the camera pages in advance: Actors in Film Directing, Film in BM and Camera in Method Acting -- before we have video-sessions in class! You have to have your monologues shots-broken (Actor's Text). Theatre majors : The Student Drama Association (SDA) consists of student actors, directors, designers, and technicians who seek to stimulate dramatic activities on campus and to assist in the staging of all departmental workshops and major productions as well as productions of visiting dramatic groups. The SDA offers an opportunity for involvement in the theatrical events and stage works of all types to all interested members of the Fairbanks community. (see Theatre UAF

Auditions and Casting (new pages)

Posts/reviews/analysis assignments on WS in all classes!

Stage (Strindberg and 'Love making' scenes -- PM for Shorts)

... Dutchman (review) - scene for 07 directing finals.

[ more ONE-ACT suggestions -- references, books, biblio, list? ]

...

Directing ONE ACTS = Matrix -- Stage Directing: "Winter Shorts"

2004: student directed one-acts : shows.vtheatre.net/shorts
student-written one-acts Fest Theatre UAF
.... Small-Cast One-Act Guide Online [link]

... 2007 : Danny and Deep Blue Sea + Power Lunch -- see Theatre UAF official website!

Ben : Danny and the Deep Blue Sea received its professional premiere at Actors Theatre of Louisville in February 1984.
“I Am The Real Thing” A Conversation with Playwright John Patrick Shanley http://www.secondstagetheatre.com/danny/danny_interviews.html
MEL GUSSOW NYT : AS a Bronx variation on ''Beauty and the Beast,'' John Patrick Shanley's ''Danny and the Deep Blue Sea'' could be called ''The Beast and the Beast.'' A man and a woman, both lonely outcasts, meet in a bar. He is violent and possibly homicidal, she is tormented and possibly suicidal; each is transformed by the love of the other. ...

Craig : Power Lunch is a play by writer/director Alan Ball
best known for writing the screenplay for the Oscar-winning film American Beauty, and for creating the HBO original drama series Six Feet Under.

... Dramaturg: theatre traditions (both scripts)

[ notes are at google.com/group/directing + ]

A few notes on student-directors.
They have to take my THR331 Fundamentals of Directing before they can apply (proposals) to our Student Drama Association (SDA) for directing (plus, must stage manage one show).
I should have this page way back, because it's one thing to direct scenes for class (finals are on public), another -- for paying public, running shows two weekends!
Overall problems:
They are weak in "space arrangements" (mise-en-scene). More exerc., in class. Samples on webpages.
Novice director can get only that much from student-actors; therefore the focus must be on directing the script into "stage languages"!
Interpretation/Concept: see concept page @ Film-North
Visual Elements:
entrances/exits (examples of "strong" and "weak")
groups (focus on action):
Images/Symbols:
Ensemble (working with actors and text) =
Exerc.:
Justifying Movement
Ground Plan Exercises
Open Scene Exercises
Script Exercises

* "Pre-production period" -- they start working on their shows too late. They should "live" with the script for a year (at least).
* Rules for a first-time director? [ list ]

[ Student-Directed One-Acts Proposal (form) : Students who have successfully completed the 331 Fundamentals of Directing class are eligible to apply for directing a one-act production in the Lab Theatre. ]

* Each student is responsible for selecting base resource materials or playscript for performance and then overseeing the entire production and staging process through to, and including, presentation of the finished product.

Directing: directory *

backstagejobs.com Stage Directors Wanted *

PS

Theatre UAF season

NB

Comments on Fall 2004 shows? Spring 2005 -- posts on eGroups.

Titles (recommended) for consideration (list)

Skill requirements:
1. Experience in practical theater production, especially in stage directing and stage managing.
2. Background in dramatic literature and general knowledge of styles and periods.
3. Some organizational experience in coordinating of production phases, scheduling, etc.
4. Preferably enough experience in design and actor training to allow for some coaching in these areas.

[ "General Evaluation Guidelines" -- right table ]

Stage Directors are individuals working in the art and craft of communicating in a space (the stage) and time (the theatrical experience).This category houses sites of currently active Stage Directors, that is directors engaged in the art, looking for work, or working in projects. These sites represent a Stage Director's work, careers, resumes, philosophies and/or online professional portfolios. http://www.combose.com/Arts/Performing_Arts/Theatre/Directing/Stage_Directors

Next: students

@2004 film-north *

Stage I - Fine Arts--Drama IL Learning Standarts

* Casting: Before a production is filmed or staged, directors undertake auditions to select actors for parts. They also select set designers to create and design the perfect setting (eg. minimalist or period setting) and technical staff such as the camera, lighting and sound technicians. The director must be confident that these people can make his or her production come to life and complement his directing style. Another early job is to decide where the production is to be filmed, staged or recorded.

* Directors, as the name suggests, are responsible for providing artistic and technical direction to film, stage, television and radio productions. From start to finish, a director has control over all areas of production, including casting, lighting, sets and costumes. Even though there is typically a lighting or costume director on board, basically the buck stops with the director.

* Most stage directors do not realise how well equipped they are to direct film. Blocking, timing, storytelling and working with actors are all essential directing skills that many film directors lack. Why not start a theatre group with a few close friends (like Steppenwolf in Chicago, or Second City in Toronto) and build a reputation for exciting stage shows. Invite reviewers and agents, and wait to be discovered by a producer,or turn a stage show into a movie yourself. Examples: Sam Mendes, Stephen Daldry, Andrew Shea.

Faculty supervision (my note to a student-director, sample): Joe, a short note. The rest -- in person. Should the preshow music go over the beginning? Carol's reaction -- oh, he is on the phone again (bigger, she throws something away). He is not listening to her (reading the paper). Comedy to be established right away -- whwre is the first joke? I talked to Carrie, maybe she could help your with actors (the two are not confortable with each other, intimacy). First reactions to Holly -- bigger. Let her to be more physical with him. Should Holly play the audience? No forth wall. Move Holly behind the sofa, not in front (and th sofa further back, the side audience can't see the mise-en-scene and actors). The ending is weak... [important] Maybe a wink to the public from Holly? "I am beautiful again" -- self-examination, discovery, the stages of her reaction.
Anatoly (production forum, Fall 2005)

ACTORS read!

[ Assistant of Director, AD + Thesis ]

Fool for Love (Shepard) + Beyond Therapy (Durang) [ in class ]

3.19.07

Scenes from "Picnic" [ director's analysis -- 200 words? ]

Catastrophe (Beckett Pages)

Finals and Shorts (future, fall -- No Exit, Sartre - Ben)

... Miss Julie and Spring 2008?

... Theatre UAF Student Plays FEST : staged readings* [ see calendar -- one day -- webcast? ]

... Staged Readings : writing classes (Fall 2007 THR215 Dramatic Literature class, unit 5).

[ * ] How to do "staged readings" page?

acting2 : from Method to Biomechanics

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:16:29 GMT

2.10.08 -- http://biomechanics.vtheatre.net/2008.html

THR221 Intermediate Acting : Theatre UAF

Textbook : 5 Approaches to Acting (David Kaplan)

Part 2. Episode -- Meyerhold and Brecht

Scenes : Mikado in class -- http://filmplus.org/thr/mikado.html

list/forum : http://google.com/group/acting2

Physical Approach to Character Analysis

Comedy and Commedia : http://filmplus.org/biomx/0.html BM database

http://shows.vtheatre.net/wwwilde -- scenes from The Importance of Being Earnest (acting one).

Mini-Chekhov : The Bear (Boor) -- http://biomechanics.vtheatre.net/scenes.html + http://biomechanics.vtheatre.net/ss.html (Scene Study for midterm)

Stoppard on stage and in class

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:56:30 GMT

Last directing class [ Fri. 2.1.08 ] -- CONCEPT & script [ part I ] :

Play - Director - Public

What does R/G are Dead say to the audience now and here?

Do we know more about ourselves and the world today, forty years later? [ 1968 -- first production? ]

How did the word "terror" change since then?

How does it relate to them, students, who were not born in the 60?

We all are born out of the existential horror of 20th century...

There was XIX century, and even the Greeks...

Did they become numb?

Here it is, the postmodern.

Indifference to your own fate?

Maybe Stoppard's alternative (game, play, theatre) is our Society of Spectacle? TV game and "reality" shows... R & G need entertainment, a lot of it.

Forced Happiness? Fake American optimism.
And who is the Player?

...

And what is next?

u21.us -- webshow -- 2009

[ my thoughts before rehearsal on Mon. ]

del.icio.us Tags: stoppard, shows, stage, directing, theatre, philosophy, notes, classes

Stagematrix 1

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:50:04 GMT

Lesson 1: Script & Aristotle
Lesson 2: Script & You
Lesson 3: Script & Space
Lesson 4: Script & Public

http://direct.vtheatre.net/1/1.html and lesson 2 -- scenes (2) from Hamlet

homework -- scenes from R/G are Dead ?

Lesson 2 -- concept (Your Play)

Textbook -- http://direct.vtheatre.net/textbook.html (part 1 review, Part 3 pre-view).

Genre issues : http://direct.vtheatre.net/1/genre.html

Visualization exerc.

next : lesson 3 (designers)

Concept, Take 2

Color

Shape

Texture

Sound

Light

(plots, bible, and director's notebook).

"Aristotle for Directors"

directing class/group/list -- http://google.com/group/directing

R/G are Dead (crew/cast) -- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vtheatre

Finals, last class

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:08:06 GMT

Last week before the finals. Playwrighting projects at 215 Dramlit will have the rewrites only one read in class -- files : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dramlit ... and the Spring Theatre UAF Play fest : http://script.vtheatre.net/fest.html
[ "play writing" pages are @ http://anatoly.vtheatre.net/playwright ]
Film Analysis class 334 Final Group Project is "Into the Wild" -- http://film.vtheatre.net/doc/wild.html [ more work for me than for the students ]. Papers are posted at http://google.com/group/filmstudy/web/wild -- ... how the class project should be finalized for the web?
Discussion on documentary -- 12.12 [ points ] + (feedback on 1st drafts)
Final drafts are due 12.19.07
del.icio.us Tags: film, theatre, classes, exams

A-Effect : Between Chekhov and Brecht

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:37:13 GMT

Dramatic Form

the stage embodies an event
draws spectators into an event
consumes their capacity for action
allows them to have emotions
provides them with experience
the spectator is drawn into the plot
suggestion is used
Humans are unalterable
suspense about the outcome
one scene exists for another
linear development
the world as it is
what man ought to do
his instincts
thinking determines being

Epic Form

the stage narrates an event
makes them an observer, but...
awakens their capacity for action
demands decisions from them
provides them with knowledge
the spectator is placed opposite the plot
arguments are used
Humans are alterable and altering
suspense about the progress
each scene exists for itself
in curves
the world as it becomes
what man is forced to do
his motivations
social being determines thinking [ compare ]

Brecht -- Epic Theatre [ http://dirext.vtheatre.net/brecht.html ]

Alienation brings spectator (observer) and character together [?]

And ACTOR [ author ] :

I. actor -- [ society ] -- spectator

II. actor -- character -- spectator

Citizen [ Believer in Morality plays ] -- theatre as church [ stage pulpit ]

Pirandello : Expressionism, Futurism, Fascism

Fascism, Socialism, Communism

http://script.vtheatre.net/pirand.html

http://script.vtheatre.net/doc/6characters.html

The World, according to Petya Trophimov [Marxism]

Chekhov's Existentialism and the Grand Illusions of two World Wars [ "Before Beckett" ]

We are to change the world! Hello, Nora!

... What have we done?!

In order to save you, we have to kill you.

Forget the One, only the Masses matter!

Self = Sum of Social Functions

New Life of Pop-Art (Agit-Prop) : Socialist Realism and Hollywood

Folk-forms, Fairy-tales - Formula (Genre) instead of Well-made-play

Do you really need an Author?

A leader, El Ducci, Furrer.

Who can help you, helpless characters?

The System!

Freud, again -- http://method.vtheatre.net/freud.html

Super-Ego is in control of It! No need for Ego, man!

Meta-Theatre? "The denaturalization of reality"?

http://script.vtheatre.net/215/4.1.html to continue ...

del.icio.us Tags: theatre, pirandello, plays, century, brecht

Oedipus - Hamlet - 19th century

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:06:07 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance

http://script.vtheatre.net/215/2/christ.html -- Christianity & Theatre [ New Testament as NEW Drama ]

500 years before and 15000 years after... why did it take so long?

Oedipus + Christ = Hamlet

Mon. class -- Strindberg, Ibsen, Chekhov [ grandchildren of Hamlet ]

from Action [Plot] to Hero [ as Plot/Action ]

and ...

Unit 3 ?

to work on http://script.vtheatre.net/doc/chronology.html

del.icio.us Tags: drama, literature, shakespeare, history, class

Dramaturgy Pages

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:11:38 GMT

Working on dramatic literature pages

http://filmplus.org/plays/dramaturgy.html [ new ]

dramaturg, dramaturge, dramaturgue

http://script.vtheatre.net/dramaturg.html -- script-er

http://shows.vtheatre.net/dramaturg.html -- script supervisor?

showcases:

Don Juan -- http://shows.vtheatre.net/dj/0.html

Devils -- http://shows.vtheatre.net/devils/0.html

... and?

Oedipus-Jocasta

section/unit in class -- when?

...

"Hamlet reads Oedipus"

"3 sisters in love with Hamlet"

"Children of Hamlet" (Godot)

Hamlet Dudes (R/G are Dead)

del.icio.us Tags: drama, literature, classes, 2007

DL, DramLit, Dramatic Literature [ part 1 ]

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 01:12:47 GMT

del.icio.us Tags: dramatic literature, classes, theatre, history

Theatre Idea

Several logos/symbols/icons -- Shakespeare (central in this course); I usually even start with Hamlet = http://shows.vtheatre.net/hamlet

[ chronology is to remember, not the order of the class narrative? comparing with Theatre History ]

THEMES (the topical design for THR413 Playscript Analysis) -- family, generations, fathers and sons, man and woman...

[perhaps to use new pomo signs from Album SEMIO @ picasaweb.com ]

The Greek : Antiquity : Oedipus
http://shows.vtheatre.net/oedipus

Summaries, overviews, plans, bullet points are missing... [comics - new style] + slide-show --

What about Aristotle as a narrator, master-teacher? [ 200X Files ]

"Subjects" vs. "Topics" -- different from "Themes"?

History background, philosophy, arts, myths, and etc.

... to try Google Earth maps for virtual tours? At least to post the links on pages!

The Idea of Theatre (Aristotle + Nietzsche)

Architecture of the sacred place : public vs. stage, church idea, artist as priest ...

Terminology introduced [ list ]
Theory of dramatic v. poetic
Performance v. Literature (epic)
6 Principles/Elements
test on The Poetics
test on Oedipus Rex

Resources on the Internet [ each ACT -- Antiquity, Modernity, Pomo ]

1st test -- google/group/class calendar

http://dramlit.vtheatre.net/215/1/test.html

"200 words" - http://script.vtheatre.net/200words.html

I. Structure:

A. Plot/Acting
B. Character/Hero
C. Idea/Message/Thought
...
Oedipus vs. Hamlet
Fate, the original take

------ here comes the dangerous spot : Christianity

[ nothing in the textbooks ]

DramLit'07

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:14:12 GMT

THR215 Dramatic Literature - to use the tempalte for model for the Fall class : http://script.vtheatre.net/215/template.html

notes & comments +

to add more pictures to Playwrights Album.

Sophocles - Aristotle
Shakespeare
...
Chekhov - Realism
XX century from Chekhov to Stoppard
...

[ see google notebook & calendar ]