TDR 2800 Sectional Exam 2 (4-5)

Director

Responsible for the overall style, pace, and visual appearance of the production.

Auteur Director

Make drastic alterations or transformations to the material, taking responsibility for shaping every element in the production, including the script.

Postmodern Director

Deconstruction of the text, abandonment of the narrative or linear structure in the theatre piece.

The Director at work

1. Close examination of the text.

2. Understand dramatic purpose and dramatic structure.

3. Playwrights intention: entertain, educate, or arouse strong feelings.

4. Discover the spine of the play. The general action which motivates the play.

5. Production Style

6. Directorial Concept

The process

1. Read the Play

2. Thorough analysis of the script

3. Research

4. Create a Directorial Concept

5. Concept Meetings

6. Casting – Auditions, Callbacks, Dance Auditions, Music Auditions

7. Production Meetings with Scenic, Lighting, Costume, Sound, Video, and Music Designers.

8. Begin Rehearsals:

• a. Read Through

• b. Table Work

• c. Blocking

• i. Prescribed

• ii. Organic

• d. Stumble Through

• e. Scene Work

• f. Run Through

• g. Technical Rehearsals

9. Technical Rehearsals

• a. Dry Tech

• b. Wet Tech or Cue to Cue

• c. Dress Rehearsals

• d. Previews

Stage Managers

Organizational control over Production process for one production. Calls the show.

Production Manager

Serves a liaison between Director, Designers, Technical Staff, and the Producer or Managing Director. Often oversees multiple productions at once.

Dramaturg

Dramatic advisor/researcher

Fight Director

Choreographer of all stage combat

Dance Choreographer

Creative professionals who design, arrange, and teach movement sequences for performances.

Musical Director

Leads the artistic, rehearsal, and performance aspects of musical productions, orchestras, or bands

Producer

People behind the money (For-Profit Theatre)

Managing Director

Person behind the money (Not-for-Profit Theatre)

Things to consider as a Director

• Dynamic Blocking or Movement

• Stage Picture or Composition of a visual image that is captivating and tells a story

• Focus

• Pacing

• Rhythm

• Cohesiveness of the Production

Blocking and Directing Terms

• Cross

• Counter

• Open Up/Cheat Out

• Sweep

• Beat

• Clear the Stage

• Places

• Take the Stage

• Aside

• Ad

• Lib/Improvise/Riff

• Pick up your Cues

• Build

Acting

Involves voice, mind, and body.

Three Challenges for actors

Inner Truth

• To make characters believable – Inner Skills (The Mind)

Physical Acting

• The use of the Body and the Voice –Outer Skills

Synthesis & Integration

• Combing the outer and inner skills into a truthful character

Five categories of Actor

Personality

• Actors who are cast and are successful because of their personality.

Chameleon

• Actors who change to fit the role, sometimes even physically.

Creative

• play against their type or persona

Character

• Play unique supporting roles or specific types of characters

Non-Professional

• Actors without formal training or acting experience

Types of Roles

• Leading Lady – Leading Man

• Supporting Role

• Minor Roles

• Character Role

• Bit Part - a small and unimportant part in a film

• Cameo Role - a brief but noticeable part usually by someone who is famous

• Extra

Theatre Terms

• Auditions

• Monologues

• Sides

• Cold readings

• Callbacks

• Rehearsals

• Table Work

• Blocking

• Scene Work

• Run Through

• Blocking Terms

• Cross,

• Counter

• Cheat Out

Film Terms

• Hitting your Mark

• Screen Test - Casting

• Residuals

• SAG/AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)

Stanislavski’s Acting Techniques

• Relaxation

• Concentration 

• Observation

• Importance of Specifics

• Given Circumstances

• Inner Truth

• What do the characters think and feel 

• Magic If

• Psychophysical Action

• Purposeful Action leads to true emotion 

• Pinch/Ouch

• Through Line of a Role

• The Character’s Super-Objective

• Ensemble Playing 

• Centering

• Relaxation

• Movement Training

• Physicality

• Vocal Training

• Vocal Dynamics 

• Diction

• Dialects

• Reacting and Listening

• Being in the moment

• Memorization

• Pinch – Ouch

• Being Truthful

• Improvisation

• Imagination

• Integration

Analyzing Acting

• Truthfulness: Believability

• Appropriateness

• Inherent Thoughtfulness or

• Emotionality

• Expressive Coherence – Works with other elements

• Wholeness and Unity – Seamless - Integration