ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION FOR PERFORMING ARTS
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF DISCIPLINES
The different disciplines of the performing arts (music, dance, theater) are interconnected.
Artistic expression often combines these elements.
Many aspects of production are similar across these disciplines and sometimes interchangeable.
STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY
The study will first discuss the parallel aspects of production in the performing arts.
Subsequently, unique aspects of production in various fields of the performing arts will be covered.
INTEGRATION OF PERFORMING ARTS IN PHILIPPINE CULTURE
Performing arts are deeply integrated into daily life among various ethnic groups in the Philippines.
Types and forms of performing arts are diverse and aligned with different events.
Theater, music, and dance can be performed privately or publicly, in homes or public spaces.
Common occasions for performances include:
Rituals
Formal events (e.g., weddings, births, funerals)
PERFORMING ARTS IN URBAN SETTINGS
In urban areas, performing arts are showcased in both private and public spaces:
Residential settings often utilize videoke machines during celebrations.
Streets become makeshift stages during fiestas for singing, dancing competitions, and beauty pageants.
Malls serve as venues for various performances such as concerts, dance competitions, plays.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Churches in the Philippines have been significant venues for music and liturgical dramas since Spanish colonial times.
More formal performances are held at established theaters, including:
Cultural Center of the Philippines
SM Mall of Asia Arena
Philippine Arena in Manila
International Eucharistic Convention Pavilion in Cebu
CAP Grand Auditorium in Davao
AWARDS AND GRANTS IN PERFORMING ARTS
Awards are provided to performing artists in recognition of career achievements or competition success.
Formats of awards include trophies, medals, certificates, or cash.
Grants assist artists in developing their craft and financing productions.
Grants can come from public, private individuals, or institutions.
Types of grants include:
Study grants for research and academic pursuits related to the arts.
Travel grants for expenses incurred during tours and performances.
Commissions are financial compensations given to artists to create works such as songs or dances.
More common in music, where artists are engaged to write pieces for commercials or shows.
ROLE OF CRITICISM IN PERFORMING ARTS
Criticism involves evaluating and examining the creation and expression of performances.
Critics offer insights and evaluations of performances.
Methods of publication include newspapers, magazines, journals, websites, and blogs.
Credibility often depends on the critic's background and training in the respective art form.
PERFORMING ART ORGANIZATIONS
Organizations offer support and appreciation for artists and their crafts.
Informal groupings can emerge during cultural occasions like fiestas or weddings.
Formal organizations are structured with a defined hierarchy and bylaws produced by their members.
Types of organizations based on membership and function:
School-Based Organizations: Primarily consist of students, e.g., UP Madrigal Singers, Dagyaw Theater Dance and Company.
Community-Based Organizations: Often volunteer-based, serve the community, funded by local affluent families or government.
Professional Organizations: Comprise experienced artists, salary-based, full-time members.
Examples include CCP Tanghalang Pilipino and Repertory Philippines.
Specialized Organizations: Focus on specific artistic fields, e.g., Manila Chamber Music Society, Philippine Society for Music Education.
Organizations are crucial for bonding, rights protection, and advocacy in the performing arts.
Examples of organizations protecting artists' rights include:
FILSCAP (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)
Performing Rights Society of the Philippines (PRSP)
Includes groups such as OPM, PHILSTAGE, AMP.
EDUCATION IN PERFORMING ARTS
Education focuses on transferring knowledge, techniques, and styles within the performing arts.
Can occur in informal settings or formal classrooms.
Informal Education: Common in ethnic groups, utilizes 'oral transmission' and demonstrations, sustained through community exposure.
Formal Education: Included in academic curricula, involves systematic instruction on art appreciation, history, and technique.
Standards escalate in difficulty from basic to complex subjects.
MUSIC: PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION
COMPOSITION
Composition refers to the process of creating music, traditionally involving notated scores and artist interpretation.
According to Arnold Schoenberg, it comprises three fundamental steps:
Basic Idea: Inspired by a story, emotion, or image.
Musical Material: Implementing scales and modes to transpose ideas into music.
Musical Form: The development of a theme or motif from the material.
Contemporary Filipino composers include Ryan Cayabyab, Jose Mari Chan, and Ely Buendia.
Traditional ethnic music emphasizes improvisation, where performances are not formally notated but rather passed on through community practice.
RECORDING
Recording creates multiple copies of music for distribution.
Preproduction: Concept and performance decisions made by producers.
Production: Involves arrangements, rehearsals, actual performances, recording, editing, and mixing.
Postproduction: Promotions, marketing, and selling of the final product.
MUSIC INDUSTRY
The music industry is the business of selling recorded music, involving cooperative work from various individuals:
Roles include producers, recording artists, composers, arrangers, and the sales team.
Influences of the industry drive trends and audience preferences.
Piracy remains a significant issue, leading to reduced income for recording companies and curtailed investment in new talents.
DANCE: PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION
CHOREOGRAPHY
Choreography involves arranging movements, formations, words, and visual elements to express ideas or tell stories.
Indigenous groups historically passed down dances through community teaching.
Examples include ritual dances such as Gabbok and Pagdidiwata.
DANCE STEPS
Dance steps encompass controlled movements which can be original or adapted from cultural traditions.
Regional traditions yield distinct dance styles across Philippine cultures.
Modern dance forms often mirror Western styles.
DESIGN
Design incorporates visual elements (sets, costumes, props, lighting) to enhance storytelling and performance.
Sets represent physical environments; costumes denote character identities; lighting creates atmosphere.
THEATER: PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION
ACTING AND DIRECTING
Acting: The art of embodying characters, influenced by Western and indigenous styles.
Influential methods include Stanislavsky and Strasberg's approach.
Directing: Involves managing all production elements, from interpretation to the final artistic vision.
SCRIPT
A script contains dialogue, stage directions, and production notes, written by playwrights.
Indigenous rituals do not have formal scripts but follow established routines.
SETS, COSTUME, AND LIGHTING
Sets: Physical representations of scenes; can be simple or elaborate.
Costumes: Defined attire reflecting character traits and settings.
Lighting: Enhances the mood, atmosphere, and visibility of performances; uses various techniques (spotlights, overhead lighting).
TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION
Translation: The process of converting foreign plays to local languages.
Adaptation: Altering plays to suit local cultures and make them relatable for the audience.
ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS
Audience: The viewers of the performance.
Space: The venue where performances occur.
Awards: Rewards for outstanding performance or achievement.
Grants: Financial assistance for production activities.
Criticism: Evaluative commentary regarding performance works.
Organizations: Groups supporting the arts and their practitioners.
Education: The process of transmitting knowledge in the performing arts.