Fundamentals of Directions

Classes * Spring 2002 THR331 http://geocities.com/anatolant/directing/2002.html

TOPICS: drama + comedy + postmodern + aesthetics + film analysis + filmmaking + showcases - theatre + spectator + method + biomechanics + acting one + thr w/anatoly + plays +

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Take a note -- Advanced Directing is no longer offered; directors must take senior thesis (same 3 credits) for graduation. Consult your advisor!

If you major in Directing, you will have extra assignments in this class.

Highly recommended that you take THR215 Dramatic Literature Class before enrolling in this course!

Film Directing
Homework/Papers
NEW
Updates
Anatoly-UAF
Theatre UAF
Film-North

Updated (Spring 2002) syllabus will be in your directory @ StageMatrix

Reading Writing Assignments

new: 2003 *

Reading List(s) :

Summary

Main directory: direct.vtheatre.net

Questions

one act fest

Theatre UAF BA directing

Assistant of Director, Winter Shorts, Individual Study (IS), Thesis

Notes

After 2009 : classes.vtheatre.net

Live Students! Please go to: http://classes.uaf.edu + Log in to Blackboard, choose "THR 190 / Auditions and Portfolio Review" and complete the online Outcomes Assessment form under the "Assignment" tab.

Spring 2007 & 2008

Classes * METHOD acting * 200X * Film Dir * Books Index * Theatre w/Anatoly * SHOWs * Script Analysis * Acting * Directing * Russian-American Theatre (RAT) * Film-North * Students Directory * VIRTUAL THEATRE * GeoAlaska * Mailing List & News -- subscribe yourself *

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THR 331 Fundamentals of Stage and Film Direction

Anatoly Antohin

SPRING, 2002
T, R 3.40-5.10 pm
Green Room & Lab Theatre
Office Hrs: by appointment
Phone: 474-7754
ffaga@uaf.edu

This course will be focused on the art (science) of stage direction and film directing -- a brief history of its development, functions of the director, and components of the art. Specific areas to be studied are script analysis, composition, working with actors, and organizing a production. The student will direct two scenes (stage and video) and a number of shorter performance assignments dealing with focus, movement, and prop. There are two prompt books (for midterm and final exams), scene analyses, rehearsal schedules, and one written critique of a UAF Spring productions viewed in performance. Two tests on Dramatic, Performance and Film theory.

TEXTS:
Directors on DIRECTING
DIRECTING ACTORS by Judith Weston (recommend)
The following plays are also your required reading Tragedy -- HAMLET, Shakespeare Comedy -- Inspector General, Gogol or/and Twelfth Night Drama -- Three Sisters, ChekhovPlease read all three plays right away as they will be used as examples throughout the course.
Recommend: ACTING in Person and Style, by Jerry Crawford (Check "Actors on Acting" THR 221 Intermediate Acting Textbook).

ATTENDANCE: Each student will be allowed one absence without penalty. After one, each subsequent non-excused absence will result in lowering the final grade for the course by 5%.

GRADES

Attendance/participation & discussion 20%
Performance projects (scenes): Midterm and Final exams 20% + 30%
Written assignments + Promt Book 10%
Class Projects 10%
Tests 5% + 5%

ALL ASSIGNMENTS (written or performed) WILL BE SUBMITTED ON TIME OR PENALIZED 5% FOR EACH LATE DAY. LATE WORK FROM DIRECTORS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. All written assignments, unless otherwise noted, are to be typed double-spaced, emailed or posted.

PERFORMANCE PROJECTS may include: -a silent scene -a video assignment -a period assignment -a movement assignment

First Scene: a short scene from Hamlet, Inspector General or Three Sisters directed with the Intermediate Acting students (THR 221) for the Midterm.
Second Scene: Video project

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS may include:
   -a scene analysis (graph & domino list)  
   -1 play critique from a directorial standpoint
   -a promptbook, including analysis of scene, play, characters,
rehearsal schedule, ground-plan, graphs, prop/light/costume
plots, rehearsal diaries, etc.

PRODUCTIONS CRITIQUE REQUIRED: You are required to see the shows of the Spring season, select one for your directorial analysis. You are required to write one critique which must be submitted before the discussion in class. (see a critique checklist/format in THR 331 Master File).

CLASS SCHEDULE

Week 1 1/17: Intro, History, Functions. Spectatorship. Theory: Begin Script Analysis. Review Aristotle's "Poetics". Idea(s) into Concept. Textbook: VII.
Week 2: Discussion/Script Analysis. Scene Graphs. ABC of Dramatic Composition. Textbook: VIII.
Week 3: Text and Subtext: Dramatic and Performance Composition. Focus Scenes Due/Begin Blocking. Theory: Stanislavsky and Meyerhold. Method Acting (Realism) and Scenometrics. Textbook: V.
Week 4: Movement and Blocking. Objective and Obstacle. `Silent Scene'-- visualization and physicalization. Textbook: IV.
Week 5: Time and Space. Working with Actors: Acting Areas. Dramatic Theory Test. Textbook: IX.
Week 6: FIRST ROUND OF SCENES. First Prompt Book Due.
Week 7: Discussion of the Scenes presented. Written Responses Due. Midterm Exam/ with 221 Actors.
Week 8: "Winter Shorts" Discussion. Design/Lighting/Sound concepts. Assignments for Final Scenes. Basic Semiotics for Directors. Video.
Week 9: Rehearsal Techniques; Actors -- medium and tools. Textbook: I. Class Project: Endgame.
Week 10: Discuss FINAL VIDEO SCENES concepts. Genre. Style.
Week 11: Director's choices. Theory Test.
Week 12: Video production; discussion. Director's Check-list.
Week 13: Editing I. Viewing.
Week 14: Film techniques for stage directing.
Lab Theatre. Final Exam. Together with THR 221 Intermediate Acting. Video tapes and Prompt Books Due.
2004 & After
new
Links
in focus: shows
projects: Bergman
read: books

Chekhov, Ibsen, Shakespeare
2007

EXTRA CREDIT
For anyone who wants it, you may report on any book related to theatre directing in a written fashion. Glossary and lists of Recommended reading are in the Master File 331. Watch the videos on the list for "Film and Drama" (THR 380 W). Familiarize yourself with the Intermediate Acting course (THR 221).