DIRECTING 3332

BOONE

10-11:30 T TH

BASIC DIRECTING I

This is a required class for all Theatre Majors. For this reason enrollment priority will be given to graduating senior students first and then, seniors. This is a hard and fast rule, no exceptions.

REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT TO EXPECT:

  1. ATTENDANCE: Department policy concerning absentees (you are allowed 3 absences; then the 4th absence equals half letter drop; 5th equals whole letter drop; 6th equals 2 whole letter drops; and 7th is automatic F) will be strictly followed.
  1. It is the student's responsibility to drop class due to excessive absences, otherwise grade will be figured according to policy.
  1. It is also the student's responsibility to keep records of all absences and why, and doctor's excuses, etc. and include them when you file a petition to the department if absences become excessive. *** new school policy: you must account for all of your absences, NOT JUST THE OVERAGE, when you file a protest. Keep this in mind.
  1. It is also student's responsibility to check with me if you are late, to make sure the absence is turned into a tardy.
  1. Auditions for movies, other theatres, video industrials, and outside performances will count as absences and no special consideration will be given because these absences occurred "in the business."

**Also the department policy of tardies will be strictly followed. TWO tardies equal one absence. A TARDY IS DEFINED AS ENTERING CLASS AFTER THE ROLL IS CALLED. An absence will remain if the student is late 15 min. or more. You may attend the class.

THE COURSE

1. This course will focus on beginning directing skills. The goal in the class is to gather directing information and then make it applicable by directing a scene as the final project. In order to reach this goal we will explore all of the elements from choosing a script, script analysis, research, picturization, to communicating with actors, and a final practical application.

2. TEXTBOOK: The required text will be used as a resource-chapters, etc., will be assigned reading*****(structure to follow in this syllabus): PLAY DIRECTING: ANALYSIS, COMMUNICATION AND STYLE by Francis Hodge any edition. (Those student's who have ambitions to actually be a director at some point in their lives NEED to have this book on your resource shelf.) see bookstore-

5. COURSE WORK: PARTICIPATION in class will count 1/4 of course grade. The class will basically consist of lectures and handouts, discussions, and class exercises up through the time the directing scenes begin. I ask that students find some way to organize materials, and to keep all materials handed out throughout the course. (at least until the course is completed)

6. **Students absent on days assigned for exercises will NOT be able to make up the grade. Students's absent on days of particular assignments and handouts must take responsibility for getting the material from someone besides me. (get a buddy)

7. All students must read STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Tenn. Williams) by ------please note, this date may change.) This play will be analyzed in class discussions. There is a chance that a quiz will follow the end of the discussions. This grade will also be averaged into the Participation 1/4. PLEASE HAVE SCRIPT IN CLASS.

8. Students must see department productions. Students will be expected to be accountable in class for seeing these productions. On the Tuesday following the closing, each student will have an intelligent remark (comment) that they observed about the directing. (Have a backup, no duplicates) Please avoid “good” and “bad” or anything comparable. This will count in the participation grade.

9. COURSE WORK: DIRECTING SCENE-Each student will direct a 10-15 minute scene from a contemporary realistic published play. This scene must be rehearsed outside of class. Actors for the scene are the student's responsibility. The scene will be performed during class time only. Students who do not mount the directing scene (FOR WHATEVER REASON) will not pass the course. Title of the scene you wish to direct is due by------; order of performance will also be drawn on ------This scene will count 1/4 of total grade.

10.. COURSE WORK: PRODUCTION BOOK-Each student will be required to make a production book about their scene. You will be given detailed information and all required material concerning the production book. The book is to be turned in immediately after the performance of your scene. This book will count 1/4 of total grade.

8. COURSE WORK: DIRECTOR'S TALK-Each student will talk to the class following their scene. This talk will be detailed at a later date. This will count 1/4 of the following grade.

9. STUDENT'S ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND ALL PERFORMANCES OF STUDENT DIRECTED SCENES. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO CRITIQUE ON PAPER EACH SCENE THE DAY IT GOES UP AND TO HAND THAT CRITIQUE TO THE DIRECTOR.

If you miss any scenes, for whatever reason, you will be required to attend an outside theatre performance and to submit a formal typed, double spaced 10 page critique of that play in place of the studentscene. This is the student’s responsibility: please do not wait for me to remind, instruct, question etc. your follow-up: simply turn in the formal critique with a program attached. THESE CRITIQUES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE LAST DAY OF CLASS! THE PENALTY WILL AFFECT YOUR 1/4 PARTICIPATION GRADE...... IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DROPPED TO ‘D’...... regardless of your prior (and possibly stellar) grade! (hard and fast rule)

10. No particular office hours are kept, however I will be glad to see you, please make an appointment. My email is cboone @ uh.edu Office phone: 713-743-2910

11.*********To the class of spring 2008: Starting from the last day of class ------……count the days backwards. Two scenes go up each day. This is how you discover when the scenes begin. We will draw on ______(The larger the class, the less lecture time, please be aware!)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (this schedule may have a tendency to slide up or down, but we will get it all in)

Jan 15tmake sure everyone is qualified to take the course. Syllabus discussed. Hand out advice from other directing classes.

Begin discussion on auditions.

Jan 17thAssign group teaching on chapters in the text. Discuss.

All editions of the text have the same information, it is some

times in different pages…….we will figure out the changes in your edition.

Each group 1 and 2 will be given 2 days in same week for your teaching, Group 3 will be given 1 day.

Group #1 Part I, Taking a play apart: Play Analysis; The Director’s Primary Study

Names:

Group #2 Part II Communication 1: The actor-director relationship; Visual tools

(ignore picturization)

Names:

Group #3 (smallest group) Part III: Communication II: The actor-director relationship: oral tools

(Ignore major project 1a and 1b)

Names:

Continue to discuss auditions/ discussion of choice of project title

Jan 22tLecture: How to pick a play in general/

Jan 24thcontinue lecture/ free question period about anything thus far

Jan 29tGroup #1

Jan 31thGroup #1

Feb 5tFollow up discussion on info in Group # 1

Feb 7thcont’ follow up, Titles of play due for discussion

Feb 12t Group #2

Feb 14thGroup # 2

Feb 18tFollow up on Group #2

Feb 21thcont’ follow up, titles due, picturization assigned

Feb 26t Picturization due

Feb 28th Cont’ Picturization

Mar 4t Assign blocking of first page of your scene/ Streetcar assigned/discuss things to decide in play

Mar 6thBlocking

Mar 11tBlocking

Mar 13thBlocking

Mar 18tDiscuss spines for play and each character (their through line) Blocking may cont’

Mar 20thStreetcar due for discussion, all thoughts and answers must be written down

Mar 25tContinue Streetcar

Mar 27thGroup #3

Apr 1tFollow up Group #3

Apr 3thFree day for any and all questions

Apr 8tundecided/ scenes may start today

Apr 10th

Apr 15t

Apr 17th

Apr 21t

April 24thLAST DAY OF SCENES

PLEASE HOLD THE FINAL TIME AVAILABLE FOR UNFORSEEN EMERGENCIES