Download production Skills - Earlston High School

rd
3
Year
Drama
EARLSTON HIGH SCHOOL
Production Skills
PRODUCTION SKILLS
Unit Outline
What is it?
You will gain knowledge and understanding of a range of production skills.
You will use these skills to enhance drama when presenting. You will work
with others to develop a performance concept as an actor or in a production
role. You will learn how to evaluate their progress and that of other learners.
What skills will I gain?
Once you have completed this unit, you’ll be able to:
1 Analyse a range of production skills in drama
How will I do this?
1.1 Responding to stimuli, including text, to generate ideas for a production
1.2 Applying a range of production skills to communicate ideas
1.3 Evaluating the use of a range of production skills
2 Apply a range of production skills in drama
How will I do this?
2.1 Selecting appropriate ideas to develop a performance concept
2.2 Applying a range of production skills within a production
2.3 Evaluating their contribution to the drama and that of others
Assessment: Keeping evidence of your progress
You’ll need to provide evidence that you are able to
 generating ideas for a production concept
 analysing a range of production roles
 applying a range of production skills
 evaluating your own work and that of others
This evidence can be oral, recorded and practical evidence.
These pictures show various production areascan you work out what they represent?
This acronym helps you remember the Drama Process.
How fast can you recall what it stands for?
Script
A script consists of the written words of a drama. A
script may be published or original work.
The conventions associated with a script include:
- the division of the script into acts and/ or scenes
- a description of the set for each act/ scene
- an indication of changes of time and place for
each act/scene
- the allocation of lines to characters
- the inclusion of stage directions
- advice to actors on delivery of lines
- recommendations on the use of theatre arts to
enhance the action
These conventions should apply in the reading,
writing and interpretation of scripts.
Basic Play
Appreciation
Theatre Production Unit
Basic Play Appreciation - Acting
Extract title
My extract is from the play
The play is written by
I will be playing the role of
Basic outline of the plot of the extract
Characters in the extract
Themes/ issues that appear in the extract
Mood and atmosphere
Basic Play Appreciation – Your Production Area
Extract title
My extract is from the play
The play is written by
I will be playing the role of
Basic outline of the plot of the extract
Characters in the extract
Themes/ issues that appear in the extract
Mood and atmosphere
Research
It is important that as a performer and member of a
theatre production team that you do some research
into the extract that you are performing. This will
allow you to develop your character in depth.
As a member of a theatre production team you it is
essential that you understand the social and cultural
influences of the extract that you will be staging. This
includes what life was like in the era that the extract is
set.
Research
The following research should be based on the
extract which you are ACTING in.
Title of extract:
For homework research the following:
- The era (time/year) in which the play was set
- What was life like in that era?
- What kind of things did people have to deal with
in those times?
- Did people behave differently in that time?
It would be helpful for you as an actor to watch
some excerpts from the play that you are performing
in.
Task
Search for the title of your play on You Tube and
watch a few excerpts. Use the space below to make
some notes particularly about the way in which YOUR
character was portrayed.
Research
The following research should be based on the
extract which you are Teching in.
Title of extract:
For homework research the following:
- The era (time/year) in which the play was set
- What was life like in that era?
- What kind of things did people have to deal with in
those times?
- How was life different?
- How were the everyday things that people use
(Telephones, Televisions, MP3 Players etc) different
- Was electricity used? Or candle light?
- What were the clothes that people wore like?
- Is there anything else relevant to your technical role?
It would be helpful for you as an actor to watch some
excerpts from the play that you are performing in.
Task
Search for the title of your play on You Tube and watch a
few excerpts. Use the space below to make some notes
particularly focussing on the use of props, costume, lighting,
sound, set and make up.
The
Production
Team
Theatre Production
Theatre production team
As you will see from the diagram below, a production
team has many responsibilities. These may sometimes
overlap with the responsibilities of others.
Director
Stage Manager
Sound Tech
Lighting tech
Actors
Designer
Props
Wardrobe
Make up
There are many people involved in the production of
a play. You will be taking the responsibilities of one of
these roles named above.
In this section, we are going to look at (1) who these
people are and (2) what they.
Set
The Production Team
1. Director
The director is responsible for leading the actors through
discussion and rehearsal to performance. At the same
time he/ she must liaise with the crew and, in particular,
the stage manager and set designer to ensure the best
possible results.
2. Actor
Working on your chosen topic through improvisation, you
will eventually perform with the help of your director and
behind the scenes staff. Don’t forget – without them there
will be no production.
3. Stage Management
You have the overall responsibility for the smooth running
of the performance. You will work closely with both the
director and the set designer and, after the dress
rehearsal, you effectively take control of the production.
4. Props
When a script has been decided upon, the director,
stage manager and designer will discuss what they
need and, more importantly, what is available. Props
which cannot be found will have to be made.
Borrowing props is cheaper than buying, but do
remember they are your responsibility and must be
returned to their rightful owners!
5. Lighting/ sound
You will be responsible for lighting the set and all sound
effects. If the script requires many lighting and sound
changes, two people may be needed here. You will have
to make a lighting and sound plot and produce the best
results from what may be very limited equipment.
6. Costume
You may be very lucky to have a good wardrobe
department in school. If not, finding suitable clothes for
your actors to wear, especially period costume, may
prove a challenge. Alterations, laundry and maintenance
of costumes will be your responsibility
7. Make-up
Working closely with your director, designer and the
costume team, you will decided what make up will best
suit each character. Remember in a studio/ classroom
production, your audience will be near the actors, so
heavy, obvious make up should be avoided.
8. Set design
Working with your director, you will study the script and
the acting area and decide how best to design the set.
The size of the stage area and the placement of your
audience should influence your decisions, as well as
availability of scenery, lights, rostra etc.
The Production Team
Use the space below to make notes on the roles and
responsibilities of the each member of the production
team
1. Director
2. Actor
3. Stage Manager
4. Props
5. Lighting and Sound
6. Costume
7. Make up
8. Set Design
The Theatre
Arts
Theatre Arts is the collective name for lighting, sound, costume,
props, make-up and set
We use theatre arts in our drama to enhance it in the following ways
 Make the drama more realistic
e.g. The actor playing the doctor wears a white doctors coat and
carries a stethoscope.
The actor playing a man beaten up in the fight has fake blood and
bruising to make the audience believe he has been hurt.
Using a sofa, television and door flat to show a living room scene.
 To add mood and atmosphere
e.g. In a fight scene, using a red flood light and playing a fast, angry
song to show anger.
Theatre Arts Terminology
Lighting
Term
Definition
Lighting descriptions
Slow fade to The lighting/ sound is faded out slowly
Fast fade to
The lighting/ sound is faded out quickly
Snap to
Blackout is achieved instantly
Crossfade
To change from one lighting cue to
another with no blackout in between
Blackout
The acting area is not lit
Fade up/
To brighten or dim the lighting
down
Wash
The whole acting area is evening lit
Types of lanterns
Flood
Lantern giving a wide spread of light
Follow spot
Powerful profile used to follow actors
around the acting area
Fresnel Spot Lantern giving a soft edge beam of
light
Profile Spot
Lantern giving a hard edge beam of
light
Spotlight
Beam of light created by a lantern for a
Learn Date Check
person or place on the acting area
Other
Gel
Focussing
LFX
Film placed in front of a lantern to
change the colour of the beam
Positioning the lanterns to get the
desired lighting
The quick way to write ‘lighting effects’
Lighting Desk Control board for lighting
Sound
Term
Definition
Sound descriptions
Slow fade to The lighting/ sound is faded out slowly
Fast fade to
The lighting/ sound is faded out quickly
Fade in
To bring the volume up
Fade out
To bring the volume down
Crossfade
To change from one sound cue to
another with no silence in between
Types of sound
Live (SFX)
An SFX is operated on cue during the
performance e.g. a doorbell, a phone
ring, a knock
PreAn SFX is recorded on tape and played
Recorded
on cue during the performance.
(SFX)
Other
Mixing Desk
Control desk for sound
Learn Date check
Lighting and sound exercises
Read the following scenario’s and make notes on how you would use lighting
and sound to enhance to the scene
The Graveyard
Opening stage picture
It is midnight in an old Victorian graveyard. A storm is brewing. Suddenly two
characters appear.
Lighting
Sound
Costume
Term
Costume
Costume
Definition
learn date check
Clothes worn by actors for their
character
Types of costume
Hats
Items worn on the head in keeping with
the character being played
Jewellery
Items worn on ears, neck or wrists in
keeping with costume worn
Wigs
Artificial hair in a variety of colours and
styles for any character part
Other
Costume list A list of all costumes for each character
in a drama
Period
Costume which reflects clothing from a
costume
time in history.
Props
Term
Props
Props
Definition
learn date
(Short for properties) items used or
carried by an actor, or items on the set.
Types of props
Personal
An item carried or worn by a character
prop
e.g. glasses, handbag, wallet
Set prop
An item placed on the set, usually part
of it e.g. a lamp, clock, picture
Other
Props table
Table in the wings on which all props
are placed for actors to collect as they
enter
Look
at these two faces
and read the
check
character information written below each picture
Name: John Robertson
Name: Judith Evans
Age: 65
Age: 27
Occupation: Retired Gardener
Occupation: Doctor
List two personal props and two itens of costume for these characters
Character A
Personal prop 1
Personal prop 2
Character B
Personal prop 1
Personal prop 2
Make up
Term
Definition
Learn Date Check
Types of make-up
Fake blood
Powder, liquid or capsules which
create the effect of bleeding
Foundation
The basic skin colour
Liners
Sticks of make-up in different colours
used to create lines, bruised, shading,
highlighting etc
Pencils
Soft pencils in different colours which
are easily smudged and blended
Scarring
Scars created with make-up, putty or
scarring material
Stipple
Used to create an unshaven look or
sponge
the appearance of cracked veins
Tooth varnish Used to create the look of a missing
tooth by blacking out an existing one
Highlighting
Using light colours to make face areas
stand out
Shading
Using colours to make facial areas look
shrunken
Spirit gum
Glue used to attach hair to the face
Costume 1
Costume 1
Costume 2
Costume 2
Set
Term
Definition
9 areas of the stage
Centre Stage The centre area of the stage
(C.S.)
Centre stage The left hand side of the acting area as
left (C.S.L)
the actor faces the audience.
Centre stage The right hand side of the acting area
right (C.S.R.) as the actor faces the audience.
Down stage
The middle part of the stage nearest
Centre
the audience
(D.S.C.)
Down stage
The part of the stage nearest the
Left (D.S.C.) audience on the left as the actor faces
the audience
Down stage
The part of the stage nearest the
Right
audience on the right as the actor
(D.S.R.)
faces the audience
Up stage
The middle part of the stage furthest
Centre
away from the audience.
(U.S.C.)
Up stage Left The left hand part of the stage furthest
(U.S.L.)
away from the audience
Up stage
The right hand part of the stage
Right(U.S.R.) furthest away from the audience
The 9 Areas of the stage
Learn Date Check
Exercise
Task: Fill in the nine areas of the stage
Centre Stage
(C.S.)
Audience
Set
Term
Set Vocab
End on
Ground plan
Key
Rostra
Sight lines
Theatre in
the round
Thrust
Avenue
Proscenium
Arch
Definition
Learn Date Check
The centre area of the stage
The left hand side of the acting area as
the actor faces the audience.
The right hand side of the acting area
as the actor faces the audience.
The middle part of the stage nearest
the audience
The part of the stage nearest the
audience on the left as the actor faces
the audience
The part of the stage nearest the
audience on the right as the actor
faces the audience
The middle part of the stage furthest
away from the audience.
The left hand part of the stage furthest
away from the audience
The right hand part of the stage
furthest away from the audience
Types of Staging
Exercise
Look at the following diagrams and identify the type of staging.
Type of staging:
Type of staging:
Type of staging:
Type of staging:
Exam Question
Theatre Arts
(a) Give the following details for a character in your play.
Full name and age
(1)
List three aspects of that character’s personality
1
2
3
(3)
(b) In what ways would you use costume, make-up and personal props to
help portray this character’s personality?
Give reasons for your answer
(7)
Hint: when answering the question, relate back to the three aspects of personality that you
gave. If you said that you character was a kind person, how would you show this through the
theatre arts. E.g. Old clothing to show that they were kind as they gave money to charity rather
than spending on expensive clothing. Personal props of tissues and plasters so that they could
help others who were in need, would also show kindness.
Standard Grade Drama
Initial/ final assessment
Theatre Arts/ Conventions
Theatre Arts
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Rarely
I am aware of how lighting can enhance my
drama
I am aware of how sound can enhance my
drama
I am aware of how set can enhance my
drama
I am aware of how props can enhance my
drama
I am aware of how make up can enhance
my drama
I am aware of how costume can enhance
my drama.
I am able to discuss how theatre arts
enhanced my/ others drama
I am able to write how theatre arts
enhanced my/ others drama
Presenting
I concentrate and stay focussed when
performing
I can create interesting and believable
characters
I stay in character for the whole
performance
I can complete a performance without
turning my back to the audience
I can complete a performance without
corpsing or masking.
I learn lines in time for a performance
I am able to ask for a prompt if lines are
forgotten and stay in character throughout.
Evaluation
Targets
My targets are:
1.
Targets Achieved by exam? (tick)
Comments
Signature Teacher:
Signature Parent/ Guardian
2.
3.
Signature Pupil: