A DIRECTOR'S PRODUCTION GUIDELINES

taken from the WHSFA manual

FUNDAMENTAL PRODUCTION DECISIONS

*Genre -- comedy, tragedy, musical, children's show, fantasy, etc.

*Time/Locale

*Style -- melodrama, comedia, etc.

*Period -- historical, contemporary, etc.

*Desired audience response

*Interpretation of playwright's intent

PRODUCTION ASPECTS (SENSORY IMPACT)

*Costumes

*Make-up

*Set

*Props

*Lighting

*Sound

ACTING

*Character analysis

*Concentration

*Believability

*Timing

*Sustaining character

*Motivation (why do the characters do and say what they do and say?)

*Physical aspects

-Creative business -- special individual movements, postures, gestures which define characters

-Movement

-Ensemble playing -- working as a cooperative group of actors

-Action/reaction

-Staying "in" the scene

*Vocal

-Relationship of voice to character

-Pronunciation

-Articulation

-Volume, projection

-Dialects and accents

-Rate

DIRECTING

*Blocking, stage pictures

*Tempo, pacing, rhythm

*Balance -- visually and in acting ensemble

*Making the show unique -- "your own"

*Rising action, climax, falling action