Course Syllabus

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SAC LogoIntroduction to Directing Syllabus

SAC DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS                               Professor: Amberly Chamberlain

TH 153 – Introduction to Directing, Fall 2018                                                         Office: P106-1

T/TH, 11:55 – 1:50pm                                                       email: chamberlain_amberly@sac.edu

Phillips Hall, P105      Office Hours: T/TH 10:00 - 10:15am, 1:50pm - 3:20pm, 5:15 - 6:00pm

COURSE SYLLABUS                                                                    

This syllabus is a contract. By accepting this syllabus you are agreeing to the terms for grading, attendance, participation, and workload as set out herein.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The study and application of directing theory, process, and technique, which will culminate in a student-directed project production for public performance. Included are the fundamentals of script analysis, designer collaboration, character development, staging, actor coaching, and presenting.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate ability to interpret and translate a script to the stage.
  • Conceptualize and compose a script analysis and dramaturgy.
  • Analyze dramatic textual components and incorporate them into a performance.
  • Demonstrate and utilize the aesthetics of staging a production.
  • Utilize appropriate staging and blocking rules for creating visual pictures.
  • Utilize and apply an casting techniques.

COURSE CONTENT

  • Students will examine various approaches to the development and implementation of theatre directing process, including:
    • Overview of the history of directing and the significant shifts the discipline has undergone.
    • Overview and analysis of major tenets of directing theory and their uses in the pedagogy of theatre directing.
    • Overview of seminal directors and their approaches to creating theatre productions.
    • Overview of emergence of new trends in the field and the overall impact this has on theatre.
    • Approaches to dramaturgical analysis critical in developing directorial vision of material.
    • Sociological, historical and psychological research necessary for understanding dramatic material and developing means to illuminate themes, style and vision.
    • The nature and function of the directors’ role in the creation of a production.
    • The terminology of theatre directing as applied to directing concept, collaborative design and rehearsal processes.
    • Distinctions between the various disciplines in the theatre and the role of the director in conceptualizing and guiding a theatre process.
    • Creation of director promptbook for the production process.
    • Creation of overall rehearsal process outline, identification of goals for process and techniques for physicalizing the text.
    • Hands on application of learning as applied to directing scenes.

Student Learning Outcomes Tools/Assessments

  • Demonstrate an understanding of theatre directing theory and history of the art form.
  • Ability to apply the knowledge of directing theory to textual analysis of dramatic text.
  • Ability to apply the knowledge of directing theory to the creative directing process including research methodologies, conceptualization of directorial vision, collaborative design practices and rehearsal techniques and process.
  • Demonstrate the utilization of directing theory in pedagogical practice.
  • Analyze the connections between dramatic literature and the director’s interpretation through the lens of historical and contemporary socioeconomic, political and philosophical meaning.
  • Interpret individual dramatic texts through the application of directorial perspective.
  • Demonstrate directorial skills that enhance appreciation of dramatic literature and transform it into performance.
  • Acquire skills for developing and implementing a directing process.
  • Articulate and have a command of the required vocabulary effectively to communicate with collaborators including designers, actors and stage managers.
  • Acquire oral presentation skills.
  • Acquire the knowledge to effectively direct a scene.

REQUIREMENTS

PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE. You are required to attend the Fall semester SAC Theatre Arts Department productions. If attendance would cause a financial burden, ushering is available. Please email Karina Rebolledo at Rebolledo_Karina@sac.edu to sign up. Sign ups will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. The productions this semester will be:

Rabbit Hole – November 10that 2:00pm/7:30pm & 11th at 2:00pm/6:30pm

Los Faustinos – December 6th – 88h at 7:30pm & 9th at 2:00pm/6:30pm

PARTICIPATION. This class is highly based on participation & ultimately, the only way to progress. Grading will be affected by your attendance, preparation, and participation in all exercises. Since this is an experience-oriented class, absences cannot be made up, nor any exercises or performances missed due to an unexcused absence. It is imperative that you are in class.

CONDUCT. Since everything you do in class is reflected in your grade, especially your participation and collaboration with other students, please respect the space, your colleagues, and the working environment. This includes arriving early, be helpful to others in class when they ask for it, and helping the instructor return the room to its “status quo” condition at the end of class. All cell phones must be turned off or put in silent mode while class is in session. Do not check messages, send text messages or play games during class. Students found using these devices will be asked to leave and receive an unexcused absence for the class meeting.

REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE. In order to ensure that all students get appropriate rehearsal time for their work, many classes will be reserved for rehearsals. All rehearsal time must be respected. In particular, private rehearsal time with the instructor is on a tight schedule; you should be early to your scheduling time. Students may not schedule other events during this time. Students will be expected to both check in (at the start of rehearsal) and check out (at the end of rehearsal) with the instructor. Be early for rehearsals and be ready to work. Be responsible for creating a good work environment. Be respectful of others. Set up agreed rehearsal times and honor them. Any physical demands must be simulated and properly discussed and rehearsed so as not to endanger yourself, your actors or scene partners, or classmates. Clean up the room after your work: it must be in order for subsequent classes. Weapons of any sort (real knives, guns etc.) are not to be used in scene work, ever. If your scene requires a weapon of any sort, check out a fake one from the properties department. These policies apply to all in-class exercises and outside rehearsals.

Recommended TEXT.

  • R.Gurney. The Dining Room.

*This text is required, as well as with any play chosen for the final scene.

  • Brook, Peter. The Empty Space. New York; Atheneum, 1968
    • The Shifting Point. New York, 1994
    • The Open Door. New York; Parthenon, 2005
  • Cole Toby and Chinoy Helen. Directors on Directing. New York; Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1963
  • Delgardo Maria M. and Heritage Paul. In Contact with the Gods. New York; Manchester University Press, 1996

Lastly, it is the student’s responsibility to keep their email information updated in order to receive important updates from both the instructor and school. This also involves alerts for emergencies.

ATTENDANCE

Every student is allowed two (2) unexcused absences. Four (4) unexcused tardies equate to one unexcused absence. Please note, leaving early is considered the same as arriving late. Excused absences are determined by the following reasons only: 

  1. Illness or injury to the student.
  2. Death, injury, or serious illness of an immediate family member or the like.
  3. *Religious reasons (California Education Code section 89320)
  4. *Jury duty or government obligation
  5. *University sanctioned or approved activities

Asterisked excuses must have a minimum of one week advanced notification. Documentation for any of the above listed exceptions is required upon your return to class. Upon your third unexcused absence, you are considered dropped from the course. If absences/tardies occurs after the drop deadline, the student’s grade will lower 5% for every excessive absence and 2.5% for every excessive tardy. If a third absence occurs before the drop deadline, it will be up to the instructor’s discretion to allow the student to remain in the class, only after an evaluation of the student’s work ethic has been made & the student agrees to be placed on probation. If a student decides to withdraw from the class or it is suggested that they do so, it is their responsibility to do the paperwork involved in doing so. The instructor will not do it for them. The student will receive an “F” for the semester if they fail to remove themselves from the class roster before the withdraw deadline. These grades cannot be changed at a later date, for any reason!!!

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. Be prepared to discuss all SAC Theatre productions from a directorial, theoretical and practical perspective and take a quiz on what you saw.
  2. Direct a three to five minute scene from The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney.
  3. Direct a three to five minute scene, written by playwright of your choosing (with instructor approval).
  4. Present a “Conceptual Point of View Presentation” to your fellow company members.
  • This presentation will no longer than three minutes in length.
  • The presentation will model the first meeting you would have with your design
  • (The format will be discussed in class, with guidelines to be posted.)
  1. Conduct an in-class rehearsal and a final presentation for both scenes.
  • Creating and executing marketing for the final production.
  • Creating and executing a compelling lobby display for the production.
  • Attending all technical rehearsals and ensuring your cast also attends.
  • Providing and procuring all technical needs of the play you are directing (costumes, props, sound, and out of the ordinary requests) for the production.
  1. Conduct three hours of rehearsal per week for the above scenes.
  2. Submit a detailed, organized and thoughtful promptbook for both of the above mentioned scenes, due the first class day after your final presentation. (Guidelines to be discussed and posted.)

*NOTES ON CONCEPTUAL POINT OF VIEW PRESENTATION:

For the assignment, the student should perform well in all of the following categories: A. Following directions, as stated by the guidelines.

  1. Having a personal and exciting take on your scene work that springs from a deep analysis of the text.
  2. Creating a clear one-sentence statement of your concept that marries both content and form, and suggests a theatrical journey.
  3. Discussing all possible elements engaged in production, including (but not limited to) scenery, lighting, costumes, sound and casting.
  4. Providing a presentation that is practiced, charismatic, and communicates your ideas in both verbal and visual forms.

For more specific requirements, please see grading rubric and guidelines.

**NOTES ON WRITTEN WORK THAT ACCOMPANIES SCENE WORK:

The student is expected to perform well in each of the following categories:

  1. Your prompt book must be neat, following the directions that are given, thoroughly documented, and show creative insights into text analysis and realization of directorial ideas on paper.
  2. Your written self-assessment must be two pages in length, typed, must include detailed working objectives, and provide clear and compelling analysis of the extent to which you achieved them.

For more specific requirements, please see guidelines and grading rubric and guidelines.

All assignments must be typed unless otherwise stated. Use of incorrect grammar and/or spelling constitutes a lower grade. PROOFREAD AND DO NOT WRITE LIKE YOU TEXT! All assignments must be turned in by its due date and time, whether you are in class that day or not. Absolutely no late work will be accepted, even for a partial grade. If absent on a performance date, whether excused or not, no make ups will be allowed. If the absence is excused, the missed points will not be counted against the student & the points will be adjusted accordingly. In regards to quizzes & exam, no make-ups will given, unless absence is excused & must be taken on the day the student returns to class or in advance if the student knows ahead of time. (It is not the instructor’s responsibility to remind a student of a missed exam; it is the student’s responsibility to ask upon return.) One last caution, if you arrive tardy to class after or during answers being given to a quiz or exam, the student will not be allowed to take that quiz or exam. So, be on time!

GRADING (Est. points available for the class.)

Class Participation (31 @ 5 pts)           155 pts

Quizzes (2 @ 10 pts)                                20 pts

POV Presentation (2 @ 50 pts)            100 pts

Promptbook (2 @ 50)                            100 pts

Scene Rehearsal (2 @ 50)                     100 pts

Scene Performance (2 @ 50)                100 pts

                                                        Total:  575 pts

Grading scale:

575 - 515 pts = A

514 - 458 pts = B

457 - 400 pts = C

399 - 343 pts = D

342 - lower     = F

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

All students are expected to adhere to the college’s Academic Honesty Policy. Cheating and plagiarism (copying or passing off someone else’s work as one’s own) are serious offenses. Cheating and plagiarism will result in an “F” for the assignment/quiz, referral to the Dean & can be cause for expulsion.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS

SAC is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities, upon the timely request made by the student to the instructor.  If you require any special accommodations or if you need additional time to complete tests/projects on a regular basis, you must notify the instructor upon receiving and reviewing the course syllabus.  Otherwise, you will be expected to adhere to the information included in this course syllabus without alteration. Verification of the disability must also be provided.  Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSP&S) functions as a resource for students and faculty in the determination and provision of the accommodations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Free Bus Pass

Students can use their SAC student ID cards to ride any OCTA fixed route bus service for free during the 2018-19 academic year. You must get your student ID card encoded in the Cashier’s Office, VL205, in order to ride. Limitations do exist.

Book Loan Program & Scholarships

The Associated Student Government of SAC provides $100 book vouchers for students in need. More information can be found at https://sac.edu/StudentServices/StudentLife/Pages/ASGBookLoan.aspx. Scholarships can also be applied for through the SAC Foundation. More information can be found at https://www.sac.edu/foundation/Scholarships/Pages/default.aspx.

Please note: If deemed necessary, the class instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at anytime, in order to accommodate the size and abilities of the class. Students will be given ample notice and any changes will be made in writing and handed out in a revised syllabus.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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