The Director’s EyeThe Director’s Eye

Stage Composition—Creating Stage Composition—Creating memorable stage picturesmemorable stage picturesEmphasize the character who Emphasize the character who

is most important in the is most important in the momentmoment

Stage CompositionStage Composition

4 elements of Stage Composition4 elements of Stage CompositionBody positionsBody positions

Strongest: full front—important linesStrongest: full front—important lines22ndnd strongest: full back—special cases strongest: full back—special cases33rdrd strongest: ¼ front—used in shared scenes strongest: ¼ front—used in shared scenesWeakest—profile Weakest—profile

Stage areasStage areasCharacters closer to the audience (downstage) vs. Characters closer to the audience (downstage) vs.

away from the audience (upstage)away from the audience (upstage)Strongest stage area: DCStrongest stage area: DCWeakest stage area: ULWeakest stage area: UL

Stage CompositionStage Composition

Levels create a more interesting visual Levels create a more interesting visual picturepictureCreated by using platforms, stairs, etc.Created by using platforms, stairs, etc.Person who is at the highest height is the Person who is at the highest height is the

focusfocusPlanes—positioning actors at different Planes—positioning actors at different

depths on the stagedepths on the stageDiagonals—create tensionDiagonals—create tensionSame plane—equal focusSame plane—equal focusTriangles create tension for 3+ actorsTriangles create tension for 3+ actors

Stage CompositionStage Composition

The 4 elements of composition help to The 4 elements of composition help to determine the FOCUS of the scenedetermine the FOCUS of the sceneWhere the audience should be looking and Where the audience should be looking and

which character they should be watchingwhich character they should be watching4 elements of composition determine 4 elements of composition determine

the emphasisthe emphasisDirect emphasis=1 character focusDirect emphasis=1 character focusDuo emphasis=2 character focusDuo emphasis=2 character focusDiversified emphasis=multiple focal pointsDiversified emphasis=multiple focal points

Onstage MovementOnstage Movement

Considerations…Considerations…NEVER MOVE WITHOUT A PURPOSENEVER MOVE WITHOUT A PURPOSE

If you can’t answer why you are moving, or If you can’t answer why you are moving, or if the answer is “because the script says to”, if the answer is “because the script says to”, then DON’Tthen DON’T

Think about the actions you need to take to Think about the actions you need to take to accomplish your objectiveaccomplish your objective

Hidden motives?Hidden motives?Character interaction?Character interaction?Physical obstacles on the set?Physical obstacles on the set?

Onstage MovementOnstage Movement

How does the audience interpret onstage How does the audience interpret onstage movement?movement?

1 actor moves toward a stationary actor=1 actor moves toward a stationary actor=ConfrontationConfrontation

1 actor moves away from a stationary actor=1 actor moves away from a stationary actor=AvoidanceAvoidance

Both actors are moving (chase)=Both actors are moving (chase)=Both confrontation and avoidanceBoth confrontation and avoidance

Any movement onstage pulls audience Any movement onstage pulls audience focus!focus!