FTV 522 Directing Screen Performance Film and Television MA Program Kadir Has University Spring 2012 Syllabus

Instructors: Murat Akser & Tevfik Baer Instructor email: makser@khas.edu.tr & tbaser@gmail.com Schedule: Wednesdays - (4pm - 7pm) - Seminar Room OBJECTIVES: This course will provide the student with extensive practical knowledge and techniques in the direction of actors in motion pictures and television. It will help the director develop a working vocabulary of acting terminology, and provide methodology for working with actors during casting, rehearsal and shooting to achieve the highest quality performance obtainable. It will teach how to communicate with actors in a real world situation so that the director can gain trust and work in unison with the actor towards the common goal of creating a great finished product. Additionally, this course will provide each student with the opportunity to demonstrate and cultivate his/her effectiveness as a director through exercises with actors, in and out of the classroom, and through the presentation of class scene work. This course will give the student a basic process with essential tools to use as a guild in working with actors in all theatrical visual mediums. Assessment: Grades will be based on the individual student's attendance, participation, completion of assignments and progress in understanding and mastering the skills that the class is intended to teach, namely directing actors for the screen. Attendance 10% Class Participation 10% Homework 30% Presentation of Scene 50% Total 100% Since this is a practical course, strongly oriented toward group activity, ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. A total of (3) absences will be permitted. SHOOTING SCENE WORK: Students will be expected to bring a Panasonic or TDK (brand) mini DV tape to class on the day they direct their final scene assignment. A ucla camera operator will be provided for shooting and will return the mini DV tape to the student when done. The students are then responsible for digitizing their own footage and burning to DVD (for presentation in class) or the students may work out a deal with a fellow student, independent of class. Text: Judith Weston, "Directing Actors," Michael Wiese Productions, 1996 Lenore Dekoven, "Changing Direction," Focal Press, 2006

COURSE SCHEDULE Class 1 - Introduction to course. (Feb 1, 2012) - Directing for Film vs. Directing for Stage - The true reality of directing actors for film. What is it really like? - What is a Director's main task when working with actors? - What do actors want from a director? - Intro to casting / interviewing actors (two guest actors may do live demo) - Outlining the difference in the three stages of directing actors (casting, rehearsal & shooting) - Explaining Acting Exercises for semester * Submit 2 min dramatic or comedic scene for casting, rehearsing and shooting presentation in upcoming classes (instructor will decide who will direct which submitted scene) * How to get actors for scenes - Auditions in 2 weeks * Where to get actors for scenes and where to affordably audition them * What to look for in the actor and how to evaluate auditions. * Demonstration of the audition process using professional "in class" actors. (Simulate audition on camera w/Two guest actors + Q&A if time allows) * Casting against type. * Can the actor take direction? * Dealing with young actors vs mature actors * Auditioning the person as well as the performer * Selecting scenes for class presentation. Details and requirements of class. Directing Actors For The Screen *Assignment: A) Due before next class-Choose a two page, two character scene from well know movie. Both characters should be in their 20's. Scene should also be emotionally challenging or have subtext. Email scene to instructor at least three days before class. Bring in hard copy of scene to class. Class 2 - (Feb 8, 2012) * Screen audition footage from previous class to demo audition adjustments or "feeding the actor" or being the "problem solver." * Schedule for presentation of scenes * Discuss importance of paying attention and participation in other students in order to learn how to work with actors. * Students get Director Numbers and class schedule. - Director's Scene Form - What it is and how to use it. - Directors preparation. Scene analysis, Premise, objectives, conflicts. Detailed instruction on breaking down a scene. - How to audition actors. How to work with actors during audition session. How to give adjustments. How to read a resume. Who do I cast? - Creating & Posting Casting Notices. Reviewing actors Pictures and Resumes to setup Casting session (choose min of 6 actors to audition per role) - Beginning to learn the Actor's vocabulary and how to use it. (screen Hoffman example) - Giving notes to actors (validate positives before addressing issues. Be specific)

- Schedule IN CLASS rehearsal presentation with actors and student directors *Assignment: A) Analyze with Director's Scene Form as per our discussions in class. To be handed in along with hard copy of your two page scene. B) Post Audition notice and schedule casting actors. Supply copies of scene to actors. Actors should be cast by Class #3. C) Rehearse actors and schedule rehearsal presentation with actors in class. Directing Actors For The Screen Class 3 - (Feb 15, 2012) - Bonus Casting Session (last min replacements if needed using Alex acting students) - How to create a detailed character analysis for each part. - Character Breakdown Form (how to use it for rehearsal) - Focus on Actors use of objectives, intentions, active verbs to structure a performance through exercises and discussions. - Focus on Subtext and the use of Action Verbs to help Actors identify the deeper meaning of text and to make actable choices. - Show headshots of selected actors for scenes and discuss why student cast them. - Possible Acting exercises to demo concepts. (sense memory, effective memory, etc) - Improv demo (possibly with two guest actors) *Assignment: A) Continue to rehearse with actors for presentation in class. Class 4 - (Feb 22, 2012) - Stage one of rehearsing: Common knowledge, Read through, Improv, Blocking, Locking it in. (demonstrate in class using professional actors and students) - Screen rehearsal process by 2 major directors to demo rehearsing actors and "feeding actors" - Should actors know about the shot? - How to know when you've got it. - A short history of acting styles. Different approaches to acting. Classical training vs Method based training. American vs. British approaches. What are internal and external approaches to developing character? (poss dvd demo) - Directors 1-5 will rehearse scenes in class and discuss for the first time. We will open with discussion of student issues, concerns, questions, etc and with Q&A. - Schedule rehearsal presentation with actors in class. Directing Actors For The Screen *Assignment: A) Continue to rehearse with actors for presentation in class. Class 5 - (Mar 7, 2012) - Directors 6-10 will rehearse scenes in class and discuss for the first time. We will open with discussion of student issues, concerns, questions, etc and with Q&A. - Focus on the rehearsal process. The use of objectives/intentions to shape and drive a scene. Opposing actions create conflict or drama. - Emphasis on listening and reacting. - Showing not telling. - What NOT to say to actors. - The style of the material dictates the style of acting. A definition of terms and genres. Anatomy of Drama & comedy or "the Joke."

*Assignment: A) Continue to rehearse with actors for presentation in class. Class 6 - (Mar 14, 2012) - Directors 11-15 will present scenes in class and discussion for the first time. We will open with discussion of student issues, concerns, questions, etc and with Q&A.lass - How to focus a scene. - The evolution of a performance. - Working "moment to moment" through exercises (improv, prepping an actor). Also discussing Emotional Memory, Imagination, the use of images and substitutions. All of the above mentioned techniques will demonstrate the process the actor uses in reaching the emotional intensity a scene requires. Directors' will become familiar with these different methods in order to assist actors based on their own specific process. The Actor's Choices are his strongest tool, his talent. (poss Guest Actors) - Poss DVD directing actors screening *Assignment: Directing Actors For The Screen A) Continue to rehearse with actors for presentation in class. - Directors 16-20 will present scenes in class and discussion for the first time. We will open with discussion of student issues, concerns, questions, etc and with Q&A.lass - Staging through the blocking of actors and cameras. Organic staging of scenes. Stage business or activity to emphasize or serve as counterpoint to a scene. - Physical vs. mental objectives. - Helping build an actor's character. Exercises to develop and demonstrate choices in character work. (i.e. people watching, wardrobe, emotional life, etc) - Why the actors need to know that action begins before "action" and continues after "cut." - Emotional continuity as important as physical continuity. - Poss DVD directing actors screening *Assignment: A) Continue to rehearse with actors for SHOOTING scenes in class. Class 7 - (Mar 21, 2012) SHOOT! * Scenes will be shot on video in class. Each student will bring his own TDK mini DV tape and have 30 minutes to shoot scene. - Directors 1-5 will present scenes in class and shoot. *Assignment: A) Continue to rehearse with actors for SHOOTING scenes in class. B) Students responsible for bringing edited scene for screening on final meeting or bring back mini DV tape to scene at least two takes of raw footage. Actors For The Screen * Scenes will be shot on video in class. Each student will bring his own TDK mini DV tape and have 30 minutes to shoot scene. - Directors 6-10 will present scenes in class and shoot.

*Assignment: A) Continue to rehearse with actors for SHOOTING scenes in class. B) Students responsible for bringing edited scene for screening on March 20th or bring back mini DV tape to scene at least two takes of raw footage. Class 8 - (Mar 28, 2012) SHOOT! * Scenes will be shot on video in class. Each student will bring his own TDK mini DV tape and have 30 minutes to shoot scene. - Directors 11-15 will present scenes in class and shoot. - Time allowing we will review "The Actor's Director" and how they work. (DeNiro on Scorsese, Mann, Coppola) A) Students responsible for bringing edited scene for screening on March 20th or bring back original mini DV tape to screen at least two takes of raw footage for class. * Scenes will be shot on video in class. Each student will bring his own TDK mini DV tape and have 30 minutes to shoot scene. - Directors 16-20 will present scenes in class and shoot. - Time allowing we will review "The Actor's Director" and how they work. (DeNiro on Scorsese, Mann, Coppola) A) Students responsible for bringing edited scene for screening on March 20th or bring back original mini DV tape to screen at least two takes of raw footage for class.

Class 9 14 (April-May 2012) * Edited scenes or partial raw footage will be SCREENED in class and discussed. No actors allowed to attend since we will be discussing issues that may relate to a specific performance. - Final Q&A summary of course work. - Students are responsible for eventually giving actors copy of their scene