STAGE TECHNIQUES
T225 Directing & Performance


Area of Stage: When actors stand downstage centre, they attract the greatest degree of audience attention

Position of Actor’s Body: When actors face the audience, they achieve the greatest emphasis. They lose impact when they turn away.


Direction of Actors’ looks: The actor at whom other actors focus their attention receives major emphasis

Separation from group: An actor isolated from others usually gains audience attention.

Movement: An actor in movement attracts more attention than actors who are stationary


Levels: An actor on a different level than others gain emphasis. Standing actor amongst sitting actors = attention. Sitting actor amongst standing actor = attention

Lighting: An actor more brilliantly lighted or an unlighted actor in silhouette attracts more attention.

Costume: An actor costumed differently than others inevitably attracts attention

Pictorial Composition: Elements of scenery may direct the spectator’s eye to a key actor. Eg actor at a doorway, windows, staircase etc.


Stage versus TV and Film

Most of the stage techniques can be directly transferred to film.
The primary difference between stage and screen, is that a camera replaces the live audience.

The closer they are to the camera, the more impact the actors will have, the more powerful will be their actions, reactions, and words they utter


Sources:
Directing Television and Film
Alan A. Armer, California State University, Northridge