Directing 101
(c) Peter D. Marshall
Here is a quick reference guide I use each time I prepare to
direct a show.
1) THE SCRIPT
ACT ONE (Set Up)
a. who is the main character?
b. what is the premise or theme?
c. what is the situation?
d. what are the main character’s needs and goals?
ACT TWO (Confrontation)
a. what is the dramatic action (obstacles)
ACT THREE (Resolution)
a. how does the story end (what is the solution?)
b. what happens to the main character?
c. what happens to the other characters?
2) SCENE ANALYSIS
a. what is the INTENT of the scene
(what is the scene for dramatically?)
b. what are the MAIN ELEMENTS of the scene
(points to get across to the audience?)
c. what is the EXPOSITION
(what are the characters “doing”?)
d. what is the COMPLICATION
(the drama)?
e. where is the CLIMAX
(what is the turning point of the story?)
f. what is the RESOLUTION
(how is the theme resolved?)
g. what is the CONCLUSION
(how does the scene end?)
h. what are the MAJOR POINTS OF ACTION
(graph them out)
i. where does the IDEA CHANGE?
j. what are the important LINES OF DIALOGUE?
k. where is the RECOGNITION & REVERSAL SCENE for each character?
l. which character CONTROLS, or pushes a scene?
3) CHARACTER ANALYSIS
a. SUPER OBJECTIVE (“Power Over People”)
– what is the primal motivation of the character?
– what are the main needs of the character?
b. OBJECTIVES (“To Dominate X”)
– what does the character want (motives?)
– what are his active choices to achieve the super objective?
c. MAIN ACTIONS (“What They Do To X”)
– what the character DOES…
– to get what he WANTS…
– to fulfill his NEEDS!
4) CHARACTER BACKGROUND
a. what is the character’s background?
b. what was he doing just before this scene?
c. what does the writer say about this character?
d. what do other people say about this character?
e. what does the character say about himself?
5) CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
a. who is the MAIN CHARACTER
(involved with the question)
b. what is the CHARACTER SPINE
(motivation/goals/action)
c. what is the SUPER-OBJECTIVE
(the main needs of the character)
d. what is the OBJECTIVE
(what the character wants/active choices)
e. what is the CONFLICT
(inner/relational/societal/situational/cosmic)
f. what are the THREE DIMENSIONS
(thoughts/actions/emotions)
6) MOTIVE (INNER) DETERMINES BEHAVIOUR (OUTER)
a. CHARACTER EMOTIONS
– SYMPATHY
(audience identifies with the character’s problems and triumphs)
– EMPATHY
(audience understands the emotions that drive the character)
– ANTIPATHY
(audience wants to see the character “get what they deserve”)
b. INTERIOR COMPONENTS (form character)
c. EXTERIOR COMPONENTS (reveal character)
d. what are the MAIN ACTIONS
(what he does to get what he wants to fulfill his needs?)
e. DIALOGUE (moves the story forward)
– motivated by the given circumstances in the scene
– should be consistent with character development
7) SUBTEXT(MES-EN-SCENE/SUBWORLD)
– what is the story beneath the story?
– what generates the action for a character?
– everyone has secret lives/fantasies
– what would it take to motivate this character?
– patterns of behaviour
– DIALOGUE (what is the character trying to say?)
– conflicting worlds
(which characters are in conflict)
– what are the central MOTIFS/IMAGES/SYMBOLS?
– find the quality sensation the audience can feel
– director directs the STORY BENEATH THE MAIN STORY
(director designs the interior)
– generate the subtext to make it believable
– know the story on the surface
– know how to bring the story to life
– find out what generates the action before it happens
(all problems are solved from this concept)
– build an entire past life for your characters
– vicarious experience is as important as real life experiences
– understand behaviour
8) VISUAL CONCEPT
– image structure and style
– what is the PRIMORTAL IMAGE (takes the audience into the world)
– design a MOTIF (concept)
– repeat a motif and it becomes a style
– decide on what the audience is going to see
– devise a DRAMATIC METAPHOR (motifs/symbols)
– what is the pacing/mood?
Copyright (c) 2002 Peter D. Marshall / All Rights Reserved
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