Syllabus

School of Entertainment Arts, Department of Film and Television, Savannah

FILM 768 - Directing Actors Section: 01 CRN: 10365

SCAD Mission:The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizing learningthrough individual attention in a positively oriented university environment.

Course Description:This course emphasizes a variety of topics relating to facets of the art and craft of directing actors. Through individualprojects, academic research and screenings of renowned screen, stage and television directors’ work, this in-depth practicumallows students to accomplish the casting, mounting and realization of a sequence from a feature screenplay focusing oncharacter, sequence and their relationship to the camera composition. Prerequisite(s): FILM 729.

Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:

1. Students will master the skills of communication with actors through knowledge of acting technique and languageand the skill of script analysis in preparation for casting, rehearsing and shooting.

2. Students will also develop the skill of choreographing the actor with the camera for greatest emotional and visualimpact of performance.

Student Learning Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills that studentsdevelop as a result of completing this course:

1. Students will demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of acting technique and the actor’s language.

2. Students will demonstrate communication skills that are based upon an understanding of the actor’s process.

3. Students will demonstrate the skill of script analysis in preparation for casting, rehearsing and shooting.

4. Students will demonstrate shot design skills that bring performance to the screen through the choreography ofthe actor with the camera.

Schedule of Classes:

Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates:

Fall 2013Jesse Wolfe

Office building, room: ADLER HALL /Room 309Phone: (912) 525-6419

Office hours: Monday-Thursday 1:45-2:45pEmail: jwolfe@scad.edu

Building/Room: ADLER 312 Meeting Times: Monday / Wednesday

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Class 1:Mon,

September16, 2013

LECTURE: Professor Intro. Go over Syllabus. Discuss parameters of “PROJECTSCREENPLAY”, “CLASS SCENES” and other assignments

ASSIGNMENTS: -Read Post on Blog: “Acting Methods”

Class 2:Wed,

September18, 2013

LECTURE: Discuss “The Actor’s Life-Actor Types. Quick Fix #1- “Breathing”

EXERCISE: Alexander Technique/Relaxation

ASSIGNMENTS: -Select “PROJECT SCREENPLAY” Must fit parameters of project.

Class 3:Mon,

September23, 2013

LECTURE: What Actors Want from Directors. Problems Directors Bring and How toAvoid Them. Result Oriented Direction. Quick Fix #2 “Power of the Mask”

EXERCISE: Meisner-based concentration exercises

ASSIGNMENTS: -Watch Uta Hagen’s “Respect for Acting” video from link on blog

-Choose scene to audition/direct from SCREENPLAY

Class 4:Wed,

September25, 2013

PROJECT SCREENPLAY/SCENE SELECTION DUE- bring to class for approval

LECTURE: The Casting Process- “The Right Actor for the Role”, Effective Castingtechniques and procedures. The Audition – how to run an effective Cattle calls,Call-backs and Interviews. Discuss Character breakdowns.

EXERCISE: “Typing”

ASSIGNMENTS: -Watch HBO’s “Casting By” doc

-Create casting breakdowns for your PROJECT SCREENPLAY

Class 5:Mon,

September30, 2013

CASTING BREAKDOWNS DUE – turn in at beginning of class

LECTURE: The Director’s Toolbox- The 5 Tools of Effective Directing of Actors

EXERCISE: Screen Movie TBD - Discussion to follow screening

ASSIGNMENTS:

-Read “Acting Terminology” from blog site.

-Read the “Actor’s Process” from blog site

Class 6:Wed,

October 2,2013

LECTURE: Script Analysis- Genre, structure, position of characters, the arc, the “givens”

EXERCISE: Watch “The Ten Minute Pitch” and prep your director’s pitches

ASSIGNMENTS: Coordinate Casting Call

Class 7:Mon,

October 7,2013

-PROJECT SCREENPLAY SCRIPT ANLYSIS DUE at beginning of class

-STUDENTS ROUGH PASS AT PITCHING PROJECT

ASSIGNMENT: Prep for Casting Call

Class 8:Wed,

October 9,2013

LECTURE: TBD

-STUDENTS ROUGH PASS AT PITCHING PROJECT (cont’d)

SCREEN: Michael Caine: Acting For The Camera

Class 9:Mon,

October 14,2013

-SCREEN AND DISCUSS CASTING CALL VIDEOS

Class 10:Wed,

October 16,2013

LECTURE: Rehearsals: Creating a Plan, Table Read, Through Lines, Beats, Improv andBlocking

EXERCISE: Improv “Yes and…”

ASSIGNMENTS: -Call back at least one actor for a one on one audition/interview. Must videotape the session. Okay to work in teams (one videos/runs admin while otherdirects)

Class 11:Mon,

October 21,2013

SCREEN AND DISCUSS CALL BACK INTERVIEWS

Class 12:Wed,

October 23,2013

SCREEN AND DISCUSS CALL BACK INTERVIEWS

Class 13:Mon,

October 28,2013

LECTURE: The Actor and the Camera: Establishing Geography, Shot selection, Closeups, Number of Takes, Coverage

EXERCISE: Create scene rehearsal process with class

ASSIGNMENT: Begin to cast your final project on paper

*ATTEND AT LEAST ONE FEATURE SCREENING AND ONE SHORTS SCREENINGAT FILM FESTIVAL

Class 14:Wed,

October 30,2013

LECTURE: On The Set: Effective strategies to efficiently elicit truthful performances

EXERCISE: Analyze scene from CLASS SCENES- discuss effective shooting strategies

ASSIGNMENTS: -Rehearse with actors

*ATTEND AT LEAST ONE FEATURE SCREENING AND ONE SHORTS SCREENINGAT FILM FESTIVAL

Class 15:Mon,

November 4,2013

STUDENT’S REHEARSE WITH ACTORS

Class 16:Wed,

November 6,2013

STUDENT’S REHEARSE WITH ACTORS

Class 17:Mon,

November11, 2013

STUDENTS SHOOT SCENE WITH ACTORS

Class 18:Wed,

November13, 2013

STUDENTS SHOOT/EDIT SCENES WITH ACTORS

Class 19:Mon,

November18, 2013

FINAL PROJECTS DUE: FINAL PITCH, CASTING JUSTIFICATIONS, AND SCREENFINAL SCENES

Class 20:Wed,

November20, 2013

FINAL PROJECTS DUE (cont'd): FINAL PITCH, CASTING JUSTIFICATIONS, ANDSCREEN FINAL SCENES

Grading Opportunities:

Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown:

Assignment Weight

PROJECT SCREENPLAY SELECTION 10%

CASTING BREAKDOWN 10%

SCRIPT ANALYSIS 10%

ROUGH PITCH 10%

CASTING CALL PARTICIPATION 20%

CALL BACK INTERVIEW 20%

FINAL PRESENTATIONS 20%

Grading Standards Range

Letter grade: A = excellent 90 —100 %

Letter grade: B = good 80 — 89 %

Letter grade: C = * 70 — 79 %

Letter grade: D = * 60 — 69%

Letter grade: F = failing 0 — 59%

*Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade.

Course Information:

Field Trip(s):SCAD FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL Productions1.PERFROMING ARTS DEPARTMENT Casting Sessions2.OTHER THEATRICALPRODUCTIONS3.

Extra Help Session(s):Students with an average of "C" or less are required to attend extra help sessions.

Extended Learning Opportunities:

Other Course Information:Midterm conferences are mandatory.

Course Materials:

Required Text(s):Specific textbooks will not be required for purchase. The professor will make required materials available to students viathe course blog site.

Recommended Text(s):-Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances, by Judith Weston Michael Wiese Productions, ©1999, ISBN:0941188248

-Acting for the Camera Revised Edition By Tony Barr Harper Collins Publishers, Inc. ©1997 ISBN 0-06-092819-0

Required Material(s):3-ring notebook (1 1/2 inch), external hard drive, access to computer/course’s blog site.

3-ring notebook (1 1/2 inch), external hard drive, access to computer/course’s blog site.

University Policies:

Academic Integrity: Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff and otherstudents.

In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any workthat is not a product of the student's own efforts is considered dishonest. Students must not engage in academicdishonesty; doing so can have serious consequences.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:1. Cheating, which includes, but is not limited to, (a) the giving or receiving of any unauthorized assistance in producingassignments or taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (b) dependence on the aid of sources including technology beyondthose authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments;(c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university facultyor staff; or (d) the use of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of works of art.2. Plagiarism, which includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published orunpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. Plagiarism also includes the unacknowledgeduse of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.3. Submission of the same work in two or more classes without prior written approval of the professors of the classesinvolved.4. Submission of any work not actually produced by the student submitting the work without full and clear writtenacknowledgement of the actual author or creator of the work.

Attendance and Personal Conduct: Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend and participate in that class. Students are expected toattend and participate in all scheduled classes and examination periods. Absences in excess of four class periods perquarter, or 20 percent of the course, result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course. Tardiness, earlydeparture or other time away from class in excess of 15 minutes per class session is considered absence for the class session.

The student's appearance and conduct should be appropriate and should contribute to the academic and professionalatmosphere of SCAD. The university reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw the privilege of enrollment fromany student whose conduct is detrimental to the academic environment or to the well-being of other students, faculty orstaff members, or to the university facilities.

Enrollment policies: Students are responsible for assuring proper enrollment. See the SCAD catalog for information on add/drop, withdrawals,incompletes, and academic standing.

Midterm Conference(s): Each student enrolled in the course will have a midterm conference scheduled outside of class time with the professor.Students are expected to keep this appointment.

Academic Support and Tutoring: Academic support for students at all SCAD locations can be found in MySCAD, under the Student Workspace tab,Department Directory, Academic Resources.

Course Evaluations: SCAD offers students the opportunity to evaluate all scheduled courses during each quarter term. Student feedback isessential to continuously improve academic services at SCAD. Evaluations will be available the end of each quarter at thebeginning of Week 8 and must be completed online by the Monday following Week 10. A sample course evaluation foron-ground courses is available here.In order to access course evaluations, the student should take the following steps:

Log on to MySCAD1.Click on the Student Workspace Tab2.Locate the Course Evaluations link under My Courses channel3.This will bring up a page that says current surveys and lists all the courses that are currently available for evaluation.4.

For more information or questions, contact us at evaluations@scad.edu. Student Surveys:The SCAD Student Survey and the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory will both be administered in Week 6 ofspring quarter . SCAD's office of institutional effectiveness is responsible for gathering and delivering survey results todecision-makers on campus. For more information or questions, contact us at surveys@scad.edu.

Please refer to the college catalog or the student handbook for all college policies and procedures.