Unit
4- Script and Play Analysis
Module
3 - Blocking
Lesson
1 - Making
Pictures and
Levels
Introduction:
Blocking
is the controlled stage movement that actors repeat each time
they do a scene. If you are supposed to cross the stage and go
to the door on the line "What, you miserable frog?",
you have a blocked movement. As you are doing this movement, the
other actors have movements they must complete. Collectively these
movements are called blocking.
This
lesson is designed to help students understand the concept that
blocking makes pictures.
Characteristics
of Good Blocking
If
frozen at any moment, the blocking forms a beautiful picture.
The blocking is consistent with the characters.
The blocking has good variety.
The blocking uses the whole stage.
Each picture employs many levels (sitting, standing, laying).
Eyes are used to create a focus point or person. |
Activities:
Activity
1 - Blocking Check:
• The pictures below show how blocked scenes show emotion,
even when frozen. We can see the relationship between the characters
or see events about to happen. The pictures are more interesting
if we see many things going on, or more powerful if one important
thing is happening.
• Read about each picture, then try the self-check questions.
 |
Picture
1
The
movement that is occurring in the scene beside is clear,
even when it is frozen. D is clearly fleeing the
scene, just as A is clearly hitting E. We
can see relationships in how the characters move to protect
each other (C protects E) or look on indifferently.
Photograph
by Kurtis Hamel.
|
|
Picture
2
The
picture above was more interesting because there were many
things happening. This picture is more powerful because
the focal point of the activity is very clear. A
is the focus of this scene and the "eye" of the
audience knows to follow A.
Photograph
by Kurtis Hamel.
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1.
Who has the most power in Picture 1?
2.
Rank the characters in Picture 2 in order by the power
that they have.
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Activity
Two - Internet Search
 |
Using
the Internet, you should find pictures of scenes from plays.
Look for pictures that fit into 3 categories: stage pictures
that show power, stage pictures that show variety, and stage
pictures that show movement.
The
pictures should be copied into an application that supports
graphics with text underneath. Each of the three categories
needs to contain a minimum of 3 photos with written explanations
of what the pictures show and why. The purpose is to demonstrate
understanding of how blocking functions as a series of pictures.
Remember that all pictures you use must be in the public
domain (copyright free) and should have the URL of the site
you copied them from listed under the photo.
|
How
do I copy
an image
from the net? |
Activity
3 - Blocking a scene:
You
should break into groups of two to five and develop a dramatic
scene without words. Through blocked movement, you must demonstrate
who has the power in the scene and why. The main conflict and
each character's objective must also be demonstrated through movement.
Groups should present their scenes for the class. Following each
scene, the class should discuss what has worked and what has not.
Evaluation:
The Internet blocking pictures should be marked out of /27. One
mark would be given for each picture (nine total), each explanation
(nine total) and each correct placement in a category (nine total).
No marks will be given for pictures that do not have the URL beneath,
and pictures stolen from copyright sources will receive a zero.
Blocked scenes should be discussed as a class (informal peer-evaluation).
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