9 ExCEL - Behind the Scenes Home
Welcome to the 2011 "Behind the Scenes" wiki.
Upcoming Excursions
Weds. 21/3 - Rivergum Theatre, Parade Bundoora campus (P.5 and 6)
Weds. 18/4 - Melbourne Theatre Company and ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)
Resources for this Unit
"Romeo and Juliet" (1996) - Directed by Baz Luhrmann
"Romeo and Juliet" (1968) - Directed by Franco Zeffirelli
Backstage Theatre Quizzes
Technical Theatre Quiz
Many theatre-goers are familiar with the actor's experience, but how much do you know about
what goes on behind the scenes, and the terminology used by technicians?
Click on 'Play: Flash Quiz' once you are in.
http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Humanities/Technical-Theatre-224277.html
light/sound/stage cues, grid, loading in, catwalk, dresser, gathering furniture, pipes, dark
days, series of walls, changeover
Mastering Theatre Lingo
If you're an avid Actor this quiz should be a breeze. However, if you are only just starting
to get involved in the world of Theatre, this quiz may be an excellent learning experience!
Click on 'Play: Flash Quiz' once you are in.
http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Humanities/Mastering-Theatre-Lingo-205390.html
stage left, stage right, upstage, downstage, the ‘House’, blocking, strike the set, ad libbing,
curtain call, beat, subtext of a line
Elements of Stagecraft
'Stagecraft' refers to the technical aspects of theatre, film, and video production.
Stagecraft elements include the use of music, sound, lighting, sets, costumes, makeup, props,
ICT, etc to enhance a theatrical dance, drama, or music production.
Ms Lynch has kindly provided us with some Powerpoint Presentations that may be helpful in
analysing different aspects of stagecraft for your first Assessment Task "Portfolio Assignment".
These Powerpoints can be accessed on the 'publication area' of our subject on E-workspace.
Thanks Ms Lynch!
Mime Makeup
Applying an Undercoat for Mime Makeup
http://www.ehow.com/video_2382443_apply-undercoat-mime-makeup.html
How to Apply Makeup to Eyes
http://www.ehow.com/video_2382446_apply-mime-makeup-cheeks.html
How to Apply Makeup to Eyebrows
http://www.ehow.com/video_2382449_apply-mime-makeup-eyebrows.html
How to Apply Makeup to Lips
http://www.ehow.com/video_2382450_apply-mime-makeup-lips.html
William Shakespeare and "Romeo and Juliet"
Some Facts About Shakespeare
- He was born on or about the 23rd April 1564 in
the town of Stratford-on-Avon in England.
- At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway,
who bore him three children: Susanna, and twins
Hamnet and Judith.
- Between
1585 and 1592, he began a successful
career in London as an actor, writer, and part
owner of a playing company called the Lord
Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.
- Romeo and Juliet is believed to have been written between 1591 and
1595.
- He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three
years later.
How "Romeo and Juliet" Begins
The play is set in Verona, Italy, where a
feud has broken out between the families
of the Montagues and the Capulets. The
servants of both houses open the play
with a brawling scene that eventually
draws in the noblemen of the families and
the city officials, including Prince Escalus.
Resources for Romeo and Juliet Assignments
Assignment task sheets have been added as attachments to this page.
Portfolio Assignment
** Once you have finished your assignment, go to the N Drive. Within the N
drive, there is a folder call vfox, where you are to save your work.
Some images from "Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet":
Production Brief Project
Step 1: Decide on which story you are going to use for this task.
Step 2: Decide on who is going to take on each of the areas below for the project.
** Attached to this page is a 'Powerpoint Presentation Plan' you may wish to use in structuring
your Powerpoint for your Presentation next week.
Costumes
Soundtrack/Sound Effects
Set Design and Props
Publicity/Poster
Costumes
In being the Costume Designer, you may want to start by looking at the 'Costume Powerpoint' on
our 'Behind the Scenes' Publication Area within the Parade College website. It provides you with
some good information on Costume Design.
Also, think about your first assignment you completed (your 'Portfolio' assignment). Some of you
did quite a bit of analysis on the 'Costumes' area within the Baz Luhrmann film as part of this
assignment. Remember that for a character costumes reflect personality.
Your Task
You are to design costumes for a couple of characters from your play (first and foremost, for the
characters that will appear in the scene you present to the class next week). Think carefully about your
designs and once you have finished them, add them in as slides in your group's Powerpoint that you will
present to the class.
** Include a short paragraph that explains why you've chosen those costumes for those characters, how
the costumes reflect the personality of your characters, etc.
Once you've designed the costumes, attempt to source them so that they can be brought in and worn by
the actors for your scene next week.u are to design costumes for a couple of characters from your play
(first and foremost, for the characters that will appear in the scene you present to the class next week).
Think carefully about your designs and once you have finished them, add them in as slides in your group's
Powerpoint that you will present to the class.
** Include a short paragraph that explains why you've chosen those costumes for those characters, how
the costumes reflect the personality of your characters, etc.
Once you've designed the costumes, attempt to source them so that they can be brought in and worn by
the actors for your scene next week.
The following are two examples of 'costume' being effectively analysed for the 'Portfolio
assignment':
Here are the Capulet boys. Their costumes give an instant feeling of power and danger.
Almost giving them off as gangsters. The black clothes symbolise negativity and power.
Like the black fog looming over the victim. The way that the guns are displayed,
very openly and on the chest, give off a feeling of intimidation.
Soundtrack/Sound Effects
Think about the fact that music can do a lot in contrasting the themes of good v's bad. If you
have contrasting themes within your play, such as love and hate, you will probably want to think
about contrasts with your choice of music too. Remember that music is such a powerful tool in
contributing to the mood within a play/film.
Your Task
You are to choose/create a soundtrack that could go with your play. List the songs you would cho
part of this soundtrack.
You are to work out the music that would go with the scene you've created. Work out when
the music would come in (ie. at what point within the scene), and at what point it would finish.
Work closely with the other members of your group in determining this. Also work out any
sound effects that would enhance your scene, and then go about choosing them.
I have around 500 sound effects on my computer that can be used for the task.
Include slides within your group Powepoint that show the choices you have made with
soundtrack/sound effects. Be willing to provide the class with a rationale for each of your
choices.
Set Design and Props
Your Task
Develop a set design that could go with your scripted scene. Think about what the set
would look like; where things would be positioned within the set; the colours that you
would use in producing the set (remembering that colours tie in with the emotions
you are wanting to portray).
Also, you may want to put together a Powerpoint of your own, with a couple of images
(or a series of images) that will be a 'backdrop' in your scene, helping to create the context
for your story at that point. Discuss this with the rest of your group in determining whether
to employ this type of stagecraft element.
Props - Work out the props that are required for your scene and be the person to
organize/source these props.
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Edit tags
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More tools Feature page
o Un-Watch page
o Add attachment
Publicity/Poster
Your Task
In being the Publicity Director/Poster Designer, you may do the following in undertaking your ro
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Do a write up for a local newspaper (an example of a write up is attached to this page)
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Design a poster for your play. Some examples of Theatre Show posters are included on
this page. Some examples are just 'Teaser' posters - they tease you with the bare minimum
of details, often just the title of the play and an eye catching visual/illustration relating to the
show. Other examples are those of 'Complete' posters, with details such as dates of shows,
venues, ticket prices, contact person and phone numbers, etc.
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** Your write up/posters will end up being included as slides in your group Powerpoint that
you will present next week. Along with any posters, you will need to include a paragraph
explaining the design choices of your teaser and completed posters. Explain the reasons as to
why you chose the colours and images you did.