Topics in Acting for the Screen (369-0-20)

Instructors

Spencer Parsons

Meeting Info

Louis Hall 118: Tues 6:00PM - 8:50PM
Louis Hall 106: Thurs 6:00PM - 7:50PM

Overview of class

This course will examine problems of performance for camera in both documentary practice and documentary techniques in creating and/or capturing performance for fiction. For undergraduate students focused on screen acting, the class offers an opportunity to practice at performance for camera and in rehearsal/workshop conditions, both in collaboration with graduate students more experienced with filmmaking than performance. Exercises will be structured as opportunities for MFA and undergraduate students to learn from one other from perspectives of filmmaker and performer. With the awareness that documentary subjects often perform for camera as much as actors do in fictional films, we will screen and discuss films in class, using traditional dramatic scene analysis to consider issues and techniques of performance in both fiction and documentary. What can actors learn from documentaries? What can documentarians learn from performance in fictional narratives?

We will begin with documentary and anti-illusionistic practices from the theater, such as the living newspaper and neo-futurism, moving on to traditional documentary work complicated by the performances of subjects, documentary re-enactments, and devised fictional narratives. Assignments require students to work on both sides of the camera and to perform live acting exercises in class, though undergraduates will spend more time in front of camera.

Learning Objectives

Skills developed and evaluated will be regular performance practice for audience and camera, as well as dramatic scene analysis of fiction and documentary performance. Students will both perform and direct performance for assignments. Assignments will include live performance in class and short sketches and films to be shot out of class, as well as leading and participating in discussion of films shown in-class. As in-class critique, discussion, and performance of scenes are essential to the subject matter, class participation will be particularly emphasized.

Class Materials (Required)

100 NEO FUTURIST PLAYS FROM TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND by the Neo-Futurists

All other readings provided for free as PDF.

Personal hard drives for editing class projects. Loaner hard drives from the Cage can be used by students with insufficient resources.

Class Notes

By instructor permission. Please email Professor Parsons to enroll.

Class Attributes

SoC Additional Distro