067Y18A02 23rd Feb. Classwork Semiotic of Stagework

As the first part of the class involved your own understanding of the importance of the beginning of a narrative or story I was pleased to see that each group had chosen a different way to underline this lesson.

While this is not an acting class but a class about how to interpret film or theatre I am not here to coach any would-be actors. However, even when you are presenting something in class, try to remember some of the points that we have mentioned.

The main one is not to present things with your backs to the audience. There are two reasons I urge you to remember this.

The first is because its a good lesson to learn in any dealings with people at all. We should always try to be aware of where everyone else is in relation to us. As a boss, as an employer this is just as important as to an actor. An employer who cannot connect effectively with all their staff will not be as effective as one who seems to care about and include everyone who is being addressed. Employees that feel important and included make good employees!

As an employee it is also important to harmony in the workplace as to good workplace relations, if we do not seem to be favouring some of our workmates more than others or to be ignoring some.

Socially, of course, the same thing applies. Maybe some of you have had the experience of wanting to join in a group but finding everyone's back turned to you so that you feel left out or excluded. Its not a very nice feeling. If we are part of a group - of friends or of classmates, we should try to ensure that all of them feel equal and not as though some are being forgotten or ignored.

The second reason is directly concerned with learning about Drama. If you know how difficult it is to keep the position of everyone on-stage, as well as the audience, from being presented with your back (however nice your back view is) you will learn and appreciate more about an actors skill, You will also understand better things like why the set is constructed the way it is, why the director has included certain moves, omitted certain pieces of dialogue and, sometimes, why a play just stinks!!

While this might not seem to be a problem in movies where more than one camera is used in most scenes, it is every bit as important in both setting, shooting and editing a scene. It also explains why some Directors or camera-persons or actors are considered far superior to others. Setting up a scene for the camera is every bit as important as for the stage and can also make the difference between a good movie and a bad one.

Finally, it is almost impossible to hear someone who is talking with their back to you!

I've said we're going to watch Anthony Hopkins movies nest week but I warn you in advance that it is not a linear [in a straight line] narrative. We spent a couple of weeks talking about beginnings and a little about endings. This movie challenges all those ideas. I'm going to be very interested in your reactions.

Btw, the pop quiz was kinda interesting. NOW I know who reads these articles and who doesn't!!