Unit 7 - Preparing for the FMP

• Performing Arts
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Unit 7

Preparing for the FMP

Wednesday 

9am to 11am - Progress tracking, Class diary, explanation/activity, student presentation 

11:20 to 12:20 - final student presentation

13:20 to 14:20 - Upload Evaluation of Performance Set up blog for unit 7 

Afternoon: get together and make a list of what you would like to do for your FMP - Upload your presentation in your blog. As well as bibliography

WARNINGS!  

YOUR BLOG IS YOUR ARTISTIC PORTFOLIO NOT JUTS A COLLEGE WORK don't be just a student be a professional! 

Extra blog sessions on Thursdays at 13:20

WHO: Leo, Lily-Anna, Ruby, Cassie and Nyx 

Missing Evaluation from Blog

• Lily-Anna
• Nyx: haven't seen your weekly schedule
• Remy 
• Romaniia
• Ruby
• Ryan
• Saad

• Axel
• Luna can't see the uploads you said you would do! 
• Chloe
• Dinesh
• Leo 
• Lily
• Lourdes I haven't seen all the work in your blog

Friday 

9am to 11am - Read a possible script and a summary of "Our town", "Spring Awakening" and " Fear and Misery of the third Reich". 

https://campuspress.yale.edu/modernismlab/spring-awakening/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Town

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_and_Misery_of_the_Third_Reich

15:20 to 16:40 - Production meeting. Finalise ideas for what our FMP will be 

While actors are often the most visible members of a production, there are many behind-the-scenes roles that are equally important. Without these team members, a production would not be able to run smoothly.

Introduction

WHAT ARE THE BACKSTAGE ROLES IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION?

Crew roles and responsibilities 

• Producer
  
• Stage Manager
  
• Assistant director
  
• Acting coach
  
• Marketing team
  
• Design team
  
• Light Design
  

• Set design
• Musical Director
  
• Costume
  
• Make up

Role: 

The producer is responsible for overseeing the financial, administrative, and logistical aspects of the production. They handle budgeting, hiring key staff, and ensuring the show has the necessary resources to run.

Duties:

Secures funding for the production (e.g., investors, sponsors, ticket sales).

Works with the director and other team members to make high-level decisions.

Ensures the production stays on schedule and within budget.

Example: 

In a Broadway show, the producer might decide whether to cast a celebrity to draw in more audience members or allocate funds for a grand set design.

Producer 

Role: 

The acting coach works with actors to help them develop their performances, ensuring that they deliver believable, compelling portrayals of their characters.

Duties:

Works one-on-one with actors to refine their craft.

Offers advice on voice, movement, emotion, and motivation.

Helps actors with understanding their characters’ backstories, motivations, and relationships.

Example:

An acting coach might work with an actor to help them nail a difficult emotional scene by providing relaxation techniques or voice exercises

Acting Coach 

Role:

The assistant director helps the director by supporting various aspects of the production, including working with actors and organizing rehearsals.

Duties:

Assists with rehearsals, focusing on specific scenes or actors.

Helps with blocking (the movement of actors on stage) and character development.

May take over for the director if needed, especially during rehearsals.

Example:

 The assistant director might work closely with actors to develop their characters, providing feedback on performances and helping them refine their lines.

Assistant Director 

Role: 

The stage manager is the organizational backbone of a production. They ensure everything runs smoothly during rehearsals and performances.

Duties:

Coordinates rehearsals, calling cues for lighting, sound, and actors during the performance. Maintains prompt books (detailed scripts with technical cues) and keeps track of all elements in the production. Acts as the communication hub between the director, cast, and crew.

Example: 

A stage manager might call “places” before the show starts, make sure all props are set correctly, and ensure actors are on stage at the right time.

Stage Manager 

Role: 

The makeup designer creates makeup and prosthetics that help transform actors into their characters.

Duties:

Designs makeup looks for characters, including special effects makeup or prosthetics. Applies makeup before each performance and ensures that it remains intact throughout. Works with the costume designer to ensure a cohesive look for each character.

Example: 

For a character who ages over time, the makeup designer might apply aging makeup to make the actor appear older, or for a fantasy play, they may create fantasy creatures with elaborate prosthetics.

Makeup Designer

Role: 

The design team collaborates to create the visual and aesthetic elements of the production, such as costumes, sets, and lighting.

Duties:

Designs visual concepts that complement the director’s vision. Works together to create a cohesive look for the production. Handles the construction and installation of the sets, costumes, and props.

Example: 

The design team might decide on a color palette that reflects the mood of the play and help design costumes that reflect the time period and character traits.

Artistic Director / Design Team 

Role: 

The musical director is in charge of overseeing all musical elements of a production, especially in musicals.

Duties:

Conducts the orchestra or manages the band. Works with the cast to ensure that vocals and music are performed correctly. Arranges music and rehearses singers and musicians.

Example: 

The musical director might rehearse the cast with the orchestra, ensuring that everyone is in tune and that the music matches the mood of the scene.

Musical Director 

Role: 

The set designer is responsible for creating the physical environment in which the performance takes place, ensuring that it visually represents the play’s setting and time period.

Duties:

Designs and builds the set, including furniture, props, and backdrops. Coordinates with the lighting designer to ensure the set is lit properly. Works within the budget and space constraints to create the most effective set design.

Example: 

For a play set in the 1920s, the set designer might create art-deco furniture, a vintage bar, and a backdrop depicting a city skyline.

Set Design 

Role: 

The marketing team is responsible for promoting the production, generating buzz, and selling tickets.

Duties:

Develops advertising campaigns (social media, print, TV). Creates promotional materials like posters, trailers, and programs. Manages the online presence and engages with the audience through various platforms.

Example: 

The marketing team may create a viral social media campaign showcasing behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals, or they might work with local media outlets to get the show featured.

Marketing Team 

Role: 

The costume designer is responsible for creating and selecting costumes for the actors that reflect their characters and the world of the play.

Duties:

Designs costumes based on the script, characters, and time period. Works with the director to ensure costumes support the play’s overall aesthetic. Supervises the construction of costumes and ensures that they fit properly.

Example: 

For a Shakespearean play, the costume designer might create elaborate Renaissance-style clothing for the lead characters while keeping the costumes historically accurate.

Costume Designer 

Role: 

The light designer is responsible for creating the lighting scheme for the production, shaping the mood, atmosphere, and visibility of the performance.

Duties:

Designs the lighting plot, deciding where lights should be placed and what colors and intensities will be used.

Works closely with the director to align the lighting with the emotional tone of each scene. Operates the lighting board during performances to ensure the lighting cues are executed correctly.

Example: 

For a dramatic scene, the light designer might use dim, blue lighting to create a moody, somber atmosphere, or bright, warm lights to create a happy, uplifting scene.

Light Design 

Friday 

9am to 11am  

- Next Friday Trip 

- How to set up a blog? 

- 5th of February – headshot session  

- National Youth Theatre Application: https://www.nyt.org.uk/auditions 

- Crew Role assignment 

- Blog template: https://veronicasarno4.wixsite.com/website/unit-7

15:20 to 16:40 - Production meeting. 

• the importance of teamwork and collaboration in making a production successful. 
• how each role contributes to the final outcome 
• how one person in a crew position might influence another.

Conclusion 

1. Break into small groups 
2. each group a different crew role.  
3. Design a project for the scene description presented
4. Present the scenarios to the class
5. Explain your process 

Activity 

"1940. A small, cramped kitchen in a rundown apartment in Brooklyng. A worn-out table with two mismatched chairs sits in the center of the room. ANNA, a young woman with tired eyes, is stirring a pot on the stove while MARK, her partner, sits at the table, reading a newspaper with a tense, almost angry expression. The only sound is the gentle clatter of the spoon against the pot"

Scene Description  - TOGETHER

“Late evening, just after sunset. A grand but decaying Victorian house, hidden deep in the woods. Dusty chandeliers hang from the ceiling, flickering with candlelight. Cobwebs stretch across the high-arched doorways, and a grand staircase looms in the centre, its wooden steps creaking under the weight of time. Mysterious, eerie, and suspenseful. Dim, flickering candlelight casts long, distorted shadows. A full moon peeks through cracked stained-glass windows, casting an eerie glow. Occasional lightning flashes through the distant storm, illuminating the room in brief, harsh light. Eleanor Graves, a determined historian, mid-30s, dressed in a long coat and boots, carrying an old leather journal, sits by a large wooden table in the centre, covered in aged, yellowed papers and an old crystal ball. Heavy velvet drapes hang over tall windows, some partially torn. The occasional gust of wind rattling the windowpanes. A whispering voice, barely audible, weaving in and out of the silence. Footsteps echo in the distance when no one is moving.”

Scene Description - By yourselves

ASSINGMENTS

• Research and present what are the main duties of the role you would like to apply for in this production. Research professional pathways to your career choice evolution (places you can work in, vacancies you can apply for, universities you would like to apply for, etc.)

• Research work opportunities in your area and write a statement cover letter and do a mock application for a vacay in your area Reflect on personal strengths and progression. Decide which skills you would like to develop.

• Create your actor’s resume/CV

WEEK 2 - WEDNESDAY

9am to 10am - progress tracking sheet complete, blog finished?

feedback sheet (hand in and signature)

10am to 12:20pm - headshot session

1:20 to 14:20 - blog session 

- check template and assist setting up

- upload your CREW presentation and research

- upload you week 1 rehearsal diary. 

WARNING 

EXTRA BLOG THURSDAY AT 1:20 to 2:10 BY YOURSELVES THIS WEEK

WEEK 2 - WEDNESDAY

14:20 to 16:00 - INDEPENDENT WORK

- Present to class you crew role research.

- RECORD YOU PRESENTATION IN CLASS 

- SEND I TTO ME AFTER CLASS

- UPLOAD IT TO YOUR BLOG THAT EVENING,  MAX NEXT MORNING! 

BLOG TEMPLATE https://veronicasarno4.wixsite.com/website/unit-7

https://veronicasarno4.wixsite.com/website 

TOP TIP

WRITE YOUR REFERENCING / BIBLIOGRAPHY AS YOU GO!!!!!!!

WEEK 2 - FRIDAY

9am to 2pm - Questors visit 

14:30 to 16:20 - 

WATERMANS WEX!!!

Progress tracking sheet Questors 

FMP homework 

Stanislavski Class (overview)  TAK ENOTES 

WEEK 3 - Wednesday

9am to 2pm - 1-2-1 feedback + your contribution essay  

15:30 to 16:20 - FINISH your contribution essay  

Groups and roles

Ruby - costume and assistant director 

Lizzie - 

Lily - 

Axel - costume 

Remy - Runner 

Saad - writer

Dinesh - stunt

Chloe -  researcher

Ryan - mua

Leo - marketing

Lily-Anna - choreographer

Romaniia - acting coach

Lourdes - 

Vampire Hunter 

Villains 

Ouija Board

Scene?

WEEK 4 - WEDNESDAY

9am to 12:20pm - how to build CV and work opportunities apply!  FINISH! 

15:30 to 16:20 - finalize script (reading of all) + finish your rehearsal diary schedule 

FRIDAY - evaluation in group video interview with each group. DEADLINE 28/02