7.9: Lesson 8- Composition/ Stage Pictures

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A stage picture is a visual image that is captivating and tells a story. Think of it as similar to cinematography in film. The images you create tell a story and the beautiful and specific the image the more the audience will value the story. Some directors are incredible at developing stage pictures, some directors are incredible at blocking, and some are incredible at both. Stage trick to a beautiful stage picture is creating an image with visual apex. This is where your training in creating triangles will come in handy.

One remarkable thing about human beings is that we are hardwired to try and make sense of what we are seeing and so when we see an image we will automatically endow it with story. The best exercise I can think of to showcase this phenomenon is to have 4 actors go on stage. Hand one of the actors a tissue and have the actor throw the tissue in the air and while it is floating have every actor move around. Before the tissue hits the ground have the nearest actor catch the tissue and once the tissue has been caught everyone on stage must freeze and look to the audience. While the actors are frozen ask the class what story is being told or what stories are possible with this image? Repeat the exercise multiple times.

Even when you do mean to, your stage pictures are telling a story. What you want to do is create images that tell the story in a beautiful and interesting way. In order to do this you are going to need to fill the image database in your head with beautiful pictures or images that convey story.

Creating your image database

Go online and look up pictures with different themes. Look at the pictures that are the most captivating to you and look at how the people or objects are spaced, the angles and lines they are making, and ask yourself why the image is effective. Search multiple themes and save pictures that you would like to see on stage.

Staging Exercise 1

Select 3 images that you have found while creating your image database. Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end that connects the images and when the actors create the image have them hold in place for 2 seconds. Before you present the scene show the audience the images.
Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
Discuss and critique each scene
Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.

Staging Exercise 2

As a group select 3 unrelated images that found while creating image databases. Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end that connects the images and when the actors create the image have them hold in place for 2 seconds. Before you present the scene show the audience the images..
Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
Discuss and critique each scene
Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.

Staging Exercise 3

Have the instructor or someone in the group provide 2 images and find a final image your image database that would connect the other two pictures. Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end that connects the images and when the actors create the image have them hold in place for 2 seconds. Before you present the scene show the audience the images..
Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
Discuss and critique each scene
Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.