Blocking and Staging Action

for Story, Performance and Production

Handout 1 of 2: Session #1
What we mean when we talk about story
From the inside out
Story is the detailed character-based narrative of a character's struggles to overcome
obstacles in pursuit of a goal or objective which is meaningful.
From the outside in
Story is the narrative that unfolds on screen when character, plot, action and dialogue
are combined, producing a particular effect, feeling, idea, or all three.
What drives the blocking of a scene?
From the inside out
Given circumstances: The who, what, when, and where of the scene
Objective: What specifically does the character need, want, desire? What's at
stae?
Conflict: What obstacle !internal or e"ternal! stands in the way of our
character getting what he or she wants?
What the character physically does to achieve his or her objective and to
make thought and feelings clear?
Moments: Specific islands of import in the story#s progression or arc$ places in
the script where moments can be made, revealed, and%or portrayed
dramatically. &ictories, defeats, and discoveries are often made there.
From the outside in
1. action
2. reaction
3. interaction
4. line of action continuity line, a!is, 1"#$degree rule%
&. circle of action internal and e!ternal set$u's %
(. c)aracters in relations)i' to eac) ot)er
*. c)aracters in relations)i' to t)eir en+ironment
". s)ot,re+erse$s)ot 'airs
-. t)e .look.
1#. entrances,e!its
11. insert,detail
12. conte!t,am/ience
13. transitions
john.clement.storyline@gmail.com
Demo Lesson Plan