Application
Directors of film, media and stage production that involve a number of performers apply the skills and knowledge contained in this unit. Even though directors act with a high degree of autonomy and are ultimately responsible for realising the production's creative vision, they are members of a production team and need to collaborate with technical and administrative personnel during rehearsals and final productions. Skills associated with directing television programs are covered in: CUFDRT401A Direct television programs and segments. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Plan rehearsals. | 1.1. Breakdown script or brief to establish achievable rehearsal schedules for production. 1.2. Establish key dramatic elements to be addressed in rehearsal, and plot and document scenes. 1.3. Note areas of scripts that require special attention and prioritise scenes that may need additional emphasis in rehearsal. 1.4. Undertake research from a range of sources to enhance artistic interpretations of script materials. 1.5. Liaise with relevant production personnel to ensure availability of rehearsal infrastructure and production requirements. 1.6. Establish effective communication processes with relevant production personnel and ensure that documentation requirements are fulfilled. |
2. Conduct initial read-throughs. | 2.1. Brief relevant production personnel on intended creative, dramatic and technical aspects of productions. 2.2. Initiate appropriate rehearsal exercises with a view to establishing cast cohesion and communication within production requirements. 2.3. Conduct an initial read-through of script materials to identify key dramatic elements and proposed visualisation of narrative. 2.4. Discuss interpretations of script and characterisations with performers and record responses for potential inclusion in productions. 2.5. Provide performers with additional materials and sources to assist with their interpretation of characters and to enhance the quality of their performance. |
3. Conduct rehearsals. | 3.1. Conduct appropriate rehearsal exercises and strategies, incorporating innovative ideas to enhance overall performance. 3.2. Assist performers to understand the plan for realising the translation of scripts from written to visual narratives. 3.3. Discuss dramatic elements of scenes with performers and work together to refine and improve quality of performances. 3.4. Assist performers to take account of a range of performance factors as they work on realising the relationship between the visual and narrative aspects of scripts. 3.5. Monitor disposition of performers throughout rehearsals and create an environment that allows them to achieve optimum results from their performance. 3.6. Develop and establish blocking and staging of each scene with relevant production personnel, noting input from participants. 3.7. Ensure performers understand the context of blocking and staging arrangements in each scene. 3.8. Provide feedback to performers during rehearsals in a clear and constructive manner. |
4. Direct final rehearsals. | 4.1. Liaise with relevant production personnel to finalise technical and design requirements for a full dress rehearsal. 4.2. Conduct final rehearsals, incorporating planned and rehearsed aspects of the production. 4.3. Evaluate all aspects of rehearsals, including own performance, and note areas for improvement. 4.4. Provide constructive feedback to relevant production personnel on their performances and invite comment on the rehearsal process. |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
communication skills sufficient to: explain narrative concepts, story-lines and characterisation requirements to performers during rehearsals provide constructive feedback to performers during and after rehearsals respond appropriately to feedback from others on the rehearsal process negotiate arrangements with production staff and performers in ways that foster a positive rehearsal environment work closely with team members high level of initiative, enterprise and creativity in the context of: developing ideas to a final outcome in original and innovative ways demonstrating originality and innovative approaches in the creative directing process being open to a wide range of ideas and approaches to visualising scripts generating original and fresh approaches to visualising scripts determining how a story can be carried forward from one scene to the next and throughout an entire production technical skills sufficient to use standard word processing and spreadsheet applications in preparing documentation in relation to the directing process planning, organising and literacy skills in the context of: analysing complex outlines and scripts to plan character development undertaking background research to enhance understanding and appreciation of production contexts addressing and solving problems and challenges in a timely and collaborative manner self-management and learning skills sufficient to: show strong leadership qualities refine the quality of performances through an ongoing process of experimentation experiment with narrative conventions and elements to develop and extend one's own directing practice provide appropriate and timely production documentation manage a number of tasks concurrently work under pressure to tight deadlines. |
Required knowledge |
well-developed understanding of character development and the craft of screen or stage acting knowledge of communication techniques, including effective listening, questioning and non-verbal cues industry knowledge, including: roles and responsibilities of screen, media and entertainment production personnel sound understanding of artistic and technical elements associated with productions, e.g. staging, lighting and sound issues and challenges that arise in directing performers conventions and practices of directing for the screen or stage broad historical and cultural context for types of productions relevant to area of work visual story-telling techniques techniques to transpose written to visual narrative conditions of industrial awards and workers' compensation in relation to participation of cast and crew in rehearsals OHS standards as they apply to directing performers. |
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: directing of rehearsals that demonstrate: effective communication with cast and crew ability to develop strategies to plot and plan performances knowledge of all technical, staging and artistic aspects of a production ability to meet production deadlines. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: access to productions that require the directing of performers availability of performers access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required the use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed. |
Method of assessment | The following assessment method is appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance observation of the candidate directing performers during rehearsals to assess candidate's ability to communicate effectively with performers written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUFDRT502A Direct performers CUFDRT602A Audition and select performers CUFDRT603A Direct screen production crews. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Productions may include: | advertisements/commercials animations documentaries factual programs, e.g. science programs feature films infotainment interactive media live performances music videos promotional presentations shorts television series and serials training videos. |
Dramatic elements may include: | act changes attitude character: sub-text objectives actions history turning points director's vision nature of dramatic conflict plot production genre, e.g. drama, comedy or panel rhythm relationships between: characters cast members cast and director cast and technical staff scene function script narrative and story-line style, e.g. period, contemporary, rock or classic theme timeframe and location tone. |
Rehearsal infrastructure may include: | cameras catering lights make-up props sets sound tables and chairs toilets transport venues, e.g. studio, theatre or local hall wardrobe. |
Production requirements may include: | budget codes of practice confidentiality content contractual copyright deadlines duration genre of production intellectual property location purpose schedule. |
Production personnel may include: | actor associate producer camera operator co-producer director director of photography first assistant director gaffer head of department: make-up wardrobe performer presenter producer production designer production manager script writer sound operator stage manager technical producer. |
Documentation may include: | accident report forms agent lists artists' call sheet, e.g. publicity call sheets bump-in schedules cast and crew call sheets company/organisation lists contact lists contracts distribution lists dressing-room lists front-of-house information ground plans memos petty cash forms preliminary cue synopses production meeting agendas production meeting minutes production plans production schedules props lists rehearsal reports rehearsal schedules scene breakdown and working division scenery lists technical plots, e.g. fly plots and dome plots texts tour itineraries understudy and covers lists venue information wardrobe lists |
Rehearsal exercises may include: | blocking and staging improvisations: character situational movement, such as stretching, stage, yoga and aerobics physical vocal. |
Performers may include: | actors animals and handlers animations audience extras musicians narrators presenters puppets stunt performers. |
Materials and sources may include: | actual events existing dramatic material imagination in loco experience internet magazines newspapers personal experiences radio research of characters research of settings |
Performance factors may include: | context of each scene within the whole narrative how the story is carried forward through the production as a whole the mise en scene. |
Context for blocking and staging arrangements may include: | camera movement camera position lighting sound. |
Technical and design requirements may include: | cameras lighting make-up props sets, e.g. substitute furniture or flats sound taping floor space wardrobe. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Media and entertainment production - directing |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.