The document discusses various aspects of blocking in theater including definitions, body positions, blocking positions, blocking notation, upstaging, and ideals of effective blocking. It defines blocking as the choreography and movement of actors on stage as established by the director. It describes different body positions actors can take such as full front, profile, and three-quarter back and how they convey different levels of strength. It discusses how blocking positions relate characters to each other and the audience. Notation for blocking and concepts like upstaging and effective use of levels and diagonals are also covered.

1. BLOCKING
J. DAVIS
JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

2. Definitions:
 The choreography of the play established by the director and
actors. (Wainstein)
 The movement of the actors through the setting. (Patterson)
 The director is an image-maker…Blocking is the process of
stimulating actors to image-making through ground plan,
composition, gesture, improvisation with properties, picturization
and movement. (Hodge)

5. BODY
POSITIOINS

9. BODY POSITION
REVIEW
 Full Front - the actor faces the audience and is considered
to be the strongest of the body positions.
 Full Back position has the actor standing with his back to
the audience, usually for a brief period. This body position
is usually used for dramatic effect.
 One-quarter front position the body is turned a quarter
away from the camera or audience either facing slightly left
or right.
 Profile position - When the actor stands or sits facing either
to the left or to the right allowing the audience to see only
one side of the face and body.
 Three-Quarter Back Position the actor turns his body nearly
full back to the camera or audience, either left or right so
only one side of the head and shoulder is visible. It is the
weakest of the five positions.

10.  Blocking positions are the positions of the characters relative to one another and to
the audience.
 Each position has a strong or weak value and affords opportunities to emphasize
certain dramatic elements of the characters, their relationships, and the story.
 When more characters are added to the scene, blocking positions are usually
determined by one’s relationship to the character dominating the thrust of the story at
that moment.

13. Blocking Notation
 Once a scene has been blocked, the actors must execute the same movements during
rehearsals and performances. Thus, actors must memorize their blocking as well as their lines.
 During blocking rehearsals, most actors use a pencil to note their blocking in their scripts –
pencil, not pen, so that if the blocking changes, the pencil marks can be erased and the new
blocking noted.
 Actors and directors use a sort of “shorthand” for blocking notation. Rather than write out “Walk
downstage right and stand behind the sofa,” however, an actor would make notes using
abbreviations. Any stage movement from one area of the stage to another is called a “cross,”
and a quick way to indicate cross is the use of an “X.” So, an actor’s blocking note to self for the
above blocking could look like this: “XDR to US of sofa.”

16. Upstaging
 When an actor makes himself the focus by moving upstage forcing
his acting partner to turn away from the audience.

17. Diagonal: When 2 actors are at opposite
ends of the stage
Levels: The Height difference that tells
us who to watch.
LINE:

18. Ideally, blocking should enhance the story on the stage by:
 Reflecting the authentic behavior of the characters – a character’s movements can reveal
just as much and sometimes more than his or her words do.
 Reflecting the relationships between and among characters.
 Giving the focus to certain characters at appropriate moments (helping the audience
know where to look).
 Allowing the audience to see what they are supposed to see and not what is meant to be
hidden – either as part of the play or an accidental peek backstage.
 Creating effective stage pictures – strong, pleasing, horrific – that convey the meanings
and moods of the play.
 Making effective use of the set.

19. The end.