Hi, class!

I’ve decided to post your material here, if you don’t mind, so that I can make a sort of worksheet embedding the videos along with the task to do.

Do these exercises on a Word document or on the document attached at the end of this post.

Watch this video and make notes on the basic terminology you need to learn in order to give and understand stage directions. Then make a list with concepts and definitions.

Now watch this video where Joey is playing his character -Drake Ramoray- in the soap opera «The Days og Our Lives» and Phoebe is acting as an extra character. Then answer the questions.

  1. What happens to Phoebe?
  2. Would you like to act under the orders of this director?
  3. What would you change?
  4. What is for you the perfect acting atmosphere?

Here’s the script of the secene. Bearing in mind the concepts we learnt in the previous video, modify the text by adding your own stage directions.

Phoebe: Joey, look at me! I’m a nurse!
Joey: Yes, you are. I think it may be time for my sponge bath. Sorry, I’m just so used to hitting on the extras. So, are you excited about your scene?
Phoebe: Yeah! But I’m a little shaky and nervous.
Joey: Oh, relax. Don’t be. You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine. They’ll probably just make you stand in the back.
Director: Okay, okay, okay! (To Phoebe) You. Here, come here, here. You’re gonna take this tray, you’re gonna stay on this yellow mark. You’re gonna move on «action!» You’re gonna walk over to the operating table. You’re gonna stop on that blue mark, you’re gonna put the tray down. Don’t walk too fast! But don’t doddle.
Phoebe: Okay, now. What?
Director: And…Action!!
(Phoebe starts walking toward the operating table. Her hands are shaking like crazy, causing the tray to rattle.)
Director: Cut! Cut!
Phoebe: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m just a little nervous.
Director: Well, don’t be.
Phoebe: Okay, that helps.
Director: And…Action!
(Phoebe starts walking towards the table again. She’s even more shaky than before and almost drops the tray.)
Director: Cut!
Joey: Hey, you know what? Don’t worry, Pheebs! It usually takes me three takes too! (Off the director’s look) Alright, eight.
Director: And…Action!
(Ok, here we go again. Phoebe starts walking toward the operating table, but stops every time the tray starts to rattle. She eventually drops it on the floor, but finishes the scene anyway by putting the now non-existent tray on the table.)

You can download the text to edit on this link: FRIENDS SCENE.