José Angel Santana, PhD

 DIRECTING THE ACTOR II SPRING 2010
(SYLLABUS FIRST PAGE)

Directing the Actor II
H68.2115.01 H68.2115.02
Spring 2010
Friday: 10:00am – 1:00pm   2:00 – 5:00
New York University
Tisch School of the Arts
The Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television
Department of Film and Television 
Graduate Program


José Angel Santana, Ph.D. 
Email: j.a.santana@nyu.edu

DIRECTING THE ACTOR II continues to explore and focus on the best practices for Directors working with Actors: the task to GUIDE THE ACTION; the concepts of ACTION, OBJECTIVE, and JUSTIFICATION; the process – TO SEE, TO EXPERIENCE and TO SHARE.

Students will practice guiding the specific actions by leading actors in both group and paired improvisations. To do so, student directors will learn the dynamics of dramatic structure from an actor’s point-of-view. Students will learn about the deeper implications of ACTION, OBJECTIVE and JUSTIFICATION and how it informs the craft of acting and directing in the service of dramatic writing.

Through the use of improvisation, from both the actor's and director's point-of-view, student directors will learn of the great importance of the concepts: THE REALITY OF DOING, CONTACT, LISTENING AND ANSWERING, THE INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY, THE MOMENT, COMMON KNOWLEDGE, RELATIONSHIP, SPECIFICITY, and BEHAVIOR, as they relate to the making of narrative motion pictures.

In tandem, student directors will learn script analysis and its enormously useful implications to the interpreting of and directing narrative film.


Through the use of specific exercises and a piece of dramatic literature, the class will function as a collaborative group, one that reflects the dynamics of all theatrical productions. As such, the instructor will model behaviors that set a tone to invite: respect for co-workers, group participation, discussion, reflection, permission to dissent, inquiry, and a safe place to risk; all, with an emphasis on DOING.   

Course Requirements and Grading:  

100% attendance and 100% participation.

Curriculum vitae

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"The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."