Th 1112 - ACTING I, Section 1
MWF 2:00-3:15
Spring 2008
 

Professor Tom Isbell
Office: 148 MPAC
Phone: 726-6313
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 2:15-3:15
E-Mail: tisbell@d.umn.edu
Home Page: http://www.d.umn.edu/~tisbell

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To experience and formulate an organized approach to the creation of real and truthful behavior on stage. To live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. To live in the moment on stage. To be private in a public place.

COURSE APPROACH: Acting is learned by doing, by exploring. Through a series of exercises, improvisations and scene study, the Acting I student will work on both the intuitive side of acting -- freeing his/her own natural impulses -- as well as learning the basic techniques of acting -- circumstances, objectives and actions.

REQUIRED READING:

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is mandatory. No more than two absences are allowed. Each absence beyond two will automatically lower the final letter grade one third of a letter. Chronic absentees will be dropped from the course.

Please be on time. Two late arrivals equal one absence.

In addition to exercises and assignments, each student will present three scenes with students assigned from class. The rehearsal and memorization of each scene is to be done outside of class. Students who fail to meet with their partner at a scheduled rehearsal time will be penalized.

Prepared scenes (memorized and blocked) will be presented twice. After the first presentation, scenes will be discussed, worked on in- and outside of class, and presented a final time for a grade.

Students are expected to read along in the assigned texts and be prepared for round table discussions of each, expressing their likes, dislikes, disagreements, epiphanies, etc. All students will be graded based on their participation in the discussions. Failure to speak up will result in zero points. It helps to mark and highlight sections beforehand that you wish to speak about.

Eating is not allowed in class, and the only beverage allowed is water.

All cellphones must be turned off at the beginning of class.

Students are expected to complete a written paper detailing their scene character's objectives and actions throughout the course of the scene. The paper is to be 3-4 pages long, typed or computer-printed, and double-spaced. Late papers will be accepted, but will lose one point for each day late.

Students are expected to see all UMD productions for the spring semester. This includes: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; A Flea in Her Ear; Bus Stop; Dear Finder; and Boys' Life .

Course Evaluation

Assignment

Point Value
Neutral Scene Presentations 10
Objectives/Action Paper 5
Round Table Book Discussions 9 (3 each)
Exercises 5 each
Written Exam 5-10
Attitude, Improvement, Desire 10
Final Scene Presentation 25

At the end of the semester, points will be totaled and graded on the following scale:

Grading Scale

Letter Grade

Percentage
A 91-100
A- 88-90
B+ 85-87
B 81-84
B- 78-80
C+ 75-77
C 72-74
C- 69-71
D+ 66-68
D 62-65

Course Outline

Date

Assignment
Wed. Jan. 23 No Class
Fri. Jan. 25 No Class
Mon. Jan. 28 Syllabus. Goals & Expectations. Beginning exercises.
Wed. Jan. 30 The Big Three: Circumstances, Objectives, Actions
Fri. Feb. 1 No Class
Mon. Feb. 4 Impulse exercises
Wed. Feb. 6 Practical Handbook discussion
Fri. Feb. 8 Impulse exercises
Mon. Feb. 11 Impulse exercises
Wed. Feb. 13 Uta Hagen discussion (Part I)
Fri. Feb. 15 Objective exercises
Mon. Feb. 18 Objective exercises
Wed. Feb. 20 Uta Hagen discussion (Part III)
Fri. Feb. 22 No Class
Mon. Feb. 25 Objective exercises
Wed. Feb. 27 Present Neutral Scenes #1
Fri. Feb. 29 Work Neutral Scenes
Mon. March 3 Work Neutral Scenes
Wed. March 5 Work Neutral Scenes
Fri. March 7 Perform Neutral Scenes #1
Mon. March 10 Written Exam: Two texts & The Big Three
Wed. March 12 Improvisations
Fri. March 14 Conferences
Mon. March 17 Spring Break. No Class.
Wed. March 19 Spring Break. No Class.
Fri. March 21 Spring Break. No Class.
Mon. March 24 Improvisations
Wed. March 26 Present Neutral Scenes #2
Fri. March 28 Work neutral scenes #2
Mon. March 31 Work neutral scenes #2
Wed. April 2 Work neutral scenes #2
Fri. April 4 Work neutral scenes #2
Mon. April 7 Perform Neutral Scene #2
Wed. April 9 Building History improvisations.
Fri. April 11 Hot Seat
Mon. April 14 Hot Seat
Wed. April 16 Hot Seat
Fri. April 18 Building History improvisations. Objectives/Actions papers due.
Mon. April 21 Scene exercises. Off Book.
Wed. April 23 Scene exercises.
Fri. April 25 Scene exercises.
Mon. April 28 Present Final Scenes
Wed. April 30 Work final scenes
Fri. May 2 Work final scenes
Mon. May 5 Work final scenes
Wed. May 7 Work final scenes
Fri. May 9 Begin Final Scene performances

Final Exam: Wednesday, May 14 10:00-11:55 a.m.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This is a floating syllabus. Assignments, dates, and lectures may change, based on schedules, conflicts, and the progress of the class. There may also be other assignments throughout the semester. Point total possibilities will be announced when the new assignment is given.

Academic dishonesty tarnishes UMD's reputation and discredits the accomplishments of students. UMD is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. This pledge can only be redeemed in an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. As a result, academic dishonesty is regarded as a serious offense by all members of the academic community. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found at www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/integrity. This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

The instructor will enforce and students are expected to follow the University's Student Conduct Code (http://www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/code). Appropriate classroom conduct promotes an environment of academic achievement and integrity. Disruptive classroom behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach, or student learning, is prohibited. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of technology in the classroom. Examples include ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, doing email, or surfing the Internet on your computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities.

Individuals who have any legitimate disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform the Instructor at the start of the semester. Adaptations of methods, materials or testing may be made as required to provide equitable participation.