homework drama

THIS BEGINS OUR DRAMA UNIT — OUR WORK FOR THIS UNIT IS TO ADAPT THE WRITTEN STORY “THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE” INTO A STAGE PLAY 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THIS UNIT:
For this assignment, you are taking on the role of a play producer.  You are going to transform the textual story of  The Ballad of the Sad Café  into a proposal for a live theater or film version of it. 
You are taking the words from the page and ADAPTING them to the stage/screen.
The idea here is that you are going to prepare as many aspects of a live-theater/film treatment as you can to present to some potential backers.  While you want to appeal to the commercial/monetary aspects of the possible production, you do not want to lose the integrity of the story or your own voice.
Basically you are creating a document about HOW you would produce the play/film.  The final version of your production notes should be submitted to me in essay, notes, and outline format. 
>Things to Consider: think about the following as we proceed through the production process.  Each day’s content/lecture will have information to guide your adaptation.  The in-class activities are meant to assist you as you proceed as are the quizzes and homework.
                >characters:
                  >physical appearance
                  >personalities/character traits
                  >match up of characters
                  >you can rely on your essay on this
                >Setting:
                  >Place your acts/scenes in a setting
                           Changes of settings signal Act changes
                                  stage productions are made up of scenes and acts
                  >You may move the production to anyplace you think would work
                           >Rural, city, planet would all be feasible
                                                >There must be a physical unity: settings must cohere with the story
                  >Place your play in a time frame/an era
                           >Past, present, future
        >Conflict:
                  Any telling and/or retelling of a story needs a conflict.
                  The first part of your production consists of EXPOSITION
                  The second part of your production is the RISING ACTION
                  The third part of your production is the CONFLICT
                  The fourth part of your production is the beginning of a RESOLUTION = DENOUEMENT
                  The fifth part of your production is CLOSURE
 
                           (Once upon a time there were …. They did ….. The problem
                           was …They tried to solve the problem … They did, and
                           everyone lived happily ever after.)
                 >Resolution
                  >The resolution is the “resolving” or “settling” of the conflict.
                           There  can be many steps to this
 
          >Closure
                  To close your production or leave it open is your choice!
 
     YOU WILL NOT NEED TO WRITE AN ENTIRE PLAY/FILM: YOU ARE CREATING THE SKELETON OF A PLAY/ FILM ONLY
Remember, your job is to “sell” this product to the backers…. Make it as appealing to them as you can!
 
There are some online sources to help you!
Go to google.com
     Type in any of the following in the search box
              “Improving Writing Skills: How to Format A Play Script.” – keep in mind you will not have to format your                    play, but this video provides information on how to organize your material.
         “Top Tips on Writing a Winning Play Script”
         “How to Write a Play Script (With Pictures)”
         “How to Write a Play – How to Write a Script”
While you may decide to create the “film” version of the story, the guidelines for writing a play apply! 
 
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY
In order to get your project going, you will have to consider the following:
A.Your first job is to decide which of the following themes you will employ: you may choose more than one for now -2 pts

 as representative of literature of the American South / Southern Gothic.
 As representative of literature reflecting the Cult of Domesticity
 As representative of Classic Alehouse Ballads as a genre
 As representative of A Classic Tale of Archetypes and Master Plots

Write a brief paragraph for each of  the themes you have chosen to work with, and explaining why you chose those. 4 pts.
 
B. From the “cast of characters in the story,” choose which characters are essential to your production. You have already created a couple of character sketches. Below, list the characters you will use in the play and name the actor you would cast as that character: 3 pts.
 
C. Considering the limitations of a live theater stage/a movie set, decide which key settings you will use: list key places you will use — you can set your play anywhere.  Name the era in which your play takes place — you can choose any time frame you wish, past, present, or future. 3 pts.
 
D. Commit to one of two methods of presentation: straight up dramatic presentation, or satire. Write a brief paragraph describing which of these two you will use. 3 pts.