Stage & Screen Blocking Studio
Orchestrate actor movement, proscenium and camera sightlines, lighting washes, and prompt-book cues across every dramatic beat.
Mastering Dramatic Spatial Geometry
Stage blocking was codified by legendary directors like Anthony Page, Peter Brook, and Elia Kazan into a strict vocabulary of tension and status:
- Upstage (US) vs Downstage (DS): Moving Downstage towards the audience increases intimacy and emotional gravity. Retreating Upstage confers detachment, vulnerability, or towering status depending on eye level.
- The Power Triangle: When three actors share a scene, the apex actor commands the psychological focus of the audience. The two base actors direct their sightlines inward to funnel attention.
- Crosses & Counter-Crosses: When Actor A crosses from Stage Left to Stage Right, Actor B naturally counter-crosses upstage to balance visual weight and maintain audience lines.
Director's Quick Reference & FAQ
How do I calibrate camera frames vs proscenium sightlines?
Toggle the Camera Rig overlay on the soundstage mode. The yellow viewing frustum reveals focal length cutoff, medium two-shot framing, and coverage for camera operators.
Can I export this cue sheet into rehearsal binders?
Yes. Click Export Production Book to generate a complete JSON cue manifest, or Save Diagram to print a high-resolution 2D blocking schematic for your stage manager.
Are actor movements recorded per beat?
Each Beat stores the exact X/Y coordinate, facing direction, and lighting state. When you press Rehearse, the engine smoothly interpolates actors between key positions over real time.