Directing the Sitcom: Joel Zwick's Steps for Success

by Joel Zwick, Rosario J. Roveto, Jr.

Overview

This guided tour of the American situation comedy is given by one of the most prolific directors of the genre. Brooklyn native Joel Zwick began his career in the late 1960s at La MaMa, a New York experimental theater club, before moving to Hollywood to become a successful director during the sitcom's golden age.

He describes the 10 steps of sitcom production and outlines the five-day process, from the early "table read" to the final shoot in front of a live audience. Behind-the-scenes anecdotes include personal and professional experiences with actors Tom Hanks, Penny Marshall, Robin Williams, Jamie Foxx, the cast of Full House and many more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476625171
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	09/18/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joel Zwick lives in Tarzana, California. Rosario J. Roveto, Jr., has been a member of the Directors Guild of America since 1990. He has worked in theater, film and television and lives in Garden City Park, New York.
Joel Zwick lives in Tarzana, California.
Rosario J. Roveto, Jr., has been a member of the Directors Guild of America since 1990. He has worked in theater, film and television and lives in Garden City Park, New York.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword by Tom Hanks
Introduction by Rosario J. Roveto, Jr.
Joel’s Approach to the Sitcom
Step 1: Preparation
Day 1: Meetings and Rehearsal
Production Meeting: Prep and Execution
Mechanics of the Production Meeting and Making Decisions
Special Equipment
Visualization of the Set
The Table Read
The Pilot: How You Can Help Shape a Show
The Table Read for Your First Time Directing a Show
Putting It on Its Feet
Rehearsal Advice for the ­First-Timer on a Show
Rehearsing Joel’s Style and Actor Resistance
Step 2: Staging
Day 2: Building a Solid Foundation
Staging: Set Notes for Camera and ­First-Time Advice
Staging: Applying the Learned Scene
Staging: The Physical Manifestation of the Story
Disciplining the Physical Excesses of an Actor
Step 3: Dialogue
Day 2: Engaging the Actors
The Importance of Dialogue
Pacing and Cues and Acting Styles
Rules of Comedy and Directing Actors
But I Didn’t Study Acting …
Sense of Humor
Step 4: Fine Tuning the Acting
Day 2: The Tools of the Craft
Time Management
The Importance of Props
Lines, Movement and Placement
Step 5: Writers’ and Producers’ ­Run-Through
Day 2: Final Preparation
Writer-Producer ­Run-Through
Making Animals and Actors Work
Step 6: Applying Producer Notes
Day 3: How to Improve the Play
Preparing for the Network ­Run-Through
Step 7: Network ­Run-Through
Day 3: Performing for the Network
Importance of the Network ­Run-Through
Step 8: Shooting the Show
Day 4: Preparing for the Shoot
The Shooting Draft and the Technical Crew
Definition of Framing and Composition
Camera Shots and Coverage
The Proscenium and Its Multiples
The Importance of Resets
The Short Wall
Pass Coverage
Conceptualizing the Story with Four Cameras
Commercial Breaks
Traditional Camera Blocking with ­Stand-Ins
Specialty Shots: Do You or Don’t You ­Reinvent the Show?
Is Shooting Comedy Formulaic?
Step 9: Adjusting the Shoot
Day 4: Accomodating the Network and Producers
Network Notes and the Changing Industry
Step 10: Final Shoot
Day 5: Performing for a Live Audience
Show Time
The Booth vs. the Floor
The Director’s Cut
Conclusion
Making Comedy Fun: The Life of a Sitcom Director
Separating Your Style from the System
Glossary
Index