Entrance/Exit Breakdowns & Costume Plots | The (Almost) Complete Guide to Stage Management #16

Summary

In this episode of 'Half Hour Call,' Kent shares insights on creating entrance-exit breakdowns and costume plots, essential stage management documents. He explains how these documents track actor entrances, exits, and costume changes, aiding various production teams. Kent emphasizes using Excel for organization and offers three life hacks: automating timing calculations, applying conditional formatting for quick changes, and efficient printing options. Viewers are encouraged to engage by sharing their experiences with complex breakdowns, and links to downloadable templates are provided to enhance their workflow.

Takeaways

• 😀 The entrance exit breakdown is a crucial document for tracking actor movements, character assignments, and costume details in a production.
• 🎭 It serves multiple purposes, assisting lighting designers, sound designers, costume designers, and wardrobe supervisors.
• 📊 Excel is the preferred tool for creating an entrance exit breakdown due to its flexibility and automation capabilities.
• ✍️ To create an effective breakdown, start with a French scene breakdown and add rows for entrance locations, character names, and exit locations.
• ⏱️ Timings for each scene should be included, detailing the scene's runtime and length for better planning.
• 👗 Transitioning from an entrance exit breakdown to a costume plot is straightforward once you know which character wears what in each scene.
• 🤝 Collaborating with wardrobe supervisors is essential for determining the best locations for costume changes based on time constraints.
• 🔍 Keep the document legible by breaking it down into manageable sections and considering print sizes that enhance readability.
• 💡 Utilize Excel features like conditional formatting to highlight quick changes that need attention, ensuring smoother transitions during performances.
• 🖨️ Master printing techniques in Excel by selecting specific cells to print individual acts without altering the main document structure.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of an entrance exit breakdown?

An entrance exit breakdown is a document that details where actors enter and exit in each scene, which characters they are playing, their costumes, and the timings for quick changes. It serves as a vital resource for various members of the production team.

How does the entrance exit breakdown benefit lighting and sound designers?

Lighting designers and sound designers use the breakdown to understand which actors will enter during specific scenes and from which entrances, helping them plan cues effectively.

What additional information should be included in the entrance exit breakdown aside from actor movements?

The breakdown should also include character names for actors who play multiple roles, costume information, and timings for each scene and quick changes.

What is Kent's recommendation for creating the entrance exit breakdown in Excel?

Kent suggests starting with a French scene breakdown and adding two rows for each actor: one for their entrance location and one for their exit location, along with a row for their character and costume details.

What rules of thumb does Kent offer for determining where costume changes should take place?

Costume changes over five minutes can typically occur in a dressing room, while changes under a minute and a half should be discussed in a production meeting. Changes that take between a minute and a half to five minutes may require collaboration with the wardrobe supervisor to decide on the best location.

Why is it important to keep the entrance exit breakdown document legible?

Legibility is crucial because the document can become extensive and complex. A clear layout makes it easier for the cast and crew to read and utilize during rehearsals and performances.

What are some tips for printing the entrance exit breakdown effectively?

Kent recommends using 11x17 or ledger paper for larger documents and suggests breaking down long shows into smaller sections or separate pages for clarity when printing.

What is the first Excel life hack Kent shares?

The first hack is to automate the timings by using the format cells function to set time formats and formulas to calculate cumulative run times for each scene based on individual scene lengths.

How can conditional formatting improve the management of quick changes?

Conditional formatting allows you to set rules that automatically highlight quick changes that need attention, making it easier to track potential timing issues and discuss them with the wardrobe supervisor.

What does Kent suggest for selecting and printing specific acts from the spreadsheet?

Kent suggests selecting the cells for the act you want to print, using the 'print selection' option, and scaling it to fit on one page, which simplifies the printing process while keeping the original document editable.