Blocking: Meaning in Film Production

Blocking

Definition

Blocking is the process of working out where actors move and stand during a scene, and when. It happens in a rehearsal on the set, first with the director and actors, then shown to the DP and department heads. Marks get laid, stand-ins take over, and the crew lights and rehearses camera from what was blocked.

The sequence on a typical set

When the company arrives at a new scene, the steps run in a fairly fixed order:

The 1st AD clears the set: "Closed rehearsal, cast and director only please." Crew waits outside or at the edges.
The director walks the scene with the actors. They try things, change them, and settle on where people sit, stand, cross, and exit.
The 1st AD calls in department heads: "Crew, come in for a show." The actors run the scene once for the DP, gaffer, key grip, sound mixer, props, and hair and makeup.
The 2nd AC lays marks at each actor's stopping points during the showing, usually colored tape per actor.
The DP and director agree on the first setup. The 1st AD announces the plan and an estimate: "We're starting with the master from the doorway, about forty minutes to light."
"First team out, second team in." Actors go to hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Stand-ins take their marks so the lighting crew can work.
When lighting is ready, first team comes back for a camera rehearsal, then last looks and rolling.

What gets written down

The script supervisor notes blocking in their script: which line Maya stands on, which hand she picks up the mug with, when Joe crosses to the window. Stand-ins watch the actors they're doubling closely during the crew show, since they have to repeat those moves for lighting.

Props and set dressing take notes too. If blocking has an actor sit on a counter, the art department may need to reinforce it or clear what's there.

Where it goes wrong

Blocking on the day that contradicts the tech scout. If the director planned the scene facing the window and blocks it facing the kitchen, the lighting plan built in prep may no longer work, and the gaffer is starting over. A quick call from the 1st AD to the DP before the crew show saves some of that.

Changing blocking after lighting is done. A small change is normal. A big one sends first team back out and second team back in, and the AD's time estimate for the setup doubles.

Skipping the crew show to save time. When departments don't see the scene, they find out during the first take that the boom has no place to go, and the time saved is lost twice over.

Connection to the schedule

On the call sheet, cast call times account for blocking before they go through makeup on some shows, and after on others. The 1st AD decides based on how long hair and makeup take and whether the director wants actors in costume for the first rehearsal.

Frequently asked questions

Who attends a blocking rehearsal?

At first only the director, the actors in the scene, the 1st AD, and the script supervisor, sometimes with the DP watching. Once the scene is worked out, the 1st AD brings in department heads for a crew showing, often called a marking rehearsal.

How long does blocking take?

A simple scene might be ten minutes. A complex scene with lots of movement, props, or background can take much longer. ADs build it into the schedule for the first setup of each scene.

What's the difference between blocking and rehearsal?

Blocking is about positions and movement. Rehearsals can also be about performance, text, and tone. On set, the first rehearsal of a scene is usually a blocking rehearsal.