Systems and methods for managing staging and choreography

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing choreography in a simple and efficient manner are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods allow a user, such as a choreographer, director, or producer, to document the movement of each performer in a performance or other choreography. Choreography of each performer can be documented in as much detail as desired and coordinated with a beat of music, a timeline of a dialogue, and/or the movements of other performers. The disclosed systems and methods provide for creation of precise spacing charts. The documentation and charts can be linked or otherwise associated together and/or linked or otherwise associated with a section of a script of the performance.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A computer-implemented method for managing performer movements and on a stage with respect to time, the method comprising:
 receiving, on a computing device, input from a user specifying at least a width dimension of a stage;   generating, on the computing device, an electronic stage layout of the stage having the specified width dimension;   overlaying a unit numberline that designates a stage centerline location and at least two additional locations along the width of the stage;   receiving electronic input from the user specifying at least two performers; and   creating, on the computing device, a plurality of time-ordered charts documenting:
 a sequence of positions of a first performer with respect to time and with respect to the unit numberline, wherein at least one position of the first performer in the sequence of positions of the first performer is associated with an action to be performed by the first performer, and 
 a sequence of positions of a second performer with respect to time and with respect to the unit numberline, wherein at least one position of the second performer in the sequence of positions of the second performer is associated with an action to be performed by the second performer. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising creating a scene layout for a scene of a performance, the scene including one or more time periods of the performance, the scene layout diagramming a change in position on the stage of a performer during at least one of the time periods. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein the unit numberline further comprises a grid and designates locations along a depth of the stage. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts comprises:
 applying the stage layout to the at least one time-ordered chart;   associating the at least one time-ordered chart with a portion of a script for a performance;   displaying the at least one time-ordered chart, including a representation of the stage;   receiving user input designating a first position of the first performer on the stage during a time period associated with the portion of the script;   displaying the representation of the first performer on the stage at the designated first position; and   storing the at least one time-ordered chart, including the stage layout, the representation of the stage, and the representation of the first performer on the stage at the designated first position.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 27 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts further comprises:
 receiving user input designating a second position of the second performer on the stage during the time period associated with the portion of the script;   displaying the representation of the second performer on the stage at the designated second position; and   storing the at least one time-ordered chart, including the stage layout, the representation of the stage, and the representation of the performer on the stage at the designated second position.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 displaying a numeric indication of the unit distance of the designated first position of the first performer from the stage centerline location.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts comprises:
 applying the stage layout to the at least one time-ordered chart;   associating the at least one time-ordered chart with a portion of a script for a performance;   displaying the at least one time-ordered chart, including a representation of the stage;   receiving user input designating a position of a stage element on the stage during a time period associated with the portion of the script;   displaying the representation of the stage element on the stage at the designated position; and   storing the at least one time-ordered chart, including the stage layout, the representation of the stage, and the representation of the stage element on the stage at the designated position.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 displaying a numeric indication of the unit distance of the designated position of the stage element from the stage centerline location.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts is based on at least one staging staff designated by the user. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one staging staff comprises a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows that form cells in a grid-configuration, each of the columns representing a count or sub-count, each row representing at least an aspect of one of at least one of the performers. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 33 , wherein at least some of the plurality of rows of a staging staff comprise at least one of:
 a lyric row to present one or more lines from a script for a time period with which the staging staff corresponds;   a countline that provides an indication in each column of the count or sub-count represented by the column;   a step row indicating a breakdown of a step of a performer, broken apart in the columns to match counts on which the step is made;   a feet row indicating which foot performs which portion of the step; and   a detail row providing additional details of movement of the stage element.   
     
     
         35 . A system for managing performer movements and on a stage with respect to time, comprising:
 a processor;   an electronic user input device in communication with the processor;   an electronic display in communication with processor; and   a non-transitory data storage device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing performer movements, the operations comprising:
 generating an electronic stage layout of the stage having a width dimension; 
 overlaying a unit numberline that designates at least a stage centerline location; 
 receiving, via the electronic user input device, input specifying at least two performers; and 
 creating a plurality of time-ordered charts documenting:
 a sequence of positions of a first performer with respect to time and with respect to the unit numberline, wherein at least one position of the first performer in the sequence of positions of the first performer is associated with an action to be performed by the first performer, and 
 a sequence of positions of a second performer with respect to time and with respect to the unit numberline, wherein at least one position of the second performer in the sequence of positions of the second performer is associated with an action to be performed by the second performer. 
 
   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 creating a scene layout for a scene of a performance, the scene including one or more time periods of the performance, the scene layout diagramming a change in position on the stage of a performer during at least one of the time periods.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts comprises:
 applying the stage layout to the at least one time-ordered chart;   associating the at least one time-ordered chart with a portion of a script for a performance;   displaying the at least one time-ordered chart, including a representation of the stage;   receiving user input designating a first position of the first performer on the stage during a time period associated with the portion of the script;   displaying the representation of the first performer on the stage at the designated first position; and   storing the at least one time-ordered chart, including the stage layout, the representation of the stage, and the representation of the first performer on the stage at the designated first position.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts further comprises:
 receiving user input designating a second position of the second performer on the stage during the time period associated with the portion of the script;   displaying the representation of the second performer on the stage at the designated second position; and   storing the at least one time-ordered chart, including the stage layout, the representation of the stage, and the representation of the performer on the stage at the designated second position.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 displaying a numeric indication of the unit distance of the designated first position of the first performer from the stage centerline location.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts comprises:
 applying the stage layout to the at least one time-ordered chart;   associating the at least one time-ordered chart with a portion of a script for a performance;   displaying the at least one time-ordered chart, including a representation of the stage;   receiving user input designating a position of a stage element on the stage during a time period associated with the portion of the script;   displaying the representation of the stage element on the stage at the designated position; and   storing the at least one time-ordered chart, including the stage layout, the representation of the stage, and the representation of the stage element on the stage at the designated position.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 displaying a numeric indication of the unit distance of the designated position of the stage element from the stage centerline location.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein creating at least one of the time-ordered charts is based on at least one staging staff designated by the user,
 wherein the at least one staging staff comprises a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows that form cells in a grid-configuration, each of the columns representing a count or sub-count, each row representing at least an aspect of one of at least one of the performers.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein at least some of the plurality of rows of a staging staff comprise at least one of:
 a lyric row to present one or more lines from a script for a time period with which the staging staff corresponds;   a countline that provides an indication in each column of the count or sub-count represented by the column;   a step row indicating a breakdown of a step of a performer, broken apart in the columns to match counts on which the step is made;   a feet row indicating which foot performs which portion of the step; and   a detail row providing additional details of movement of the stage element.