This revision and update of The Art of Directing, with considerable new material developed with the assistance of Christina Kirk of Otterbein College represents a new beginning for this popular text. This version continues to apply the premise "Conflict is the Essence of Drama" to every aspect of the production process. Using a rigorous and functional analysis system, the authors demonstrate how finding the root action of a script and allowing it to function as the power source for all aspects of the production can lead to a dramatically powerful result.