Transcript Scenic Design

Scenic Design
Designing Scenery for Theatre
and Film
Robert Edmond Jones- 1915
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A stage designer is, in a very real sense a jack-of-alltrades. He can design fireplaces and bodices and
bridges and wigs. He understands architecture, but
is not an architect: can paint a portrait, but is not a
painter: creates costumes, but is not a couturier.
Although he is able to call upon any or all of these
varied gifts at will, he is not concerned with any one
of them to the exclusion of the others, nor is he
interested in any one of them for its own sake. These
talents are only tools of his trade. His real calling is
something quite different. He is an artist of
occasions.
Desire Under the Elms
The Man Who Married A Dumb Wife
What is a set designer?
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Architect
Interior Decorator
Painter
Artist
Historian (politics,arts,fashion,architecture,literature,theatre,film)
Sculptor
Model Maker
Draftsperson
Graphic Artist
Schmoozer
Detective
Salesperson
Eugene Lee- Wicked
Robert Wilson- Die Zauberflute
Cirque du Soleil
Hierarchy of the Set Designer
Producers/
Artistic Director/
Studio Heads
BIG HONCHOS
Director
Sound Designer
Lighting Designer/
Cinematographer
Scenic Designer/
Production Designer
Costume Designer
Assistant Scenic Designer(s)/
Art Directors/
Technical Director/
Construction Coordinator
Shop/ Construction Foreman
Carpenters
Welders
Sculptors
Lead Scenic Artist
Soft Goods
Painters/
Assistants
Props Person
Buyer/
Assistants
Upholsterer
Set Decorator
Special Effects
Minions
Greens
The Steps a Designer Takes
Takes on the project
 Reads the Script
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Steps Continued…
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Researches the play or film
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Who was/is the author?
What else did he/she write?
When did he/she live?
When was the play/screenplay written?
What was going on politically, artistically, in
fashion, in theatre, in the world etc…
– Have there been other productions? What
were they like?
– What’s been written or said about this work?
Aaaaah!
Steps Continued…
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Analyzes the Script
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Place and Locale
Time Period
Themes
Mood
Messages, hidden meanings
Scenic Style
Social Status of Characters
Movement of Actors
Entrances and Exits
Set/Scene/Location Changes
Steps Continued…
Creative Collaboration: Discusses
research, analysis, findings and
personal opinions on the work with the
director and the other designers.
 Takes Direction from the Director
 Artistic Vision is solidified
 Study the Performance Space
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Proscenium Stage
Proscenium
Thrust Stage
In the Round / Arena
Black Box / Multipurpose
Open Air Theatre
Steps Continued…
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Sources of inspiration
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Painters
Photographers
Sculptors
Architects
Nature
Storefronts
Interior Decorators
Animators
Magazines
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Places of Inspiration
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Library
Bookstore
Museum
Internet
Fashion Stores/Malls
Outdoors/Nature
Eeeeeeeeek!!!!!!
Steps Continued…
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Now the hands-on designing begins!
– Tools to create and communicate:
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Collages
Sculptures
Rough Sketches/Thumbnail Sketches
Paintings
Rough/White Models
Storyboard
Photos/Photomontages
Computer-aided designing tools
White Model
Photomontage
Collage
Collages
Collages
Photomontage
Steps Continued…
Discuss, meet, argue, negotiate, figure
it out, compromise with Director,
Technical Director, other Designers,
Producers, Writers, Artistic Directors
etc…
 Come up with Final Design
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Steps Continued…
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Communicate Final Design
– Final Scale Model
– Technical Drawings
– Final Budget
– List of Props and Drawings of them
– Final Drawings
– Final Storyboard
– Finalized list of locations
– Finalized critical path (timeline/calendar)
Steps Continued…
Oversee construction, painting,
assembling, sewing, sculpting etc…
 Oversee filming
 Oversee Tech Rehearsals
 Fine Tune details
 Attend the wrap party and maybe assist
with the strike!
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Elements and Principles of Design
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Color
Shape
Form
Line
Texture
Space
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Balance
Contrast
Proportion
Emphasis
Rhythm
Unity
Color Hots and Colds
Color and Shape in Design
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Line, color, shape, form
Color, emphasis, line, texture