Set skills
Set skills
The role of a set designer
-set designer: responsible for designing the scenery—and more broadly, the artificial environment —in which a stage, television, or film performance takes place.
-set constructor: build full-scale scenery, as specified by a production designer. Organising the workshop
-scenic draughtsman: responsible for the technical drawings of sets. Accurate, eye for detail
-art department: responsible for the design of the visual elements of a film
-scenic artist: paint backdrops, murals and prop pieces for theatre, TV and film productions.
-scenic dresser: arrange objects on a film set before rolling the camera. They work under the direction of a Production Designer and the Set Decorator
Across all production set rolls they must hold some basic soft and hard skills. Some include:
-a original and creative mindset
-a good working knowledge of the visual and production arts process
-a critical view of film, television, or theatre
-the capability to work efficiently and independently
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Scale drawings
Scale drawings
The scale drawings for a set designer are usually created by the set designer. The set designer is responsible for designing and creating the physical environment in which a production takes place, such as a theatre, film, or television show.
In set design, a scale drawing is a technical drawing that represents a set or a part of a set in a smaller or larger proportion than its actual size. Scale drawings are used to create a visual representation of the set design and to ensure that the set is built to the correct dimensions. A scale drawing allows designers to make changes at a much lower cost, work out camera and lighting angles, and give the whole production team an overall picture of what it will look like. Sale drawings need to include: all entrances and exits, all scenic elements that need to be built for production, and all major furnishing.
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To create a scale drawing you would use a scale ruler. A scale ruler is a tool for measuring lengths and transferring measurements at a fixed ratio of length. It scales down measurements for you so the drawing can be drawn accurate to size but on a piece of paper. Scale rulers have three sides each with two measurements these are often the sizes; 1:25, 1:50, 1:10, 1:15.
Modal boxes
Modal boxes
The set designer is responsible for creating a model box for a theatrical production. The set designer is responsible for designing and creating the physical environment in which a production takes place, such as a theatre, film, or television show.
A model box is a scaled-down, 3D model of what the designer thinks the set should look like, which can be shown not only to the director and creative team (such as the lighting and sound designers), but to everyone else involved in making the production, from actors to technicians to all the people who will eventually be in charge of creating the full-size set. Often the designer will create a white card model, this is a model box without the paint and made out of white card, before the model box. The final model box will be in full colour, and may use all sorts of materials e.g. card, foamboard, cloth, fabric, wire, plastic, and wood. Its important to add as much detail to give the clearest visual.
Hand tools
Hand tools
The set construction team are in charge of all scenic construction. The role of a set construction team is to build and maintain the sets used on stage or for filming movies or television programs.
Jig saw
1)Draw a line to follow
2)Make sure the Foot of the jig saw is flat on the board
3)Start with the saw slightly away from the wood with the foot on the edge
4) Make sure to Hold the wood the whole time
5)If the saw strays Away from drawn line, then take blade back and carry following the line
Drill
1)Line up the two pieces of wood to make sure the screw goes through both pieces of wood
2)Using a pilot drill, Drill a pilot hole
3)Then use the drill with the matching screw head, then drill through the wood
4)If the wood is loose, then you can push the side button out to put the drill in reverse
Nail gun
1)Use only thin bits of plywood
2)Once nailed the nails Can’t be removed
3)Make sure to Apply a lot of pressure so the screw is left sticking out
Band saw
1)Turn the extractor fan on first
2)Put the key into the machine, then pull out the emergency stop button to turn it on
3)Then push the green button to make the band saw start
4)Guide the wood through the machine until it is cut to a desired shape
5)Turn off machine before removing the wood
Belt sander
1)Pull out the emergency stop button and press the green button, to start the machine
2)Press wood against belt until it is sanded to the desired shape
3)Make sure you push the wood all the way across the belt
4)You Can go back and forth
5)You can also round off the corners to create a smooth edge
Theatre flat
Our task was in groups to create a theatre flat. A theatre flat is a flat piece of theatrical scenery which is painted and positioned on stage so as to give the appearance of buildings or other background, they can also put together to create a large backdrop. We used plywood for the flat front and triangle corners, and 3 by 1 for the framework on the back. We started by screwing the frame together using corner clamps to make sure the pieces are held together while being screwed. We then screwed the centre bar of wood to the frame, this gives the flat extra support. Finally we screwed on the front and the triangles onto the corners. When putting the flat together we used screws and a hand drill instead of glue or nails as the screws gave the strength the flat needed to stand and be painted. I enjoyed this task as it was our first time making a piece of scenery and wasn’t too hard. But since we were in a group of four, I found that many of us for the most part had to sit on the sidelines as there wasn’t enough tools to go around. This made the presses much longer. If we were to do this task again, I believe we would work better in smaller groups of two to make the process much faster.
Scenic Painting
Role of a scenic painter is to create texture through painting the scenic elements of a set. A scenic painter works closely with the set designer in accomplishing all texture and painted effects for the production. The job typically involves: purchasing supplies, Creating texture and colour samples from the designer’s model, Creating patterns as necessary (wallpaper for example), Priming and base coating scenery as necessary, Finish-work and aging techniques.
colour theory
Wood grain: we used a tool and two shades of brown to create a wood grain in the paint. The tool we used was like a stamp which was curved and had groves to leave spaces in the paint which resembled a wood grain pattern. We used the tool by slowly rolling it back and forth over the paint as we moved down the board. I believe this left a very effective print which resembled a consistent wood grain.
Tree leaves: we used multiple tools to create many textures on the wood. We used a sponge with large cut outs to create larger cheese like textures. We also used a stiff brush to create smaller scratchy lines which resembled pine trees. This made the overall project much more textural and interesting to look at.
Colour theory is the body of practical guidance for colour mixing and the visual effects of a specific colour combination.
-Primary colours are colours that mix to create all other colours. They are red, yellow, and blue.
-Secondary colours are colours that are make from primary colours. They are orange, violet, and green.
-Tertiary colours are colours that are made by mixing a secondary colour with one of the previous primary colours. They include yellow orange, red orange, red violet, blue violet, blue green, and yellow green.
-Complementary colours are colours that are opposite on the colour wheel that when mixed cancel each other out e.g. red and green.
-Analogous colours are three colours that sit next next to each other on the colour wheel.
-Shade: darkens the hue by adding black
-Tint: lightens the hue by adding white
-Tone: lower the intensity by adding grey
-Monochromatic: all the colours of a single hue
-Temperature: half the colour wheel is warm hues and the other half are cool colours
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Scenic painting
