Set Design The Mousetrap Lesson One

Learning Intentions – needs changed Success Criteria To understand the skills required to interpret an extract from a script. Understand how to draw a ground plan.

I can ….. – needs changed Draw an accurate ground plan for a specific scene. I Know ….. The important information that should be extracted from a script.

When analysing a script, it is important to question everything. What sorts of questions should you ask when analysing a script?

Possible Answers Read between the lines Look for clues that could help develop the scene Read and take note of what is in the italics and parenthesis What is the physical environment like? Where does the scene take place? In what year, season, and time of day does the scene occur? Take note of any changes in the setting during the scene. What is the socioeconomic status of the characters who inhabit the scene? What do the characters do for a living? What is the climate like in and out of the scene? Is the scene indoors or outdoors? Does the scene take place in a rural or urban atmosphere? Is the scene realistic or imaginary? What is the genre of the scene? (i.e. comedy, drama, romance, musical, mystery etc)

Your teacher will now hand out a section of a script Your teacher will now hand out a section of a script. With a partner you must read the script extract and complete the analysis form.

Set Design Analysis Play/Scene Title: Genre (Type): Character Social Status: Time Period (Year): Climate: Season: Indoors/Outdoors: Time of Day: Rural/Urban: Location: Real/Imaginary: City/State/Country: Special Requirements:

You should use what you know already about script analysis and analyse this script in full. What is the main issue in your script/ extract? Give a brief description of the characters in your script/extract? What is the TIME/PERIOD & PLACE/SETTING? What feelings and emotions are present in the script/extract? What does the language used in the extract tell us? Sum up what your script/extract is about in three or four words.

Areas of the Stage Reminder USR USC USL CSR CS CSL DSR DSC DSL Audience

Plan and elevation When set designers design sets, they have to do 2D drawings to show what the set will look like from each side. These drawings are called plans and elevations. The view from the top is called the plan. The views from the front and sides are called the elevations.

Drawing a Ground Plan A good Ground Plan always includes the following: A – Audience L – Logical Staging E – Entrances and Exits (where the actors enter and exit from) O – Opening Positions (Where the actors are standing when the scene opens) K – Key (A list of all the symbols you have used and an explanation of your staging) An easy way to remember this is ALE OK

Task: Draw a Ground Plan for the scene described in The Mousetrap extract. You can always modify it once you have more information. There are some examples on the following slides.

Task: Draw an elevation based on your ground plan Task: Draw an elevation based on your ground plan. Look at the examples on the following slides to help you.