1. Designing Scenery for Theatre and/or Film
Scenic Design
Designing Scenery for Theatre and/or Film

2. Robert Edmond Jones- 1915
A stage designer is, in a very real sense a jack-of-all-trades. 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.

3. Desire Under the Elms
The Man Who Married A Dumb Wife

4. What is a set designer? Architect Interior Decorator Painter Artist
Historian (politics,arts,fashion,architecture,literature,theatre,film)
Sculptor
Model Maker
Draftsperson
Graphic Artist
Schmoozer
Detective
Salesperson

5. Eugene Lee- Wicked

6. Robert Wilson- Die Zauberflute

7. Cirque du Soleil

8. Hierarchy of the Set Designer

9. The Steps a Designer Takes
Takes on the project
Reads the Script

10. Steps Continued… Researches the play or film 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?

11. Aaaaah!

12. Steps Continued… Analyzes the Script 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

13. 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

14. Proscenium Stage

15. Proscenium

16. Thrust Stage

17. In the Round / Arena

18. Black Box / Multipurpose

19. Open Air Theatre

20. Steps Continued… Sources of inspiration Places of Inspiration Painters
Photographers
Sculptors
Architects
Nature
Storefronts
Interior Decorators
Animators
Magazines
Places of Inspiration
Library
Bookstore
Museum
Internet
Fashion Stores/Malls
Outdoors/Nature

21. Eeeeeeeeek!!!!!!

22. Steps Continued… Now the hands-on designing begins!
Tools to create and communicate:
Collages
Sculptures
Rough Sketches/Thumbnail Sketches
Paintings
Rough/White Models
Storyboard
Photos/Photomontages
Computer-aided designing tools

23. White Model

24. Photomontage

25. Collage

26. Collages

27. Collages

28. Photomontage

29. 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

30. Steps Continued… 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)

31. 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!

32. Elements and Principles of Design
Color
Shape
Form
Line
Texture
Space
Balance
Contrast
Proportion
Emphasis
Rhythm
Unity

33. Color Hots and Colds

34. Color and Shape in Design

35. Line, color, shape, form

36. Color, emphasis, line, texture

37. Most Important Know your Ability to do the Job!
Theatrical Design is highly creative and even more highly competitive. There are fewer jobs in design than acting. BUT there are many more jobs that work with or under the supervision of the designer than in acting.