1. Intro to Lighting Design Club Soda October 1, 2003 Rob Siemborski

2. Overview Intro to Lighting Design Intro to Lighting Design Basics of Light Basics of Light The Lighting Design Process The Lighting Design Process Interaction with other Design Staff Interaction with other Design Staff Interaction with your Master Electrician Interaction with your Master Electrician Building a Plot Building a Plot Designing for Scotch ’n’ Soda Designing for Scotch ’n’ Soda

3. What are we not covering? How to be a Master Electrician How to be a Master Electrician Cable Plots Cable Plots Crew Management Crew Management How to physically Hang / Focus an Instrument How to physically Hang / Focus an Instrument Specifics of particular types of instruments Specifics of particular types of instruments Specifics of using a Light Board Specifics of using a Light Board

4. In Short…. Today is all theoretical Today is all theoretical Please accept the lighting BS Please accept the lighting BS There’s a lot of territory to cover There’s a lot of territory to cover All of these “rules” can be broken All of these “rules” can be broken Some of these photos are old, sorry! Some of these photos are old, sorry!

5. What is Lighting Design?

6. Goals of Lighting Design Enabling the Actors to be Seen! Enabling the Actors to be Seen! Directing Focus Directing Focus Setting Setting Location Location Season / Time of Day Season / Time of Day Set Creation “On the Cheap” Set Creation “On the Cheap” Creating Mood and Atmosphere Creating Mood and Atmosphere

7. What does the LD Do? Reads the Script / Score (if any!) Reads the Script / Score (if any!) Attends Rehearsals Attends Rehearsals Coordinates with the Director and Production Staff Coordinates with the Director and Production Staff Performs necessary research Performs necessary research Generates / Communicates Design Ideas Generates / Communicates Design Ideas Creates a Light Plot Creates a Light Plot Determines / Writes Cues for the Show Determines / Writes Cues for the Show Coordinates implementation through Master Electrician Coordinates implementation through Master Electrician (OK, This isn’t quite what is in the SnS Responsibilities Document)

8. Basics of Light The Lighting Designer has Many Tools! The Lighting Designer has Many Tools! Focus Focus Angle Angle Intensity Intensity Quality Quality Color Color Movement Movement

9. Basics of Light (Focus) Focus: What gets lit Focus: What gets lit If it can’t be seen – It’s not on stage! If it can’t be seen – It’s not on stage! Lighting is as much about shadow as it is about light! Lighting is as much about shadow as it is about light! Strongly influences instrument choice Strongly influences instrument choice Washes vs Spots Washes vs Spots

10. Basics of Light (Focus) Think About Think About Highlighting the set but keeping the actors dark Highlighting the set but keeping the actors dark Having one actor well-lit but the other in the shadows Having one actor well-lit but the other in the shadows When is a followspot appropriate? When is a followspot appropriate? Using tools to draw focus in different ways Using tools to draw focus in different ways

11. Basics of Light (Angle) Angle: Where is the light coming from? Angle: Where is the light coming from? The type of performance can affect angle choice The type of performance can affect angle choice Dance prefers sidelight Dance prefers sidelight Rock concert prefers backlight Rock concert prefers backlight Think about: Think about: How do lights from multiple angles interact? How do lights from multiple angles interact? Silhouette Silhouette How “interesting” is a given angle? How “interesting” is a given angle?

12. “Normal” Lighting Angles 45 degrees is the typical “magic number” 45 degrees is the typical “magic number” Both vertical and horizontal Both vertical and horizontal

13. Basics of Light (Intensity) Intensity: How bright is the light? Intensity: How bright is the light? Think About Think About Directing focus using varying intensity Directing focus using varying intensity

14. Basics of Light (Quality) What is quality? What is quality? Soft/Hard Light? Soft/Hard Light? Textured Light? (Gobos!) Textured Light? (Gobos!) Dependent on Instrument Choice Dependent on Instrument Choice Also strongly affected by Diffusion Also strongly affected by Diffusion

15. Basics of Light (Color) One of the hardest tools to master One of the hardest tools to master Additive Mixing Additive Mixing Primaries: Primaries: Red Red Blue Blue Green Green Think About: Think About: Color Mixing and Angle interaction Color Mixing and Angle interaction

16. Using Color Warm Side / Cool Side Warm Side / Cool Side “Coloring the Shadows” “Coloring the Shadows” Warnings Warnings Avoid Complimentary Color Mixing Avoid Complimentary Color Mixing Colors to be careful with Colors to be careful with No Color (a.k.a. N/C) No Color (a.k.a. N/C) Yellow (somewhat) Yellow (somewhat) Green (always!) Green (always!) Note: This is a pigment color wheel.

17. Choosing Colors What is the source? (more on that later) What is the source? (more on that later) How will that color mix with others on stage? How will that color mix with others on stage? Gel books are your friend Gel books are your friend Hue Hue Transmission Percentage Transmission Percentage Spectrum Spectrum

18. Basics of Light (Movement) Not just “Intelligent Lighting” Not just “Intelligent Lighting” Primarily Timing of Cues Primarily Timing of Cues Heavily affected by type of show Heavily affected by type of show Musicals – Follow the Music Musicals – Follow the Music Fast light changes need motivation Fast light changes need motivation Think About: Think About: Split Fades, Part Cues, and More Split Fades, Part Cues, and More

19. What is a Light Source? Something that motivates a light in a scene Something that motivates a light in a scene Moonlight Moonlight Car Headlight Car Headlight Sunset Sunset Reflection off water Reflection off water No correspondence to lighting instruments No correspondence to lighting instruments Sometimes multiple instruments are a single source. Sometimes multiple instruments are a single source. Sometimes one instrument can represent different sources in different scenes. Sometimes one instrument can represent different sources in different scenes.

20. Key and Fill Sources Key Source Key Source Primary source of light Primary source of light The Sun The Sun Indoor Lighting Indoor Lighting Lamps Lamps Windows Windows Fill Sources Fill Sources Coloring the shadows Coloring the shadows Reflections off of walls Reflections off of walls Can have multiple Key or Fill Sources Can have multiple Key or Fill Sources

21. Realistic and Unrealistic Sources Realistic Directly from setting/time of day E.g. Sun, Lamp, etc Mood still applies! Unrealistic Primarily by mood

22. Design Process

23. The Early Design Process Read the Script Read the Script Talk to the Director Talk to the Director Re-Read the Script Re-Read the Script Read the script looking for lighting “clues” Read the script looking for lighting “clues” If there is music, listen to the music If there is music, listen to the music Talk to the Director again Talk to the Director again Repeat Repeat

24. How to Read the Script Read it at least once in its entirety Read it at least once in its entirety Go through and highlight lighting “clues” Go through and highlight lighting “clues” Explicit stage directions Explicit stage directions Time of day/Seasonal references Time of day/Seasonal references Location references Location references Think about each scene in detail – where is the lighting coming from? What does it feel like? Think about each scene in detail – where is the lighting coming from? What does it feel like? You may need to invent a timeline You may need to invent a timeline

25. How to Talk to The Director Often times, Directors don’t know what Lighting can do for them! Often times, Directors don’t know what Lighting can do for them! Offer them your ideas and see how they respond. Offer them your ideas and see how they respond. Don’t talk in terms of specifics, but more in terms of general looks / scenes. Don’t talk in terms of specifics, but more in terms of general looks / scenes. Come to the director with interpretation questions. Come to the director with interpretation questions.

26. How to Talk to The Director Pictures that convey your ideas accurately can be very helpful! Pictures that convey your ideas accurately can be very helpful! When attending rehearsals, talk to the Director afterwards, not during. When attending rehearsals, talk to the Director afterwards, not during. Read the script at least once before ever speaking with the director Read the script at least once before ever speaking with the director

27. Interaction with other Design Staff One of several unique viewpoints One of several unique viewpoints Collaboration Collaboration Colors! Colors! Scene Changes Scene Changes Space in the venue for lights/set/props Space in the venue for lights/set/props Use design tools to describe your ideas Use design tools to describe your ideas

28. Design Tools Lighting Concept Lighting Concept Visual Research Visual Research Scene Analysis Scene Analysis Color Key Color Key

29. Developing a Lighting Concept Traditionally a short written statement Traditionally a short written statement No need to be formal! No need to be formal! You should be able to answer 3 questions You should be able to answer 3 questions What does the script say? What does the script say? What is the director’s interpretation? What is the director’s interpretation? How will your lighting convey the above? How will your lighting convey the above?

30. Lighting Concept for “Peter Pan” “Peter Pan” takes place mostly in the idylic island world of “Never-Never Land.” This tropical setting is your basic island paradise. “Peter Pan” takes place mostly in the idylic island world of “Never-Never Land.” This tropical setting is your basic island paradise. Captain Hook is the source of all evil in the lives of the Boys. This evil slowly encroaches on their world until they have no choice but to feed him to the gator. Captain Hook is the source of all evil in the lives of the Boys. This evil slowly encroaches on their world until they have no choice but to feed him to the gator. The lighting for the play will start out warm and friendly, however as the pirates start to encroach on the world of the boys, parts of the stage will darken and disappear until Hook is finally defeated, when the world will be revealed again. The lighting for the play will start out warm and friendly, however as the pirates start to encroach on the world of the boys, parts of the stage will darken and disappear until Hook is finally defeated, when the world will be revealed again.

31. Other Tools Visual Research Visual Research Helpful to get ideas or give examples to the director Helpful to get ideas or give examples to the director Pictures can convey better than words Pictures can convey better than words Color Color Angle Angle Quality Quality Mood Mood Not presenting anything is better than presenting the wrong thing! Not presenting anything is better than presenting the wrong thing!

32. Other Tools Scene Analysis Scene Analysis One per “scene” One per “scene” Color, direction, and description of all sources Color, direction, and description of all sources Brief description of Brief description of Setting / Time of Day Setting / Time of Day Mood Mood Key and Fill sources Key and Fill sources Quality Quality Other Motivating Factors Other Motivating Factors

33. Other Tools Color Key Color Key Shows colors/angle of all washes Shows colors/angle of all washes Useful to have actual gel pieces Useful to have actual gel pieces Helps to talk about color choice Helps to talk about color choice Cue List Cue List Lets you organize what cues you need in advance Lets you organize what cues you need in advance Location, Description, Timing, etc Location, Description, Timing, etc Useful to mark cues in script Useful to mark cues in script

34. The SnS Tech Production Process Show Approval Show Approval “Design Phase” “Design Phase” Budgeting Budgeting “Implementation Phase” “Implementation Phase” Board Preview Board Preview Tech Week Tech Week Show Show Strike Strike

35. Brief Overview of Tech Week Load-in Load-in Hang Hang Focus Focus Cueing Cueing Rehearsals Rehearsals Cueing / Focus Notes Cueing / Focus Notes Work Calls Work Calls Work with the Stage Manager to get timing right Work with the Stage Manager to get timing right Shows Let go of your design when the first curtain goes up Strike Domain of the Master Electrician

36. What about the Master Electrician? Master Electrician Master Electrician Makes the production happen! Makes the production happen! Assists with budget and equipment arrangements Assists with budget and equipment arrangements Schedules crew calls Schedules crew calls Manages all Lighting Equipment during the production Manages all Lighting Equipment during the production Creates a “cable plot” Creates a “cable plot”

37. Working with an ME Get the ME information early! Get the ME information early! Lighting Plot!! Lighting Plot!! Rough drafts are ok Rough drafts are ok Instrument / Gel schedules Instrument / Gel schedules The ME can generate these The ME can generate these Often easier for LD to do Often easier for LD to do Concepts for Practicals Concepts for Practicals

38. Working with an ME (Production Process) You can make the job of the ME easier You can make the job of the ME easier Better experience for both of you! Better experience for both of you! How you can help How you can help Be familiar with the space you are in Be familiar with the space you are in Have a rough idea how the design will be pulled off Have a rough idea how the design will be pulled off Pick and choose your focus notes Pick and choose your focus notes Don’t needlessly sacrifice your design Don’t needlessly sacrifice your design

39. Working with an ME (Tech Week) As an LD, stay out of the way at calls As an LD, stay out of the way at calls You have creative input You have creative input The ME has control over the “practical” issues The ME has control over the “practical” issues The ME Manages Hang The ME Manages Hang The LD Runs Focus The LD Runs Focus With the advice of the ME With the advice of the ME Keep the ME apprised of Focus Notes Keep the ME apprised of Focus Notes

40. Board Preview? You generally should have an almost-final light plot with you You generally should have an almost-final light plot with you Don’t go into deep detail Don’t go into deep detail Discuss your design concept Discuss your design concept Discuss your color key Discuss your color key Mention any potential problems Mention any potential problems

41. The End Result Lighting Plot Lighting Plot Instrument / Gel Schedules Instrument / Gel Schedules Possibly with assistance from ME Possibly with assistance from ME Cue List (including Followspots, if any) Cue List (including Followspots, if any) Useful to have cues denoted in script as well Useful to have cues denoted in script as well Arrange for Rental Equipment Arrange for Rental Equipment More important to communicate this information effectively than “do it right” More important to communicate this information effectively than “do it right”

42. The Production Notebook Keep a notebook of everything related to show Keep a notebook of everything related to show The Script The Script The Light Plot (if it fits, otherwise keep it nearby at all times) The Light Plot (if it fits, otherwise keep it nearby at all times) Scene Analysis Scene Analysis Color Key Color Key Cue Lists Cue Lists Instrument / Gel Schedules Instrument / Gel Schedules Invoices / Rental Orders Invoices / Rental Orders Work / Design Notes Work / Design Notes Equipment Notes (especially moving lights!) Equipment Notes (especially moving lights!) (etc…) (etc…)

43. Break Time!

44. The Light Plot Conveys information from Designer to Master Electrician (and the rest of the Production Staff) Conveys information from Designer to Master Electrician (and the rest of the Production Staff) Details information about every instrument Details information about every instrument Type Type Position Position Orientation Orientation Color Color Accessories Accessories Circuiting Circuiting

45. The Light Plot Overall layout personal to the LD Overall layout personal to the LD Drawn by hand or with CAD Drawn by hand or with CAD Typically drawn to scale Typically drawn to scale Scale helps with creation of plot as well as hang Scale helps with creation of plot as well as hang Should contain enough information to execute the hang in the absence of the designer. Should contain enough information to execute the hang in the absence of the designer.

46. Other Contents of a Light Plot Sketch of set in relation to hang positions Sketch of set in relation to hang positions Trim height of hang positions Trim height of hang positions Location of other equipment such as foggers Location of other equipment such as foggers Other lighting equipment related notes Other lighting equipment related notes Works in concert with Instrument, Gel, and Dimmer schedules Works in concert with Instrument, Gel, and Dimmer schedules

47. Lighting Instrument Blocks Instruments drawn by symbol for simplicity Instruments drawn by symbol for simplicity Convey all the applicable information for a given instrument. Convey all the applicable information for a given instrument. Include a key to map symbols to instrument types! Include a key to map symbols to instrument types! Ellipsoidal PAR 64

48. Sample Lighting Block Gel Color(s) Contains a Template Instrument Number Channel Number More?

49. Key Plot Components Title Block Title Block Production (and Dates) Production (and Dates) Designer Designer Director Director What does this plate describe? What does this plate describe? Legend Legend What do the symbols mean? What do the symbols mean? What is the data for each symbol? What is the data for each symbol? Hang Position Names Trim Heights if you care Booms Location in plan Profile view of instruments General Notes Section E.g. “Gel before focus”

50. Creating a light plot the Right Way Finish your Color Key and Scene Analysis first Finish your Color Key and Scene Analysis first Instrument Research Instrument Research Look on Manufacturer websites Look on Manufacturer websites Sketch Plan View of Set Sketch Plan View of Set Decide on acting areas Decide on acting areas Lighting Section Lighting Section Check throw distances and angles Check throw distances and angles Don’t cut off heads Don’t cut off heads Draw the Plot Draw the Plot

51. Light Plot Simplifications The “Dot Plot” The “Dot Plot” Don’t draw symbols – just use color-coded dots Don’t draw symbols – just use color-coded dots Skip the Lighting Section Skip the Lighting Section Section is most useful in unfamiliar venues Section is most useful in unfamiliar venues Don’t draw to scale Don’t draw to scale Be sure to note this to your ME Be sure to note this to your ME Requires more involvement during Hang Requires more involvement during Hang

52. Our Example Light Plot Simple Color Key Simple Color Key Warm Side / Cool Side Warm Side / Cool Side Several Angles: Several Angles: Diagonal Frontlight Diagonal Frontlight Straight Backlight Straight Backlight Venue similar to McConomy Venue similar to McConomy R33 (N/C Pink) R62 (N/C Blue) R54 (Pale Lavender)

53. Scotch ‘n’ Soda: Hints Talk to past SnS LDs Talk to past SnS LDs They have experience in the spaces They have experience in the spaces They know solutions to common problems They know solutions to common problems Don’t expect significant Direction Don’t expect significant Direction SnS directors are often new, and don’t know what lighting can do for them SnS directors are often new, and don’t know what lighting can do for them Attend lots of rehearsals Attend lots of rehearsals Ask the director or stage manager any questions you have Ask the director or stage manager any questions you have

54. Scotch ‘n’ Soda: Hints Light plots don’t have to be formal! Light plots don’t have to be formal! Not to scale Not to scale Brief Sketches Brief Sketches Schedules not required Schedules not required Find what works best for you and your ME Find what works best for you and your ME Know your venues Know your venues Resources – especially dimmers – are limited Resources – especially dimmers – are limited Some venues come with “in house” equipment Some venues come with “in house” equipment

55. Scotch ‘n’ Soda: Hints Rentals Rentals This is generally done by you, not the ME. This is generally done by you, not the ME. Contact ABTech Early Contact ABTech Early Contact Vincent Early Contact Vincent Early If you are shipping expendables, do so VERY early If you are shipping expendables, do so VERY early Have Fun! Have Fun!

56. Photo Credits Photos in this presentation were taken from the following sources/photographers: Photos in this presentation were taken from the following sources/photographers: Adam Pennington Adam Pennington Rob Siemborski Rob Siemborski Alex Orgera Alex Orgera The Scotch ‘n’ Soda Gallery The Scotch ‘n’ Soda Gallery

57. References Photos: Photos: http://www.coed.org http://www.coed.org http://www.coed.org Lighting Instrument Specs: Lighting Instrument Specs: http://www.altmanltg.com http://www.altmanltg.com http://www.altmanltg.com http://www.etcconnect.com http://www.etcconnect.com http://www.etcconnect.com Rentals: Rentals: http://www.vincentlighting.com http://www.vincentlighting.com http://www.vincentlighting.com (Call the Pittsburgh Office) (Call the Pittsburgh Office)

58. Questions?

59. Come Back for Lighting II! October 15, 6-8pm McConomy Audotorium “Things to know for Electrics Crew”