Chapter 18: Lighting and Sound Design

Controllable Qualities of Light

Intensity, distribution, color, and movement.

Functions of Lighting Design

Provides visibility, sculpts dimension, reinforces composition, enhances mood, supports style, and reinforces action.

Lighting Designer Skills

Physics, electronics, principles of optics, and social/cultural history.

Methods to Convey Lighting Design

Value sketches, lighting scores, and computer simulations.

Lighting Distribution Working Plans

Light plot, floor plan, vertical section, instrument schedule, and magic sheet.

3 Principle Types of Stage Lighting

Specific illumination, general illumination, and special effects.

Instrument Schedule

A chart listing each lighting instrument's specifications, position, color, focus, circuit, and dimmer.

When is lighting integrated with other elements?

During technical rehearsals, using generated cue sheets.

Assistant Lighting Designer Duties

Makes plots, compiles schedules, locates equipment, programs lights, and acts as staff liaison.

3 Categories of Sound

Verbal (voices), non-verbal (music/abstract), and realistic (identifiable).

4 Functions of Sound Design

Evokes mood, reinforces action, reinforces voices, and supports style/comments on action.

Sound Designer's Working Documents

Sound score, sound plot, show master, and cue sheets.

Mixed Media Productions

Productions since the 1960s using multimedia, projected images, and closed-circuit television.

Why is stage lighting difficult to evaluate?

It directs attention to the actors, scenery, costumes, and directing rather than itself.