DRAM110

What does it mean to "Don't saddle a dead horse"?

Don't fasten the wire rope on the wrong side, aka don't put the saddle on the dead side (short) of the cable, put it on the live end (long). If it's the other way around, the wire rope can break the live end, which is used to carry weights.

Corner Blocks on Theatre Flats

How does a fly system work?

- The counterweight rigging system allows a technician to move a significant amount of weight with not much effort
- Each line set is controlled by a long rope (purchase) that attaches to the arbour (where the weight is stored to counterbalance the objects attached), as the arbour moves up or down, the baton moves the other way.

What's the difference between a TV flat and a Theatre flat?

Theatre flat: Soft covered, Flats with a frame that places the width of the lumber parallel to the face. Has corner block, rail, stile, toggle, keystone, floor jack
TV flat: Hard covered, a frame that is perpendicular to the paint surface (1x2)

Producer

Overall manager, initiates the production - the
money – raises or provides finances – hires creative personal
– writer, director, composer, designer choreographer –
performers (in consultation with the director) – accountants,
legal representation-publicist, marketing team. Is ultimately
responsible for the business end of mounting a production
and is the final decision maker.

Board of Directors

An elected or appointed group
responsible for overseeing the activities of the
theatre often assuming financial and legal liability
depending on the organizational structure.

Artistic Director

Has overall artistic control of theatre–
production choices – artistic vision – often functions as
the primary director. Plans season - hires directors -
assumes some producer duties (fundraising representing
the theatre in the media.) Etc. Works closely with the
general manager.

General Manager

Oversees the theatre company’s
day-to-day administration , finances and personal.
Overseas overall long-term strategic plan.

Playwright

Writes the dramatic literature to be
performed by actors.
A craftsman of plays like Euripides, Sophocles,
Aristophanes, Aeschylus, Moliere, Shakespeare,
Ben Johnson, Ibsen, Chekov, Ionesco, Shaw,
Mamet, Shepard.

Director

Is the primary visionary deciding the artistic
concept and interpretation of the play and its staging.
Collaborates with creative team to realize her vision,
actors, designers, (costume, set lighting, sound)
choreographers, (dance, combat), and playwrights of
new pieces.

Dramaturge

Assists the company with the research and
development of new work. They work closely with the
director and playwright to help transition the script to
live action on stage. The dramaturge is a person with a
strong knowledge of directing, literature and theatre
history. They often providing historical and cultural
context for the developing work.

Choreographers

Choreograph movement in their
discipline, (dance, combat, intimacy) and train actors to
execute the choreography. They work closely with the
director. Voice specialists help actors master speech.
Articulate locution, inflection and accents for the stage.

Music Director

Interprets, conducts and may develop
the musical score for the production during rehearsals
and performances. Will coach and direct actors singing
onstage. Works closely with the Director.

Production Manager

Coordinates logistics, budgets of subcategories;
Set, costumes, lighting, sound, projection, automation,
pyro, stage management.
In film the PM hires the key positions, and manages the
overall departmental operating budgets.

Stage Manager

Develops and manages rehearsal
schedules for actors and other personal. Organizes
rehearsal logistics, records blocking and director’s
notes. Manages the production during the run. Calls
the cues. Ensures the director’s artistic vision and
choices are realized. This is a very key position in
theatre, and is often the highest paid production
position due to the level of responsibility.

House Manager

Oversees management of audience
during production run. Resolves box office issues and
major audience issues. Manages ushers and seating
capacity.

Technical Director

Oversees and coordinates all
departments. Is responsible for the daily technical
operations of a theatre.

Stage Carpenter

Supervises all activities on a roadhouse
stage (TCU) and is responsible for all maintenance and
service issues. They administrate stage personal, mitigate
union issues, do billing, prepare and modify the stage for
an upcoming event.

Riggers

Safely elevate and secure equipment over the
stage and audience space in the performance venue.

Stage Crew

Carps, electrics, audio techs, props, follow
spot operators, fly men, riggers, dresser’s. They provide
set up support and execute running crew duties
associated with the production. They report to the heads
of their departments and execute cues upon verbal
command by stage management, departmental
supervisors or a learned written track.

Set Designer

Research, design and supervise the visual
and structural aspects of theatrical sets and scenery.
Generates drafting, paint renderings and model of the set
design. They work closely with all production
departments.

Head Scenic Painter

Is responsible for completion of all
scenic painting related to the production. Supervises
paint crew, and runs and maintains paint shop and
equipment. This is another very important, but often
under respected position.

Head Carpenter

Interprets drafting, drawings and models
generated by the set designer. Engineers and realizes the
build of all set related items, flats, risers, ramps, doors,
windows and, specialty set pieces. Costs show and
manages the set construction budget. Runs the scene shop
and construction crew. Only carpenters trained as riggers
may rig items overhead.

Costume Designer

Research, design and supervise the
construction of all theatrical costumes for the production.

Head of Wardrobe

is responsible for the management
of all costumes, wigs and accessories. Also for sourcing,
buying, making, fitting, dressing, maintenance, care and
cleaning of all costumes. The Head of Wardrobe
supervises the running crew on a theatrical production.

Cutter

Interprets and creates designed costumes.
Creates patterns, determines yardage, cuts material, fits
and alters costumes, directs stichers. The Cutter is an
expert in costume construction, and tailoring techniques.

Stitchers

Assemble and alter designed costumes. Have
excellent machine and hand sewing skills.

Dressers

assist actors with costume changes during the
performance.

Lighting Designer

Creates the lighting effects for a
production to enhance the mood and atmosphere while
keeping in mind practical visibility and safety. The LD will
supervise the hang, focus and cuing of lights for the
show.

Head Electrician

Is responsible for lighting related
activities in the theatre. They maintain and manage the
lighting inventory. The Head LX receives the lighting plot
from the LD and translates the design into the lighting
seen by the audience. They supervise the lighting crew,
who hang, cable and focus the lights.

Electricians

Hang, focus, color, cable, clean and
maintain lighting gear under the direction of the head
electrician. During performances they may be
responsible for cues related to anything electrical.
Paging cable, changing gels. Plugging and unplugging
moving set pieces. Running fog machines and follow
spots.

Projection Designer

Creates projection effects and
video to enhance the artistic needs of the production.

Projection Crew

Sets up and operates projection
equipment under the supervision of the projection
designer.

Sound Designer

Creates a soundscape – music and sound
effects required in the play to enhance the atmosphere
and provide environmental support.

Sound Crew

Are responsible for the set up of all audio
related devices. (Audio desks, speaker’s backline) They
assist performers onstage and mic actors.

Head Sound Engineer

Is responsible for all audio related
needs of the theatre. Mixing live events, supervising audio
crew, maintaining equipment and managing the budget.

Actors

The most important part of the production

Entertainment Industry Organizations

Negotiate wage agreements and working
conditions, on behalf of their members.

IATSE (1893)

International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists
and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada. –
Represents technicians working in all forms of live
theatre, film, and production shops supporting the
industry. IATSE Local 300 Saskatoon.

CAEA (1955)

Canadian Actors Equity Association –
Represents live performing artists in Canada. Actors,
dancer, opera singers, as well as theatre directors, dance
choreographers, fight directors, and stage managers.

Procenium Arch

Typical arch used in theatre. Used to separate the stage from the auditorium through which the action of a play is viewed

Arch block placement

The most important is #1, the keystone. Located at the very apex of arch. It’s the last piece put into place during the construction of the stone arch since it basically locks all the other pieces into place, thereby allowing the arch to bear the weight of the stones. Because the keystone is located at the top of the arch, it experiences the least amount of stress out of any of the stones, yet it’s also the stone piece that the arch depends on in order to be self-supporting.

Types of arches

Colour

- is the mental interpretation of the visible spectrum
of light either transmitted through a transparent
medium (theatre light) or absorbed and reflected
off a surface (paint).
- Is the light wavelengths our eye receives and our
brain processes from a generated or reflected
source.

Colour wheel

Warm colors are on the right side of the
wheel and cold colors are on the left
Primary: Red, Yellow, Blue
Secondary: Orange, Green, Purple
Tertiary: The mixing of primary and secondary colours

Hue

spectral name of the color pigment (red, blue, green, yellow etc.)

Tonal value

lightness or darkness Adding white means to tint. Adding black means to shade.

Intensity

saturation or chroma
(bright deep color vs dull and washed out.)

Black

Black can be mixed by combining all primaries
• In a ratio of 4 blue 2 red 1 yellow
• Black absorbs all the light and reflects none

Subtractive mixing

Mixing paint pigments in this manner is called subtractive mixing.
• Paint subtracts (absorbs) all the colors of white light except what is reflected back.
• Eg red hue absorbs (subtracts) every other color and reflects back red

Additive Mixing in Stage Light

When the three primaries of light are mixed together the result is white. Mixing is additive when you are moving toward white.
• In a RGB system such as a tv or LED light fixture different amounts of each are added together to create different colors because the primaries are generated by the light source rather than being reflected.
• Light color mixing can be subtractive also by beginning with a white light source and placing a colored gel in front of it. All colors except for the color of the gel are absorbed (subtracted) so only the color of the gel is allowed through.

Common Scenic Materials

- Lumber Products
-Metals
-Synthetics
-Fabrics

Lumber Products (WOOD)

Hardwoods come from deciduous trees.
( leaves that fall seasonally) elm, mahogany, oak,
maple, ash, etc
May be very hard like oak or very soft like balsa
Softwoods come from conifers.
Pine, spruce, cedar, fir (fir is very hard)

Metals

Mild Steel (ferrous iron bearing) is strong yet
workable and readily welded together.
Available in a variety of thickness.
-flat, round and square
-box steel
-angle iron
-sheeting

Rear elevation

Drafting tools

• 1. A flat, smooth work surface.
• 2. Media on which the drawing will be done. (i.e. Vellum)
• 3. Tape to hold down the media on the work surface.
• 4. Pencils to draw the various required lines.
• 5. A T square or combination of straight edges (like triangles) that
permit drawing vertical, horizontal and oblique lines.
• 6. Drawing instruments for producing arcs and circles. (i.e. Compass)
• 7. Architect’s scale ruler for determining sizes.
• 8. Plastic eraser for removing mistakes
• 9. Erasing shield.

Why we need drafting

• To show the shape and size of the objects
• To show the internal structure
• To show fastening details of component parts
• To identify the specific construction materials
• To show show the finish details of the surface
• To provide details of complex aspects of the design.
• To show their position on stage
• Through the drafting process problems are identified before the build
• Drafting allows the designer to work on many projects at the same time.

Orthographic Projection

• This concept is basic to all drafting.
• It is a way of representing a three dimensional
object in two dimensions.
• Imagine a box made of paper unfolded.
• Now imagine something in the box also
unfolded graphically
• Each side gives critical information about
each face of the box or object.

Shape in the box

Pictorial projection

• Give a more recognizable visual understanding
of the object (more 3D)
The two most common are the isometric
projection and the oblique projection

Isometric projection

Oblique projection

Line Types

Plate Border prevents placement of valuable information to close to the edge of the sheet where it may be lost during reproduction
• Plaster line extends parallel to back edge of the proscenium arch. An important reference line.
• Section Outline, medium line showing section detail
• Cutting plane lines are used to show location of cutting planes for sectional views.
• Visible outline is medium weight continuous line for visible objects.
• Hidden lines (broken dash lines) are not directly visible from presented view.
• Centre line is a broken line with C overlapping L an important reference line.
• Leader line continuous thin line leading from a note or dimension, terminated by an arrowhead touching the object.
• Dimension line is a fine solid line terminated by arrowheads or slashes. Line nearest obj. should be ½” from obj. all other parallel dimensions should be 3/8 inches apart.
• Extension line is a fine solid line extending from a point on the drawing to which a dimension refers. Dimension line meets extension line at rt. angles except in rare cases. A gap of 1/16” should be left between the extension line and the object. Should extend 1/16” beyond dimension line.

Lines

Lines are differentiated by weight (thickness) and
style
• Lines are essentially thick or thin, broken or
unbroken.
• Thick .9 Med .5 Thin .3

Ground Plan

• Ground plan or floor plan is a plan view or top
view of the theatre space.
• All scenic elements are positioned on the
ground plan relative to the centre line of the
stage and plaster line. All elements walls,
stairs, risers, set pieces are positioned relative
to each other.

Notation

Your intention is to convey as much information as possible. So the carpenter doesn’t have to guess.
• Notes allow you to write specific information you as the designer /draftsperson have already figured out.
• Material choices, fastening techniques, assembly procedures desired finished.
• Notes save time and avoid confusion
• Notes must be brief and concise, Lettered horizontally, in a position its clear what view they are for (not between views), not in crowded places. Usually put on last.
• General notes go above title block. Or central under unit they apply.

Title Block

Same location on all project drawings
• Usually lower right-hand corner
• Should include:
- Name of producing org/theatre
- Name of production
- Drawing title
- Drawing number
- Scale
- Date
- Designer/drafter
- Director

Additives

Pigment + binder = paint
Other dditivies:
• Surfactants – lowers surface tension between
liquids promoting mixing.
• Defoamers – lowers bubbling during mixing
• Preservatives – extends viability latex paint
will rot after opened if not used.
• Fungicides – prevents fungus growth

Components of paint cans

Colour mixing strategies

Colour Mixing Strategies
Accurate colour mixing is influenced by
1. Adjacent Colors
- soln. Isolate colours from each other with
white paper.
- Dry paint with a hairdryer.
2. Lighting mix under the same light source as
the intender viewing situation

Colour wheel rules

• Hold the wheel with yellow at the top.
• Adding white will lighten and wash out the color.
• Adding the next color up will brighten
• Adding white and the next color up will lighten
and brighten.
• Adding the next color down will darken
• Adding the opposite color will give the shadow
color (making it duller)

Pigment

Organic material or Inorganic minerals give the
color
• Inorganic – mineral based copper, manganese, cobalt, iron, cadium, chromium, lead, zinc....
White – titanium dioxide
Red - iron oxide
Yellow – Cadium sulfide
Blue – Cobalt aluminate

Poisons

• Many paint ingredients are toxic and must be
handled with care.
In Victorian times arsenic, lead and radium were
components of paint, makeup, wallpaper and
clothing dyes, causing great suffering and needless
death.
Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Sheeles developed a
Yellow green pigment of copper arsenite in 1775.
Used in fabric dyes, candles and wallpaper and children's toys.
Painters would lick the paint brush to help with precision

Medium (vehicle)

• Fluid carrying the pigment and binder
• Solvent is the vehicle
- Water based is now the most common
alcohol–shellac)
• Hydrocarbon solvents for oils (mineral spirits,
turpentine
• Laquer thinner,
• acrylic enamel reducer.
• Reduce viscosity for better flow during application
• Medium evaporates leaving pigment and binder

Binder (resin)

• The glue that sticks the pigment to the surface once the vehicle has evaporated.
• Natural organic peroid paints – egg yolk tempera
• Oil – linseed oil
• Modern paint
• Acrylic Polymers / polyvinyl acetate (latex)
• Alkyd (resiliant gloss paint chemical based )
• Epoxy (industrial coatings, concrete )
• Binder is usually colorless as to not affect the pigment

Latex paint (emulsion)

• Generic name for paint containing synthetic
polymers Latex is a plant based material found
in nature. (contain protien, alkaloids, starches,
sugars, oils tannins resins and gums.
• Most common paint used in film and theatre
• Readily available water based house paint
• Acrylic and polyvinyl acetate and water
• Fast drying time less toxic componants than
oils. (hydrocarbon based)

Water colours

• Pigment is held in water soluable binder
usually Natural arabic gum. May contain
additives to enhance viscosity and durability.
• known for its translucent delicacy

Apron

Auger bit

NOT used for metal

Awl

Band saw

Good to use to make irregular shapes

Screwdriver tips

Mitre joint

Joint made by joining two parts cut at a 45 degree angle in the corner, to make a 90 degree corner

Bight

Loop of rope

Book

Two-fold piece of scenery

Border/Teaser

A horizontal masking that is lowered to reduce the height of the opening

Brad nail

Butt joint

A butt joint is a type of wood joint used to connect two pieces of wood to each other at a corner (typically 90 degrees)

Canvas

Canvas is a plain-woven fabric typically made out of cotton and, to a lesser extent, linen. Canvas fabric is known for being durable, sturdy, and heavy duty. By blending cotton with synthetic fibers, canvas can become water resistant or even waterproof

Ceiling plate

Chisel

a long-bladed hand tool with a bevelled cutting edge and a plain handle that is struck with a hammer or mallet, used to cut or shape wood, stone, metal, or other hard materials.

Chuck

A chuck is a specialized type of clamp used to hold an object with radial symmetry, especially a cylinder

Circular saw

A circular saw is a round metal disc with a sharp edge which is used for cutting wood and other materials

Crescent wrench

Cut drop

A cut drop is often backed with bobbinet or sharkstooth scrim fabric for strength. When the net is dyed to match the background it becomes nearly invisible

Cyclorama

background device employed to cover the back and sometimes the sides of the stage and used with special lighting to create the illusion of sky, open space, or great distance at the rear of the stage setting.

Counterweights

an equivalent weight or force, used for fly system

Dado joints

A dado falls within the center of the material, consisting of a slot with a bottom and two shoulders.

Dowel joint

type of joint used to connect two pieces of wood by drilling dowel holes in each piece and using a wooden peg (the dowel) to attach them.

Drill

a hand tool, power tool, or machine with a rotating cutting tip or reciprocating hammer or chisel, used for making holes.