Evaluation
Context:
For my Unit 12, I was the technical director for the shows performed by the second year actors. At the start of the process, I was informed that I would have to tech and run each show by myself as my classmate was going to be absent as he had to go and work. He did come in a few times where he helped me with a few technical things that I wasn't sure of. At the beginning of the process, I was uncomfortable and concerned about being left alone to complete such a big project with minimal help. However, I feel that it boosted my confidence in my ability. I learned how to materialise some very complicated technical requirements in a short space of time. I also had to add extra lighting cues just before the actual show so, over the process, I learned how to deal with a high amount of stress.
In order to get started, I researched several things about Q-Lab so that I could use it to edit and run audio and video cues. I also did some research on how to apply a number of effects to cues so that I could develop my practical skills and operate the lighting desk to a more advanced level. For example, I researched how to create a step-based effect as two of the actors wanted a lighting cue that resembled police sirens. I also researched how to apply a follow or hang on a cue as one of the groups wanted a cue of pure red for five seconds so I applied a five second hang to make the timing more accurate.
I didn't get the chance to contribute much creative input as most of the actors already knew what they wanted. However, the cast of Waiting For Godot gave me the most creative freedom as all they told me was that they wanted a lighting state that represented a sunrise which evolved into an afternoon state which morphed into a night-time state. My initial idea to represent all of these times of day was to use a moving light to represent the sun by gradually moving across the cyclorama as though it was rising and then setting. I also thought of making it change colour over time. It would have started by being orange then yellow then orange again before setting into the night. I initially planned on using the LEDs to accompany the moving light.
I didn't go through with this idea in the end as the actors requested a projection of a willow tree so I couldn't use the mover as it would have bleached out the projection. I had to choose between either the projection or the mover so I decided to prioritise the request made by the actors.
The cast of Girls also gave me a little creative freedom as they gave me a rough idea of what they wanted so I was able to design the lights according to what they wanted. For example, they said that for some of their scenes, they would be in a jungle, so I used green lighting and a tree gobo. For other scenes, the characters were in a desert so I used yellow lighting and little red.
Whilst planning the technical aspects of each show, I had to consider the story of each piece and the requests that the actors made. It wouldn't really be appropriate for me to have upbeat lighting cues for a slow piece or vice versa. In order to be able to plan the technicalities better for each show, I decided to research what each piece was about so that I had an idea of the pace and location of all the performances.
I think that during the process of the shows, I displayed a few strengths and weaknesses. A few strengths that I displayed were that I was able to cooperate effectively with all of the actors by listening to what they wanted and suggesting alternatives if they didn't like what I provided. Another strength was that I managed to stay calm under pressure and due to the fact that we were on a tight schedule, there were quite a few situations where I was under pressure. I also managed to deal with complicated technical requirements that were given to me by some of the actors.
However, alongside my strengths, I also showed weaknesses. One weakness was my planning. I think that I could have planned the production schedule better as I feel that I left the technical rehearsals a little late. If I were to repeat the project, I would start all of the technical rehearsals earlier in order to allow for anything that may go wrong or any changes that the actors may want to make to the tech of their shows. Although, in terms of planning, I was quite limited in terms of time because there was a performance just before mine. My first technical rehearsal took place the day after the previous performance.
Research
I decided to research how to use the software that I had to operate for the shows so that I could use the software more proficiently and efficiently. I read the user manual created by Figure 53 (the creators of Q-Lab) in order to learn how to use Q-Lab. I also watched a few videos to learn how to apply a follow and hang to a cue and how to record a step-based effect on the lighting desk. I decided to do the research that I did as there some technical things that I was required to do but I didn't how to do it so I had to find a way of learning to do what was required of me. The research that I carried out in order to learn how to use Q-Lab took place before the first technical rehearsal.
Once the technical rehearsals started, I researched how to do technical things as and when I needed as we had to follow a very tight schedule which gave me very little time to do much research so most of my research was done before the technical rehearsals. One bit of research that helped me quite a lot during the technical rehearsals was when I watched a video which explained how to record a step-based effect.
Planning
I had a weekly production meeting with each group during which we discussed their technical requirements. During the first production meeting that I had with them, they gave me their scripts and their initial technical requirements. They also marked out the scenes that they had decided to cut out of their respective pieces. I was granted access time in the theatre to experiment with the technical requirements that I was given by the actors so that I was able to see what worked and didn't work. My access time also gave me the time to work out the complicated requirements. During each production meeting that I had with the actors, I informed them of the things that I had found during my access time i.e. which of the technical aspects worked or didn’t work. For the things that didn't work, I proposed alternatives that I thought represented the same thing or something similar to what the actors were trying to achieve. The main target that I set myself was to make sure that I had something to present to each group in my production meeting with them. I also set myself smaller targets throughout the process as a way to make sure that I didn't fall behind on my work. These targets, included, making sure that the required sound cues were in place, making sure that I had the projections that were needed and that the lights were focused correctly.
I planned my research around the technical requirements. I did some research every day and I looked at technical things that helped me to do my role to a better standard. I looked a lot at how to use the equipment that I was using. I also looked at the synopsis of each play in order to come up with some creative ideas for the lights. I would then suggest my ideas to the actors in the following production meeting.
As there was a show before mine, I had to plan my time wisely so that as little time as possible was wasted. When the show before mine was happening, I had very little time to use the theatre for my show so I carried out most of my research during that time and once the show was finished, I used the theatre as much as I could in order to put my research and ideas into practice.
I often listened to the feedback given to me by the actors and the director in order to improve my way of working. During production meetings, I listened to the actors' opinions of the ideas that I proposed. I was also checking the timetable that I had drawn up for myself to see if I was working fast enough or not.
For some of the individual shows, I managed to gain time as they had simple technical requirements so I was able to tech those more quickly than I anticipated which gave me more time to think about the more complicated pieces. For the performances that had complex technical requirements, I struggled to stick to my personal deadlines because the technical aspects of those shows were more time-consuming which meant that I sometimes had to stay in college a little longer than I had initially planned to.
Overall, I feel that I did manage to achieve what I originally set out to do which was to provide the audience with a more immersive experience of each play. I didn't achieve that in the way that I initially thought I would because of the technical requirements that were given to me by the actors. The things that the actors wanted didn't always allow me to do what I had originally planned as that would have caused too much of a conflict in the creative aspect of each show.
I planned my research around the technical requirements. I did some research every day and I looked at technical things that helped me to do my role to a better standard. I looked a lot at how to use the equipment that I was using. I also looked at the synopsis of each play in order to come up with some creative ideas for the lights. I would then suggest my ideas to the actors in the following production meeting.
As there was a show before mine, I had to plan my time wisely so that as little time as possible was wasted. When the show before mine was happening, I had very little time to use the theatre for my show so I carried out most of my research during that time and once the show was finished, I used the theatre as much as I could in order to put my research and ideas into practice.
I often listened to the feedback given to me by the actors and the director in order to improve my way of working. During production meetings, I listened to the actors' opinions of the ideas that I proposed. I was also checking the timetable that I had drawn up for myself to see if I was working fast enough or not.
For some of the individual shows, I managed to gain time as they had simple technical requirements so I was able to tech those more quickly than I anticipated which gave me more time to think about the more complicated pieces. For the performances that had complex technical requirements, I struggled to stick to my personal deadlines because the technical aspects of those shows were more time-consuming which meant that I sometimes had to stay in college a little longer than I had initially planned to.
Overall, I feel that I did manage to achieve what I originally set out to do which was to provide the audience with a more immersive experience of each play. I didn't achieve that in the way that I initially thought I would because of the technical requirements that were given to me by the actors. The things that the actors wanted didn't always allow me to do what I had originally planned as that would have caused too much of a conflict in the creative aspect of each show.
Problem Solving
The decisions that I made for the lighting were around the directions that I received from the director and cast. For example, the cast that performed Girls wanted a searchlight so I used a moving light to act appropriately. In order for the mover to replicate a searchlight, an effect had to be recorded and as I didn’t what kind of effect was needed or how to record it, I asked my classmate to do it.
Every group wanted a simplistic stage and a low number of props that they sourced themselves. The actor who performed Girls & Boys wanted a chair. The actors of Zoo Story had two park benches as their play took place in a park. The actor who did Misty wanted a chair, a mic stand and a microphone that he didn’t actually use, he wanted it onstage to make it look like he was making an announcement. The cast of Waiting For Godot didn’t want any props. The cast of Girls initially wanted newspapers, a brush, a mirror, mats, a bucket, three blocks, a black cloth, a table, a cooking pot, a knife, and spare clothes. In the end, they decided not to get everything.
All of the props were successful in making the piece more realistic as they 'set the scene'. For example, the park benches in Zoo Story made the stage look a little more like a park. The newspapers and cloth in Girls made the scene look more like the inside of a tent that was inhabited by a group of girls trying to get somewhere.
Overall, I think that some of the technical requirements that were given to me were challenging and a little unrealistic considering the timeframe that we had. We dedicated a separate day to each individual show to implement their technical aspects and while some of the shows were quick and easy to tech, others were a lot more difficult and time-consuming.All of the props were successful in making the piece more realistic as they 'set the scene'. For example, the park benches in Zoo Story made the stage look a little more like a park. The newspapers and cloth in Girls made the scene look more like the inside of a tent that was inhabited by a group of girls trying to get somewhere.