Wow! So much information in this week's lecture. Discussing plotting in design kind of blew my mind because I had no idea that there were so many steps involved in designing a show.
Now that I have reflected, I feel overwhelmed by the entire design process but more aware of the steps that I need to take when designing a piece. I feel overwhelmed because I feel like I've never recognized the amount of work (and the hours of processing) that go into developing a conceptual world for the audience members to completely enter. There are so many steps that must come before a designer can even think about plotting, and I had no idea, which is why I feel that lighting design seemed almost impossible (because I had no idea where to begin). However, because of this lecture, I feel that I am more aware of the sequential order of the designing, and thus, I have a grasp on how one begins to "make art" -Martha Carter.
So the process:
1. Design Statement: a script treatment, scene by scene narrative breakdown communicated in angles and movement that says a lot about the entirety of the plot (right, Lonnie?). One of the most important things to note about the design statement is that a lighting designer does not have to be incredibly detailed about their design concept, for this might take away the design from the designer. Details can be changed/altered by a director, and can take away from the entire vision that the designer is hoping to display.
2. Conceptual Magic Sheets: breakdown into translations of light, and needs to be specific enough to think/visualize in terms of lights. The concept magic sheet is a step in the process that allows a designer to think about the big strokes of his/her design: brushstrokes, angles, colors and textures.
3. Scene by Scene System Magic Sheets: this is probably the most complicated part of the process for me to understand. Color, gobo, and systems are determined here. We talked about the various angles of light that are present in the theatre, and how a designer has to be aware of the angles and the distance of a source/system (and what he/she is attempting to present) so as to not only capture the performers (visibility light), but to also play with the dynamics of the design. This process actually occurs twice because of details/edits that are often made in design (right, Lonnie?)
The above processes is a part of the entire design process. Designing is vision, concept, idea, inspiration and communication with the other designers/director of the show/piece. This must, must, must be separated from plotting because plotting should not include design in it's own process, but should be a process of listing and details. In this state, a designer works on the math, the beam angles, the obstructions, and the minutia of the design. I love that Lonnie emphasized that we must separate our design from our craft (plotting) because we use completely separate hemispheres of our brain. I love how this pertains to dance. I am really interested in choreographing a piece this summer (through collaboration with a jazz student from Berklee) but am nervous to start the choreographic process because I have trouble separating the craft from the design when creating pieces. Design is conceptual, and craft is detailed, perhaps the specifics. A designer must have the vision/concept in mind in order to even entertain specifics, and now that I have reflected on this, I feel that I am less overwhelmed and more excited to begin this collaboration! Thanks Lonnie for the life lesson!
Very nice post!
ReplyDeleteI want to clarify a few things. The LD does need to be very detailed when writing their script treatment but they have to do it in a way that speaks the director's or choreographer's language
It is understandable that the System magic sheet is confusing, as the others in class have had the chance to really work and design with those angles and you have not, so it will come whenever we can get you into a lighting design class :) - I would say it happens in drafts to further define the process
So glad you were able to tie parts of this lecture to your work in dance :)