ENT4410 Technical Direction Spring 2014

Hey guys. Here’s a link to the Openlab ePortfolio help site.

Also, you can find more information about learning portfolios in general here. Don’t worry too much about the sample table of contents that Zubizarreta has included, but when you look at Fig. 3 of the article, you should think about how your work this semester fits into the “Problem Solving” and “Field Experiences” categories.

The goal for your portfolios is to catalog what you learned this semester in class. It is helpful to write down what you’ve learned so you can refer to it later; more importantly, it is helpful to get in the habit of reflecting on your projects after they are finished. For each problem we worked on, I want you to think and write about three things: description, analysis, and application.

Description

What did you do? Describe the process. Define the problem, identify the main issues. Try to describe how much time you spent on each part of the problem. What were the hardest parts? What was easy? Did you have a particular strategy for solving the problem? Did it work?

This section is the most likely place for images, spreadsheets, etc.

Analysis

What real-world scenarios are most like the problem? Are there things about the problem that would be different in a real-world application? Was the problem missing elements that would be present in a real-world application?

Application

What did you learn from the problem? How will you apply what you learned to the real world or to other classes?

Exactly how you organize your writing is up to you, but each post should include some writing in each of those three categories.

Today’s initial focus was  on our Second trial Budget approvals for the F2M production as well as a bit of calendar insight via our  ( Faux Production meeting). The class was split up into two groups  and each group had a representative present (lx/Master,electricians, Sound, Scenery,Charge Artists, Props and A Technical Director) for allocating their crews time the scheduled production week accordingly.

Follow up from Tuesday:

We started class by following up from the end of class on Tuesday when Mike suggested the use of drywall to create the walls of the set. John opened it up for class discussion.

Metal studs and drywall→

            Shannon: it will look like a real apartment but can you bolt?

            John: has anyone worked with it?

                        Metal studs are lighter then wood but drywall is heaver

                        In construction the instalation of top and bottom rails lock in the stud

                        Without ceiling to attach top rail to what makes wall secure??

                       Looks like drywall, bc it is drywall

                       To make lauan look like drywall you need to coat w joint compound

F2M: Plot Discussion 

What were good points?

• Clarence (father) asking about hormones
• Lucy knowing who Parker really is ( famous and a man)

Where were you bored?

• Repetitive- Was the author out of things to say?, intentional it has been repeating for Parker’s whole life
• Lost steam in the argument by the end of the play

Parker → inner conflict and outer conflict

Play could have ended one scene earlier

• End with Parker saying “this is who I am”
• Not needing to know the Lucy and Parker are ok

Conflict doesn’t need to be resolved for the play to be effective

 John: How does the class read plays?

Shannon: making sure you read the play seeing the  actions where they interact with objects → More a design concern?

Sergio: emotion for slamming doors, and reactions in the space

Laura: they use the kitchen→ “do you want some toast”, Does it have to be real?

Sarah: transitions from location to location, quickly!→ Script doesn’t tell you how to treat the transitions, written like authors background TV

Budgeting Discussion

How do you use the script to decide what to keep/cut?

Look at how and how frequently it is used

Theoretical Props Budget Scenario  

problem: Lot of money for photo printing → over budget

proposed solution: Cutting half the photos →is that a good cut??

discussion: No because the drive of a character is told through the photos, people in photos are told in script

problem: kitchen props are extensive and expensive

discussion:

• Cabinets → only one opened
• Fridge →  can be dummy with a light, can make dummy freezer cold with ice
• Ice cream→ containers out, does it get served?
• Sink → glass of water
• Toaster→ toast made
• Stove→  hot plate in dummy stove

List of things to look for  when reading a script as a TD

• You have to read it once
• Have drawings with you to refer
• How many locations / how many visits to each location
• Definite physical actions (slamming doors)
• Transitions
  • How long, where are they going?
  • What has to move in the transitions?
• Practicality of pieces / what is real?
• Sight-lines
• How does moving parts get operated
• Will need working fridge and freezer for props
• Backstage
  • Egress
  • Space for everything
  • Where do things go when it isn’t onstage
• Interaction with other departments
  • Every department will be on set
    • Video → is there equipment that needs to be set mounted or rigged, cable management
    • Sound → is there equipment that needs to be set mounted, holes in things, cable management (where speakers are needed but scenically pleasing)
    • Costumes → can costumes fit through egresses, quick changes (on stage/ backstage)
    • Stage Management → if there aren’t sight-lines to the stage, where are they calling from
    • Props → tracking for storage, does anything need to be set mounted or floor mounted, is it a prop or a set piece?
    • Fight Director→ how they interact with set does there need to be safety modifications
    • Electrics→ is there equipment that needs to be set mounted, practicals, holes, who is taking care of the sink (is it electrics or set), outlets or switches, genie and ladder access and storage
    • Show Control→ what is driving all set mounted electrics
    • Scenic Arts → access, what materials are paint treatment what is real, maintenance

Next class 4/24 INITIAL BUDGET PRESENTATIONS and approval

Structure of presentation :

1. Divide the set into units
   1. Set designer (use designer’s labels)
2. Figure out HOW
   1. Sketching to show how you are approaching the build
   2. Test of materials or research
3. Cost Per Unit
   1. Materials
   2. Labor

Tuesday Recap

On Tuesday we talked about budgeting. We were asked to budget in 2 minutes a 4 X 8 flat. Some of us included lumber and time and others were more specific including back paint and Flamex. Then John asked us a few questions like: “How did we figure out the hours to build it?” And most of us had just thought of it, based on other experiences, so he just drew a brain next to our names.

When we are budgeting time, it is important to break down every task to the point where we know how long something will take. For example, we know how long it takes to carry a sheet of luan across the shop, or we know how long it takes to make a single cut on the table saw ets. Think about cutting, prepping, assembling, routing, filling and sanding, every step.

All, be sure to check out the updated syllabus, available here.

Also, the next problem is posted here if you want to take a look before class tomorrow.

Hello everyone!

so i called dykes again for some flex and reg poplar molding prices. They sell theirnflex by foot aswell so these prices are by foot. molding and lumber is by generally by foot and sheet goods are a set price.

242- .78 cents

172- poplar- .90cents  Flex- $5.25

144- poplar- $1.10 flex- 6.50

42- poplar. .28 cents Flex- $3.95

293- flex $9.00

282- flex $5.75

555- $13.25

And Shannon 177 does not exist! and everything is by foot

Today we discussed in our individual groups our solution to the problem. Jose and I discussed the construction of the molding. I want to do it in peices and then put it together and we will need to make another cad drawing for that peice. estimates and budgets were discussed by other groups as well as paint schedules and calendars.

everyone should remember this project is due tuesday. Everyone should meet with their groups before tuesday and have everything printed for their projects atleast by Monday. leave copies in an acessable place so everyone in your group can have acess to the documentation incase your alarm clock doesnt go off the morning of and you miss the presentation.

Look at these curved flats Sergio and I made today! Hope this helps out someone else because I know it helped me.

in Class today we presented our 2nd draft for “Problem #3”.

shortly after the first group presented half way, we broke up into our groups for a discussion on how we can communicate our drawings and information in a more organized way so that the audience can fully understand what is going on. So we would have more of a professional presentation, instead of having a round table discussion.

talking points

• its better to communicate the big picture first and then break it down into smaller pieces, being detailed drawings.
• Example: If you are a crew-head, it is better to explain the overall big picture to the crew and then giving each person a lists of tasks, instead of just handing out one task at a time, without explaining what anything is for
• 1×3 VS. 5/4 x3 framing. possibly stronger for flats over 8′
• using steel framing for door flats
• custom molding: using a box backing and half cut craft tubes to look like cove molding.
• sometimes(most of the time) your better off testing and sampling before jumping to AutoCADD to draw a complete set.
• we discussed a new way to support the door flat. one group suggested making the masking wall the same height as the door flat and then bracing between them.
• one group talked about dividing flats in order to hide seems better.
• plan things out in an order that saves you time.we were asked right before class ended to write something that we have learned in class and how we can/have applied it to actual life/work.

  P.S: since we couldn’t all share our final thoughts on what we have learned, could you guys quickly post what you wrote in class.