Evaluating the Production Elements: Set Design, Props, Costume, Lighting, Sound, Special Effects, Acting & Directing
Use the guide slides to assess various production elements including set design, props, costume, lighting, sound, special effects, acting, and directing. Explore examples from scenes like Peter Pan teaching children to fly, impactful moments, successful elements, and set design descriptions. Gain insights into creating immersive theatrical experiences through effective production techniques.
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Evaluating the Production Use the guide slides to help plan your descriptions Set Design, Props & Costume Successful Elements Lighting & Sound Special Effects Acting & Directing
EXAMPLE of Evaluating the Production Use your guide to help plan your descriptions Set Design, Props & Costume MOMENT - At the moment when Peter Pan was teaching the children to fly in the bedroom. DESCRIBE - There was a large white bed C.S. pointing towards D.S.R, it had white pillows, and white sheets and a colourful patchwork quilt upon it. Peter climbed onto the bed, wrapped Michael in a large white sheet, and attached it to the fairy string and when the actor was on his front in the sheet he was flown towards the flies. IMPACT - When the actor was up high, above the stage, this was a thrilling moment because seeing him actually be flown made me want to experience the adventure of flying to a new place. Acting & Directing The actor communicated fear when Jim found out that Long John Silver was the one-legged man they had been warned about. They used a scared facial expression, holding eye contact with Silver, a straight posture and a slow speed. They also spoke with a scared tone, without fluency as they stammered when they spoke, they stood C.S.R. and Silver stood D.S.L. keeping a distant proxemics and they held a knife out in front threatening him. This created tension and made me nervous because I did not know how the pirate would react to Jim. Successful Elements Special Effects Lighting & Sound At the beginning of the play, when the shipwreck was taking place, the revolving stage was slowly turning, with the actors moving around on the set. T the same time, the smoke machine was releasing haze which created the effect of cold fog in the air. This was used alongside the sound effects of waves crashing, making the whole scene loud and chaotic, making an atmosphere of emergency. At the moment when the text message first was sent, the lighting snapped from a bright white wash across the stage to a suddenly dimmer state with a slightly blue filter and the text messages were projected across the floor. The projected image moved as if it was a real text message. There were pre-recorded sound effects of message alerts,used when e- mail messages appeared on the screen. The scenes in Emma's house had classical music playing in the background to show that they were intellectual.
SET DESIGN HELP When describing the set that was used on stage, it is useful to use the stage areas in your description. You can use the initials to mention a specific area (for example, use C.S. for Centre Stage) This helps paint the picture for the reader. For example The set designer transformed the stage into a large 1800 s ship by slowly revealing 3 layers (stretching from U.S.R to U.S.L), a sail, the wheel, ropes, barrels, various rooms and the galley from under the revolving stage. The deck and the Captains quarters rose high but the galley was low, this is where Jim was sent. This communicated the status difference between the Captain and the crew (including Jim and Long John Silver). I felt annoyed that Jim was denied her dreams and understood her frustration and anger. Set Scenery used to show where a drama takes place. Backcloth Canvas cloth, which covers the back of the stage: can be painted. Cyclorama The back wall of the stage, which can be painted or lit. Flies Area above the stage from where scenery/actors are flown in on pulleys Canvas cloth, which covers the floor of the stage: can be painted. Floorcloth Revolving stage Set prop Area of the stage which turns in a circle An item placed on the set, usually part of it e.g. a lamp, clock, picture Trapdoor A door in the floor where actors or items may exit or enter Trucks Piece of scenery on wheels for ease of movement
Costume can communicate a lot in a production. Time (morning, 1800s, 1980s) Activity (playing football, salsa dancing) Place (school, hospital) Mood and atmosphere (scary, safe) Character information (age, health, job, hobbies, status) COSTUME DESIGN HELP When describing costume, be as detailed as possible, consider colours, patterns, length and quality For example Billy Bones wore a worn brown leather waistcoat, a light brown short sleeved shirt open to the belly; this exposed a long-sleeved top with brown and black tattoos printed on it. The pattern was of a rib cage, a heart, ships, skulls and others bones. This design concept showed that he was a dangerous pirate and helped to create a scary mood and atmosphere. Costume Clothes worn by actors for their character. Colour Pattern Various Ships, rib cage, skulls Clothing Quality Length Full arm Tattooed long sleeve top 3 piece suit Pyjamas Shirt/blouse Dress Trousers Shawl Jacket etc plain Green Creased crushed Broken down Stained (inc. with what) Faded Frayed Distressed Torn Pressed Creased Good Full length Full length Cropped Mini Floor length Three quarters Long Red and white Purple Red Blue Orange Cream Thick stripes Paisley Flower Striped (thin or thick) Psychedelic swirls Gingham Coat Green Gold Spotted stars Short Hat Wooly Bobble Hat Red, grey, black Horizontal stripes
LIGHTING Terminology (LFX Lighting effects) Blackout The acting area is not lit Slow fade The lighting/sound is faded out slowly Fast fade to The lighting/sound is faded out quickly Snap to - Blackout is achieved instantly Crossfade To change from one lighting cue to another with no blackout in between Fade up/down Flood Lantern giving a wide spread of light Gel Film placed in front of a lantern to change the colour of the beam Spotlight Sharp edged circle Beam of light created by a profile lantern for a person or place on the acting area Focussed on - because of the way they are positioning to get the desired lighting Profile spot Lantern giving a hard edged beam of light Wash The whole acting area is evenly lit LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN HELP When you are asked about production concepts, you are expected to not only use the correct terminology but also understand and explain the effect they may create. Describe how you would use lighting to develop mood and atmosphere? Why did you use this effect? To brighten or dim the lighting Think about a key moment in your performance. Describe how you would use sound to highlight this key moment. SOUND Terminology Cue A signal for an actor to do or say something, or for a lighting or sound effect to begin or end To bring the volume up To bring the volume down Fade in Fade out The place where the lanterns are pointing Crossfad e To change from one sound cue to another, with no silence in between Live (SFX) An SFX is operated on cue during the performance e.g. a doorbell, a phone ring, a knock Adjustable metal flaps attached to the front of a fresnel spotlight for shaping the beam of light Follow spot Powerful profile used to follow actors around the acting area Fresnel Spot Gobo project a shape or a pattern onto the acting floor or wall, e.g. leaves on the ground /moon on the cyclorama wall. Barndoors Pre- recorded (SFX) SFX An SFX is recorded on tape and played on cue during the performance Lantern giving a soft edged beam of light The quick way to write sound effects Thin Metal plate with a cut out pattern like a stencil to Mixing desk Control desk for sound
SPECIAL EFFECTS HELP For Example, A smoke machine can provide atmosphere a foggy Victorian street, a dream sequence. Describe how you would use lighting to develop mood and atmosphere? Why did you use this effect? Think about a key moment in your performance. Describe how you would use sound to highlight this key moment. Describe how you would use special Effects to communicate/ highlight the message/ purpose of your performance. A strobe light can turn a straightforward movement piece into a flickering silent movie. (Warning: strobe lights can trigger epileptic seizures, so you must always warn audiences if your performance uses strobe lights) Special Effects Terminology Special effects are used to create a mood or atmosphere on stage e.g. strobe light, mirror ball, smoke machine Ultra-violet light creates other-worldly effects in a blackout, with white or fluorescent masks, puppets or costumes. Strobe Light used for flashing lighting effects Pyrotechnics are stage fireworks which can help provide magical effects, such as transformation scene in a pantomime. Explosives, gunfire and flares can give a dramatic backdrop to a battle scene. A licence is needed for anyone using this type of equipment. Bubble machines, snow machines and splurge guns Trapdoors can be fun in children s shows and pantomimes. can provide dramatic impact, for example a figure rises up from under the stage, or a body is lowered into a grave. allows you to have two sets, which can be alternated for transformations and other effects. A revolving stage
ACTING HELP For example: The actor communicated fear when Jim found out that Long John Silver was the one-legged man they had been warned about. They used a scared facial expression, holding eye contact with Silver, a straight posture and a slow speed. They also spoke with a scared tone, without fluency as they stammered when they spoke, they stood C.S.R. and Silver stood D.S.L. keeping a distant proxemics and they held a knife out in front threatening him. This created tension and made me nervous because I did not know how the pirate would react to Jim. Time to describe the acting in the performance. You MUST use suitable adjectives alongside the voice and movement words to successfully communicate the performance. Acting Concept Word Bank Adjectives Fast Slow Happy Angry Loud Quiet Formal Informal High Low Poor good On word or phrase, not an entire sentence Voice Pace Movement Facial expression Adjectives Happy Angry Close Distant Holding Avoiding Slouched straight Staggering brisk Biting nails Fidgeting with hair High Equal low Fist pointing Tone Proxemics Volume Eye contact Register Posture Pitch Gait Clarity Mannerism Emphasis Use of levels Fluency With Without (stammer) Gesture
