Lighting & Sound Design Slides PDF

Historical Background Lighting and Sound People Process Tools & Equipment Stage Lighting The latest element of theatre design to be incorporated into theatrical productions § Do you see your world differently when you think about the light all around you? Lighting Design § How does it change...

Historical Background Lighting and Sound People Process Tools & Equipment Stage Lighting The latest element of theatre design to be incorporated into theatrical productions § Do you see your world differently when you think about the light all around you? Lighting Design § How does it change your perception of your surroundings? § The lighting designer reveals what must be seen and hiding what needs to be hidden. History of Stage Lighting § 2000 years theatre was held outside and during the day, primarily for illumination § Plays would use language and props, such as candles or torches to suggest night § Around 1600 theatre began to move in doors § Candles and oil lamps were used § Late 1700’s started using gauze and fabric to manipulate the light § Color, lighting above the stage § 1785 Argand lamp is created Lighting Pioneers Adolphe Appia (born 1862): His use of three-dimensional scenery and lighting to artistically unify a theatrical piece helped to revolutionize the ways in which productions were staged and lighting was used. A fabulous overview/blog post on Adolphe Appia. Stanley McCandless (1897-1967) Stanley Russell McCandless is considered to be the father of modern lighting design. He paved the way for future lighting designers by making contributions to almost all aspects of theatrical lighting, from the engineering of lighting instruments to consultant work, and designing realized theatrical productions. Wikipedia on McCandless. Jean Rosenthal (1912 - 1969) is considered a pioneer in the field of theatrical lighting design. In the early part of the 20th century, the lighting designer was not a formalized position. Rosenthal helped make the lighting designer an integral member of the design team. As well as particular lighting innovations, she created an atmosphere specific to the production. Great article on Jean Rosenthal here. Gas Lights § First installed in London in 1803 § Intensity could be lowered or increased § Had limitations and was dangerous, caused fires § § Person responsible for creating, installing, and setting controls for stage lighting Process: § Reads script § Meets with director and other designers § Receives set design and prelim costume design § Research and watch rehearsals § Draws a light plot § § Hang and focus lights § § A light plot, lighting plot or just plot is a document similar to an architectural blueprint used specifically by theatrical lighting designers to illustrate and communicate the lighting design to the director, other designers and finally the Master Electrician and electrics crew. During technical rehearsals, LD sets cues in a computerized, automated light board. Videos: § Tony Awards-winning Lighting Designers Natasha Katz and Howell Binkley § The Role of Lighting in Theatre: Donald Holder (Lion King, Spider Man, etc.) The Lighting Designer Process Primary Functions and Objectives (create a kinesthetic connection between audience and the world of the play) Provide Reveal • Provide visibility • Reveal shapes and forms Provide • Provide a focus on stage and create visual compositions Assist in • Assist in creating mood and reinforcing style Help • Help establish time and place Establish • Establish a rhythm of visual movement Reinforce • Reinforce a central visual image, establish visual information, or both Functions of Lighting: Visibility § Visibility § Chief function illumination § Performers faces and actions § Creating mood cannot be more prevalent than seeing action § Finding a balance between concept and visibility Functions of Lighting: Shape and Form § Revealing the objects in the world of the play as creatively as possible § Don’t want to light from above § Enhance the objects with lighting and color from the side, top, and behind them Functions of Lighting: Focus & Composition § Beam of light is aimed at a particular area § Focus the light on something § Focus on creating a continually moving visual composition § keeps the audience focused on the central action of the play § Distract while a performer slips into place § Must be focused so actors can move around without going in and out of light Mood Functions of Lighting: Mood & Style • Mood throughout the play changes • Mood can be manipulated through lighting and sound • Action, scenery, and words, in conjunction with light, tell us exactly what the mood is. Style • Can be established with light and sound • Realistic • Lighting will emulate the world • Non-realistic • Designer can get more creative Theatre Royal Waterford, Ireland : Into the Woods, 2007 Properties of Stage lighting §Intensity §Brightness §Color §Colors can be mixed §Distribution §The position and type of lighting being used and the angle §Movement §Shifting the audiences focus §Fades, crossfades, follow spots § § § § § Elements of Stage Lights § § § § The Tools of a Lighting Designer § The lighting designer works with the lightboard and lighting instruments: § The modern lightboard is also called the lighting control console, and it is a highly specialized computer. § The different types of lighting fixtures include: PAR fixtures, Fresnels, ERSs, cyc lights, and automated fixtures. § PAR fixtures, or parabolic aluminized reflector lamps, are self-contained units. § The Fresnel is names for the man who invented its lens – August-Jean Fresnel. It is known for its soft edge and smooth illumination. § The ellipsoidal reflector spotlight, or ERS, is the workhorse of the lighting world. It has more features and flexibility than any other fixture. Lighting Instruments & Cool Stuff Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight Fresnel (SoftEdge Light or Beam) Flood, Strip, and Border Lights: Lighting Console or Control Board: •Most widely used •Bright hardedged spot •Workhorse of contemporary lighting •Gobo slot, pattern projection •Follow spot has been used since 1856 • Called so because of the lens, named after August Fresnel; designed for light houses • High wattage • Helps dissipate the heat, but can create only a soft edged beam of light down to a small spot, or cover the entire stage • Used for top lighting or backlighting, with a wash of color •Bathe a section of the stage in smooth, diffused wash of light •Used singly or in groups to provide general illumination for the set • Lighting consoles allow you to control multiple light fixtures for performances, live shows, and other events. • Consoles are used to adjust brightness, color, and position, among other parameters. • They work by sending a signal to dimmers and lights, which tells them what to do. COOL STUFF •Along with lighting fixtures, designers can use other accessories to create a variety of looks onstage: Gobos, fog machines, strobe lights, disco balls, and projectors. Sound Design Sound in the Theatre § Amplification § Most theatre, especially musicals, are amplified § Stage mics § Sound Effects § In the past, most sounds were made backstage by using material to recreate certain sounds § Ex. Small pieces of wood were smashed together to create the sound of a door closing § Today, samples from programs are used § You can interface with lighting and projection § Bigger theatres will have built in recording studios The Sound Designer § Arranges every sound that the audience will hear. § Number of microphones, what type, placement of the speakers, and all other aspects of sound § Meets with director and figures out the best configuration for the sound from pre-show to close § Reproduction Sound Function: Reproduction § Use of motivated or environmental sounds § Motivated sounds: Noise of a car driving on gravel, car motor sounds, car turning off, door closing § A sequence that would announce a character arriving at a house § Environmental sounds: noises of everyday life; crickets chirping, babbling brook, etc… § Usually heard in the background Sound Function: Reinforcement § Amplification of sounds produced by a performer, or a musical instrument § Body mikes on the performers § Small wire wrapped around performers head in a way that conceals it from the audience, signal is sent to a transmitter on the body, and then sent wirelessly to the controller § Any sound produced by mechanical or Sound Function: Sound Effects human means to create for the audience a noise or sound associated with the play § Underscoring § Heard between scenes or acts, and sometimes during spoken sections to create mood or to add emphasis