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Set designer is a rather front-loaded prod staff positions. Take this into account when figuring out your commitments for this semester. Despite being front loaded, the Set Designer is still expected to attend all prod meeting as the set will affect blocking and it's important to be there to answer questions the director or others may have. (Note: For the fall show, to help address this issue, it is suggested that emails soliciting people interested in being Set Designer should be sent out by the beginning of August.)
Basics
The Ensemble performs fall/summer/IAP (?) shows in Little Kresge and spring shows in La Sala de Puerto Rico. Digital models of both places exist - for Sala go to ???? (old link is dead, poke... Jakob?) to Set Full.skp and for KLT go to https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_mEFC4XsoWmTdlxsAplu6cGjn0XIcrgK. See "semi-final deadlines" to see what to use these for! A quick note, apparently the pipe between 8V and 9V in Sala mysteriously isn't there.
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The set designer should have a semifinal set design, preferably in digital format, by the date specified in their contract, this is often early in the term. VectorWorks is the preferred software for creating the set design, but some success has been had with Google SketchUp. Many older members of the Ensemble are familiar with VectorWorks; feel free to ask them for help if you're unfamiliar with the software. It is definitely not necessary to have too detailed of a design in VectorWorks – as someone who has set designed and TD'd before, I find VectorWorks is the most useful for placing and sizing set pieces, but hand drawing/SketchUp is more useful for drawing exactly what you want things to look like. If you have both, give them to the TD! Having more is always better than not having enough.
You need two things:
- A drawing of the 3D set from a front view. This can be in whatever format you want: paper drawn, Google SketchUp, AutoCAD... etc.
- A drawing of the set in VectorWorks. VectorWorks is a software that is free for students where you can draw the set design. VectorWorks is stupidly hard to use and all of your set pieces should be approximations for your own sanity – ie, a chair can be a cube that is the size of a chair. It is REALLY useful for the LD to be able to place lights and see where they go for each scene in a set.
The semifinal design should be presented at the earliest possible prod meeting. The other designers, particularly lights, should give feedback how the design will interface with their departments. After the prod meeting, the set designer should meet with the TD to discuss the technical feasibility of the set. Remember that the TD has the final say in all structural/safety decisions.
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The final set design should be in a digital format, as shown above. The The final set design should be approved by the TD and director if possible before it is presented to the production staff and should be as detailed as possible. It should include sight lines, the spaces that any moving objects (such as a door) will pass through, and anything other information that could possibly be useful. The design should also conform to all fire/safety regulations.
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Once the final set design has been presented at a prod meeting, it should be sent out to the show list and posted to the show dropbox/drive/other public storage option. All future updates should also be sent out and uploaded. Make sure that when you send it out and upload, you include dimensions that allow the space to be taped out, and that you include multiple file types. For example, ASMs will need an image/PDF of the floor plan they can easily pull up, but a lighting designer may appreciate a 3D model.
Curtains: the curtains should be planned in advance of tech week, and ideally in advance of the final lighting design. They will be competing for pipes with backlight. Particular attention should be paid to the curtain plans if the set is at an angle with regard to La Sala.
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While the meeting with CAC is primarily the TD's responsibility, the set designer should attend if possible on the off chance the set needs to be changed. See the TD page for more information.
During Tech Week
Please be sure to visit space the Monday of tech week to make sure the set is set up the way you designed!
During tech week you should be available to the TD as much as possible. While your job is mostly done once the paint is purchased and the set is finalized, it's important to remember that you should be present if the TD has questions about the layout (and no matter how much the two of you prepare, questions will always come up). You should also be wedded to your design, which means you should be invested in seeing it executed well. Remember that all the actors and the TD are at least as hosed as you are during tech week and plan to help accordingly. If you aren't present and the set doesn't come out the way you like it, it's on you. If you are present and the set is screwed up, hopefully you can notice and fix the problems before they become too permanent, or better yet, prevent them in the first place.
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