Melissa Shafer - TeachingTHEA 4527/5527 Advanced Scenographic Design—Syllabus
Fall ‘05 Brooks 104
Instructors: Karen Brewster Melissa Shafer
Office: 116 Brooks Gym 116 Brooks Gym
Phone: 439-5827 439-5837
Email: Brewster@etsu.edu Shaferm@etsu.edu
Course Objectives:
This technology intensive course is intended to give the student an advanced
theatrical design/theatrical technology training experience.
Students will be given various hands-on design assignments, will learn
advanced crafts and technology techniques, and will refine rendering and
modeling skills learned in the more fundamental design courses.
Prerequisites: Stagecraft THEA
1520, Theatre Design Basics THEA 2420, Scenic Design THEA 3330 or Lighting
Design THEA 3335 or Costume Design THEA 3345.
Expected Outcomes:
As a result of taking this course the student will be able to:
· Translate a play analysis into visual terms thus creating a meaningful and functional theatrical design
· Employ various artists’ materials, including technology, in order to effectively render Scenic and Costume Design ideas.
· Perform some advanced craft skills all professional artists know in order to more effectively execute design ideas.
Major Topics
Covered:
Property Design and Execution, Costume Rendering Techniques, Basic Drafting, Scenic Modeling Techniques, Casting/Reproduction Skills
Recommended Texts:
Drafting Scenery for Theater, Film, and Television. Betterway Books. Rich Rose. ISBN 1558701419
A Handbook of Costume Drawing: A Guide to Drawing the Period Figure for Costume Design Students. Focal Press/Butterworth-Heinemann. Georgia Baker. ISBN 0240804031
The Prop Builder’s Molding and Casting Handbook. Betterway Books. Thurston James. ISBN 1558701338/ISBN 1558701281 (paperback)
Teaching Methods
for this Course:
The teaching methods for this course will focus on hands-on experiences.
This course is web-enhanced:
· Students are expected to access the online Blackboard course site regularly for updates, assignments, and quizzes.
· The address for Blackboard access http://online.etsu.edu/, then click Blackboard login.
· There is a “student help” button located at this site that explains how to login. Also, the student help desk can be reached by phone at 439-5648, 3-4648, or by email at shdesk@imail.etsu.edu.
Required Materials: Old clothing!
Gouache or Watercolors, Watercolor Paper, Watercolor Brushes, Vellum, T-square, Architect’s scale, 30/60/90 Triangle, 45 degree Triangle, Mechanical Pencil, Eraser, Bow Compass, Artist’s Drawing Paper 11”x14”, method of storage for computer data—Recommended: CWR-CD, 3 1/4 Floppy Disc.
Required Events:
As a class we will attend two Barter Theatre productions. These are “pay what you can” performances:
· September 11th 3:00pm The Scarlet Pimpernel
· October 9th 7:00pm Mother Courage
Travel details will be discussed in class and posted on Blackboard.
Class Locations:
We will meet in Brooks Gym 104 unless otherwise announced in class or posted on Blackboard.
Please note:
· This course adheres to the tenets of Academic Honesty. Any infractions will be dealt with appropriately.
· As this course involves hands-on work, all safety rules must be observed. In case of accident notify the instructor immediately. It is strongly recommended that you carry health insurance.
· Any student who may need an accommodation based on disability: please make an appointment to see Melissa Shafer or Karen Brewster during office hours or after class. A Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability Services authorizing your accommodations is required.
Course
Projects/Evaluation:
Barter Outing
10 points
Attendance/Participation
15 points
Property Design Project (Forever
Plaid attendance required) 15
points
Costume Rendering Project
15 points
Drafting Project
15 points
Scenic Modeling Project
15 points
Casting/Molding Project
15 points
All projects will be outlined in a detailed manner in class and on Blackboard. As this course is technology intensive, most projects will utilize some aspect of technology. For example:
· Online research, use of scanning equipment, and Photoshop will be employed in the Property Design Project
· Costume Renderings must be at least 50% technology enhanced using Photoshop or other software packages approved by the instructors. Use of Waccom Drawing Tablet is encouraged.
· Drafting and Scenic Modeling exercises will be computer enhanced. Details regarding software use will be discussed in class and posted on Blackboard.
· The technology equipment and software necessary for this course will be available for your use in the Warf Pickle Computer Lab. The lab schedule will be given to you in class and posted on Blackboard.
Grade Scale:
A+
100-94
A-
93-90
B+
89-87
B
86-84
B-
83-80
C+
79-77
C
76-74
C-
73-70
D+
69-67
D
66-60
F
59 or below
Grades on projects turned in late will be reduced. The grade will drop one letter grade for each calendar day late. For excused absences (see below), projects must be turned in on first day back to class.
Attendance Policy:
This course will emphasize hands-on in-class participation. Each student is expected to attend every scheduled class meeting. More than two unexpected absences from a scheduled class meeting will result in a grade reduction. The student’s average will drop one full letter grade for each unexcused absence.
ETSU Syllabus Attachment: http://www.etsu.edu/reg/syllabus.htm
Advanced
Scenographic Design Class Schedule—Fall 2005
8/30
Week One Introduction to Course
Hand out Forever Plaid scripts
9/6
Week Two Forever Plaid discussion, meet designers, begin research
9/13
Week Three Forever Plaid show research and rough ideas, discuss with designers
9/20
Week Four Forever Plaid Show final product, discuss with designers
9/27
Week Five Drafting—ground plans and elevations
10/4
Week Six Drafting—perspective
10/11
Week Seven Model Making
10/18
Week Eight Model Making
Forever Plaid performances in the Bud Frank Theatre October 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29 at 7:30 and October 23 at 2:00pm
10/25
Week Nine Scenic and Costume Rendering
11/1
Week Ten
Post Mortem Forever Plaid
Scenic and Costume Rendering
11/8
Week Eleven Costume Rendering
11/15
Week Twelve Mold Making and Casting
Picnic in the VA Memorial Theatre November 17-19 at 7:30 pm and November 20 at 2:00pm
11/22
Week Thirteen
Post Mortem Picnic
11/29
Week Fourteen Mold Making and Casting
12/6
Week Fifteen Mold Making and Casting
12/13
Tuesday at 1:20 Final Exam