BLACK ANGEL

                                                     By MICHAEL CRISTOFER

For the next several classes, Drama 3313 will concentrate on bringing to life Michael Cristofer’s moving drama about guilt and responsibility, BLACK ANGEL. Our space is the Stieren Theatre.  You are to use a black model box in which you are to execute a 1/4", COLORED scaled model for BLACK ANGEL. It must including a scaled figure and any scenery that may be brought on and off stage.  You are to include all masking and furniture. We will have class time to work on the model.  It is essential that you come to class prepared having worked outside of class. The following is a schedule of events and deadlines.

T 10/3 Production Meeting for BLACK ANGEL

We will discuss BLACK ANGEL and brainstorm together.  Come prepared with an understanding of the script, possible metaphors, conceptual ideas and the sort.  Click on the following to see our in-class exercise and assignment: WALKING THE LINE OF A PLAY.

RESEARCH continues to be the secret to all design. I hope you discover the power of research in your FOREIGNER Design.  Research loads the intuition and provides possibilities. The research you present for class should include general emotional responses to the play like mood paintings, perhaps a landscape or seascape, lighting, perhaps a campfire in full blaze, and anything else which speaks to you about the spirit of the play.   It must include specific research including location pictures (inside and out), period drawings or photos, specific furniture pieces, props, lighting props, doors, windows, items called for in the script, and some costume research. I look for interesting textures and colors in my research. Research "primes the pump". For me, the shows or projects I do start with research and end with research. I constantly refer to my pictures for inspiration. When I get stuck, I go back to the text and my research. Often, I look at other people's designs. I look for videos in the same period or documentaries that render atmosphere. The Library has ample texts on scene design and has a wonderful video collection. These resources will enrich your work. The Internet also has wonderful resources.

Studio: Steve will demonstrate executing 1/8" ground plans and how to convert them into 1/8” elevations.

R 10/5 Studio MEET IN RTT DESIGN ROOM

Walking the Line DUE

Work on Model Boxes in class

As you are discovering, the presentation of the designer’s minds eye demands that you learn the skills of drawing, drafting, painting or in this class at this time, Photoshop.  Another essential skill to communicate ideas is model building.  In a 2-D sketch, you place the design within the proscenium frame or compositional frame.  In a model, you place the 3-D inside a model box of the theatre. 

You need to build a black box model of the Stieren Theatre.  Bring to class a sheet of black core  1/4” foam core.  Bring an exact knife and matt knife.  You will need drafting materials and a metal straight edge, tacky glue, glue stick, straight pins and tracing paper.  You will also need cold press 2 ply Bristol board.

We will work on your model boxes inclass.

T 10/10 Studio MEET IN RTT DESIGN ROOM

 Black Angel Research and Rough Ground Plan ideas due.

 Studio work on model boxes.

 Share research & Brainstorm.

The ROUGH GROUND PLAN is just that.  It is a scaled, bird’s eye representation of how the space will be used. Using the Stieren ground plan overlay cheap tracing paper and rough out shapes and forms.  Think about entrances and exits.  What furniture is necessary?  How big is a bench?  If necessary, cut out of paper scaled furniture and object pieces (bench, campfire, saw horses).  Move these around on your ground plan to explore possibilities.  Bring your rough plans to class.  Doing more than one sample will renders more possibilities.

R 10/12 Black Angel Rough Elevations Due MEET IN AMB 206

There will be two objectives for this class session.

·      You will share your rough elevations and ground plan refinements for feedback.

·      You will work on revisions based on observations to be developed into a 1/4” colored model.

You are to develop a ROUGH SKETCH or SKETCHES of ideas for your final design.  These should be in 1/4” scale within the proscenium frame and include a scaled figure.  They are ideas of how the design might look.  You may want to collage the sketches using cut out images as well as drawing.  The sketch should be an elevation of the ground plans you have developed.  Submit both the sketches and the ground plans for discussion.

Based on the feedback in this class session, develop Photoshop elevations that you can paste on Bristol board for the model. 

F A L L    B R E A K   10/13-10/15

T 10/17 Studio

Work on models in class based on elevations.

Bring drafting and model building supplies.

R 10/19 Studio

Work on models in class based on elevations

T 10/24 Black Angel Design Presentation

Assign TWELFTH NIGHT