Scenic design (also known as scenography, stage design, set design or production design) is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A. degrees in theatre arts.
The 'stage picture' is the 'look' or physical appearance of the stage for a play, whether in rehearsal or performance. It reflects the way that the stage is composed artistically in regard to props, actors, shapes and colours. The stage picture should express good principles of design and use of space. It should be visually appealing for the audience or should express the show's concept.
The scenic designer is responsible for collaborating with the theatre director and other members of the production design team to create an environment for the production and then communicating the details of this environment to the technical director, production manager, charge scenic artist and propmaster. Scenic designers are responsible for creating scale models of the scenery, renderings, paint elevations and scale construction drawings as part of their communication with other production staff.
A set designer discusses the set with carpenters
A Day in the life of a Set Designer
Okay, so it’s not the award everyone stays up until midnight to see who won, but the importance of a set designer to a play, musical, or movie is paramount. From minimal productions, like grade school plays, to multimillion-dollar movies, the set is a silent supporting actor. Moods, meaning, and media are all affected by the set design. Any flaw – a misplaced building, an uncomplimentary color scheme – can ruin the authenticity of any production. Set designers are involved in all aspects of “creating the scene,” from stage construction to costume creation to the use of props. They research, design, and supervise construction of the visual aids required in stage, film, and television productions. Set designers have above-average artistic ability. They are drawers, painters, sculptors, sewers, and carpenters of the set. Set designers usually start with freehand sketches of what the scene should be. They then move to scale models, working in tandem with the director of the production, the production manager, and writers. Once their plans are finalized, the set designer supervises construction workers who build the sets. They also work with people in charge of lighting and sound. They have to have a strong understanding of theatrical rigging and safety. Lately, as the trend of movies using computer generated worlds, specially trained set designers are called upon to create fantastic worlds using a mouse and a keyboard. The set designer has to take into consideration a production’s budget when building sets. The smaller the budget, the more creative the set designer may have to be to build a world that entrances the audience without costing a fortune. Set designers mostly work in large production theaters and movie studios, and they work long hours, particularly up to the night of the first performance.
Paying Your Dues
Set designers usually attend specialized design institutes, or artistic academies. However, the ability to build a set can also be gained through on the job training. It’s not hard to imagine a set designer starting out their career with small church productions, working their way up to school plays, college productions, and then Broadway. Okay, it’s a long shot, but with a ton of talent and determination, it’s not impossible. Most set designers study specific courses, gaining degrees in theater. Set designers are required to attend interviews or auditions, and to bring with them a portfolio of past design or artwork. Some work under the tutelage of more experienced set designers.
Associated Careers
Good set designers have an artistic ability that can translate into many other professions including, painters, sculptors, carpenters, and florists. The skills needed to build entire worlds in a limited space come in handy if a set designer wishes to pursue similar – but technically more demanding – careers as architects and even city planners. Being in the theater profession, set designers can also make the transition to stage manager or director.
what does a Set Designer do????
A set designer is an entertainment professional who designs scenery. Set designers work in film, television, theater, dance, concert, and pageant production, as well as in other areas. Any event which requires the presentation of people on a stage will involve a set designer, whether it's a speech from a head of state or a daytime soap opera. Set designers can be very highly compensated for their work, especially when they work on large and fine art productions, such as Broadway shows.
Historically, many set designers learned their craft by working from the ground up. They would start in the scenery department with tasks like painting and carpentry, and gradually develop more advanced skills and aesthetics until they could work designing sets. Most set designers today are trained artists, with many having MFA degrees in arts, theater production, or set design specifically. During their training in art school, university, or college, set designers have an opportunity to work as interns in theater productions and on productions in their own educational institutions.
The work of the set designer involves a great deal of cooperation. The set designer often meets first with the director and other members of the artistic staff such as lighting designers and costume designers to discuss the aesthetic vision and image of the production. Someone doing a post-apocalyptic Hamlet, for example, would probably have very specific ideas about the look and feel of the show which would be brought out in the art design. The artistic staff make sketches and meet on multiple occasions to develop a unified look and feel with elements which will complement each other. Set design is very much influenced by costuming and lighting, and when art designers work together, the results can be stunning. While coordinating efforts, the set designer also starts work on building scenery, including engineering moving scenery and special effects with scenery. It is also common for the set designer to work with the props department, developing props which will mesh well with the look and feel of the show's design. The set designer supervises crews of electricians and carpenters during construction, keeps other members of the creative team advised about progress, and works to make adjustments as the sets, costumes, lights, props, and actors all start to come together. The goal is to deliver a finished and functional set on time, with the set designer remaining on call in case problems develop. In an industry like television, a set designer might be called upon to make numerous sets in a week to furnish the needs of a production, and must balance available filming space with the needs of the show. For a theatrical production, the set designer might have weeks or months to develop sets for a single production.
SET DESIGN
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