ORCHESTRATION PROJECT

Purpose of project:
Following the process of lighting design, you will create a complete paper
project design for a short dramatic story in a provided set and theatre. This is
an exercise in lighting the actor.

Overview:
1) Clearly state the dramatic objective for your invented scene, in a sentence or
two. The goal is to create a very large emotional response in your audience
… terror, ecstasy, joy, surprise, shock.

2) Create a detailed narrative of your story, and if you find it necessary, some
dialogue. The story must involve at least 2 characters. It must take place in the
bedroom provided. The project can be as inventive as you like.
The following are forbidden: Lighting matches to see in the dark, repeated
lightning flashes, or candles being lit or blown out.

3) Write a short statement on the role of light in your story. How does lighting
interact and help support the action? How does your lighting design support the
story? Lead me through the play with major lighting changes and color
choices.

4) Research to find ten pictures illustrating the range of your lighting effects,
which will support your production (ten minimum). Caption each picture.
These images should relate to color and mood as well as what people look like
in each lighting state. What part of the story or cue does the picture relate to?
What about the picture relates to the look you want to create?

5) Create a schematic for your design. Determine the systems, specials and
specific colors you need to achieve your lighting looks. Include the channel
numbers for each light or system. You must have a least two front
McCandless instruments and a downlight for each acting area.

6) Using Vectorworks, you will create the lightplot.

Draw acting areas circles on the ground plan provided.
These should be 8’ to 12’ and start from DS Left to US Right. Add a focus
point to each area circle in its center. Your main focus should be centered on
how the actors are revealed.
Determine where to place a lighting instrument on the plan to achieve the
desired effect. Draw a section and calculate instrument location and required
field angle. Each lighting instrument on the plot should have a label legend
with purpose, color, unit number, and channel. Add a key and title block.

7) Create a Lightwright file by exporting your instrument data to Lightwright

Make sure to double-check your work. Does the paperwork include all of your
channels and the instrument information?
 File – Export – Instrument Data – Lightwright – Export – save file _ open
Lightwright – File – Import your file – suggest matches – ok
You will include a Channel Hookup for the final submission.

8) Create your Cue Sheets.

Provide a written detailed description of the lighting look and what it conveys to
the audience for EACH Cue. Please include structure cues, such as preshow,
blackouts and post show.
- Number these Cue 1, Cue 2 and Cue 3. And so on.
- Assign each cue a time. What is the speed of change in each cue? Does it
happen rapidly and obviously or perhaps slowly and subliminally?
- Create a visual description, which paints a picture of this moment in the
scene, in the reader’s mind. Use adjectives to help describe the quality of light
and its color, texture, and intensity. Describe what is revealed/not revealed
- When does the cue happen in relation to the action on stage? GO
- Explain the dramatic or story-telling purpose of the step… why is it there?

The Cue Description form is provided on Canvas.

9) Create an Effects Plot using Vectorworks.

For every instrument in your plot draw an arrow and color it to represent its gel
color. The colored arrow must aim at the center of the acting area or special
area where it will be focused on stage. Place the channel number at the end of
each arrow.

10) Create Cue Tracking Sheets with cue numbers, timing in seconds, and the
intensity of each channel for each cue. Color-code your channels. Match cues
and time with your descriptions.

The Cue Tracking form is provided on Canvas.

The presentation of your work, neatness and artistry in your final

submission should reflect who you are as an artist.

Checklist:
[ ] Written materials (Objective, Narrative, and Role of Light)
[ ] Pictures with Captions
[ ] Schematic
[ ] Cue Sheets
[ ] Final copy of your Vectorworks file, which includes the Light
Plot and Effects Plot
[ ] Channel Hookup (printed from Lightwright)
[ ] Cue Tracking Sheet

Post all Final documents and files to Box in your folder

Submit a final presentation with all project parts printed.