WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Drama: Designing Drama

HOW TO DOCUMENT YOUR LIGHTING DESIGN What documents should I produce? You need to create a detailed cue sheet , lighting plot (rigging diagram) and schedule (list of all the equipment you have used). These diagrams and charts can look complicated, but the advice on these pages will help you to complete excellent documents. Why should I create these documents? Plans and cue sheets provide lighting technicians with plans to follow. Even if a designer were to do all the technical work themselves, they could not carry in their heads all the information needed to rig and operate. Lighting charts and plans serve the same purpose as ground plans and model boxes do for set designers. The documents you draw up will help you practically as well as going in your portfolio and being shown to the visiting examiner. The lighting plot and schedule provide details of the lanterns and their accessories, along with a plan of where they are rigged. The plan should include a key that explains any symbols used in it. The cue sheet contains details of every lighting change. It contains all the information needed to operate the lighting in performance. The equipment and its location You can only group and rig your lanterns once you know what lighting states and effects are required and where. So, you will already have marked your lighting ideas on the script. You might even have an early cue sheet. If you are working on a devised piece, you will be becoming clear about all the lighting states and special effects that you are setting out to achieve. As you get closer to rigging, you will need to produce finished versions of the following documents. TASK 1.14 Practise drawing up each document as you go along with your design, so that you are confident by the time you are working on the production. The lighting schedule You can organise details of all the lanterns, gobos, barn doors and so on in any way you want. Types and quantities of lanterns A simple list like the one below is fine. Lighting schedule: Hansel and Gretel Type of lantern Quantity Fresnel 11 Par can 2 Profile spotlight 11 ASSESSMENT CHECK If you design lighting for Unit/Component 1, this section will help you to produce the necessary documents. FOCUS Examples and guidance to help you prepare the diagrams and charts you need. SIGNPOST Complete Task 1.3 on page 20 first to check what resources you have. There is no point creating a lighting design for 28 lanterns if you only have access to 18! LOOK HERE There is guidance on compiling and using a cue sheet on pages 32–33. If you are devising, go through the stages in ‘Lighting Design for the Devised Piece’, beginning on page 128. LOOK HERE A detailed example of a lighting cue sheet for Hansel and Gretel is available on the Designing Drama product page at illuminatepublishing.com . Chapter 1 Practical Guide to Lighting Design 30