re: Making a portfolio...help!

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 4:22pm

Hey all.

So, I'm planning to go to school for theater tech stuff, and I have to make a portfolio to bring with me for my interviews, aaaand, since I've never made one before, I've got a few quick questions...

1. I have programs and pictures of sets and such, but is there anything else that I should throw in? Playbills from shows I've seen? Money? Nude pictures?

2. What do I actually like...use to make a portfolio? A binder? Something else? I have no clue.

3. Aaaand, any other suggestions?

Any help is appreciated.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 11:10pm

What they want to see is potential. Mine consisted of pictures of shows I have designed and worked on, along with any awards I won, newspaper articles I was featured in for my work, etc. They don't care about what shows you have seen. If you are applying for set design, throw in some of your artwork. I created mine with a computer program, printed out the pages, and inserted them in plastic sleeves...and placed them in a binder.

What schools are you looking at?

Updated On: 12/5/06 at 11:10 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 12/6/06 at 2:09am

Mine included set and costume design sketches, photographs of past work, just general life drawings and illustraions, as well as a newspaper clipping about a show I worked on.

What schools are you applying to? They might have specific portfolio requirements, which you should check out.

Akiva

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 1:56am

www.DSGDesigns.net

^mine

[kerblammo]

Posted: 12/20/06 at 3:09am

I have examples of my work, usually in sets of 3. The shot of the show with the piece, the piece itself finished, but separate from anything else, and any process shots taken along the way. On each page I also put a caption, giving the show, the production company, my position, and the year.

Example:
I was a set/props guy for Once On This Island. The first picture is of the staircase we built in the show. I then have one of the staircase, no actors, no lights, just a straight shot. I then have a shot of it about half-built, to show details of construction. The caption read:
Once On This Island
Las Vegas Academy Theatre
Carpenter/Stagehand
2005

When presenting your portfolio, be prepared to explain your process and details behind the work. Sometimes, less is more.

Good luck with your auditions!