My Thesis! (with photos)- Page 2

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:46am

p.s. If anyone is interested in seeing other designs of mine, I posted them a while back in this thread: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=off&thread=919088

Akiva

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:24am

Those are really very good, Akiva. Congratulations of finishing school, too. Good luck.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:41am

Again, kudos on the designs. Just out of curiosity, since this was a thesis project, did your Professor have you work up the design at three different budgets? I remember a Professor doing that to me, and it was an eye-opening lesson to see how much of my concept could be realized at different levels. It also changed my design approach and taught me that creativity can help you execute your vision at any level if you plan ahead.

Also, do they teach anything about designing sets to travel and did he have you work up one of your assignments with that in mind?

I'm just curious about how they're teaching this stuff twenty years later :)

Thanks!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 11:17am

Shakespearean:

This thesis project wasn't for a class per se, but more like a project that we got a full class credit for, and that everyone in the theatre school has to do in order to graduate. We got to come up with our own project and pick our own mentor for marking as long as they were approved by the powers that be. The focus of mine was creating a storyboard for a large-scale musical and exploring how it can be used to communicate a design with a director. Accompanying the storyboard was a written set synopsis of sorts, that described the set changes, any important lighting suggestions, etc.

As far as how they are teaching Set Design these days though, I can describe my class to you. My professor was the head of Shaw Festival design for over 20 years, and definitely had his own unique approach to teaching, and I gained a lot in that class. We started off by having to read three scripts (12th Night, The Seagull and The Crucible) and we spent a few weeks discussing the various scripts in depth (not from a set point of view). Then we voted on which script we would like to design (The Crucible won out) and we began exploring that text in even more detail. We had to talk about which moments and characters we each related to the most, and we were supposed to use those as an entry point into a design. As an example of an exploration excersize we could use in case of artists block, he had us decide which of the four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) was most present in the show, and do a sculpture based on that element. Then we had to begin the actual design process, by designing a floor texture, and we had to work our way up from that until we eventually came up with our finished design (to see mine, see the link I posted above). We didn't worry about budget at all, since a big component of our school is our practical show work, where we have to be almost overly concerned with budget, so this class he wanted us to let go and be as fully creative as possible.

Akiva

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 11:33am

Akiva - I figured it was probably a logistics problem, but I just love this sort of stuff, so I blabber on about it. It's why I prefer to direct rather than perform. I love the research and conceptual process involved.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:25pm

Ah, thank you Akiva. Just remember that budget is always a consideration in the real world :). This has been an awesome dialogue, thank you for sharing your project with us. Be sure to share the evaluator's comments. Best of luck to you!
Updated On: 4/13/07 at 12:25 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:43pm

Hah, well all the shows I have designed professionally, I have kept it within the budget, so I think I have an ok grasp of it. Sometimes having a tiny budget actually helps a lot, because it forces you to "design with an eraser" and decide what is truly essential, often resulting in a crisper, more coherent design.

Akiva

[mateo]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 4:20pm

I hate making models. Although they look cool in the end and are extremely beneficial- I find them tedious. So I commend you on making them.

It looks great!

Im not sure, but perhaps there is a way to use the elevator landing backdrop for the washroom aswell. With a few mobile units to cover at least two of the elevator doors.

I dunno just a thought.

The opening setting is stunning - it really catches your eye.

good work Akiva!

Updated On: 4/13/07 at 04:20 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 7:19pm

Thanks Mateo! And as tedious as model-making can be, it is something you should really start exploring because a sketch can lie, and a model is the best way to explore spacial relationsips, as well as a strong communication tool with a director.

Akiva
Updated On: 4/13/07 at 07:19 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:25pm

Question, and I'm sure it really doesn't matter, but it seems to me that maybe the angel of the first drop should be same perspective/angels as the rest of the set? If you're doing forced perspective. Since all the others are going to the center line, why not have the first one like that as well?

[The_Jackal2]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:35pm

Wow. I those are such cool designs! Really impressive!

[Dover]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:38pm

Nice job! And congrats on being done with school.

I'm currently stage-managing a show with a somewhat confusing set, and I can't say enough how helpful it is that our designer made a beautiful and very detailed model. It's great for production meetings, but even more for the actor-types who have to know what to expect when they get onstage and aren't so adept at visualizing it by looking at plans -- and no matter what you do to the rehearsal studio floor, always have that, "oh, there's a step there?" discovery two weeks into blocking rehearsals.

Good luck with your career!

[TomMonster]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:39pm

Great job, Akiva! Congrats on finishing school. I look forward to seeing some of your designs "live".

[ABSteel]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:45pm

My uncle is a professional designer, and if you don't mind, I'd love to share these pictures with him, because I love them!

I also love "The Crucible" ones, too, but you already knew that.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:55pm

I Love it... hope you ace it...

[Tag]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 10:36pm

Akiva are you planning on pursuing design professionally in Toronto?
Updated On: 4/13/07 at 10:36 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 8:55pm

Thanks guys!

ABS: No problem. Let me know his thoughts.

Tag: Yup I'm pounding the pavement these days, and havea couple job offers in and around this city. I am also doing a lot of high-profile assitant work for a couple Dora-winning designers around Ontario.

Akiva

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:19pm

Wow, Akiva; looks great! Congratulations on being done with school!