Production Arts: Lighting and Sound Design

• Drama
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Lighting up the Stage: 

How Stage Lighting Works

Lesson One

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you should be able to explain how stage lighting works.

Introduce the learning objective and emphasize the importance of understanding how stage lighting works.

Time and Location?

Mood and Atmosphere?

Spectacle?

Light as set?

Anything else?

What do you already know about stage lighting?

Which type of lighting fixture is typically used for creating colored lighting effects on stage and is known for its ability to produce vibrant, saturated colours?

1. Fresnel
2. Profile
3. Parcan
4. Flood

Parcan and fresnel

Which type of lighting fixture has a lens that allows for the adjustment of the beam angle and is commonly used for creating a spotlight effect on stage?

1. Parcan
2. Profile
3. Flood
4. Fresnel

Which type of lighting fixture produces a wide, even beam of light and is commonly used for general illumination of a stage or set?

1. Profile
2. Flood
3. Fresnel
4. Parcan

Flood and fresnel

The Basics of Stage Lighting

Stage lighting involves the use of various lights to illuminate a performance space and enhance the mood or atmosphere of a production.

Introduce the basics of stage lighting and discuss its purpose in theatrical productions.

Types of Stage Lights

Common types of stage lights include spotlights, floodlights, and wash lights, each with their own unique purpose and effect on the stage.

Discuss the different types of stage lights and their specific functions.

Lighting Instruments

Lighting instruments, such as dimmers and control consoles, are used to adjust the intensity, color, and direction of the lights.

Introduce the various instruments used in stage lighting and their functions.

Lighting Design

Lighting designers work closely with the production team to create a lighting design that complements the overall vision and mood of the production.

Discuss the role of the lighting designer and the importance of collaboration in creating an effective lighting design.

Lighting Techniques

Lighting techniques, such as gobo projection and color mixing, are used to create different effects and moods on the stage.

Introduce various lighting techniques and how they can be used to enhance performances.

Lighting Safety

It is important to follow safety protocols when working with stage lighting to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of performers and crew members.

Discuss the importance of safety when working with stage lighting and provide examples of safety protocols.

Putting it into Practice

It is very early morning in the kitchen of the Ramirez home. A noise is heard coming from the hallway on the left side of the stage. We see a small child, about 6 or 7 years old, emerge from the darkened hallway. She is warmly dressed and is carrying her winter jacket. She turns on the light over the sink and then fills a kettle with water and sets it on the stove to boil. She then goes into the kitchen pantry to get a packet of hot chocolate, then grabs a mug from the dish drying rack near the sink. She shivers as she waits for the water to boil. 

Early Morning – dim light, dawn colors (pinks, some blues)

Practical light over the sink – yellow or white

It must be winter because the child is warmly dressed and is shivering – pale blue/white light

Lead students in a practical exercise where they can apply what they have learned about stage lighting.

Putting it into Practice

A man enters the dimly lit room carrying a suitcase that seems heavy and awkward to carry. He sets it down on the floor. He seems nervous as he looks at the suitcase, but he lays it down as if to open it. As he opens it a bright, golden light comes from inside the suitcase and illuminates his astonished face. 

Students to think pair share what choices they would make for lighting in this stage direction.

What choices would you make for lighting this moment?

Create...

Working in groups of 3 create a short* play, you can take inspiration from the following titles or come up with an idea yourself. 

*Maximum 3 minutes long

The Golden Compass

Another time, another place

And that's what happened!

Lights!

Your performance can use the following lighting states:

1) Spotlight centre stage

2) White wash

3) Red wash

4) Blue wash with a white side light

You can choose any/all of these states at any point of your performance, when would be appropriate? how will it enhance the action?

https://scenicandlighting.com/lightlab/

They could try out the lights using the link on their chromebooks

Why is lighting safety important in stage productions?

1. To improve the lighting design
2. To prevent accidents and ensure the safety of performers and crew members
3. To reduce the cost of stage productions
4. To increase audience engagement

What are some lighting techniques used on stage?

1. Gobo projection
2. Pyrotechnics
3. Wirework
4. Color mixing

What role do lighting designers play in a production?

1. Direct the actors on stage
2. Choose the actors for the production
3. Write the script for the production
4. Create a lighting design that complements the production

What are lighting instruments used for?

1. Adjust the intensity, color, and direction of lights
2. Move scenery on stage
3. Control the temperature
4. Create sound effects

What are some common types of stage lights?

1. Wash lights
2. Laser lights
3. Spotlights
4. Floodlights

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.

HOMEWORK

Work together as a group and write your script out. Remember the performance can only be 3 minutes so make sure you time yourselves reading it out. Scripts must be completed for next lesson, please bring your script in printed out one per group

Lighting up the Stage: 

How Stage Lighting Works

Lesson Two

What do you already know about stage lighting?

Watch this!

INSERT VIDEO OF SMH EXPLAINING THE LIGHTING DESK

Marking up the script

This is a technical term where you write down all of the effects for the technical crew in your script.

Light effect will be written as LFX and then a number for example LFX1.

Marking up the script

Working in your groups, write down the lighting effects you want to use and when. Here's an example:

Anne: Open the door Simon!

Simon: The door is open!

Anne: No it isn't

LFX3

Simon: There is that better?

Anne: Thanks!

LFX 1- Spotlight centre stage

LFX2- Red wash

LFX 3- Blue wash and white side light

LFX 4- White wash

Rehearsal

Spend the next part of the lesson rehearsing your scenes.

During this time, each group will get to come up and explore and try out the lighting desk.

What is the purpose of marking up a script for the lighting technician?

1. To indicate lighting cues and changes
2. To indicate sound cues
3. To indicate scene changes
4. To indicate costume changes

What different types of stage lighting is there?

1. Microphone
2. Backlight
3. Spotlight
4. Floodlight

What is the function of a floodlight in stage lighting?

1. To provide backlighting for the actors
2. To create a focused beam of light
3. To create a wide, even wash of light
4. To create a special effect with light

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.

HOMEWORK

Watch the videos on SOUND Design! Make effective notes!

https://youtu.be/FR22MrT9HOY

https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/workshops/key-concepts-in-sound-design 

 

Amping up the Stage: 

How Stage Sound Works

Lesson One

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you should be able to explain how stage sound design works.

Introduce the learning objective and emphasize the importance of understanding how stage lighting works.

Metaphor?

Soundscape?

Sond as text?

Atmosphere?

Imitating reality?

Anything else?

What do you already know about sound design?

Key terminology

Atmosphere

Amplifier

Cue

Foley

Fade in/Fade out

Looping

Balance

Amplification

Diegetic sound

Non-diegetic sound

Soundscape

Underscore

Sound effect

Mixing

Sourcing

Listen to this and consider these questions

1. Besides the actors’ voices, what sounds did you hear?

2. Did the scene start of inside or outside? How do you know?

3. When did the location change?

4. When did you know something bad was about to happen?

5. Was the man’s voice a normal or supernatural voice? How did you know?

6. What are the animal noises you hear in this clip? Does that give you a clue to the man’s identity?

Play to 2 minutes and then answer the questions

Besides the actors’ voices,
what sounds did you hear?

Did the scene start of inside or outside? How do you know?

When did the location change?

When did you know something bad was about to happen?

Was the man’s voice a normal or supernatural voice? How did you know?

What are the animal noises you hear in this clip? Does that give you a clue to the man’s identity?

What are the animal noises you hear in this clip? Does that give you a clue to the man’s identity?

Now consider the following questions

1. When you hear the music at the beginning, what mood do you feel?

2. The sounds of planes and children: Does that seem as if it is happening now or in a memory? Why do you think that?

3. What are some sounds that are happening in the moment that we see onstage? What do these sounds tell you about the weather at that moment?

4. How does the music theme help shift the scene?

Play from 2 minutes until 3.34 

(don't worry about stopping to do the activity when it suggests, just keep going)

When you hear the music at the beginning, what mood do you feel?

What are some sounds that are happening in the moment that we see onstage? What do these sounds tell you about the weather at that moment?

How does the music theme help shift the scene?

In what way is the music changed when it is used in the second scene? Is it heard by the characters or just the audience?

Continue video and make notes

Think, pair, share any new learning from this video

stop at 7.57

Adding sound to your plays

Consider the following, get some audio clips on your chromebooks to play along with your pieces to heighten the impact.

-Diegetic 

Sound effects/location/time

-No diegetic

Mood/atmosphere/underscore

What is an amplifier?

1. A device that increases sound volume
2. A place for audience in a theater
3. A woodwind instrument
4. A type of sound effect

What is an auditorium?

1. The retelling of a story
2. A place where the audience are situated to see and hear the performance
3. A device that increases sound volume
4. A form of popular entertainment

What is a soundscape?

1. The use of music under dialogue to help create an atmosphere or to convey a theme
2. Place, time, mood and atmosphere can be created with recorded or live sound using instruments and/or the voices of the performers onstage
3. The artificial reproduction of sound
4. A sound effect where the sound appears to surround the listener

What is diegetic sound?

1. A type of sound effect
2. Sound the characters can hear within the world of a play, eg the radio
3. Sound that exists outside of the world of a play, eg narration
4. The retelling of a story

What is the process of combining multiple audio sources or tracks to create a cohesive soundscape called?

1. Surround
2. Underscore
3. Mix
4. Sourcing

What is the theatrical style aimed at creating a realistic depiction of life and behavior on stage called?

1. Pre-set
2. Symbolic
3. Naturalistic
4. Sourcing

What is sound or music played before the start of a performance, typically to set the mood or prepare the audience called?

1. Pre-set
2. Mix
3. Surround
4. Underscore

What is the process of locating or acquiring specific sound effects and music for use in a production called?

1. Pre-set
2. Naturalistic
3. Sourcing
4. Symbolic

What is the audio effect that creates a sense of sound coming from various directions, enveloping the listener called?

1. Mix
2. Surround sound
3. Naturalistic
4. Underscore

 The process of increasing the volume or reach of sound.

Sound that the characters on stage can hear within the world of the play.

The overall auditory environment created through recorded or live sounds to establish a sense of place, time, mood, and atmosphere.

 The mood or emotional quality conveyed through sound to enhance the overall experience of a performance.

The reproduction of everyday sound effects using various objects and materials to create a realistic auditory experience.

The gradual increase (fade in) or decrease (fade out) of sound volume or intensity.

Amplification

Diegetic sound

Soundscape

Atmosphere

Foley

Fade in/Fade out

Lesson Four: 

Putting it all together!

In today's lesson you will work with another group, you will all have the opportunity to learn the tech for each other and then you will perform back your pieces whilst the other group operate the technical elements (sound and lighting)