TaPS Master Class Resource Pack
Master Class: Choosing Lighting Angles in the Script Analysis Process Overview Six principal angles are available if an object or a space is to be lit. Choosing one angle is seldom enough to create the required effect. The fundamental question is: WHAT is the composition supposed to look like? Beautiful, exciting, uncanny, lacking in contrast, boring? Each angle emphasizes a particular impression and suggests a mood or feeling to the observer.
Choosing Lighting Angles in the Script Analysis Process – October 2014, Hong Kong
Â
TaPS Master Class Resource Pack
Exercise 1 – Light-Dark “Chiaroscuro” •
In groups of 3/4 look though the pictures below and try to identify the lighting fixture position based on the strong contrasts between light and dark. In theatre lighting design “shadow is as important as light”. If you look carefully you will realize that once you’ve found the shadow, it’s much easier to identify the lighting angle used to light the subject.
Choosing Lighting Angles in the Script Analysis Process – October 2014, Hong Kong
TaPS Master Class Resource Pack
•
Once you have identified the different angles of lighting, discuss in your group about which angles are more dramatic and how the position of the luminaire and the direction of the light controls the placement, shape and direction of the shadow.
Exercise 2 – Using Multiple Lighting Angles in Combination •
Download and install the Demo version of the Virtual Light Lab software from this link [http://www.westsidesystems.com/f-vll/f-vlladown/vlladown.html] • Using two “lights” with no colour (NC) for each case, “drag and drop” each fixture in those available rigging positions in order to light the subject as described below: a. Clearly b. Mysteriously c. Dramatically • Take a screenshot of each lighting state [examples below] and then discuss within your group about how did you choose those specific lighting angles as a result of the descriptive terms. There are no wrong answers; this exercise is about building your confidence in decision-making.
Choosing Lighting Angles in the Script Analysis Process – October 2014, Hong Kong
TaPS Master Class Resource Pack
Exercise 3 – Lighting Script Analysis a. Read the play script extract twice. First read it through just to gain your own personal impression of it. The second time you read it make some notes and fill the different columns of the table below. In this reading you’ll start to explore ideas that will lead you to your lighting design concept. b. Highlight everything that appears in the text, which expressly relates to lighting, because if an actor says, "it's getting dark" you'll usually need to have a change in the lighting state. Moreover, look for those actions/situations that change the course of the plot; if you think a different lighting state should denote this changes in the progression of the play, then feel free to explore what ideas you have for the lighting in that specific moment. You need to pay special attention to the third column "What?" that indicates the purpose/aim of each lighting state and why have you chosen to alter the feeling/atmosphere in that specific moment. It could be a rather simple explanation because of a change in the time/space/season of the plot or it could also be because a character discovered something crucial and the play had a sudden change in its path. In the third column write down any ideas or specific lighting impressions making sure that you specify which would be the chosen lighting angle. Here's an example: Page
36
38
41
Text
What?
Ideas/impressions
Cladwell: “And welcome home.”
- We need to shift the scene to a street corner in the night. - The space should feel cold and gloomy.
- Fluorescent tubes used like neon lights as a backdrop? - Bronze colour down light like a street light.
Lockstock: “Perhaps this one here.”
- Change to a mysterious, apprehensive atmosphere.
- Blue-greyish side light wash from above. - Maybe one follow-spot operated by Lockstock as a side light from stage right?
Little Becky: “Sure, kid, everyone’s got suspicious”
- A secret is revealed and distrust is spread amongst friends.
- Gets brighter. Front light is used to clearly see all the faces from the actors.
Choosing Lighting Angles in the Script Analysis Process – October 2014, Hong Kong
TaPS Master Class Resource Pack
42
Cladwell stands beside the oil barrel.
- The day comes to an end and we need a change in the lighting state.
- Gets darker and spookier (evening falls). Cold side light wash from above. - Warm front light from below as if the light was coming from the oil barrels having fire inside.
c. In order to become familiar with different types of lighting fixtures watch this two videos from the National Theatre YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/YhI1I0wPhxQ [Fixtures with adjustable lenses] and http://youtu.be/q4rI0sSZkSQ [Fixtures without lenses] d. Put together a list of lighting elements. This will be a simplified and organized version of the last column “Ideas/Impressions” of your script analysis. A lighting element, also called lighting system, is a light or set of lights, which fulfill a single purpose. As a rule this means they have the same or similar angle and color. Examples: 1) Lighting Fixture: Fresnel / Angle: Down light / Colour: L652 2) Lighting Fixture: PAR64 / Angle: Side light from above / Colour: L195 3) Lighting Fixture: Profile Zoomspot / Angle: Front light / Colour: L202 Afterwards you will translate the list of elements into a lighting plot, but in fact the list of lighting elements is your lighting plan; then it is just a technical process to convert it into details of lighting instruments with gels, channel assignments and positions. All this information could be manually drafted with a lighting fixtures stencil plastic template http://www.fieldtemplate.com/plastic/plastic.html onto a scaled print of the plan view of your set within the ceiling plan of your performing space. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bibliography - Light Fantastic: The Art and Design of Stage Lighting by Max Keller Link: http://amzn.com/3791343718 - Stage Lighting Design: A Practical Guide by Neil Fraser et al. Link: http://amzn.com/1861262485 - Stage Lighting Explained by Neil Fraser Link: http://amzn.com/1861264909
-Manuel Garrido Freire Drama Department Lighting Designer UWCSEA East Campus http://be.net/garrido_manuel [Portfolio] https://www.linkedin.com/in/stagelighting Choosing Lighting Angles in the Script Analysis Process – October 2014, Hong Kong