Chapter 8The Visual Collaboration
Working with Designers
Wainstein, STAGE DIRECTING A DIRECTOR’S ITINERARY
Realizing the visual concept
1. Producer hires the director and designers.2. Director and designers research3. Informal meetings4. First design meeting (sometimes by phone)5. Work on sketches, drawings, thumbnails6. Second design meeting7. Refine the plans8. Final design meeting – present models
Collaboration
Types of Collaboration
• Designer has no ideas• Designer forces their ideas on director• Collaboration
Meeting with designers
Build on informal discussions that precede the first design meeting
SOMETIMES, these informal meetings are brainstorming sessions to “get the juices flowing.”
Design Meetings
• Informal…meetings in hallway, over coffee, by phone
First Design Meeting
• Called by Production Manager or Producer• Director shares concepts• Everyone discusses their working ideas• This is a free exchange of ideas
Words to remember
Don’t be afraid to speak up. Once a design is finalized, changes are hard to make.
Second Design meetingDesignmers present their sketches. Director and designers agree to revisions and a date is set for a final meeting.
HINT: The director should compliment the designers for their work. Be honest. Ask for what you need.
Final Design Meeting
Final renderings, models are presentedDeadlines for changes are setDesigners move onto the implementation phase.
From Design to Tech
Rough sketches and thumbnails
RENDERINGS
MODELS
Ground Plans
Elevations
BUDGET
The TD, sometimes the PD budgets the materials and labor needed to build the show
Drafted Plans
Schedule
Building process
LOAD-IN
Technical Rehearsals
Realizing the Costume Design
Thumbnails of Characters
Research
Final Renderings
Rent, Pull, Shop or Build
Process work
• Measurements• Fittings• Costume Parade
Publicity Shots
The run
LIGHTING
Create the plotHang and focusFinal plotFocusWrite cuesSet cuesRun
CHANGES
“Changes must be soundly reasoned, affordable and able to happen given the time and labor available. It is easier to change something if it hasn’t been built yet.” (68)
Final thoughts
• Respect your collaborators• Understand their work and process• Visit the shops frequently• Keep channels of communication open