Josh.J Tech - Management Role and Lighting Design

Masquerade Murder Mystery

Management Role & Lighting Design

For Masquerade Murder Mystery

Lighting Mood Board

My Inspiration for Lighting

Most of the lighting designs I have seen for a murder mystery have used Generic Lighting using lights such as Parcan's, Fresnel's and Profiles, which I hope to continue to use in the murder mystery that is coming up in December for Gloucester Welcomes Refugees. i have also noticed they have used some darker colours like red and blue to show that the character has been murdered I like this idea as it symbolises that one they are bleeding from a murder weapon (red) and two the fact that (blue) a more colder colour to symbolise that they have been murdered, the mix of the two really works for me and I really want to take some inspiration to add this into our murder mystery that will be happening.

I have also looked into some stage performances from Agatha Christie's short plays like Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express and The Mousetrap for inspiration on lighting as these are well know short story's that have also been expressed in theatre, in these storys/plays they have also used a warm generic lighting mostly the same as what is on my mood board creating a calming atmosphere.

Departmental Hierarchy and Roles

Departmental Hierarchy:

Producer/Board of Directors: we will be having a producer as charlotte will be producing the murder mystery.

Artistic Director: we will not be having an artistic director as we all have been told we can all have our own artistic take on the performance.

Director: we will be having directors as this will be necessary for them to direct the actors into the initial idea of what the producer wants.

Composer: we will not be having a composer as we do not have time to write our own music.

Technical Director/Manager: we will be having a technical manager as this will be my job to oversee all backstage departments.

Legal: we do not need this as we are creating our own murder mystery but as we are completing risk assessments and checking the health and wellbeing of everyone this is involved.

Business Manager: We do not have a business manager as such but as me and Charlotte will be undertaking the budget we will be completing this role.

Musical Director: We do not need a musical director as we are not developing our own music

Public Relations (PR): This is not relevant to our performance.

Choreographer: we are using a Choreographer as they will need to create a dance for the main performance for the characters Pepe, Dove and the Dragon.

Stage Manager: I will do this role in the project as it is the same as a technical manager but in the actual performance I will oversee Lighting and Sound.

Costume Designers/Constructors: we will be having costume designers as this will be Faith and Fru's department but they will only be designing and constructing their own as the rest of the cast our responsible for their own costumes.

Lighting Design: we will be having a Lighting designer as I will be undertaking this role as I am responsible for the changes to the Lighting and creating a Lighting script so the operator can create it swiftly and smoothly.

Makeup Department: we will be having a makeup department as Basia will be responsible for the design of the makeup and Emily will be responsible for the application.

Marketing: we will have a marketing department as Myself, Sam and Charlotte will be responsible for the creation of the poster and the trailer video, which we will be experimenting with Ai Technology.

Cast: we will have a cast which will consist of 11 people.

Sound Operator: We will have a sound operator but they will be from an outside source who will be doing it for the experience.

Lighting Operator: We will be having a Lighting Operator who will be led by my direction.

Stage Hands: We not have stage hands as nothing will need taking off the stage as this is a murder mystery not a play but the cast will be responsible for any props they will use.

Mic Operator: We will have a mic operator as it will be run through the mixer desk which will be used by the sound operator.

Front of House Manager: We will not have a Front of House manager as such but will have someone at the door to welcome the guests in.

Set Design: We will have a Set Designer who will also build and create what his and the directors visions are.

As Technical Manager I have made it my responsibility to liaise with each department, making sure that their health and well being is okay and seeing if they are up to date with the performance and they have also been updating me on any new changes or any general updates to their departments. Interestingly with my Lighting design role I have spoke to Makeup the most as we have been making sure that the Makeup does not drown out the actors faces. I have also had to speak with set design as I need to know where their set is going so that I can create a lighting design for the lighting operator to programme.

One of the main problems in a small theatre company is understaffing as One person could end up doing three peoples jobs which means that sometimes it can cause issues with 'burning out' or even making them rush the job so it's not being completed efficiently. Another main problem is communication breakdown's, as sometimes misunderstandings between departments sometimes means that misinformation has been spread or even worse delays or mistakes.

Scheduling Conflicts can also come into consideration as Clashing Schedules make it hard to coordinate rehearsals and Tech Programming. Role confusion can also create issues if staff are unclear on the specific duties which can lead to two people doing the same job at once and overlapping their creations. Resource limitation can also be a problem as if you do not have the correct equipment or not enough materials which can also cause bickering with different department. Finally morale problems can cause issues as long hours, high pressure and low appreciation can cause people to feel that they are not being respected or feeling left out.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Lighting Designer

In my role as Lighter Designer I will work closely with the directing team to understand their visions for the performance, I will listen to their themes, emotions and the desired impact of lighting on the audience. I will also be in charge of creating a detailed lighting plan and outlining how the different lighting elements will be used to achieve the desired visual effects. I will also write a lighting plot specifying when lighting changes occur during the murder mystery and show how those changes are executed, These will be used as a sort of landing strip for the technician during the setup and for rehearsals.

I will also have to do a site assessment, to understand the stage layout which will be discussed with the Directors and the Set Designer, also learn where the rigging points are if I need to change where the lights are set up and also look at the Generic and Moving Head Lights to learn at what I will need for the performance to go forward. I will also liaise with the Theatre Technician to determine the technical equipment such as the fixtures, dimmers and the Lighting Board. I will also have to monitor the progress throughout the setting up stages making sure that the deadlines are met for the performance

I will also manage any purchases or rentals for the performance if needed, but will also keep costs to a minimum if that is possible. I will also be in charge of the balance of the set up with actors rehearsals making sure that the lighting doesn't hinder the actors movement or create any safety hazards. I will also make sure that I am informed about any up to date Health and Safety regulations related to the Lighting Design.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Tech Manager/Stage Manager

in my role as the Technical Manager/Stage Manager I will be the go-to person for all things technical. From lighting to sound, set design to costumes, I will have to oversee everything backstage. I will also be overseeing the budget with the producer Charlotte making sure that everyone's visions are keeping the show cost effective and keeping the budget to all time low's making sure that we are using the props, set and costumes that we already have at our disposal. Another part of my role will be making sure when anything changes I will be there to assist the Directors and oversee all the backstage departments adapt to these changes.

I will also have to make sure all tech departments are keeping to the governments health and safety requirements and making sure that any rigging, electrical systems such as lighting, sound or any costume equipment's are safe and keeping to the risk assessment that I will have to complete as part of my role. I will also have to problem solve for example if a spotlight malfunctions or a piece of set falls apart, I will have to be the problem solver. using quick thinking and resourcefulness to make sure the problem is solved without the audience noticing. I will also work with each department like the marketing team, artistic team (directors) and of course the front of house staff to make sure the show is successful and to make sure we are all on the same page. This will require teamwork and communication to complete this.

With the new HNC's coming in I may have to share my knowledge and experience from last year with them to help them to also do the best they can so that their relative departments will work as well as ours did last year on the Halloween escape room. Upon this I will also have to keep myself up to date with the industry trends to make sure I still have up to date knowledge myself. One thing that I will have to do to be successful is being adaptable and handling last minute changes as this can happen a lot in theatre as the ideas you first had might not of worked or are not relevant to the performance anymore.

Calling Cues for the show:

Critical Evaluation of Lighting designer in different context:

I have worked in Gloucestershire Colleges theatre for a number of years and I know a lighting designer you would have to look at the rigging to know where you would want to move and focus your lights, also creating cue sheets for performances and responding to the brief of what the directors would want. Working with people at Gloscol is a lot easier than communicating with people in another venue as I already know what people would want and I know where all the outlets are on for where things need to be plugged in and I know what fixtures, lighting desk and system I would be working with. There is also constraints on how a performance is ran as a lighting designer in a college venue as well because of tight or no budget you aren't able to get more lighting but because we already have the fixtures and system here it wasn't that difficult for my designing process.

A lighting designer at an outdoor sports area concert would be a lot different as they would not know how many fixtures they have and how the lighting would be set up and how it would look in the day to night and they would use more effects in a performance whereas in a theatre venue that would be less likely, the lighting designer at a sports area would more likely have to problem solve as they will have to solve how things are swiftly set and moved. They would also have other constraints like the distance between the stage on the audience which means they will have to use more vibrant lights, strobe and pyrotechnics more often. They also are more likely to have technical restraints such as the weather meaning the kit will have to be weather resistant. They would also have to have to manage power distribution as they are less likely to have many sockets for their lighting to be plugged in. they would also have to use advanced programming techniques for complex lighting sequences and effects.

A Lighting Designer would also be different in a touring production like in a show i went to watch called Everybody's talking about Jamie they would most likely know where the fixtures are or they would have received them in advance, there will be constraints as the design would have to accommodate different theatres and they would have to be a portable and modular lighting fixtures such led panels or wireless control systems which mean they should be useful for a quick setup and takedown. They also have to make sure that the show is consistent in all venues maintaining that the lighting designer is replicated accurately so it still is visually the same. they also face logistical challenges such as transportation, set up time, varying technical specifications for each theatre. They would also have to communicate successfully with the Theatre venue staff.

Lighting design is a versatile and essential element of any play, musical or music show, you have to adapt how the performance is planned out by emotion, weather, sound or even reactions in some cases. In a college theatre you are more likely needed to focus on creating a detailed atmosphere as resources for set are limited so your lighting would tell the story. Where as an outdoor sports arena concert would be more expressive meaning that effects and pyrotechnics are needed to engage an audience. A touring production like everybody's talking about Jamie requires a consistent design that can be slightly changed to address each theatre specifically.

Lighting Design For Advertisement and Evidence Packs:

Tech Day!!!!!!

Cue sheet through etc system:

Production Meeting 27/09/2024

Meeting Minutes

First Production Meeting 27.09.24

chairing the meeting: SF

present: CR, RT, HF, SG, JJ, WE, BK, PP, KH, TD, FD, FB, SF

apologies: N/A

Agenda:

Underline roles.
Directors to clarify their vision.
CR Liaising with the Charity Organisation, she will then confirm the dates with them and has also created a timeline.
SG to create marking side of the performance, JJ has already created a poster for the performance.
All elements of backstage covered.
HF has envisioned the performance to be set in early 1920's, first world war.
FB & FD have sourced some costumes already.
Performance to be more serious with a comedic undertone, SF has said to use caution with how the performance tone is set and said to comedic to do with a serious undertone. make sure to entertain the guests but make it believable.
Make sure to keep chairs 60 people maximum for seating.
The performance is going to be vaguely scripted. (could experiment with AI)
Budget wise to keep to a minimum, maximum 100 pounds.
Costumes to keep to a colour theme, masks to be sourced by FB. makeup could create masks if needed as it could keep costs down.
Lighting Design needs to have a side meeting with Set Design.
Timeline has been set for the group.

AOB.

Roles for Backstage:

Producer: CR

Overall Management: JJ

Lighting Operator: WF

Directing: HF, RT

Set Design: SG

Hair and Makeup design: BK

Hair & Makeup Application: Emily

Costume Construction FD, FB

Evaluation of the Meeting:

I feel that this meeting had gone well and was very productive outlining everyone's visions and roles and the Directors Clarifying their visions for how the envision the performance, their was some confusion around the era the performance was based around as the directors changed the era to Victorian times but with a quick evaluation by Sonia they steered back to the original idea as the Victorian idea would be too expensive as we do not have the costumes for it and the marketing had already been created with the poster being created by myself experimenting with AI to develop a new way of creating posters at Gloucestershire College, and Sam creating the trailer with a 1920's theme already set out and myself and others looking at 1920's lighting and costumes for our relevant departments.

In the meeting I didn't have much to say about the lighting side of things as we are in very early stages of research for it at this very moment but on a management side I reminded people of keeping things cost effective and making sure our budget was at an all time low as the realities of working in a small theatre company where you would start out in the industry the budgets will not be able to give you thousands of pounds and that most of the time you will have to use what you already have rather than going out to buy things, so at this moment sustainability with costumes, set and lighting is the the way to go, to maximise what we have and to make sure we are using every single piece of equipment that we have at our disposal.

Departmental Meeting on 04/10/24

Today I had meetings with all the relevant departments for the performance to see how they were all getting on, making sure they are keeping on task and making sure that they have all the resources to do what they need to do. I started with set design as I felt that this department may need the most resources, myself and Sam agreed that table cloths may need sourcing but I reminded him to look in our fabrics box before ordering things as we may have enough fabric for cloths which he agreed with, he also said that he may have table cloths at home. He also spoke to me about other pieces of set and props and said that he has already sourced them from the college or has the props or set at home. I felt that this part of my meeting with him went well I reminded him to keep me informed of any changes or developments for set design.

My next department to speak to was Makeup and Hair Design which spoke to me about the level of equipment and supplies they could use were not sufficient and that they need new resources to work with. I spoke with Sonia and she said that this will not come out of the main budget as it will be used by all Levels for performances so it will be deducted from the main College budget. Additionally, the Makeup and Hair department told me about the new equipment that they have sourced and how they needed micellar cleansing water as wet wipes do not remove makeup as well. I also asked them if they could source some Matt Foundation for the men as they are drowned out by the reflection of the lighting and the audience may not be able to see their faces, they agreed with me and spoke of getting a foundation pallet as it will be more sustainable and cost effective as it will be cheaper than getting individual bottles as these pallets just mix with water. I felt that this part of the meeting was successful and I reminded them to send their budget to me just so I could add it to my website, I also remind them to keep me informed of any changes or developments for the Hair and Makeup department.

My last department to speak to was the costume department. I spoke with them about their plans and a path forward, I reminded them to not go too overboard with the costumes and to source what we have already in the costume cupboard. I also reminded them that they shouldn't be too aggressive with changes to everyone's costumes as it could become time consuming. Both myself and Sonia reminded them to document everything in their logbooks because their idea's are still very good, I asked them if they needed anything ordered and they said not at this very moment but will update me in near future. I spoke to them on making sure things are cost effective and making sure we are using every costume at our disposal, I also explained that when I am given the list that I may make changes such as finding things cheaper or scraping them from the list and that if I can find something that is similar that we already have they may have to grin and bare with that instead as this is a charity event and we need to make sure that we aren't spending too much money and making sure we can give back to the charity in every single way possible. I also reminded them to keep me informed of any changes for the Costume department.

Production Meeting on 11/11/24

Production Meeting 11.11.24

chairing the meeting: CR

present: CR, RT, HF, SG, JJ, BK, SF

apologies: N/A

Agenda:

CR has asked for a props lists, set list, hair and makeup plans, costume list, sound and lighting
Directors have made a point of how its unpredictable when actors are in.
Directors made a deadline of when scenes are to be done.
Directors want scenes blocked by Monday
Directors except everyone off script by the end of the month
Lighting team need a print out of the script
Next Friday will be when the last orders will be place.

AOB.

Lighting design has been completed

Dance in the middle of scene 2 - 3 and Santa Baby will be played by the pianist. this will be completed by FD, BK, SG

Last Scene Lighting Design and my ideas for it:

Risk Assessment

Updates on the performance

I had an initial idea for the performance of using the Chauvet LED Lights, This idea now I'm thinking about not using but I had a thought of using these lights against the wall and focusing them up on the theatre curtains, This was to make the room feel more like an opera house or a grand hall to create an atmosphere of feeling that you are at a ball and you are in the 20th century.

The Prompt book and what it is:

Rigging Lighting for our show:

Today we set up the Fresnel's in the Lighting Rig, There were a lot of problems with the Fresnel's as they were tripping the circuit out but we found out that two wires in the Lamp were touching and then replaced that Fresnel with another one.

The problems with the Lamps are they are old and need replacing but we have to work with what we have at this moment. When we were putting the Fresnel's in the rig we used the Barn doors to focus the lamp in place.

Set Layout:

This is the layout that the set designer was thinking of using. With his layout I will have to create my lighting design around it.

Lighting Design on the Audience's Table

I have also helped with set design as part of my management role looking over each department, so we started dressing the tables to the set designers specification, upon this I added some candles onto the tables to create an ambience to adapt to a more banquet feel which the directors have specified that is what they wanted, The tables that have been designed are the audience's tables.

We will be looking at the Characters main table in the coming days and myself and the directors as well as the set designer have looked at using a candelabra as well as thinner pen looking fake candles to set more of a top table vibe making sure that the characters look the most important and they aren't distracted by the things on the tables.

Makeup & Lighting:

When researching about lighting design on different website's I have learned how crucial makeup is to a performance, one of the most important things for an actor to wear is a matte foundation which as a small theatre company we have now sourced due to my research. The reasoning for this is if they do not wear this their faces could be drowned out by the lighting as the reflection of the light bounces onto their faces so when having a conversation with the Makeup department I made sure that they were notified of my finding's.

Full Rehearsal/Stand ins For Actors:

Timeline for the performance

OVERALL TIMELINE FOR EVERYONE:

18TH OCT- Marketing deadline

24/25th OCT- Hair, Makeup, Costumes, Set, Props lists and scripts done.

08 NOV- Lighting, budget deadline, and pt 3 of the production blocked.

15 NOV- Storyline secured and done

22 NOV- Pt 4 (if there is one?) Of the production blocked.

29 NOV- Performable and stage sorting

05 DEC- Tech Run

06 DEC- dress rehearsal and full practice

12 DEC- Performance.

Hollyann and Ryan Timelines:

18 OCT- pt 1&2 blocked

Sam, Tom, Fruzsina, Faith, Kian, Emily, Basia timelines:

25 OCT- 22 NOV: Making of set, Props and costumes, sourcing and practicing Hair and Makeup.

Will Eldridge timeline:

08 NOV- 22 NOV- familiarising of lights

Makeup Budget:

We were given a budget for the main project which I will have to add to my site as part of my unit brief but as the makeup is going to be used over the course of the year it was added to the main college budget but I thought that it would be a good idea to add it on my site as it will still be used for the performance but not adding to our budget for it.

All of this came to a grand total of £73.92

Meeting with a Morrisons Store Manager on Management Techniques:

In my spare time off from my HND Course I wanted to know what makes a good manager and how you can keep level headed throughout the day even when a problem comes up. So I asked the Store Manager of Morrisons where I work currently to go through some management techniques and what builds up a normal day as a manager, even though this has nothing to do with theatre or event production I felt that it could help with my own unit Management Role.

He explained that his most important task for the week our making sure that the rota's are up to date and everyone is keeping to the right hours. He showed me the differences of what makes a good Rota and what makes a bad Rota, when showing me this he explained that Wednesday's, Saturday's and Sunday's made up the busiest days of the week so the most amounts of staff are needed, he also explained that it is frustrating for him when he can see that more staff on the fresh department were put on the rota for Tuesday which were one of the quietest days but on Saturday's there was only one person in on his own so it is a struggle when these thing's are done wrong.

We then spoke about management styles and he stressed to me the nature of making sure that you have a laugh with the staff who work for you, he explained that working is stressful enough for people so why not make a joke out of it while you are there. He said that there also has to be a level of professionalism when it comes to the job even though you can have a laugh with staff if something has been completed wrong and not keeping to health and safety and a customer gets hurt, you need to make sure that your staff have been made aware that they have done something wrong but he explained shouting will get you nowhere and that you will get along way if you respect people how you want to be treated which I totally agree with.

He spoke of the stresses of the job explaining that when he comes in and sees the store is in a mess and something needs to be sorted he stays on one level so that 20 or 30 or 50 other people aren't stressing too, as he spoke of the importance of making sure that the staff who work for you shouldn't see your worries about something or they start to really panic too, so he reminded me that when or if I go into management one day I should always make sure that I stay on one level at all times.

Cue Script/Design Process: