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Professor:   David Jacques
Office Telephone: 985-4044
Office Hours:   Mondays 1-3PM, Wednesdays 1-3PM
Class Times: Wednesday 9-12PM
E-Mail: djacques@csulb.edu
Web Page: http://www.csulb.edu/~djacques/
 

Course Objective:

The first semester covers the fundamentals of learning how to see, exploring the mind's eye, and painting with light. Translating theatrical moments and music into lighting sketches, storyboards, and atmospheres, transitions from one atmosphere to another, and developing points of view and approaches are also studied. Fundamentals of the tools of the lighting designer, preparation for the theatre, production techniques, and assistant skills are covered.

Requirements:

The student is expected to construct an image journal containing photographs and other visual images collected by the student. This journal will be presented to the professor at the end of every month. The student will also attend all the plays produced by the department so they may be discussed in class.

The student is expected to attend all classes and special seminars. The student is also expected to attend the professional designers’ presentations at Career Day. If the student misses more than three classes his/her grade will be lowered one step from the final evaluated grade for each additional day missed.

Projects turned in after the due date will not be accepted unless for compelling reasons.

Exam and project dates are subject to change.

Evaluations:

The student will be evaluated on three class projects that will count for a total of 60% of the final grade. The student will be evaluated on their individual progress on class assignments.  In addition, there will be a final exam/project that will count for 30% of the final grade. The remainder 10% will be evaluated on the image journal.

Materials:

Technical Reference Book
 Fixture Data sheets
 Drafting Supplies
 Drawing Supplies
 Lighting Symbol Templates
 35 MM Camera (non-automatic)
 Production Book Materials

Texts:
 The Dramatic Imagination, Robert Edmund Jones
 A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting - Shelley
 Various Essays and Articles, Jacques (located on website: www.csulb.edu/~djacques/)

Website: www.csulb.edu/~djacques/
 All of professor Jacques’ essay assignments along with the complete PowerPoint lecture presentation are located on the website. Make sure you have a speedy connection to view the PowerPoint presentation.

Program Structure

1st Year - 1st Semester
 

1. Introductions and Program Structure Review
 Intro video
 Review policies – Lab and Production

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 1 & 2, Lighting and the Design Idea
    The Lighting Designer as an Artist, Jacques
 

2.    Qualities of Light – Direction, Shape, Intensity, Color, Diffuseness and Quality, Movement Through Space, Change (rhythm, tempo, pacing)

Reading Assignment -  Read the Dramatic Imagination, Jones

Project #1 (Light Lab) – Create three atmospheres
 

3.  The Dramatic Imagination - Designer as an Artist - Painting with Light

Light Lab Project review

Learning How to See

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 3 & 4, Lighting and the Design Idea
Reading the Play, Point of View, Approach, and Execution, Jacques
 

4.   Creating and Exploring the Vision - The Point of View and Approach -

Point of View
 The Approach
Presentation of Lighting Ideas for Ithaka

 Reading Assignment - Transitions - Moments in Time, Jacques
 

5.    Research

Historical and Dramatic Research
Visual Research
Technical Research

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 5, Lighting and the Design Idea
 

6.    Design Development - Communicating our Vision and Collaborating

Collaborating with the Design Team: Director, Set, Costume, And Sound Designers
Communicating in the Initial Design Phase:  Storyboards, Verbal Descriptions, Mock-ups, and Computer Visualization
Communicating in the Theatre
Developing the Magic Sheet

Project #2 – Create Storyboards for a transition

Reading Assignment - Chapter 6, Lighting and the Design Idea
 

7.  Color in Light

Red/Green and everything in-between.
Additive and Subtractive Mixing
Dynamic Color Mixing
Color Transitions

Light Lab – Color Demo

Reading Assignment - Chapter 7, Lighting and the Design Idea
 

8.  The Hookup

Dealing with Limitations
Developing a Hookup from the Magic Sheet
Dimmers and Channels
Control Options

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 8 & 9, Lighting and the Design Idea
Choosing the Equipment, Fixtures and Control, Jacques
 

9.  Developing the Lightplot

Lighting Positions – Choosing the right angle
The Section
Choosing the Right Tool - Instrumentation

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 10, Lighting and the Design Idea
 

10. Lighting Drafting Techniques

United Scenic Artists Standards
Drafting Techniques
Sections as Tools

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 11, Lighting and the Design Idea
Lighting Production Paperwork - Standards, Procedures, and Guidelines, Jacques
Responsibilities of the Assistant Lighting Designer, Jacques
 

11.  Into the Theatre… Part 1

Avoiding Disasters – Preparation
The Shop Order
Paperwork and Preparation for the Electrician
Paperwork for the Assistant
Role of the Assistant in the Theatre
Paper-tech

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 12, Lighting and the Design Idea
 

12. Into the Theatre… Part 2

Dealing with IATSE
Focus Calls / Organization and Focus Charts
Work Calls / Organization and Efficiency
Lighting Rehearsal
Tech Rehearsal Procedures

Reading Assignment -  Chapter 13, Lighting and the Design Idea
    Music and the Rhythmic Structure of Lighting Design, Jacques
Cueing - Painting, Creating and Adjusting at the Table, Jacques
 

13. Into the Theatre… Part 3

Cueing Techniques
 Music and the Dramatic Flow

 Music Cueing Project Prep.

 Project #3  (Light Lab) – Music/Cueing
 

14. Light Lab Music Project Presentations
 

15. Into the Theatre… Part 4

Dress Rehearsals
Previews
Opening and After