Lights, Camera, Set Design: What you’re really missing

When you watch a movie, play or T.V. it is not often that you may think about the design that a production involves. So many things go into making a production successful including, hair, make-up, and costume design, however, one part of design which is seldom thought of is set and lighting design. While set and lighting design may seem at first thought to be unimportant, with a bit more consideration you may realize that set and lighting design really make up the whole audience experience. Can you imagine watching a play with no lights to highlight actors, or sets to create an atmosphere for the viewer. To even imagine this seems quite absurd, so it is odd that we do not normally think of these important details.

Such an important detail, requires an important job for a crew of people. Lighting and set design are two separate entities in the production of television, movies, and plays, yet they must be able to work together to create the desired feeling for a production. One thing that is very important in the working together of designs is the colors. Lighting must be harmonious with colors used on the set, and also be able to work efficiently. This fact leaves a big job for lighting technicians and set designers to work together to find the perfect balance.

While set designers do a lot of research to create the right time period and feeling in a set the lighting technicians must work equally as hard to create the right lighting. Meticulous planning must take place in order to have a successful set that works for the given productions needs. Set designers have to have a vision as well as be able to have a “designer-client” relationship with the producer, taking into consideration the directors needs. Not only must the set designer be able to collaborate with others but, must also be very consistent in all the planning stages. Models must be drawn up and then constructed starting in small scale, which in turn has to be constructed into a full scale.

This may be the hardest job for a set designer. The small scale must be able to exactly replicate the full scale, including the most minute details such as paint color, furnishings, and architectural accuracy. The job of the set designer to create such accuracy is incredible in all its awe from start to finish. Knowing all the effort that is put into creating the perfect on set atmosphere, really changes the whole meaning of a production for many. So the next time you watch your favorite T.V. show pay attention to the details, the incredible work which surrounds the performers, and you’ll find that the actors are not the only artists in show biz.

photo at right: http://www.rfdesigns.org/graphics/amadeus3.jpg

photo at top left: http://www.clinton.k12.ky.us/revised/cchsrevision/Student%20Pages/Bway%20Rocks/assets/rent2.jpg