Professor Sertich's Collaboration Project

I am pasting in Professor Sertich's Collaboration Project here.

Collaboration Project #1  Electra

OVERVIEW of PROJECT:  This collaboration project gives you the chance to step into the job duties of a theatre professional and create your own vision for a production of Electra.  Even though we won’t be producing this production, you will create the beginning stages of art and collaboration, which exchange between theatre artists.  You will be able to “dream big” and create your own unique production for Electra.  You will work with one another to create this production and utilize all the skills that you are learning in this class. 

PROJECT GOAL: 

·       To learn more about the unique collaboration of theatre artists

·       To experience one of the design or directing positions

·       To develop your own artistic style/aesthetic and to learn more about what you like to see onstage

·       To work with one another in a collaborative way

PROJECT DETAILS:  You will be split up into groups of 4.  Each of you will take on one specific job; the director, scenic designer, lighting and sound designer or costume designer. 

The group will collaborate to create their imaginary production.  The skies the limit!  Think big and specific so that you are all on the same page.  Set the play in a contemporary time and geographic location (1900s-today).  You must all agree on the initial idea and refine the idea to make it work for your designated job.  The director must find a visual source of inspiration, for example a painting or a photograph.  This source should act as inspiration for all of you.  It should be a metaphor for the production. 

Each designer will then take that visual metaphor from the director and find their own visual metaphor to inform the specific design duty. 

Your project will culminate to a class presentation.  You must meet to agree upon a concept.  The director will then find the first source of visual inspiration and share it with the group immediately.  The rest of the members will then find their source of visual inspiration and share it with all of you as well. The visual inspiration is what helps you make design/directing decisions so pick carefully! You will then go off and work individually but still communicating with one another via email, meeting in class and discussing what you have come up with.  If the director feels more meetings are necessary, you must make those meetings.  Then you need to meet to discuss how you will present your work to the class.  You will have 20-30 minutes for each group (each person must talk from 5-7 minutes) and you need to use visuals, handouts, sketches, collages, anything that helps describe your vision for the production.  You can act out a scene, use powerpoint, videos, music, etc. 

Individual Jobs:

The Director will show us your visual metaphor, explain why you chose that metaphor and present the overall concept for the production.  You present a short history of the play (past productions) and the playwright.  You must bring in visual aids to share with the class your conceptual approach.  An example would be “I am setting Electra in London, 2012 outside the palace doors”.   You must also choose what type of theatre you want to present this in and why.  Who is your cast? Bring in visuals of these people.  Give us a complete understanding of your choices and describe how you want the audience to feel as they walk out of the theatre.  Who is your target audience?  How would you market your production?

The Scenic Designer will show us your visual metaphor; explain why you chose that metaphor and how it fits into the director’s overall concept for the production.   You will explain to us why you made your choices.  What is the physical location for the production and why?   You will present a historical background on the location and how your set matches said history (or maybe why it doesn’t!) You will create a ground plan and/or a model of the set, and/ or visuals (collage) which will help us understand your choices. You must decide what type of materials you will use to build the set.  Wood, steel, plastic, etc?  You must also describe how your set will work with other design elements.  Make sure it helps the other designers achieve their goals. 

The Lighting and Sound Designer will show us your visual metaphor; explain why you chose that metaphor and how it fits into the director’s overall concept for the production.   You will explain to us why you made your choices. You will select moments in the play which are climactic to you and your team and how you will highlight them through lights and sound.  You will describe colors in terms of tone and mood and use visuals and sounds to describe your work. Use photos of light, color and also music and sound.  You must also describe how your lights and sound will work with other design elements.  Make sure it helps the other designers achieve their goals. 

The Costume Designer will show us your visual metaphor; explain why you chose that metaphor and how it fits into the director’s overall concept for the production.   If there is any historical information on the clothing, you must present that history.  Decide how each character in the play will look and describe to us your choices.  Think in terms of color and clothing materials.  Explain why you made your choices and bring in visuals.  You can draw sketches of each character or create a collage.  You must also describe how your costumes will work with other design elements.  Make sure it helps the other designers achieve their goals. 

IF there is a group of 5…

The Actor will show us your visual metaphor; explain why you chose that metaphor and how it fits into the director’s overall concept for the production.  You will choose one character from the play and do a complete character analysis.  You will describe the actor’s process and how you would go about creating the character.  You will have to present a monologue or a scene that is 3 minutes long. You must also describe how you will work with other design elements.  Make sure it helps the other designers achieve their goals.