Introduction to Stage Lighting: The Fundamentals of Theatre Lighting Design

by Charles I. Swift

Overview

Intended as a text for those who are developing their craft in the field of stage lighting design, the focus of this book is on the process of design rather than the latest developments in lighting and control technology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566080989
Publisher:	Meriwether Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	10/28/2004
Series:	New Fall Titles Series
Pages:	161
Product dimensions:	5.56(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Charles I. Swift brings nearly three decades of experience to his work as a lighting designer, educator, and theatre consultant. Mr. Swift has designed a wide range of productions and worked in various capacities on production teams throughout the United States. He has brought his skills to bear in implementing technical systems in theatres the world over. He is currently engaged in designing systems for a variety of venues throughout the Southeast.Mr. Swift is an Associate Member of the American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC), a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (U.S.I.T.T.), and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).He received his B.S. in Design and Production (summa cum laude) from the State University of New York at New Paltz and earned an M.F.A. in Scene and Lighting Design from Carnegie Mellon University.Mr. Swift has taught stagecraft and lighting design in the State University System of New York and is currently an adjunct theatre faculty member in the College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University.

Table of Contents

	List of Illustrations	vii
	Preface	ix
Part 1	Tools and Terminology	1
Chapter 1	Lighting Fixtures: The Lighting Designer's Paintbrush	3
	Development of the Dramatic Arts	4
	Tools of the Trade: Principal Electric Fixtures	6
Chapter 2	How Stage Lights Work	16
	The Housing and Plug	16
	The Lamp	17
	The Reflector	21
	The Lens	22
Chapter 3	Stage and Lighting Terminology	26
	Stage Direction	27
	Drapery and Stage Direction	30
	Identifying Lighting Positions	32
	Fixture Names Based on Function	33
Chapter 4	Light: The Designer's Paint	36
	The Specular Quality of Light	36
	Lighting the Actor's Face	37
	The Controllable Qualities of Light	37
Part 2	Manipulating the Light	53
Chapter 5	Developing the Lighting Key	55
	Identifying the Sources	55
	Assigning Color to the Sources	56
	Identifying the Elements and Their Relationships	59
	Summary of the Lighting Key and Its Applications	59
Chapter 6	Assigning Intensity Levels	61
	The Importance of Precise Intensity Control	61
	Using Context to Establish the Overall Lighting Scheme	62
	Shifting Focus Using Balance and Contrast	64
	Creating Mood	68
Part 3	The Collaborative Process	71
Chapter 7	Communicating the Intent	73
	Lighting Drawings	73
	Lighting Paperwork	81
Chapter 8	Focus: The Rush to Perfection	87
	Acquiring Stage Time	87
	Focus Duties	88
	The Focus Procedure	89
Chapter 9	Writing Cues	92
	Documenting Lighting Changes for Repeatability	92
	The Evolution of the Cues	93
	Cuing the Show	98
Chapter 10	Developments in Lighting Control	103
	Developments in Manual Control	104
	Autotransformers	107
	The Patch Panel	109
	Remote Manual Dimmer Control	110
	Remote Computer-Based Control	112
Chapter 11	Computer Consoles	113
	Basics of the Console	113
	Console Operations	117
	Imparting the "Feel" of the Show to the Console	126
Chapter 12	Tech Week: The Final Frontier	136
	Tech Week Scenario	136
	Opening Night, Photo Call, and Beyond	147
	Glossary	152
	Index	159
	About the Author	161