1Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
Scene Design I
1
THEA 3301-001 / -101
MW 9:00am- 9:50
M (Lab) 1:00pm- 4:50
FA 419
Instructor: Michelle Harvey
Office: FA 419A
Office Hours: 10am-11am M, W or by Appt.
Office Phone: 817-272-0453
Email: harveymd@uta.edu
Class Prerequisites:
•
Introduction to Theatrical Design, Drafting for the Arts (or Stagecraft II when Vectorworks was the
main topic)
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. The student will be able to use the elements of design and composition to create imaginative and
successful scenic designs.
2. The student will be able to discuss and analyze needs for a successful scenic design.
3. The student will be able to create effective drawings, renderings and models and will be able to
communicate and discuss their ideas about the design.
4. The student will be able to demonstrate increased skills in sketching, drafting and use of multiple
mediums.
Text: required
•
•
•
J. Michael Gillette. Theatrical Design and Production: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2008. 7th Edition.
ISBN# 978-0-07-351419-2
Clare P. Rowe. Drawing and Rendering for Theatre: Focal Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780240805542
Jeffrey Hatcher. Scotland Road: Dramatists Paly Service, Inc. 1996. Actor’s edition. ISBN: 9780822214939
Required Supplies:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sketchbook: at least 11”x14” standard drawing paper (you will need a separate sketchbook for the
rendering class)
Newsprint: at least 18” x 20”
Poster board for research collage and other presentations
Drawing/ Rendering tools & Materials: at least 4 pencils of varying degrees- 4 or 6B to 4H, Architect
scale rule, white Eraser, kneaded eraser, charcoal sticks, graphite sticks, other drawing tools as needed;
assorted colors acrylic paints, an assortment of paint brushes, paint palette, small closable containers (to
save paint), a few throw away (child’s plastic) cheap brushes, watercolor paper/pad- at least 11” x 14”,
masking tape, acid free rubber cement, other as needed.
Model supplies/tools: Matte board, Bristol board and/or foam core, scale lumber and/or bass wood sticks,
Craft Glue (I prefer Aileen’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue), Exacto blades and knives, other model/craft materials
as needed
Tools and materials may be available to use in 419, but you MAY NOT remove ANY tool from room
419. There will not likely be enough for everyone to have their own for use during labs. A limited
amount of consumable supplies will be available to all, but you may wish to supplement with your
own materials. Materials are available on a first come first served basis- please do not hoard
materials and keep in mind others may have need, too.
2Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
2
Scene
Design
I
Spring
2014
Syllabus
Lateness and Attendance Policy:
• Lecture: Students arriving late to class will have until five (5) minutes after the starting time of
the class to be added to the attendance list. Students arriving during the first five (5) minutes will
be marked as late. If you arrive after the first five (5) minutes, you will be counted as absent for
the day. You start the semester with 100 points for attendance. You lose 3 points every time you
are counted as late and 10 points every time you are counted as absent (+5 minutes late or
completely absent) without approved prior notice or verifiable doctor’s excuse. Prior notice for
university sponsored/approved absence must be given at least one week in advance and should be
given through an email.
• Lab- Attendance and participation: Will be based on the following rubric:
o 56 points for attendance hours – 14 labs at 4 hours each
 We may, on occasion, get out of lab early. This will not count against you
 If we are working on projects during lab and you are finished, you may leave early
IF the instructor feels there is nothing more you can work on/fix. Have something
else to work on if you think you might finish early
 If we are having a workday and you require the use of a computer, you may go to a
computer lab if you do not have your own. However, I will expect you to show me
the work done before you leave campus. Failure to do so will result in not
receiving credit for the day’s work.
o 24 points for preparedness / participation (have appropriate tools/materials, have
something to work on.
 21-24: Always prepared, ready to work and working on projects
 15-20: Prepared most of the time and generally working on projects
 11-14: Prepared some of the time and sometimes working on projects
 0-10: Generally not prepared or working on projects
o 20 points for tardiness
 You lose two points every time you are late
More than five lecture and/or more than two lab absences will result in the failure of
the class at the discretion of the instructor
If you are ill, miss class and present a doctor's statement attesting to your illness, then you may make up
missed work, however this means you have used up one of your absences. You are advised to drop this
course if you are absent on a continuing basis.
Students must arrive on time on test and presentation days. Students not arriving in the first 5
minutes of the class will receive a zero for the exam/presentation. If a scheduled exam or presentation
is missed it can only be made up if a doctor’s excuse is presented no later than the start of the next class
period NO EXCEPTIONS.
Unless told otherwise, Lab projects are due the following week during lab and will be presented/discussed
at the beginning of lab.
3Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
Scene
Design
I Spring
2014
Syllabus
Grades:
1400
points
total
• Lecture Attendance & Participation: +100
• Lab attendance & Participation: +100
• Sketchbook (due 3-3 & 4-30) +100
• Play Design Critiques X 2 (due 3-3 & 4-28) +50 (25pts each)
• Still Life Benchmark and sketch from photo (due 1-27) +50
• Drawing exercises (due 2-03) +50
• Measured Perspective/ perspective drawings (due 2-10) +50
• Painter’s Elevations (due 2-17) +50
• 4” cube (due 2-24) +25
• Model Theatre (due 2-24) +25
• Historical wall model and model furniture (due 3-3) +50
• Design from given ground plan computer model (due 3-17) +50
• 3D printed furniture (due 3-24) +50
• Rendering exercise – watercolor or acrylic (due 3-24) +50
• Design from given ground plan rendering (due 3-31) +50
• Period Style Project (due 3-31 & 4-02) +100
• Historical wall design and rendering (due 4-07) +50
• Digital Rendering x 2: (due 4-21 & 4-28) +100 (+50 each)
• Final Project: +300
3
● A = 100% - 90.0%
● B = 89.9% - 80.0%
● C = 79.9% - 70.0%
● D = 69.9% - 60.0%
● F = 59.9% - 00.0%
Blackboard –
The syllabus and other class information are available on Blackboard: https://elearn.uta.edu
You will need your UTA user ID and password to access it.
Sketchbook assignments:
• Each week (eleven weeks total), you will be responsible for a sketch from a different historic
individual and architectural element, object, or furniture piece with which this person could have
come in contact with or designed him or herself.
o After researching the person, period and object, you will communicate the design of the
object with a sketch. You may either sketch an actual object found in research or create
your own using what you learned through your research
 Include images of the research used to create the sketch on the facing page.
 There should be at least three resource images included for each sketch.
o The sketch should include shading and texture and should not just be a line drawing.
o Avoid using the Internet as your sole source of information. The library is a wonderful
place.
• Sketchbooks will be collected twice through the semester- see course schedule for days/times
• Schedule of drawings as follows- preferably to be completed during the given week- I encourage
you to avoid waiting until the day before sketchbooks are due to work on these:
4Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
Scene Design
Sketchbook
I Spring
weekly
2014assignments:
Syllabus
Week
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
11
12
13
14
Period
Egypt
Ancient Greece
Rome
Medieval
Renaissance
Rococo
Neoclassic – Empire
Romantic
Victorian
Art Nouveau
Art Deco
4
Person and Object
Cleopatra’s Bed
Sophocles’ Doorway
Caesar’s Floor
Giotto di Bondone’s Window
Leonardo da Vinci’s Table
William Hogarth’s Fireplace
Napoleon’s Chair
Victor Hugo’s Window
Queen Victoria’s couch
A Mucha circle or floral arrangement
Frank Lloyd Wright art glass window or door
SCENE DESIGN I SCHEDULE SPRING 2014- Subject to Change
WEEK 1
1-13: Intro, syllabus
1-14: Review- Elements & Principles of Composition/ Process
Read: Ch. 3 Rowe / Ch. 5-6 Gillette
WEEK 2
1-20: MLK day- no class
1-22: Drawing with one element at a time
WEEK 3
1-27: Sketching first ideas- Rapid Thumbnail Visualizations
1-29: Drawing in perspecitve
Read Ch. 8 Gillette / Ch. 4 Rowe
WEEK 4
2-03: “Discovering Perspective” exercises
2-05: Drafting review- drawing types, line weights, symbols
Read Ch. 7 Gillette
WEEK 5
2-10: Paint elevations
2-12: Story telling by design- world building/immersive design
WEEK 6- Opera opens Feb 21- only 4 performances
2-17: 3D scale models / model building techniques
2-19: In class exercise: Bring in at least 10 interesting
photographs- can be color or black and white- any subject
WEEK 7
2-24: Stage properties
Read Ch. 13 Gillette
2-26: “The Stories that Objects Tell” exercise
Bring in three “significant” objects- do not show to anyone
WEEK 8
3-03: Assign “design from given ground plan” project.
Discuss Opera / design critique
Sketch book due in class
Opera Critique Due- submit on Blackboard by 5pm
3-05: Using the 3D printer and scanner (thingiverse.com)
Assign Period style projects
WEEK 9- Spring Break March 10-14
3-17: Rendering an effective scene
3-19: Drawing exercises
WEEK 10- USITT Conference in Fort Worth
3-24: The Importance of Research
3-28: No Class – go to USITT!
Lab Assignments
1-13: Still Life Benchmark, Vectorworks refresher and catch up
Using sheet layers and viewports, using the resource browser,
Read Ch. 1 Rowe
1-23: Still MLK day – no class
1-27: Discuss drawings from earlier class
Drawing exercises / Collaboration in Design
Read Ch. 7 Rowe
2-03: Measured Perspective / Perspective drawing / sketching
2-10: Painter’s elevations- using acrylic/scenic paint
2-17: Model exercises- bring tools, scale rule/ materials
4” cube / Creating the model theatre
2-24: Model exercises
Historical wall model and model furniture exercises
3-03: 3D Computer modeling- review of Vectorworks modeling
Design from given ground plan
Using the 3D printer
3-17: Rendering exercise
watercolor or acrylic
3-24: Design from given ground plan- rendering by hand
watercolor or acrylic
Given ground plan design should be complete
5Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
Scene Design
I Spring 2014 Syllabus
WEEK
11
5
3-31: Period Style project presentations- notebooks due
3-31: Historical wall design and rendering
4-02: Period Style presentations, cont
WEEK 124-07: Discuss Scotland Road- have it read!
4-07: Collaborative collage – bring images that represent
Discuss Final project
your emotional response and historical references to the
Emotional response exercise
script – keep loose
4-09: Digital rendering- the tools of Photoshop
Read Ch. 15-16 Rowe
WEEK 13- Mav Plays Opens April 15- check schedule for performances
4-14: Digital rendering- using Photoshop after sketching
4-14: Digital Rendering- meet in computer lab
4-16: Digital rendering- more tips and hints
Script analysis and Concept statement due for Scotland
Road- submit on Blackboard by 5pm
WEEK 14
4-21: Present research and concept for Scotland Road
4-21: Digital rendering continues
4-23: Work on Final Projects
WEEK 15
4-28: Work on Final Projects
4-28: Work on Final Projects
MavPlays critique due
4-30: Work on Final Projects
Sketchbooks due in class
Final Project presentation
Monday May 5, 2014: 11:00am- 1:30pm
Grade Grievances:
Any appeal of a grade in this course must follow the procedures and deadlines for grade-related grievances as published in the
current undergraduate catalog. For undergraduate courses, see
http://wweb.uta.edu/catalog/content/general/academic_regulations.aspx#10
Drop Policy:
Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through self-service in MyMav from the
beginning of the registration period through the late registration period. After the late registration period, students must see
their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw. Undeclared students must see an advisor in the University Advising Center.
Drops can continue through a point two-thirds of the way through the term or session. It is the student's responsibility to
officially withdraw if they do not plan to attend after registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for nonattendance. Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be required as the result of
dropping classes or withdrawing. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
Theatre Arts Attendance/Production Duty Policy:
Students who fail to meet class attendance requirements may be removed from acting, directing, design, and/or stage
management positions for the current semester's productions at the discretion of the department chair.
Conferences/Auditions:
Department of Theatre Arts majors are encouraged to participate in theatre conferences and auditions. However, students are
expected to complete assigned coursework in a timely manner and to notify instructors prior to their absence. Such notification
must be in writing. At the discretion of each instructor, class participation grades may be affected; therefore, students are
advised to consult with their instructors prior to engaging in such activities.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal
opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All instructors at UT Arlington are required by
law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that
disability. Any student requiring an accommodation for this course must provide the instructor with official documentation in
the form of a letter certified by the staff in the Office for Students with Disabilities, University Hall 102. Only those students
who have officially documented a need for an accommodation will have their request honored. Information regarding
6Scene Design I Spring 2014 Syllabus
diagnostic
criteriaI and
policies
for Syllabus
obtaining disability-based academic accommodations can be found at
Scene Design
Spring
2014
6
www.uta.edu/disability or by calling the Office for Students with Disabilities at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity:
All students enrolled in this course are expected to adhere to the UT Arlington Honor Code:
I pledge, on my honor, to uphold UT Arlington’s tradition of academic integrity, a tradition that values hard work and honest
effort in the pursuit of academic excellence.
I promise that I will submit only work that I personally create or contribute to group collaborations, and I will appropriately
reference any work from other sources. I will follow the highest standards of integrity and uphold the spirit of the Honor Code.
Instructors may employ the Honor Code as they see fit in their courses, including (but not limited to) having students
acknowledge the honor code as part of an examination or requiring students to incorporate the honor code into any work
submitted. Per UT System Regents’ Rule 50101, §2.2, suspected violations of university’s standards for academic integrity
(including the Honor Code) will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Violators will be disciplined in accordance with
University policy, which may result in the student’s suspension or expulsion from the University.
Student Support Services Available
UT Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with
personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. Resources include tutoring, majorbased learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs.
For individualized referrals, students may visit the reception desk at University College (Ransom Hall), call the Maverick
Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107, send a message to resources@uta.edu, or view the information at www.uta.edu/resources.
Electronic Communication Policy: The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University “MavMail” address as
the sole official means of communication with students. MavMail is used to remind students of important deadlines, advertise
events and activities, and permit the University to conduct official transactions exclusively by electronic means. For example,
important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation are now sent to students through
the MavMail system. All students are assigned a MavMail account. Students are responsible for checking their MavMail
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charge to students for using this account, and it remains active even after they graduate from UT Arlington.
To obtain your NetID or for logon assistance, visit https://webapps.uta.edu/oit/selfservice/. If you are unable to resolve your
issue from the Self-Service website, contact the Helpdesk at helpdesk@uta.edu.
Student Feedback Survey:
At the end of each term, students enrolled in classes categorized as lecture, seminar, or laboratory shall be directed to complete
a Student Feedback Survey (SFS). Instructions on how to access the SFS for this course will be sent directly to each student
through MavMail approximately 10 days before the end of the term. Each student’s feedback enters the SFS database
anonymously and is aggregated with that of other students enrolled in the course. UT Arlington’s effort to solicit, gather,
tabulate, and publish student feedback is required by state law; students are strongly urged to participate. For more information,
visit http://www.uta.edu/sfs.
Final Review Week
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review
Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there
shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research
problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class
syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade,
except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination
during Final Review Week.
Emergency Exit Procedures: Should we experience an emergency event that requires us to vacate the building, students
should exit the room and move toward the nearest exit, which is located at the back of the room. Take the stairs to your right to
the first floor. Continue the to right or left in the main hallway to exit the building. When exiting the building during an
emergency, one should never take an elevator but should use the stairwells. Faculty members and instructional staff will assist
students in selecting the safest route for evacuation and will make arrangements to assist handicapped individuals.