USITT Day One

Today was the first day of the USITT conference in Long Beach.

I'm really impressed with the way everything has been organised and laid out.

There is a great atmosphere and everyone seems really excited to be there.

First I went to a talk about the production process at Disney, you can see the notes on that talk here:

Disney Production Talk

The next talk I went to was on alternative projection materials, you can see the notes here:

Alternative Projection Materials

I am really excited to attend more talks and see how the rest of the conference goes.

Alternative Projection Materials

As someone who is incredibly interested in using projection in theatre design, this talk was very informative and amazing. I never knew that there was so many different surfaces that you can project onto and all the different effects that you can create.

The talk was done by a company called Rose Brand that supply all the different types of materials to project onto. 
This is their website: Rose Brand

They talked about a type of paint called Screen Goo that you can paint onto surfaces to create a projectable surface so matter what shape it is. It literally makes the projection cling to each nook and cranny.
The website for Screen Goo is: www.goosystemsglobal.com

My favourite material to project on was String Curtains:

Screen Goo can be used in many different ways. This is a good example of how it can literally make projections cling to every shaped surface.

This talk was very helpful and I will definitely  consider different types of material to project onto in future projects. 

A Mouse, A Duck and Seven Dwarves: The production process at Disney

Presented by Marcus Hurst, Aaron W. Rowe, Chair: Jack Feivou

Fist of all, the processes at Disney appear very similar to those for a normal production.


However, Disney has many, many more layers to go through then most theatres.


The ideas for all the parks centralise in Glendale, CA at the WDI (Walt Disney Imaginary).


These ideas get passed to the VP of entertainment, whose job it is to put as much creative in front of the guests as possible, which then goes to the director of production and so on and so forth.


Communication is incredibly important within the development process and the synergy department makes sure everyone knows what everyone is doing.


Production Phases


Investigation/Discovery

• Client discovery
• High concept - capsulates what it might be
• Treatment and moodboards
• Feasibility study
• Basic timeline
• ROM - how much money?

Concept Development

• Show treatment
• Contact sheet
• Design concepts
• Milestones (eg. it takes at least 8 months to create a firework show!)
• PWED - property wide entertainment development
• Concept development funding

Show Development

• Rough script
• Music scratch tracks
• Complete art work
• Production schedule
• Show development/production funding

Production philosophy

1. Be a leader
2. Foster communication
3. Be inclusive
4. Understand the operation
5. Explore
6. Collaborate
7. Innovate
8. Educate
9. Enforce the Rules
10. Honor the Disney Heritage

Apply honor the heritage to everything you do, challenge it to yourself and set your own 10 commandments that you apply to every project.

Production

- Schedule - Script - Final Music - Drawings

Resource Utilisation

• Technicians
• Performers
• Gear
• Production staff
• Scenic/Decor/Props
• Space
• Time
• Recycle scenery and props

Operations

• Entertainment show quality standards (ESQ)
• Contact sheet
• Prompt book
• As-builts
• Maintenance manuals 
• Operating Guidelines

From this talk, I have gained a more in-depth knowledge of not only how Disney productions work, but how most theatres work during a production process. The talk has given me a real passion for working within the Disney 'family', as they also talked about the magic each production creates and the look on the guests faces as each new thing unfolds infront of them. The guys at Disney really work hard to make everything spectacular and memorable. I would love to be part of this team where they really believe that anything is possible.

Army Uniforms and Presidents through the ages

I have just finished reading War is Fucking Awesome, and the first thing I want to explore is the different army uniforms that will possibly be seen in it.


The first war scene is during the American Revolution in 1778.

US Uniforms

From: http://www.britishbattles.com/tim-reese/american-revolution/uniform-cd.htm

UK Uniforms

From: http://www.britishbattles.com/tim-reese/american-revolution/uniform-cd.htm

George Washington is present during this part of the play. This is an image of him:

The next war is the war of 1812

US Uniforms

From: http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109516 

UK Uniforms

From: http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/napoleonic_uniforms.html

President Madison is in this scene too:

Next is the Civil War

US Uniforms

From: http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history.htm

President Lincoln appears momentarily as a shadow before speaking through the soldier he has sent to talk to Unity

The next war featured is World War Two

US Uniforms

From: http://www.lonesentry.com/features/f21_uniform.html

Nazi Uniforms

From: http://www.llanbister.powys.sch.uk/nazi.htm

Adolf Hitler appears as a robot

Next is the Vietnam War in 1968

US Uniforms

From: http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/attention-detail-1-1-talk/100197-vietnam-reference-q.html

First Plan

This is my first week by week plan. It's very hard to plan my time as I have little idea of what I will be doing during my time in the USA, however, this is it so far.

Click To Enlarge

Ohio University

I have been looking at OU's website for their school of theatre and the sort of thing that they do and offer.


I feel so lucky that I'm going to be part of such a dynamic and well established school.


I can't wait to get there and see what classes are on offer to me. I'm so excited I can barely put it into words...


Ohio University School of Theatre Facebook page


Ohio University School of Theatre Website

The Vampire Cowboys

I've been looking into the Vampire Cowboys and they look crazy and fun!


I'm so excited to work on a production that will be exciting, vibrant and insane. 


This is their website: http://www.vampirecowboys.com/index2.htm


This image in particular excites me about the type of work I'll be doing:

I love the craziness of the costume and I think it's proof of the type of creations they look for in their shows.

Their next show is called War is Fucking Awesome. I haven't read it through properly yet and I'm really looking forward to seeing what it's all about.

Considering myself as a worker

I thought I'd take a little time to consider myself and the way that I work before this project really kicks off.


I think I am not a very through worker. I have a tendency to only look at the surface of a text or idea and not explore it to its full potential. I generally have lots of ideas, but spend too long focusing on one so that I haven't spread myself about enough and therefore have limited my research and design ideas.


I also think I limit myself by sticking to smaller sketchbooks. I generally work big, but for some reason buy smaller sketchbooks that condense my ideas and drawings.


I really want to change the way I work, and hopefully studying in a new environment and culture will help me broaden my mind and change the way that I work.


It will be really interesting to see how I change as a worker and how I develop professionally over the next 2 months.

1 week and 3 days until lift off...

After our meeting with the international office yesterday, I feel more confident about what to say and have to behave at the USITT conference.
We were given a list of courses that AUCB offer, including short courses and summer courses, which is very helpful as this gives us something to quickly glance at if we are asked what other courses are available.


I have e-mailed Holly a few times recently, and she has put me in touch with the set designer at Ohio University, who has offered me a place in his tuesday morning set painting classes. I'm really excited about this as when I was working on Road I throughly enjoyed working with the set painter and would love to know more tips and tricks.


Not long to go now!

1 week and 5 days until lift off..

I'm starting to get really excited about America now.


Everything's ready and all i have to do is some last minute shopping and pack.


I e-mailed the tutor that I'm staying with today to ask a few last minute questions. I'm really looking forward to meeting her.


I had a quick glance at the script I'll be working on (it's called War Is Fucking Awesome) and I also looked at the Vampire Cowboy's website. Here is a link to it http://www.vampirecowboys.com/


I've put the script on my Kobo which is great because it means that I can easily carry it around and I can start making notes on it this weekend when I visit my parents.


Tomorrow we have a meeting at the international office about the USITT.