Drama 16 Stage Lighting

1. Fall Sunset in Vermont

Backdrop:

Top (Left to Right) : L778 Full, R124 Full, L780 0%, AP1800 Full

Bottom (Left to Right) : BLUE Full, P35600 Full, L741 Full, YELLOW 25%

Top Light: AP7770 at Full 54 degree elevation angle direct backlight

Stage Left: NC at 50% 0 degree elevation angle 56 degree back angle, YELLOW AT 50% -19 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle

Stage Right: BLUE at 50% 27 degree elevation angle, NC at 50% -19 degree elevation angle 56 degree back angle, NC at 25% 0 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle

When I look at sunsets, I enjoy the bright colors you get out of them, especially since the sun is still shining, which makes for interesting combinations. I particularly enjoy when there is a mix of purple and brown in the sky from a sunset, and that is what I tried to base this lighting design on. I also looked at pictures of sunsets in Vermont, and I found several pictures with the brown and purple mix, so it made me happy that I could do that for this scene.

2. Easter Sunrise in a Gothic Cathedral

Backdrop:

Top (Left to Right): AP3100 50%, AP 7600 Full, YELLOW 50%, AP8100 50%

Bottom: All NC 0%

Top: G470 at Full 54 degree elevation angle, direct back light

Stage Left: P36100 at 50% 37 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle,

Stage Right: P34758 at 50% 37 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle, P31080 at 50% 43 degree elevation angle, P34200 at 25% 27 degree elevation angle

Cathedrals are well known for having stained glass windows, and I reflected the many varying colors in those windows on my figure in this scene. Also, I realized since it was sunset, only the top of the cathedral would have any light, and the floor of the cathedral would be dark because the light hadn’t gotten there yet, hence why the bottom of this scene is dark.

3. Noon on a hot Summer day in the Caribbean

Backdrop:

Top (Left to Right): LHT715 Full, RED 0%, NC 25%, YELLOW 50%

Bottom (Left to Right): NC Full, LHT778 0%, R10 Full, NC Full

Top: YELLOW at Full 54 degree elevation angle direct back light

Stage Left: R19 at 25% 23 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle, NC at 25% -19 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle

Stage Right: L002 at Full 23 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle, NC 25% -19 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle

The Caribbean is a beautiful place, and during the summer it’s especially beautiful. I immediately made the backdrop a light blue color because that is the entire sky during the summer, and it is picturesque. Then I lit my figure to make it glow, because the sun has a way of making people glow during the summer.

4. Winter afternoon just before the snow

Backdrop:

Top (Left to Right): AP2320 Full, NC 10%, NC 0%, G1517 25%

Bottom (Left to Right): G842 75%, BLUE 50%, NC 50%, BLUE Full

Top: NC at Full 54 degree elevation angle direct back light

Stage Left: R140 at 50% 37 degree elevation angle 56 degree side angle, G905 at 50% -23 degree elevation angle

Stage Right: BLUE 50% 43 degree elevation angle, G885 at Full -23 degree elevation angle

Winter before the snow is a very gray, mysterious, and kind’ve sad looking if you look at it. I used a lot of blue, gray, and an off-gray kind’ve color in both the backdrop lighting and the figure lighting. I used the lighting on the figure in this way as a big contrast to my summer lighting, in that the summer lighting figure glowed, but this figure is the opposite of glow.

1) A Fall Sunset in Vermont

Backdrop:
Top- NC 0%, G130 32%, GRN 0%, BLUE 25%
Bottom- G335 25%, G345 25%, GRN 0%, BLUE 0%

Top Light:
– L021 100%, 54 degree elevation direct backlight

Stage Left Side Light:
-NC 25%, 27 degree elevation

Stage Right Side Light:
-L102 75%, 37 degree elevation angle, 56 degree backlight angle
-NC 100%, 27 degree elevation angle, NC 100%
-37 degree elevation angle, 56 degree side angle, L780 10%

When I think of sunsets, I picture the moment that the sun has dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky still painted with oranges and reds, while the farther you get from the horizon, the more blues there are. I wanted the woman to be washed in bright orange, mimicking the intensity of the sun that blazes on you as the sun in low in the sky and right in your field of vision.

2) Easter Sunrise in a Gothic Catherdral

Backdrop:
Top- NC 50%, RED 0%, GRN 0%, BLUE 0%
Bottom- NC 0%, RED 0%, GRN 0%, L720 71%

Top Light:
-NC 59%, 54 degree elevation, direct backlight

Stage Left Side Light
-R2003 10%, 37 degree elevation angle
-R42 28%, 23 degree elevation angle, 56 degree side angle

Stage Right Side Light
-LHT020 75%, 37 degree elevation angle, 56 degree side angle
-R42 12%, 23 degree elevation angle, 56 degree side angle
-LHT008 14%, 27 degree elevation angle

I chose to have the cyc a greyish blue, because right when the sun is about rise, there is no color. However, because this setting is in a Gothic cathedral, I wanted to mimic the light that streams through the stained glass, making it more vibrant inside than it would be outside.

3) Noon on a hot summer day in the Caribbean

Backdrop:
Top- NC 0%, RED 0%, GRN 0%, AP3540 100%
Bottom- NC 50%, RED 0%, GRN 50%, BLUE 0%

Top Light:
-NC 100%, 90 degree elevation angle
-AP2140 100%, 52 degree elevation angle, 21 degree side angle
-(SL) RE179 25%, 48 degree elevation angle, 37 degree side angle
-(SR) RE179 25%, 48 degree elevation angle, 37 degree side angle

Stage Right Side Light
-NC 100%, 0 degree elevation angle

I wanted cyc to be a representation of the Caribbean water and sky, thus blending the green and blue together. Also, because the time is high noon in the hot Caribbean, I chose to use mainly white or gold light to imitate the heat of the area.

4) Winter afternoon just before the snow

Backdrop:
Top: NC 25%, RED 0%, GRN 0%, BLUE 0%
Bottom:  AP2320 75%, NC 50%, GRN 0%, BLUE 0%

Top Light:
-AP2280 50%, 54 degree elevation angle direct back light
-AP2040 50%, 48 degree elevation angle, 37 degree side angle

Stage Left Side Light:
-AP3200 100%, 0 degree elevation angle

Stage Right Side Light:
-AP2320 100%, 0 degree elevation angle

If you notice right before it snows, the sky is bright and grey and the clouds hang heavy in the sky. I tried to replicate this with the cyc being slightly darker on the top. Also, I lit the actor in greys and blues because even though snow is magical, winter is still a dreary, dull time.

1. A Fall sunset in Vermont

Front

~NC SR&SL @25%, 33 degree elevation, 21 degree side, with template
~R25 SR @10%, 24 degree elevation, 37 degree side
~R43 SR @10%, 17 degree elevation, 37 degree side

Top

~R23 @25%, 54 degree elevation, direct back light, with template
~R10 SR @50%, 61 degree elevation, with template

Sidelight (SR)

~R22 SR @FULL, 43 degree elevation angle, with template
~NC @50%, 23 degree elevation, 56 degree side
~R4990 @25%, 27 degree elevation
~RE022 @25%, 0 degree elevation, 56 degree side
~R39 @25%, 0 degree elevation
~NC @50%, 0 degree elevation angle, 56 degree back angle

Backdrop

~NC @10%, R @40%, G @30% on top
~NC @10%, R @40%, G @10%, B @20% on bottom

For this sunset, I wanted the fiery pinks, purples, and reds of a brilliant sunset combined with light filtering through burning oranges and yellows of a New England forest in fall, as the leaves have yet to drop.  The woman is facing “south”, resulting in light hitting her almost only from the west, just before the light disappears from the horizon.

—

2. Easter sunrise in a Gothic Cathedral

Front light

~L111 @ 25%, 34 degree elevation/11 degree side, either side, with template
~NC @ 50%, 14 degree elevation, direct back light, with template
~L079 @ 25%,  14 degree elevation, direct back light, with template
~L015 @ 20%, 13 degree elevation, 21 degree side angle, either side, with template

Top Light

~NC  @ 48 degree elevation, 37 degree side, both sides
~R20 @ 61 degree elevation, both sides
~R51 @ 51 degree elevation, both sides

Backdrop

~RE220 @ 25%, AP2320 @ 10%, AP2310 @ 25%, RE 211 @ 25% on bottom

One of my favorite elements of cathedrals and grand churches is the play of light through stained glass.  early in the morning, my church would be alight with every color imaginable streaming through the rose window at the back, filling the church with beautiful hues below the amber glow of the chandeliers hanging above.  The lights are broken up so to fall together in pieces rather than blending into a single wash across the figure.

—

3. Noon on a hot Summer day in the Caribbean

~R3203 @25%, 35 degree elevation, direct back light
~R310 @25%,  90 degree elevation
~R20 SR @50%, 13 degree elevation, 21 degree side
~R20 SL @50%, 48 degree elevation, 37 degree side
~R55 SL @FULL, 13 degree elevation, 21 degree side
~R55 SR @FULL, 48 degree elevation, 37 degree side

Backdrop

~R3203 @FULL, R368 @ 50% on top
~R386 @25%, R4460 @50% on bottom

Summer at noon means picnics in the grass.  it means sitting in lawn chairs reading outside, the light so bright even the reflection of sun off your cheap paperback blinds you.  Summer at noon means sparkling light off of the water before you, sinking your toes into the cool grass below.  The clouds few and far between as the sun beats down above you.  Your body basks in the glow of afternoon, your only worry begin when the cabana boy is going to bring you your next drink.

—

4. Winter Afternoon

Front Light

~LHT020 SR @10%, 31 degree elevation, 29 degree side
~G847 SR @50%, 13 degree elevation, 21 degree side
~LHT020 SL @10%, 13 degree elevation, 21 degree side
~G847 SL @50%, 31 degree elevation, 29 degree side
~AP2330 SL&SR @25%, 17 degree elevation, 37 degree side

Top Light

~L210 @50%, 57 degree elevation, direct back light

Backdrop

~R360 @75%, R361 @25%, R373 @25% on top
~NC @25% on bottom

I love those frosty winter days when the air is crisp and clean, but you know the snow is only hours away.  Breathing in bites at your lungs, but it’s a breath of clear cold, a feeling you don’t want to stop.  The wind might be there, but it isn’t strong, it isn’t needling into your face or hurting your eyes.  You can taste the cold in your mouth, you can see the fog your breath in a perfect cloud whisping away, each and every time you breathe out.