#u79

[curtis-stewart-nkc-blog]

Model Box

The first thing we made for our model box was the seating area. We created lots of scaled 8’ by 4’ rectangles and used them with our scaled plan drawing to work out the best arrangement to get the most seats, whilst still having a clear emergency exit. We made these out of foamboard as it was quick to cut and meant that it already had a thickness close to the thickness we wanted so we could see the incline as well as the floor space.

We then used our drawings and sketches to start to create a very rough first model to show to the directors. We also used foamboard for this as it is a very easy material to work with, although it doesn’t look as good as other material. My team mate and I worked on the forest set and the forest seating. We created a massive platform with stairs at one end. We then created lots of trees to be placed at seemingly random places all over the platform. We also created a circle platform 2’ down from the main platform to symbolise the witching circle. This is also surrounded by trees to help it tie in with the main platform.

After we discussed the plans with the directors and showed them the rough models, we started with the white card model. We started using different materials depending on what we wanted. The stairs were made of card so that we could make them the exact dimensions we needed them to be. We created each staging out of the card and then glued them together to make the seating area. This helped us keep track of how many staging pieces we were using and helped show anyone looking at the model what it is made of. We also did the same thing for the main platform of the forest, but the extra lips around the outside are just extra card and not staging. We also started making the trees out of balsa to make them look more round and like we want them to look. To create these round trees, we used lengths of square balsa and then used the dremel to round off the wood. When using the dremel, all the safety precautions were taken into consideration; like using goggles, keeping hands out of the way and not breathing in the wood dust. I did all this instinctually and was very safe using it. We also started to create more details like ladders for the actors to climb and vines made out of fimo.

After we created the white card model, we showed the directors and got their approval before we started to paint. In our team I was assigned all the forest section, apart from the trees. I decided to use lots of different greens, yellows and browns to create a detailed grassy floor. I also created a spiral effect on the witching circle to echo the design we were planning for the floor. I also painted all the vines and legs of the platform brown to make them hide more, whilst also giving them character. I also painted the ladders brown to make them look like they could be vines themselves.

[curtis-stewart-nkc-blog]

Meetings

During the process, we had to have many meetings. These meetings include ones with the directors and the head of the construction team. The meetings with the directors happened a lot more frequently as we needed the directors’ approval at every stage. After discussing with the directors, we created a rough plan by creating a different area for each of the locations they wanted. We had a massive forest section, forest seating area, a church seating area, church acting area, court seating area, court acting area and a flexible acting area in the middle. However, after some research and thought, we realised that the church and court were commonly the same building. We also realised that the house was a prominent place in the play. Therefore we added the house, but merged the church and court. We started drawings plans to scale on our tables, whilst also drawing sketches of what each area would look like. Instead of us all designing every section, we were put into three groups of two. My group was assigned the forest. This seemed like an easy task, but after talking to the directors, we knew they wanted stylised and symbolic features in every section, whilst still linking the sections all together. After creating our rough models, we had another meeting with the directors. This meeting is where we first showed them a 3D model. We used these rough models to help them see what the sight lines will be like, how things slot together, what things would look like and how it is arranged. In this meeting, the directors discussed with the group the possibility of altering the set so that the actors won’t be acting in the round. We worked with the directors to move all the seating to one side of the auditorium and have them all face the other side where all the acting is. This also helped us link all the sections as we could put a seating opposite each area with the same theme. After this meeting, we created a final model and then showed the directors. They agreed to it, so we started painting the model and the floor. We all made our own version of what we thought the floor would look like and then the directors chose the one they preferred.

After these meetings, we then had our meeting with the head of construction. This is where we showed them everything we had designed and what we thought they would make each thing out of. He looked closely at everything and we discussed all the costs of the different aspects. After many discussions, the head of construction determined that the design would fit well inside the budget and approved of it. 

A few things we had to decide upon for it to be approved are some ways for certain aspects to be made cheaper. The first aspect that needed to be thought of was what the trees would be made of. The trees could not be made of real logs as it would be too expensive to make and wouldn't give the stylised feel we were going for. For this reason I decided to use carpet tubes for the trees as the college can get these for free when ordering some stuff, or at a reduced price by themselves. We also wanted to find something we could make the branches out of, that wouldn’t cost too much. After a bit of researching and exploration, I found an area of the college where they store branches from the trees in the ground that would be perfect to use on the set. We also realised that making a whole platform out of steel and wood would be a very costly process, so we worked out how many staging construction had, and made the majority of the platform out of them, whilst just making the extra bits on the outside out of steel framing and wood. Although this does add a cost to the set, it can be justified, as it adds a natural flow to the platform, instead of it just being square. We also discussed with construction the possibility of getting circular staging. As it is a very expensive piece of staging, it had to be justified for more than just the performance we were building a set for. After some contemplation, the head of construction decided he will probably get it.