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I've been a little late to update, but here we go!

These are pictures from Acting is Believing, the show I just closed. Lit in all practicals with the whole space painted white. It was quite an adventure. 

The director was great, until we got into tech. He had a very bad attitude and was incredibly rude to the Stage Manager. However, it is a part of the job to deal with people like this, and from what I was told I handled it well.

I am currently sitting in on tech for Julius Caeser in our thrust space. It has a great set design, I may be able to get a picture of it later.

Next up for me is designing lights for an original show by one of our playwrights in the black box.

After that I am happy to say I will be interning at Portland Stage for 9 months starting in August! And crossing my fingers to get the AME job for the place I worked at last summer.

Hope all is well with you guys!

- Vici

#vici

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Lighting class.

So This week our aim was to wander around campus, take some photos of interesting lighting situations and then take back what we saw and try re create it in the theatre space.

My campus is a beautiful old mental asylum, there is a lot of outdoor spaces and inside spaces, I took lots of photos of both around campus and in the theatre, But here is a few of the images I selected. 

It's good to have a proper Lighting designer to teach me and open my eyes to new ways of looking at light and heaps of things.

I am so glad I stuck out all the hard bits and am now being creative.

Nicole A.

#lighting #lighting design #theatre #light #lights #uni #class

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Here's a little preview of the picture frame/make-up mirror we are using in Acting is Believing. They just had their first rehearsal yesterday, which I attended, and everyone is really excited about the lights and the whole show in general.

This piece gets moved around for every scene change, and it looks incredible. It came out exactly as I pictured it would, thanks to the help of Jason.

Also, I will be going to USITT in a week! Hope to see some of you there!

- Vici

#vici #Acting is Believing

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Here's a little photo of all the stuff I'm hanging in the air for my next show, Acting Is Believing. Lit entirely by practicals in white light with the space painted white. It's very exciting, I can't wait to show you guys pictures.

- Vici

The milkmaid watches over her field of chandeliers and lamps. 

#vici #acting is believing

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Hilarious web series, nice short episodes.

- Vici

"Ghost Light" is a web series that rips the blinders off what goes on behind-the-scenes in a community theater. Ever wonder what it takes to put on a show? M…

You should all watch this.

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Friday Morning Class: I am currently running on 3 hours sleep, I can deal with it. My alarm didn't go off but thankfully my neighbours were really loud this morning so I was up in time. I had a one on one class with a female lighting designer. It was lovely, we are having classes and meetings, I am invited to shows and pack ins and focuses and cool things like that. Really real world learning experiences. To watch an industry professional work with the best theatre company in New Zealand and she's going to be such an idol and mentor for me. We got along well and I wasn't anxious at all. It sounds like me and her daughter are very similar she likes theatre, makeup, food and blogging which is pretty much my life. we talked about cool lighting things and the psychology that it takes to work with people in our industry. Really great that I am getting the tutoring I've wanted and bonus I get along with her well. Nicole A

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Everyone should check out this company!

Johanna-Mai was at my school on monday and we did a workshop with her which was incredibly awesome. We were put in small groups and created these pieces in 2 hours and presented to the school. The groups were made up of designers, actors and technicians. The focus was on lighting and how non technically minded people can easily pick up the basics.

- Vici

#dare to light #vici

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Here it is, Ivona Princess of Burgundia.

It was definitely an interesting process. I think we could have taken some of our ideas much further (like all the shadow play and special moments like those pictured) but certain circumstances didn't allow for this, and I was not as willing to push on this show.

Unfortunately the director was fairly unpleasant to work with (for all parties involved) which was sad because I think it was felt in the final product. The actors were tired of being yelled at and I was not eager to stay around any longer than needed.

However, you can't win 'em all, and I think what I made happen was nice and it worked with what the director was trying to do.

You live and you learn, and it's important to learn how to deal with people like unpleasant directors because you WILL have to work with people like that, and it's just part of the job. As Mitch (my lighting professor) would say: "This is a business about, for, and by people. It's all about psychology." 

- Vici

p.s. I have a side blog dedicated to quotes from my professor Mitch here. He's a very smart and funny man.

#ivona #vici

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Are you working on shows? Do you have anything pictures you want to submit???

Submit here: http://backstage-in-black.tumblr.com/submit

Pictures and stories are always appreciated, feel free to advertise your own theatre/techie blog.

Rules are as follows:

Must be related to theatre or ideas that can relate to our art, practices etc. (maybe it's a photo of your crew...)

You MUST have permission to post images, names and specific things.

Content can advertise your current work or business. It is up to us as the publishers whether or not we post but it's all about networking and getting your name and business out there.

#theatre #submit #stories #techies #Stage Management #stage managers #lighting technician #sound technician #sound #lighting #theatre design #lighting design #sound design #props #props master #set design #costume design #costume #set #hot set #theatre crew #crew #techie

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In New Zealand our school year starts at the beginning of the year, smart huh. Well... not particularly, it's really hot here.

Well, this week was my first week back at uni, The last year!!!!!! yuss, 8 months of hard work and I will have my degree!

I started on monday by popping back to see my tutor who just gave me a small run-down of classes and shows. This year I am designing several shows but no dance shows, and I am really happy as dance shows at our institute make me really miserable because we are treated like s**t.unfortunately I couldn't make it on the second day because I had to go get blood tests because  went into my first anaphylaxis attack and they needed to check if I was okay.

Little tip: If you do have medial issues, allergies or anything that may affect the way you work or endanger yourself or others let someone know, be it your tutors, stage managers, production managers etc. I had to email my tutor to tell him what was up incase it happens again and is more serious because I'll have to get an ambulance.

So I go back this coming tuesday and meet my industry professional who is going to tutor me, She is a lighting designer, and a woman so I think we will get along well. We will get together once a week. Because I am the only lighting design student in my year we can get together wherever, her house, my house, a cafe, her work or uni. Which is great because I can go see her working in action, heck If I want a class one night during a pack in and how she does that, I can. Which is a wonderful way to work, I don't think you learn lighting design from books and essays, although those help... And I'll have a few of either to write and read this year. During the first term I have a lot of down time where I intend to absorb as much information as I can.

I am really looking forward to this.

Nicole A

#lighting design #lighting #theatre tech #college theatre #college #uni #theater #technicians #backstage #backstage badger

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The Other Josh Cohen, photo via Theatermania.com

I just spent some time at the Papermill Playhouse (on a class trip) with Drew, the Master Electrician. We talked about The Other Josh Cohen and the problems it presented, including needing to call in a favor to get their Ion to take more than 4000 addresses. 

Lots and lots of LEDs, pixel mapping, and moving lights.

We also had a little pixel mapping demo with the offline editor and talked about some nuts and bolts Lightwright things that make life easier. 

Drew is a really smart guy and he is super friendly and willing to answer any questions. If anybody gets a chance to go backstage or meet him please do, you can learn a lot from him!

Hope everyone's having a good week!

-Vici

p.s. in case you didn't know, the ETC offline editor is free! Download it and mess around!

#papermill playhouse #vici

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This is me focusing for The Dispute, my first show that used LEDs (circa December 2012). Fantastic show, great director, great cast.

- Vici

vici lighting in dramatic lighting.

#the dispute #vici

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I just finished my first day of tech for Ivona Princess of Burgundia (i'm the LD). The director is taking it in a very abstract direction, which is cool but challenging for me as I'm not used to abstract shows. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures yet, but I will post some as soon as it opens!

Hope everyone is doing well!

- Vici

#vici

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So tomorrow I find out what 2014 has instore for me as I meet one on one with our main tutor.

In New Zealand we start the school year at the beginning of the year, Kiddies start at the beginning of february and us Uni students start at the end.

This year I am the only one studying lighting design, that is great because it means I will have the best opportunities of anyone. Which is wonderful and I'm getting a lot of bang for my buck.

My flatmate let slip that the internships I am getting set up with and the outside tutors I am getting are brilliant, But I don't know what yet. It'll be a wonderful surprise.

I pretty much have 1 term of learning and then I'll be thrown into shows.

Terrified for 2015, hopefully I can make some good contacts.

I'll keep you updated! Nicole A xx

#tech #uni #theatre #lighting design #lighting

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I'm not one for shows like the grammys. I feel like the lighting design is more "How many sharpies, lazers and haze can we throw at this" and to me that isn't good enough. It kind of stems from concerts and American Idol styled shows. All dressed up with big budgets, a bit of a wow factor, but no actual design. However: Today I watched the grammys live and I loved Beyonce and her opening, the lighting silhouetted her, created great shape and atmosphere. I loved the shuttery effects and lines, it always looks wonderful on bodies.

Always a concert to watch is Pink Floyds Pulse, the bf and tutor swear it's the only reason they are where they are today.

Has anybody done anything really outstanding when it comes to concerts and events? feel free to brag :)

Nicole A

#tech #theatre #lighting #loghting design #the grammys #grammys

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Some advice on how to create black and white scenes in lighting design. Nicole A

Is it possible to create a design for the stage that mimics black and white movies? I might have to LD for such a production--is it possible to accomplish this and maintain a dynamic design? Every production I've seen that doesn't use colored lighting turns loses so much.

I haven’t done anything like this, but I do have some ideas for you:

This is a perfect example where the set and lighting design are inextricably linked; when you shine a light on a set, you are essentially painting it with light. This is where things can get tricky, especially with this black and white idea. 

I’d recommend keeping lights very intense throughout the show; as you may already know, tungsten halogen lamps amber at lower intensities. I’d also recommend using lots of diffusion (Rosco 103 - Tough Frost would be good). Finally (and this is predicated on funding/access), I’d suggest using some LEDs; you can get a great white out of those.

Great question! Thanks for asking!

Anyone else have some input?

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Hello techies! The countdown has started toward my last year at uni, in exactly a month I'll be back and rearing to go. Already the shows have been chosen and so have possible internships. Watch out world. I am still a little anxious, but who isn't? As soon as I get back to Auckland and the real world I get to talk to my tutor about everything. (I am currently in matamata at my mums, aka hobbiton) And I'll update you all on everything. I'm looking forward to passing and then plans for 2015 and getting into the industry.

How are you all? message us your stories. Nicole A.

#theatre tech #theatre #tech #techie #backstage #backstage badgers #lighting design #theatre school #lighting #theatrical lighting