DRMA 212 Stage Lighting/DRMA 290 Technical Practice Syllabus

Grapko Fa14

Fall Quarter 2014

Instructor: Jeff Grapko

Office: E 120

Phone: 425-564-2416

E-mail:

Office Hours: MW10:30am-12:30pm or by appointment

Course Information

Course Outcomes

After completing DRMA 212, students should be able to:

Describe the basics of electricity and how it is measured.
Identify common types of stage lighting fixtures and use them correctly to achieve desired theatrical effects.
Operate the theatrical lighting control systems in the Theatre Arts department.
Observe and identify the effects of light in nature and artificial environments, and understand the process of recreating these effects for use on the stage.
Identify the relationship between light and color, and the effective use of color in a theatrical context.
Develop a basic lighting design using all the previously detailed skills and concepts.
Develop drafting skills and an understanding of design and technical drawings for Lighting.
Present design concepts utilizing visual research and practical execution on stage.

After completing DRMA 290, students should be able to:

Work in one of the specialty areas (specifically lighting design and implementation) of theatrical production preparing for and/or presenting a production in the Theatre Arts Department.
Demonstrate proficiency in assigned tasks in the above areas and work within parameters set by the production and supervisors.

How Outcomes will be met

DRMA 212is a design and technology class composed of two components: lecture/discussion and lab. Lecture/discussion meetsMW12:30-1:20. Our lab follows immediately and lasts until 2:40; the space will be available for work until 3:20 if necessary. The primary goal of this class is to help students learn to understand the basic tools of lighting design and technology and to articulately express and discuss light itself. Students will gain hands-on experience hanging, focusing, and cueing theatrical lighting instruments.

DRMA 290 is a practicum designed to provide hands-on experience under actual production conditions. You will be required to attend load-in, hang, focus, and strike for our Studio Production this quarter Dead Man’s Cellphone; as well, we will hang and focus a rep plot for the winter quarter.Strike will be from 1-6pm on Sunday, November 23; you must attend the entire strike. We will sign up for the remaining specific hours during class. To receive full credit, you must work at least 33 hours over the course of the quarter.

Students will create 2 practical projects as part of the Lab portion of the class. This will require each student to create, respond, discuss, and strike lights for the specific assignments. You must assist each other in hanging and focusing the lights for these presentations. It is important that each student be willing to share his / her observations in the moment, using constructive criticism during presentations of the Labs. (Please Note: If your Lab projects are not completed during Lab hours it will be up to you to complete it OUTSIDE of designated class time, and it is thus YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to create available slots in your schedule to do so during times when the StopGap and the instructor is available.)

Students will read, analyze, and respond both in discussion and in writing to the lighting design for Dead Man’s Cellphone.You are required to purchase a ticket to the show.

Students will be required to complete (3) Lighting Observations. More details will be discussed as each observation is assigned.

Students will have weekly reading quizzes administered through Canvas over the reading assignments.

Students will create a paper lighting design for a play chosen in consultation with the instructor and present the design during the final examination period. The student will present research images, create a lighting key, a light plot, a cue sheet, and paperwork for the chosen play. This presentation will demonstrate the concepts and techniques of designing lights for theatre discussed throughout the semester.

Grading

DRMA 212% of Grade

3 Lighting Observations: first two, 5% each, last one 10%20%

Reading Quizzes (administered through Canvas)15%

Class Participation / Attendance15%

2 Lighting Projects: 10% each 20%

Dead Man’s Cellphone Response Paper10%

Final Project20%

Total:100%

DRMA 290% of Grade

Load-in, Hang, Focus80%

Strike20%

Total:100%

The link to the College Grading Policy is located on page 10 of the Course Catalog and also on the web at:

Books and Materials Required

Required Textbooks:

J. Michael Gillette. Designing with Light: An Introduction to Stage Lighting. 6th ed. (You may also use the 5th edition for most of the class.)

Sarah Ruhl. Dead Man’s Cellphone.

Additional Materials (please discuss with the instructor before purchasing—these can be obtained very inexpensively):

8” Crescent Wrench

¼” Lighting Template

Architects’ scale rule

Free Download of VectorWorks Software:

All other reading and lecture materials will be made available through the DRMA 212 class portal via Canvas(see Important Links below for further details). You MUST use your BC email account to access this information.

Classroom Learning Atmosphere

Instructor’s Expectation

Attendance and Participation:

The successful acquisition of the skills involved in lighting design and technology requires a commitment to practical application. Therefore, a significant portion of your grade will be determined by your active participation in the daily work of the class. Please let me know as far in advance as possible if you cannot make a class. Excessive absences or excessive tardies will result in penalties taken off of your final grade. Two unexcused tardies equals one absence. Two unexcused absences will cause your grade to be lowered by one letter. Six unexcused absences will cause you to fail the class. For information over what was presented in class on a day you are not present, please talk to your classmates to share notes. Any makeup activities will be made up at the instructor’s discretion, and the instructor reserves the right to not allow for makeup work in the case of excessive absences or tardies. (If you are late to class, please check in with me at the end to ensure that you get credit for the time you are there.)

Safety:

In the theatre and shops, the number one priority at all times is operating in a safe environment. It is the responsibility of everyone in the shop to maintain that environment. Consequently, safety violations will be dealt with swiftly. You must obey all instructions, especially if you are asked to stop and take another look at what you are doing or are about to do. Horseplay is prohibited at all times in the scene shop, and anyone engaging in it will be asked to leave and given no credit for the day.

Classroom Expectations:

• Turn off cell phones, pagers, and other personal electronic devices.For most class activities, you should take notes with paper. (The one major exception will be our work with Vectorworks.)

• Always show respect for the instructor and your classmates. Disagreements are fine, but you must deal with them in a professional manner at all times.
• Engage each other and the material. If I’m the only one talking all semester, we all lose.

• Listen when others talk. Side conversations are distracting and will not be tolerated.
• We all learn in different ways and at different speeds. If you’re learning quickly, please be patient with your classmates. If you’re learning slowly, don’t give up; the next week, it may all start to click.

• In this course, college students are expected to read, explore, and practice adult material. This is the kind of material being produced at the college, semi-professional, and professional levels. Though it may challenge your politics, values, religious beliefs and/or personal comfort level, I encourage you to welcome and explore those challenges. If, at any time, you are uncomfortable with the class or the material, please don’t hesitate to come and talk to me.

• If you have any physical or mental conditions that may affect your ability to participate in this class (such as allergies or asthma), please let me know confidentially so that we may insure that your participation does not impact your health.
• I am interested in constructive feedback from you throughout the semester. It is your responsibility to let me know about problems you are encountering in the class before it becomes a crisis.

DRMA 290 Expectations:

You are expected to be present and on time for your scheduled hours. Our electrics work plan is usually mapped out a week in advance under the assumption that everyone scheduled to work will be there. Even if you are not in class a particular day, our lab will still meet unless you are informed otherwise by the Instructor.
If you are not present and dressed for work at your start time you are considered late. Proper dress includes closed-toed shoes, pants, and a shirt that you can get dirty.
Banking hours is considered a schedule change and is not permitted without prior approval from the Technical Director. If you are working on a project and would like to stay beyond your scheduled time to finish or complete the next step you may do so, but if you wish these hours to be counted towards your total, you must first receive permission. Staying late without approval will not allow you to miss future scheduled hours!
All work hours must be recorded in the black notebook in the Scene Shop. It is your responsibility to record these hours before you leave after each shift. As well, you are responsible for tracking how many hours you have remaining.

Late Work:

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day due. Any late assignment will be deducted a full letter grade. After that, for every day an assignment is late, another half-letter grade will be deducted.

Affirmation of Inclusion

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.

We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

Division Statements

Student Concern

Should you have concerns about any aspect of the class, I encourage you to come to me with them. If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable raising your concerns with me, the next step is to talk with the program chair, Tammi Doyle, , 425-564-2319, office in E100a.. If you still have concerns about the class, you are welcome to bring them to the Arts and Humanities Division Dean, Maggie Harada () or the Assistant Dean, Scott Bessho () in the Arts and Humanities division office (R230). An additional resource for concerns you find aren’t being addressed by faculty or administration is the Ombuds Office. (

Cheating, stealing, and plagiarizing is not only intellectually unethical but will result in your failure of the assignment and a discussion of further action. This action may include a failure in the class, removal from the show and a referral to the Dean of Students.

Information about Bellevue Colleges copyright guidelines can be found at:

A good resource for Plagiarism is the Writing Lab:

For The Arts & Humanities Procedures and Expectations page:

For the Arts and Humanities Commitment to Student Growth and Development:

Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity

Cheating, stealing, and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Dean of Student Success for investigation. Specific student rights, responsibilities, and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct at:

Important Links

Bellevue College E-mail and access to MyBC

All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account. Your student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in to MyBC. To create your account, go to:

BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the

The Canvas log in is located at

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible.

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is an additional access program available to you. Contact or 425.564.2764. ASN is located in the Library Media Center in D125.

The DRC office is located in B132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110. Please visit our website for application information into our program and other helpful links at

Public Safety

Public Safety and Emergencies

Public Safety is located in the K building and can be reached at 425-564-2400 (easy to remember because it’s the only office on campus open 24 hours a day—2400). Among other things, Public Safety serves as our Parking Permits, Lost and Found, and Emergency Notification center. Please ensure you are signed up to receive alerts through our campus alerting system by registering at

If you work late and are uneasy about going to your car, Public Safety will escort you to your vehicle. To coordinate this, please phone ahead and let Public Safety know when and where you will need an escort.

Please familiarize yourself with the emergency postings by the door of every classroom and know where to go in the event of an evacuation. Your instructor will be asked if anyone might still be in the building, so check in before you do anything else. Emergency responders will search for anyone unaccounted for.

If a major emergency occurs, please follow these two rules:

1) Take directions from those in charge of the response -We all need to be working together.

2) Do not get in your car and leave campus (unless directed to) - Doing so will clog streets and prevent emergency vehicles from entering the scene. Instead, follow directions from those in charge.

Please do not hesitate to call Public Safety if you feel safety questions or concerns at any time.

Final Exam Schedule

Your DR 212 Final Exam is scheduled Wednesday, December 10th from 11:30am to 1:20pmin E224.

Academic Calendar

The Bellevue College Academic Calendar is separated into two calendars. They provide information about holidays, closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule.

Enrollment Calendar - . On this calendar you will find admissions and registration dates and important dates for withdrawing and receiving tuition refunds.
College Calendar - . This calendar gives you the year at a glance and includes college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end and start dates, and final exam dates.

Grapko Fa14

Class Topic / Lab / Assignments Due
Week 1 / 22-Sep / Monday / Intro to Class / Safety, Hang, and Focus
24-Sep / Wednesday / Lighting Basics / Safety, Hang, and Focus / Gillette 1-11
Week 2 / 29-Sep / Monday / Electricity / Instruments, lenses, and lamps / Gillette 23-79
1-Oct / Wednesday / Cables / Instruments, lenses, and lamps / Gillette 80-91, Moment #1
Week 3 / 6-Oct / Monday / Production Team / Light Boards / Gillette 12-22, 92-111
8-Oct / Wednesday / Practicals and Effects / Light Boards / Gillette 112-123
Week 4 / 13-Oct / Monday / Design Process / Work on Light an Object / Gillette 178-188
15-Oct / Wednesday / Design Process (continued) / Work on Light an Object / Moment #2
Week 5 / 20-Oct / Monday / Light an Object presentations
22-Oct / Wednesday / No Class-College Issues Day
Week 6 / 27-Oct / Monday / Script Analysis / Color / Gillette 124-139, 189-195
29-Oct / Wednesday / Script Analysis (continued) / Color / Dead Man's Cellphone
Week 7 / ADDITIONAL TIME WILL BE NEEDED THIS WEEK FOR HANG/FOCUS--WE WILL SIGN UP IN CLASS
3-Nov / Monday / Dead Man's Hang/Focus / Dead Man's Hang/Focus
5-Nov / Wednesday / Dead Man's Hang/Focus / Dead Man's Hang/Focus
Week 8 / 10-Nov / Monday / Drafting/Vectorworks (E224) / Drafting/Vectorworks (E224)
12-Nov / Wednesday / Light Plots (E224) / Drafting/Vectorworks (E224) / Gillette 206-225; Moment #3
Week 9 / 17-Nov / Monday / Lighting Paperwork / Work on Light a Song / Gillette 226-244
19-Nov / Wednesday / Lighting Paperwork (continued) / Work on Light a Song
Week 10 / 23-Nov / Sunday / Dead Man's strike: 1pm
24-Nov / Monday / Light a Song Presentations
26-Nov / Wednesday / Hang/Focus Rep / Hang/Focus Rep
Week 11 / 29-Nov / Monday / Projections and Media (E224) / Work on Finals in class (E224) / Gillette 140-158; Dead Man's Response
1-Dec / Wednesday / Advanced Lighting Technology (E224) / Work on Finals in class (E224) / Gillette 159-177
Week 12 / 10-Dec / Wednesday / Final Presentations / 11:30-1:20 (E224)

Grapko Fa14