Course # / Title / Credit:  AET 4990/ Production Design/  3 Hours

Instructor: Chris Lisle    Contacts: (615) 330-6008, lislec@mail.belmont.edu

Semester:  Fall 2007; Class Location:  Massey Building, Room B19

Meeting Time(s):  M,W 1:00 – 2:15 PM  Final Exam:  TBD

 

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1) To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.  2) To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

 

Course Description:  A practicum based study of concert and live event production elements including lighting, custom sets, softgoods, and special effects. Special emphasis is placed on concert lighting equipment, design, programming, and direction.

 

Learning Outcomes:  

  1. To analyze and evaluate the production design of a live concert.
  2. To identify, interpret, and classify the processes involved in lighting a concert production
  3. To define and design a touring production including the technical and manufacturing perspective.

 

Performance Criteria:

 

The student will be able to:

  1. Recognize the processes involved in designing a touring production
  2. List and demonstrate the job responsibilities of a Concert Lighting Designer
  3. List and demonstrate the job responsibilities of a Concert Production Designer.
  4. Define and distinguish the various functions of a touring lighting system.
  5. Interpret the physical creation of custom touring equipment, including lighting system and set pieces.

 

Honor Code:  It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code.  “In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

 

Accommodation of Disabilities:  In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.  If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

 

Course Requirements:

 

1.  Attendance: 

Your participation in this class is of the utmost importance to me. By missing even a lecture, you are missing a piece of a very big puzzle. I do, however, recognize that there are certain circumstances that may require you to miss a class. These include, but are not limited to:

ú         Absence to attend an official campus activity (as designated by the Dean’s Office)

ú         Absences for personal or family emergencies (as verified by the Dean’s Office)

ú         Absences for medical reasons (as discussed with instructor)

 

If you miss a class, please see me about missed lectures and/or assignments.  Please try to get any missed notes from a classmate.

 

Your lab hours for this class will be participation in the Showcase concert series. You will have a hands-on role in the lighting department of your assigned showcase (s).

 

2.  Materials: 

All Students will need a laptop computer for some of the classes, installed with the following programs:  HOG PC (free – www.flyingpig.com)

            Any basic CAD or drawing program

 

3.  Assignments: 

There will be several homework assignments over the semester. Homework not turned in by the due date is subject to a loss of three (3) points for every day that it is not turned in.

 

4.  Testing:  

There will be 4 tests given during the semester: two regular test, one mid-term, and one final exam.  Absolutely NO “MAKE-UP” TESTS ARE ALLOWED.  The final exam will be comprehensive.

 

5.  Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. 

For this class, I will use a basic letter grade system. For testing purposes the points will convert into grades based on the following:

                   A+ = 97-100          B+ = 87-91            C+ = 77-79            D+ = 67-69             F = 60-0

 

                   A  =  93-96            B = 83-86              C   = 73-76            D   = 63-66

 

                   A- = 90-92             B- = 80-82             C- = 70-72             D-  = 61-62            

 

Your final grade will be based on the following:

                        15%                  Lab Participation

                        15%                  Homework

                        30%                  Tests during semester (3 total)

                        40%                  Final Exam

 

 

6.  Class Schedule: 

Although my goal is to keep as close as possible to the schedule below, inevitably it will change on occasion. Also, due to my current touring schedule, there will be several occasions where a guest lecturer will be present.

 

Week Of                       Monday                                                            Wednesday                              

8/19/07                                                                                     Introduction

8/26/07                         Basics Part 1                                        Basics Part 2

9/2/07                           Labor Day – No Class                           Basics Part 3

9/9/07                           Conventionals Pt. 1                               Conventionals Pt. 2/Test

9/16/07                         Conventionals Pt. 3                               Intelligent Lighting Pt. 1

9/23/07                         NO CLASS                                            NO CLASS

9/30/07                         Intelligent Lighting Pt. 2                         Other Lighting                          

10/7/07                         Consoles Overview                                Mid Term Exam

10/14/07                        DMX Protocol                                       Whole Hog Training Pt. 1

10/21/07                        Whole Hog Training Pt. 2                       GrandMa Training                     

10/28/07                        Creating The Vision                               Basic CAD       

11/4/07                         Set Design Pt. 1/Test                            Set Design Pt. 2                       

11/11/07                        Softgoods                                            Special Effects Pt. 1               

11/18/07                        Special Effects Pt. 2                            Thanksgiving Break – No Class

11/25/07                        Production Design for TV                      Video/Lighting Integration         

12/2/07                         Exam Prep/Review

12/9/07                         Final Exam