Stage Lighting II

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
STGE 2212
Descriptive
Stage Lighting II
Department
Stagecraft & Event Technology
Faculty
Language, Literature and Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Contact hours

Lecture: 1.5 hours/week

and

Lab: 2.5 hours/week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning activities

Students will receive a combination of lecture, demonstration, group work and hands on training in a theatre environment, followed by independent work and one-on-one instruction using industry standard lighting consoles.

Course description
Students will become familiar with the role and responsibilities of the Head Electrician, and learn the skills required to lead a lighting hang and focus in a modern theatre environment. The use of current equipment such as LEDs and moving lights will be covered, as well as basic lighting console programming and the techniques and theories of lighting design as required by a Head Electrician.
Course content

Lighting Hang and Focus

  • Safety Procedures and the Toolbox Talk
  • Circuit Distribution Systems
  • Cabling and Power Calculations
  • Fixed Grid, Counterweight, and Truss Systems for Lighting
  • Filters, Templates, and Other Accessories

Patching

  • LED and Moving Lights
  • DMX Patching and Fixture Modes
  • Calculating DMX Addresses and Universes
  • Modern Lighting Networks

Head Electrician

  • The Duties of the Head Electrician
  • Interpreting the Lighting Plot
  • Lighting Schedules and Other Paperwork
  • Pre-planning for Success

Lighting Design

  • History of Lighting Design
  • Stanley McCandless and Three Point Lighting
  • Brightness, Colour, and Direction
  • Lighting Design Systems and the House Plot

Programming

  • Understanding Basic Lighting Console Layout
  • Programming and Pre-visualization
  • Moving Lights, Chases and Advanced Console Operations
  • Basic Show Control and Networking
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate safe working procedures and precautions when working with complex lighting systems;
  • Apply best practices to the role of Head Electrician during lighting hang, focus and related sessions;
  • Utilize proper calculations for weight and power distribution, using the Power Law and other relevant formulas;
  • Understand basic lighting networks, patching and cabling of DMX controlled lighting fixtures;
  • Operate and understand basic lighting console layout and architecture;
  • Apply basic lighting design theory for creating simple lighting plots;
  • Program lighting sequences using industry standard lighting consoles to control conventional, LED, and moving light fixtures.
Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule will be presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.

Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, and ability to meet deadlines.

Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the instructor’s course outline.

Sample Grading Scheme: 

Lab Assignments 30%
Quizzes 30%
Lighting Design Project 30%
Professionalism and Attendance 10%
Total:  100%
Textbook materials

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. 

Prerequisites
Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None