Chapter 8 - Graphics and Sets
After reading this chapter, you should know . . .
- The informational, emotional, and psychological aspects of pictorial elements.
- Different types of graphics equipment and the functions they perform.
- Aesthetic considerations in using television graphics.
- Techniques for using non-computer-generated graphics.
- The purpose of sets.
- The uses and potential of virtual sets.
- How physical sets are designed, constructed, assembled, and stored.
- Differences among permanent sets, removable sets, and cycs and drapes.
- Elements to consider concerning furniture, set dressing, and props.
- How sets relate to other aspects of production.
1. Use your studio’s graphics generator to prepare a sample credit roll for a TV program. Experiment with different fonts and colors for the lettering and background. Record your rolls so they can be shown in class. Ask your classmates for feedback on readability, appropriateness, and proper formatting.
2. Prepare a basic staging floor plan (see Figure 8.19 for an example) for a standard dramatic or comedic scene set in your school’s studio from a script of your choosing. The staging design should be as realistic as possible given the set elements, furniture, and set dressings that are available at your facility. Provide as much detail as possible, and make the scale of your plan accurate.
1. What types of computer graphics systems does your school have? Do you have electronic still-store capability? Are these capabilities achieved by one machine or more? What kinds of graphics effects discussed in this chapter could you achieve in your school’s studio?
2. Suppose you are producing a historical documentary, and the local museum has a very fragile 500-year-old book that you need to shoot. The museum will not let you remove the book from the museum, and it can be very gently handled only by a museum employee wearing gloves. What plans can you make to get shots of individual pages in the book, which include maps, scientific drawings, and ornate text?
3. Make a list of virtual sets that it would be useful for your school to have. Why did you select these particular sets? How could you modify them so you could use them more often?
4. Think through a basic talk show. What background set pieces would you want? Furniture? Set dressing?
Here we provide links to excellent topic-related web sites.
Broadcast Design International
- Largest union representing working actors.