Exam McFuckery Flashcards
Define: Guardrail
a guard that consists of a top rail and a middle rail approximately halfway between the top rail and the work surface and is attached to the edge of the work surface or the toeboards
Define: Toeboard
used on floor openings, platforms, and elevated platforms to prevent tools and other objects from rolling off or falling through
Define: Rake
acting area that is not horizontal (not an unbalanced stage)
Define: Raked Stage
a stage whose deck is raked at an angle
Define: Raked Area
an area of the stage that is raked
Define: Ramp
The means of getting from one acting area to another.
Define: Rigging
refers to anything used to attach, support, or fly scenery, drapery, or lighting and sound equipment.
Define: Fog
by heating or cooling certain materials, you can produce water droplets in the air, creating fog.
Define: Haze
A mist that will stay in the air, lightly obscuring vision
Define: Dry Ice
used with boiling water to create mist, but can potentially accumulate dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide
Always assume that outlets are live and…?
do not work on circuits
What electrical equipment is the only kind students can work on?
Lights
When a breaker blows…
Tell a teacher, do not work on it
How do you inspect a piece of equipment before use?
Check for frayed wires, loose parts, and general damage and wear
Proper footwear must be worn because…
the floors may become slippery while the fog machines are in use.
Operating a smoke machine requires ventilation, why?
If the smoke has nowhere to go, the area becomes a deathtrap.
What don’t you add to the smoke?
Dyes or fragrances
What are three dangers of smoke?
Obscuring vision, lung irritation, slippery floors
What are two dangers of dry ice?
Frostbite, mixed with nitrogen can make excess CO2
What are three smoke machine related restrictions?
Only use glycol-based products
Handle dry ice w proper protection
Organic stuff can’t be used in smoke.
Define: Strike
Cleanup of any and all material used during a production.
First thing to do when striking a stage?
Remove objects blocking pathways
What PPE must be used when working on a strike?
Footwear, Eye protection, gloves, proper headphones and structural helmets
What clamps should be used on lights?
C clamps
What should be used when handling hot lights?
Gloves
Plug in soundboard or speakers first?
Soundboard
What should you do with the soundboard knobs before turning it on?
Turn them down or off
Where should the knobs on the soundboard be when actually in use?
Universal
What are two rules of low lighting safety?
Warn people before turning the lights off
Rehearse in low lighting so actors know their way around
How is a proscenium stage designed?
So actors are always facing the audience
Are proscenium stages good for scenery? Why?
Good for scenery because it can be to the side and behind performers so it doesn’t block the view
Are proscenium stages good for special effects?
Good for special effects like pyrotechnics
What is the one drawback of a proscenium stage?
Distance, the audience is directly in front of the stage or too far away
What two features do a thrust stage have that make it a cross between a proscenium and an arena?
A proscenium arch far upstage and the main acting area juts into the audience
How many sides does an actor have audience on in thrust stage?
3 sides
How close is the audience compared to an arena or proscenium stage?
Closer than proscenium, farther than arena
What is important to keep in mind about scenery on a thrust stage?
It must be kept far upstage
What can be used further downstage on a thrust stage?
Set props like furniture
Where would an audience member be sitting to find it difficult to see actors faces in a thrust stage?
The far side bays
Where are special effects possible on a thrust stage?
Far upstage
What can be used on a thrust stage but only upstage?
Special effects and scenery
What is the disadvantage of a thrust stage?
It’s hard to see actors faces when they’re far downstage
What is the advantage of a black box theater?
It’s very flexible
What is the main advantage of an arena stage?
Getting the max number of audience members close to the actors
What’re three things you can’t do with an arena stage?
Have a lot of large set pieces, special effects, or still actors
What’s something the audience will be able to appreciate on an arena stage?
Detailed props
Why must actors stay moving on an arena stage?
People behind the actor can only see the actors back
What is a good thing for actors to do on an arena stage?
Play the diagonal so actors are in their most open position
What is Visibitlity?
What you can see
What is Mood?
Feeling that the scene evokes
What is Focus?
What your eyes are drawn to
What is Modeling?
Placement of lights to create dimension
What are the four functions of light?
Visiblity, mood, focus, modeling
What is a transition?
light on stage is placed where the director wants you to look
