Set Design and Sketchup

Sketch Up is a free 3d tool from Google - well, it is the free version of a $500 tool. It works well for what I want - a visualization tool, for playing with ideas and showing them to people. There’s been a number of times where this would have been very handy - and I’m glad this is now in my toolbox. I’ve used it on quite a few shows, now, and it is really handy to be able to show what you mean - to the director and to the cast and crew.
Read the rest of this entry »

This isn’t an official KWLT document - it is my recommendations from my experience doing tech for KWLT and other shows.
Read the rest of this entry »

How to Build a Flat, KWLT Style

KWLT uses flats known as ‘hard’, ‘traditional’ flats. This means they are build with the lumber flat, not on edge (flats built with the lumber on edge are ‘hollywood’ style flats) and faced with luan plywood (flats built with muslin covers are called ’soft’ flats). Flats can be any dimension, but the standard for KWLT is 4′ wide by 8′ tall. We also stock 2′x8′ flats, as well as 4×8 flats pierced for doors and windows. KWLT flats are built using 1″x3″ material (sold as ’strapping’ in hardware stores). Pick straight pieces when purchasing the lumber. 1/4″ Luan plywood is used to face the flats. Some stores call this ‘doorskin’. Locally to KW, Swanson’s Home Hardware stocks this material. You will also need material to make corners and keystones/tabs - thin scrap ply, hardboard, I’ve used all of these.
Read the rest of this entry »

I’m switching this site over to WordPress - I’m tired of my ugly HTML. So now it is somebody else’s HTML - someone to blame. Putting what little content was here into blog posts.