The set of any show is an integral part of the production. Even if the chosen set is no set at all it is done for a reason. Set design can have many variations and styles and it truly is a skill that not everyone can do well. It is difficult to go into set design its self due to the numerous styles in which sets as well as other objects and places can be designed from Victorian to deconstruction styles of design are as numerous as decades it seems. However something that is consistent is the process in which sets are designed. In the beginning most productions begin with a meeting of the director the producers and the designers and they discuss how the production is to be brought to life as well as what style and direction the production wishes to go in. This gives the set designer a basis to go off of and they can begin to draft their ideas.
Set design is similar to architecture in that the same drafting techniques used to show ideas on paper for a new building are generally the same as that of a set design. Once ideas have been put on paper the designer can then start working on a model of the set. Models allow for a scaled down version of a set design as a visual aid when explaining a set design to others. After this highly detailed drawings of the set design can be made which include all measurements and handed off to the set crew for construction.
Set construction is different from the construction of a house. Unlike a house a set piece must be movable which involves putting stress on connection points. A set piece is also up for a very shot period of time however must still be safe and stable. All of these things must be taken into consideration when constructing the set. For example in a house nails are used to hold the house together, this works because the house is a non moving object however for a set piece nails do no provide a enough grip to hold the piece together. To fix this problem screws and nuts and bolts are use. Screws uses threading in order to hold pieces together with more grip. Nuts and Bolts somewhat dig into the wooden pieces and will not come apart unless loosened or broken.
Material wise there are three very common materials used in set construction: 2x4, plywood, luan. 2x4's are very common and are used to create the frame, the skeleton of the set piece. An interesting fact about 2x4s is that their actual measurements are 1 1/2 x 3 1/2. Plywood an luan on the other hand are used as the walls which cover up the skeleton of the set piece.
Plywood and Luan are similar in that plywood is very much like layered luan, because of this it is a very sturdy material which can take a lot of force with out breaking. These materials are used in order to take the designer's plans from paper to reality. This process can take anywhere from several months to a few weeks depending on how much work is done everyday. Set design and construction are very important because these set the the areas in which the story is to take place and there for they must be done right.
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