#2 Getting Somewhere!!

Without having the script the set designing has not been able to go ahead very productively, however, there have been a few ideas discussed. The pool table idea has gone out the window as it would fill up the space too much and would also be quite feat getting it to TV land. The pool table would have given a leagues club/pub vibe which is fine, although also a bit cliché and boring. A dartboard would serve the same purpose and be much more subtle.

Our group has been researching images of bars and a few ideas have come up. Basically we need a bar with stools and a sitting area with a table. Alcohol bottles will be on shelves behind the bar and lit from behind. Having lamps hanging over the bar would create the illusion of the ceiling even though it would not actually be seen. We would like to have at least two doors leading off into fake rooms to add depth dimension to the room. Actors could exit and enter from these areas, as there might be enough space behind the flat to stand. A simple ‘Toilet’ or ‘staff only’ sign would add to the realism of the fake door, which could be open or closed. Michaela mentioned we could put a small staircase outside the fake door to create an illusion of an upstairs room.








Although Liam is the set designer for the first show, and essentially he has the final say in the design, I believe it is important that at this stage we all brainstorm together. Many different points of view are important in coming up with a good design, and in the end we all need to agree on the final design. Liam’s sports bar design I believe is a little cliché however he did mention he would like some ‘random stuff’ on the walls which ties into Belinda’s Mexican theme which also needs to have ‘random stuff’ on the walls. We need to evolve the design throughout the three shows so my idea to make everybody happy could be to start with Liam’s idea (maybe modify the actual ‘sports’ theme) and evolve it into the Mexican theme. Essentially we will have heaps of objects on the walls and use the same floor plan with the fake doors, we will just change the objects, colour scheme and maybe the arrangement of the furniture.

Some ‘random stuff’ ideas are:

-Mexican sombrero

-I have American numberplates

-Framed pictures of scenes from Mexico

-Rugs and wall hangings

We seem to be getting somewhere though:

-Michaela has drawn up a floor plan for the set with the basics: the bar, a seating area with two couches and a coffee table, and a standing area with a high table, the two fake doors, shelves for the alcohol bottles that will be lit from behind and lamps hanging from the ceiling over the bar.

-We are meeting tomorrow at 10am for our first design meeting where we can properly decide weather the concept will work.

-We now have the script that will help us get a better idea of what is needed for the action.

-Laura has been working on some prototype flats that we can work into our floor plan with accurate dimensions and test weather we have enough space.

I am scheduled as the costume designer for this show so I am not doing many sketches for the set. I have been thinking of some ideas for costumes with the Mexican theme. Essentially characters need to wear jeans, boots and tucked in shirts. This will be easy, as most people have these items. Females could be femininely dressed with long skirts and floral blouses.