School of design and production

North carolina school of the arts

winston-salem, nc 27127

NCSA CATALOG ENTRY: A dialogue of basic stage electric equipment and lighting technology. Course discussions will include conventional instrumentation, power distribution and control systems. The sequence will conclude with exercises in preparing a lighting shop order.

DESCRIPTION/FORMAT: This is an in depth course designed to prepare NCSA students to work as Master Electricians in both our theaters and commercial theater.  The Spring term will focus on the roll of the Electrician in realizing the lighting design and maintaining the design throughout the life of a production. The class combines lectures, an out-of-class project and practical "hands-on" sessions.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS:

Backstage Handbook second edition, Paul Carter, Broadway Press, Louisville Kentucky.

NEC2005 Codebook, Mark W. Earley, NFPA, Quincy, Massachusetts.

·       Wire strippers – 22AWG through 10AWG – this may require two tools

·       Insulated, 3/16” flat-blade screwdriver and #2 Phillips screwdriver…or

·       …10-in-1 screwdriver (recommended)

·       6-8” needle-nose pliers

·       Diagonal cutters

·       Multi-tester (Volts AC, Volts DC, Resistance and continuity)

·       Crescent wrench wide-mouth 8"

·       Optional: 9” lineman’s pliers

GENERAL INFORMATION:

·       Be on time for class!  Arriving late is disruptive to your fellow classmates and excessive lateness will be noted.

·       Power off all pagers and cell-phones before class.

·       Attendance will be taken and disruptions will be noted; both will affect your grade.

EVALUATION: Grading is based on a point system.  Homework is valued at 10 points; a progressive project will be worth 40 points; one exam worth 30 points and attendance 20.  EXTRA CREDIT - opportunities will be made available to students for extra credit.  Completing an extra-credit assignment will give the student a “+” in addition to their grade.  A second extra-credit project may allow points to be added to the students grade-score.  However, extra-credit will not be offered to replace missed exams or poor attendance.

PROJECT:

Students will be given a small light plot to review and work with during the trimester.  The student is to prepare paperwork and a shop order for this light plot.  When complete the project should include, but not be limited to:

·       Circuit, dimmer and channel hook-ups.

·       Manuals and/or information for any special equipment.

·       Shop order, complete with spare equipment (indicate in your order what is spare).

·       Breakdowns by position of dimmer, device and cable usage.

·       Breakdown of equipment needed for support systems: cue lights, work lights, dmx systems, etc.

The project may be presented in any manner approved in advance by the instructor.

incomplete grades and late assignments:

Students are expected to complete all work as assigned for the class on time.  If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student is unable to comply with this requirement, he/she may request a make-up time to complete missed practicum, quizzes and/or exams.  Further, if a student attending and participating in class regularly is unable to perform satisfactorily in practicum and/or on quizzes and exams, he/she may request additional assistance from the instructor.  If, despite extra effort, the student is unable to complete the assignments satisfactorily, he/she may request an incomplete or “I.”  An incomplete allows the student one extra term to complete the course satisfactorily or the grade is automatically converted to an “F.”

Student Responsibility for Coursework:

In submitting assignments and projects for courses, students take responsibility for their work as a whole, and imply that, except as properly noted, the ideas, words, material and craftsmanship are their own. In written work, if students cite from a source of information or opinion other than themselves without giving credit, either within the body of their texts or in properly noted references and without using quotation marks where needed, or otherwise fail to acknowledge the borrowings, they have in fact presented the work, words or ideas of others as if they were their own. Failure to abide by those simple principles of responsible scholarship is dishonest, as is receiving or giving aid on tests, examinations or other assigned work presumed to be independent or original. A student whose work is found to be dishonestly accomplished and submitted as his or her own for credit will be removed from the course with a grade of “F.”

NC School of the Arts policy on working with students with disabilities:

In compliance with the NC School of the Arts policy and equal access laws, I am available to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that may be required for students with disabilities. Requests for academic accommodations are to be made during the first three weeks of the trimester, except for unusual circumstances, so arrangements can be made. Students are encouraged to register with the Officer for Student Disabilities to verify their eligibility for appropriate accommodations.