Script Detective Slides SCRIPT DETECTIVE STUDIO
Part 1: The Art of the Setting
What is Technical Theater?
The "Hidden" Heroes
Actors tell the story with words and movement. Technical artists tell the story with visuals and sound.
Set Designers (Places)
Prop Masters (Objects)
Lighting Techs (Atmosphere)
Sound Engineers (Mood)
"The stage is a blank canvas. We are the painters."
The Set Designer's Job
Read
Analyze the script to find where and when the story happens.
Imagine
Sketch ideas and create 3D models of the world.
Build
Work with carpenters to make the world come to life.
Become a Script Detective
We look for three types of clues in a script:
1
Explicit Directions
The text tells you exactly what is there.
2
Implicit Action
The characters' actions hint at what is needed.
3
Atmosphere Clues
Words that describe the "vibe" or time period.
THE VOID CHALLENGE
Imagine you are an actor on a stage with NOTHING. No chairs, no walls, no props.
How do you know where to sit? How do you know which door to open?
This is why the Set Designer is vital!
Script Detective Worksheet Script Detective
Stage Architects and Prop Makers | Lesson 1
Name:
Date:
Mission: Analyze the Scene
Read the short script below. Your job is to find clues about what the stage should look like. Circle furniture items and underline atmospheric words (words that describe the "vibe").
SCENE START
NARRATOR: The air in the attic is heavy with dust. Moonlight streaks through a single circular window, hitting the floorboards.
MAYA: (Sneezing) This place hasn't been opened in fifty years. Look at this old trunk, Leo! It's locked tight.
LEO: (Stepping over a broken rocking chair) Check near that tall bookshelf. Grandpa always kept his keys in a cigar box.
MAYA: I can't reach the top shelf. I'll have to climb this ladder, but it looks wobbly. Hold the base for me.
LEO: Careful! Don't knock over that stack of paintings. They look important.
NARRATOR: Maya reaches the top and finds a small, dusty box. A door creaks open somewhere downstairs. They freeze.
SCENE END
Furniture & Structure
What physical objects must be on the stage?
Entrances & Exits
Where do characters come from or go to?
Atmosphere & Mood
What words describe the feeling of the room?
Small Objects (Props)
What things do the actors pick up or move?
Set Designer's Challenge:
If you had to pick ONE color to paint this whole set, which would it be and why?
Blueprint Basics Slides BLUEPRINT BASICS
Part 2: The View from Above
Bird's Eye View
A Floor Plan is a map of the stage as if you were a bird (or a drone) looking straight down.
Why not draw from the front?
Drawing from the front doesn't tell us where to walk. We need to see the depth of the stage!
Actor
Table
Drafting Example
THE DESIGNER'S LANGUAGE
FLATS (Walls)
Drawn as thick solid lines.
DOORS
An opening with a dashed line for the swing.
FURNITURE
Simple shapes (squares, circles) that show size.
Sightlines
A Sightline is the line of vision from an audience member's eye to the stage.
Don't put a giant wall in front of the actors!
Make sure the person in the "worst seat" can still see the action.
READY TO DRAFT?
You will take your "Secret Attic" clues and turn them into a professional stage blueprint.
Remember: 1 square on your grid = 1 foot on the stage.
Blueprint Drafting Sheet Stage Blueprint
Technical Drafting | Lesson 2
Architect:
Drafting Instructions
1. Use a pencil. Professional designers always start with pencil!
2. Scale: 1 Grid Square = 1 Foot on Stage.
3. Draw the "Back Wall" first at the top of the grid.
4. Place furniture and props based on your "Secret Attic" notes.
Symbol Legend
WALL
DOOR
FURNITURE
UPSTAGE (Back)
DOWNSTAGE (Front)
STAGE LEFT
STAGE RIGHT
Audience View (Bottom of Page)
Sightline Check
Pick a seat in the audience. Can that person see the center of the stage? If not, move your furniture!
What is the "tallest" item on your set?
Where did you place it so it doesn't block the view?
Maquette Makers Slides MAQUETTE MAKERS
Part 3: Building the 3D World
What is a Maquette?
A Maquette (ma-KETT) is a small-scale 3D model of a stage design.
Why build a model first?
To check if the floor plan works in 3D.
To show the Director and Actors where everything is.
It's cheaper to make mistakes in cardboard than in wood!
"Small scale, big ideas!"
Building Strong Walls
The L-Brace
Glue a small 'L' shape to the back of your wall to keep it standing straight.
Scoring
Cut only halfway through the cardboard to make a clean, sharp fold.
Triangulation
Use triangles to reinforce corners. They are the strongest shape in engineering!
Safety & Tool Kit
The Maker's Rules
Cut away from your body.
Glue "dots," not "puddles."
Clean your station before leaving.
1
Measure twice, cut once.
2
Wait for the glue to set (patience!).
3
Check your scale (is the door 7ft or 7in?).
The "White Model"
Professional designers often build their first maquette entirely in white paper and cardboard.
This helps focus on the Shapes and Space before worrying about color.
(Insert: Photo of a professional white card model)
Model Builder's Guide MAKER'S GUIDE
Structural Engineering | Lesson 3
Team:
Structural Secrets
1
The Floor First: Glue your walls onto a sturdy cardboard base. Never try to build a model in the "air"!
2
The Tab Method: When cutting a wall, leave a 1-inch "tab" at the bottom. Fold it 90 degrees and glue the tab to the floor.
3
Brace Yourself: If a wall is wobbly, glue a triangle of cardboard (a "jack") behind it for support.
Inventory Check
Cardboard Base
Thin Cardstock
Glue Sticks/Liquid
Safety Scissors
Drafting Blueprint
Ruler (for scoring)
Construction Log
Goal 1: Groundwork
Does your model floor match the scale of your blueprint? Explain one change you had to make.
Goal 2: Stability
Which wall was the hardest to keep standing? How did you fix it?
Safety Check
Are all scraps off the floor?
Quality Check
Can an actor fit through the doors?
Scenic Art Slides SCENIC ART ACADEMY
Part 4: Color, Texture & Mood
Mood Through Color
Color tells the audience how to feel before a character even speaks.
Warm Colors
Excitement, heat, anger, sunset, cozy home.
Cool Colors
Calm, night, sadness, cold, mystery, forest.
Happy / Energetic
Scary / Mysterious
Natural / Ancient
FOOLING THE EYE
Scenic artists use Trompe l'oeil (French for "trick the eye") to make flat cardboard look like heavy materials.
WOOD
Paint wavy lines and "knots" to look like timber.
STONE
Dab colors and add gray "mortar" lines for bricks.
METAL
Add white "glints" of light to make it look shiny.
The Secret: 3D Paint
Highlights
Use light colors (white or yellow) where the light hits the object.
Shadows
Use dark colors (black or deep blue) on the opposite side to add "depth."
TIME TO TRANSFORM
Your white card model is about to get a soul.
Will your Secret Attic be haunted and gray, or warm and golden?
Grab your brushes!
Scenic Palette Worksheet Scenic Palette
Stage Architects and Prop Makers | Lesson 4
Artist:
The Vibe Check
Before you paint, decide on the mood of your Secret Attic. Circle the three words that best describe your design:
Mysterious
Cozy
Spooky
Forgotten
Magical
Dusty
Golden
Ancient
Primary Color
The main color for your walls.
Paint Swatch Here
Accent Color
For doors, trim, or patterns.
Paint Swatch Here
Texture Test
Wood grain, stone, or dust.
Texture Sample Here
Technique Checklist
Dry Brushing
Wipe most of the paint off your brush before touching the model. Great for adding "dust" or highlights!
Sponging
Dab a sponge or paper towel to create stone or brick textures.
Washing
Mix a tiny bit of dark paint with lots of water to fill in the "cracks" and make things look old.
The "Story" of the Paint:
Explain why you chose these colors for the Secret Attic. How do they help the audience understand the scene?
Prop Shop Slides PROP SHOP PROTOTYPES
Part 5: From Story to Object
What is a Prop?
Short for Property. Any object an actor handles or uses during a play.
Hand Prop: Held by an actor (e.g., a key, a book).
Set Prop: Large furniture used by actors.
Decorative: Items that just stay on the set.
"If an actor touches it, it's a prop!"
The Triple Challenge
Durability
Can it survive being dropped or used 100 times in a row?
Weight
Is it light enough for an actor to carry naturally?
Appearance
Does it look like the "real thing" from the back of the theater?
Making Magic from Scrap
A Prototype is a test version of your prop.
?
How do you make foam look like stone?
?
How do you make paper look like metal?
?
How do you make a feast out of plastic?
(Visual: Photo of a complex prop made from simple materials like toilet paper rolls and duct tape)
THE GRAND OPENING
At the end of this lesson, we will hold a Gallery Walk.
You will display your 3D Maquette and your Prop Prototype together to tell the full story of your design.
Give Feedback
Celebrate Success
Prop Shop Work Order Prop Shop Work Order
Technical Fabrication | Lesson 5
Prop Master:
The Assignment
Selected Hand Prop
(e.g., The Locked Trunk, Grandpa's Cigar Box, The Key...)
Prop Purpose
How will the actor use this? Does it need to open, shut, or break?
Design Sketch
Draw your prop from the side. Label the materials you will use.
Sketch Area
Material List
What will you "upcycle" to make this look real?
Problem Solving
The "Realism" Trick
What painting or texturing technique will you use to hide the fact that this is made of cardboard/plastic?
The Durability Test
If an actor drops this prop during a scene, what part is most likely to break? How can you reinforce it?
Gallery Walk Peer Review
Compliment (One thing that looks "Real")
Question (One thing you're curious about)
