Gradshow - Preparation pt 1

Finally on the last 11 week term at the Academy and time to prepare our Showcase.

This gives us a chance to invite professionals and display our hard work over the last three years.
W've been plannnng this event since November last year and now it's time to put in the hard work and see it all come together.



Every year the Technical Production Arts students put on a show for the public. It's our chance to show people what we've learned and maybe get a job!
This year the showcase was being managed by Grant Anderson. He'll be graduating this year having specialised in lighting design.

The RSAMD

 This was last time we'd all, as a yeargroup, work together on a collaborative project. We've all had our journeys through the Academy and we'd all reached a point where we had something to say or show as we make the transition from student to professional.

 There was a lot of hard work a head and equally a huge amount behind us. We'd had regular meetings and preparations for this event since last November. Grant devised a production schedule to keep everyone on track and in a job. The spaces were booked and their decoration designed.
I had been allocated a job on the marketing team keen to employ my skills on photoshop.
It was up to my small team to come up with a logo and design for the booklet.

our welcome and goodbye table

I initially had the idea that since we all must work effortlessly together: all 3 strands of our course, Design, Applied Arts and Construction and Production, that we were like a machine. If a problem happens in one area it can affect another. The cogs must turn together to keep the machine running.
After suggesting that our logo should represent a 'well oiled machine' I got to work on a photo composition using photoshop.
 I finally decided on an image which I composited with a hand drawn cogs from one of the students and a grunge background and it looked like this

With the marketing done and brochure designed by Andrew Wilson, graduating as a set and costume designer, it was time for posters to be printed and invites sent out.
Grant was keen to have people send links on Twitter and Facebook.. he really encouraged us to get some attention to our event.


























Both myself and Luisa Coccoza enlisted some help to get the stage painted for the opening night event. We had a little worry that our paint supply wouldn't cover the stage floor.  With a little over spending we got the materials we needed.

 There's nothing like waiting for paint to dry!

woops - who's that leaving their footprints on the new paint?

Everyone did their bit to create an event that showcased what we can do as new professionals in the industry.

designed and sprayed by Tom Cullens, graduating stage carpenter/ prop maker