Take Home Exam, Part II

  1. Where should the lighting control console be located? Why?

  2. What is the minimum number of channels needed to light a small drama? A musical?

  3. Describe how you can use a two scene preset to light a musical.

  4. What is a submaster? Split cross fader? Bump button?

  5. What modern innovation made the dimmer-per-circuit system workable?

  6. What is the difference between a dimmer and a channel?

  7. How many dimmers will you find in a standard dimmer rack?

  8. Briefly describe two techniques which can be used to distribute the power from the dimmer rack to the lighting instrument.

  9. What is the difference between "soft" patch and "hard" patch?

  10. What is the standard voltage in the United States?

  11. What is the relationship between volts, watts, and amps?

  12. According to traditional practice, what should be the color of the insulation of the neutral (or common) wire in an electrical distribution system? Of the ground?

  13. What is the capacity, in amps, of #12 cable? Of #14 cable?

  14. How many 575 watt Source 4s can be ganged on one #12 cable?

  15. Using the McCandless approach, how many lighting areas are normally used to light a small (24'x16') dramatic production?

  16. Where are they traditionally located?

  17. What is the minimum number (total) of instruments needed to light these acting areas?

  18. In which two MainStage mounting positions would these instruments be hung?

  19. What is the difference between the key light and the fill light?

  20. How did McCandless create the key/fill relationship?

  21. List two patterns (direction) of light I use to "tone and blend" the stage?

  22. What is the minimum number of colors needed to "tone and blend" the stage?

  23. List two instruments which can be used to light the cyc?

  24. What two colors are traditionally used to realistically light the sky cyc?

  25. Why should the back drop be lit from both the top and the bottom?

  26. If it can only be lit from one position, which (top or bottom) is preferred?

  27. Why should a fixture, or practical, be controlled through the control console?

  28. What is the typical number of lighting areas in an arena / thrust layout?

  29. Which area is most important?

  30. What is the minimum number of lamps needed per area?

  31. How should they be distributed around the performer?

  32. What is the "backdrop" in an arena production?

  33. Develop a color key for the following "moment." -- A woman is killed by her lover, before the bull ring, on a hot afternoon in Seville. Show on a color key, what type of lamps and which specific colors you would use, as well as their general direction. Indicate which lamp would be your KEY light.
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E-mail questions and comments to Larry Wild at wildl@northern.edu.
Last up-dated: April 24, 2007
© 2001-2007 by Larry Wild, Northern State University