For the portfolio project I will be continuing on with the Borrowers as a supporting narrative, using my own adaptation which is darker and more adult (in terms of themes of war and fear) than any other adaptation.
Week commencing the 18th of January
Due to the sheer amount of research and development to be done in this project, I'm going to need a method of keeping parts separated and clear. I believe these tester sheets will help with the development side. I would also like to make sheets for health and safety. Also, as this is a longer project perhaps a number of different blog pages for each subject instead of one long one as it was for the last project. A page for research, self-promotion, and testers and making.
The UCA library has a small section of prop related books. including Stage Source Book: Props,
Create Your Own Stage Props by Jacquie Govier The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film, and TV The Crafting of Narnia: The Art, Creatures, and Weapons from Weta Workshop
All these books and others will be beneficial in their own way,from practice advice to inspiration for designs.
Weeks commencing 25th January and 1st Feb 2016
Time for presentations,these allow me and my fellow students to convey our ideas and get feedback and suggestions from students and tutors. During this time period I also continued to research and develop.
Portfolio project presentation notes 26-1-16 for 1-2-16
SLIDE 1 This project follows on the Adaptation project, continuing with the narrative of The Borrowers. Whilst the last project involved overly small pieces, scaling down of all aspects, this project will take the props seen in a basic form in 1:25 set and bring them to life in a 1:1 scale.
As well as testing myself more than ever, this prop making project will involve a completely new set of skills, techniques and problem solving.
I have chosen this route, because the last project taught me I am capable of learning and creating anything I set my mind on. And whilst I have only a little knowledge on props learnt in years 1 and 2, I want to continue pushing myself to learn and create new things. This is the perfect time to do it.
SLIDE 2 Character analysis and development will inform appropriate props; those being used by specific characters. They will also be influenced by the colourings, themes and shapes from the 1:25 scale set, as it would be in a real life production, the props matching the characters and set as well as the story.
SLIDE 3 The final outcomes,
A series of usable props from the adaptation of The Borrowers
A full portfolio both digital and physical.
All accompanying documentation such as research, concept art, technical drawings, testers, Maquettes and designs showing development of each piece.
Props could be Button shield, pin sword, utility belt, scabbards, and/or protective gear. Ideally I would like to make a button shield and pin sword. Whilst designing these for each of the three characters individually.
Writing this presentation allowed me to create a clear idea of exactly what I wanted to achieve in this project. I have decided that my priority is a button shield and pin sword for each of the three characters, and whatever time I have remaining can be used to make other items.Suggestions from students and tutors: Tin foil armour, crochet needle, aluminium pin, scale texture samples.
During this time period I also continued to research and develop.
Thinking about scale.
Scale will be very important in this project. In the adaptation project I used the basic proportions of 10:1 scale, meaning each item was 10x bigger than the original, then transferred to 1:25 scale where certain details were easily lost. This project works with full scale versions at a scale of 12:1, I believe this is more accurate in relation to the size of the Borrowers.
Some examples of scaling up of items.
Making of Narnia – Marsh Horrors sword (left)
The marsh horrors sword is interesting as it is a much more worn weapon than the luxurious swords of Peter and Edmund. I really like the beaten blade with the chips and dents. The cross guard is also really cool, I like the extra element of the sharpened ends, giving extra offence to the defensive area. The criss-crossed wires makes me think of the spring element on clothes pegs.
Making of Narnia – Fauns swords (right)
The fauns swords have interesting swords, they have a slight curve and a much different end to the blade.
Making of Narnia – Reepicheep’s sword (right)
In terms of size, Reepicheep’s sword is the most pin-like, as the character wielding it is a mouse and therefore requires a smaller weapon. The blade is thinner and longer in comparison to the hilt.
Making of Narnia – Talmarine’s sword (left)
The Talmarines are soldiers, their weapons were inspired by nautical themes. Meaning the pin sword should be influenced by its own environment in this case from the 1:25 scale set and from further research into cultures and themes such as war.
As the borrowers live in a dark space under the floorboards, like in the Dark Ages, their world is not full of advanced technology or any luxuries of the modern lifestyle above. As highlighted in the photocopy, the weapons of the Dark Ages were simple items like spears, round wooden shields covered with leather. This got me thinking, that the props such as the pin sword and button shield should not be plain, they should have practical/ decorative/ meaningful adornments, such as carvings, string, ribbons etc.
Middle ages props.
Highlighted are basic props that can be used as inspiration for props. The 14th century cut and thrust sword has the length and simplicity that would be a good starting point for the pin sword. The fist shield I think may be the best option for a button shield as a smaller button in the scale would be a smaller shield. Of course there are so many sizes shapes and materials, a button could act as many different types of shields. The middle ages dagger has berry pin-like qualities.
1500-1599
Highlighted are a selection of swords and Italian daggers. The proportions and details can all be used as influence.
The two swords highlighted have ornate hand guards and simple blades. The blades are interesting, I like that the curved blade on the cavalry sword.
In the original set, made for the previous project, the pins were made from a small piece of wire and sculpey. Increasing the scale increases the complexity and detail it has the potential to show. This (left) is the basic form I wish to develop using the research from props books and the creating Narnia book. The marsh horrors of Narnia posses a sword with a spiked element to the hilt. This reminds me of the spring wire on a clothes peg. In adding this element to the pin design (right) it adds another layer also portraying the darker themes of the play.
The Fauns of Narnia have a curved blade on their swords on the design (left) the pin is bent similarly.On the borrowers part this could be intentional or created through ware and time. Also added are some knicks in the metal. These new elements increase the items character. Developing the design further (right), there needed to be a grip on the sword. The hilt is there to protect the users hand whilst they hold onto the grip, the spikes on the hilt provide extra offence and defence.
Now with the addition of the grip there needs to be something on there to actually give grip.To achieve this the grip is wrapped in a leather like material (in terms of scale would be something like a cotton but scaled up and distressed.) This affords the necessary grip whilst also adding colour and texture. I chose to make the head of the pin coloured for two reasons, 1 - to make sure the audience is aware of what the prop is made to look like. 2 - to add an accent of colour to the props and set, it adds interest and if each character has a different colour, has a sense of continuity.
Detailed pencil sketch of pin sword design, with material wrapped grip and spiked hilt.
Water soluble pen drawing, close up.
Water soluble pen drawing, full length.
Initial designs of pin sword
In the original set, made for the previous project, the pins were made from a small piece of wire and sculpey. Increasing the scale increases the complexity and detail it has the potential to show. This (left) is the basic form I wish to develop using the research from props books and the creating Narnia book. The marsh horrors of Narnia posses a sword with a spiked element to the hilt. This reminds me of the spring wire on a clothes peg. In adding this element to the pin design (right) it adds another layer also portraying the darker themes of the play.
The Fauns of Narnia have a curved blade on their swords on the design (left) the pin is bent similarly.On the borrowers part this could be intentional or created through ware and time. Also added are some knicks in the metal. These new elements increase the items character. Developing the design further (right), there needed to be a grip on the sword. The hilt is there to protect the users hand whilst they hold onto the grip, the spikes on the hilt provide extra offence and defence.
Now with the addition of the grip there needs to be something on there to actually give grip.To achieve this the grip is wrapped in a leather like material (in terms of scale would be something like a cotton but scaled up and distressed.) This affords the necessary grip whilst also adding colour and texture. I chose to make the head of the pin coloured for two reasons, 1 - to make sure the audience is aware of what the prop is made to look like. 2 - to add an accent of colour to the props and set, it adds interest and if each character has a different colour, has a sense of continuity.
Detailed pencil sketch of pin sword design, with material wrapped grip and spiked hilt.
Water soluble pen drawing, close up.
Water soluble pen drawing, full length.
Week commencing 8th February
This week I continued research and developing ideas and designs.
Characters
Name – Cedric Hall
Age - 12
Height – Four foot ten inches. This is in the human equivalent as the borrowers in the play would be played by a young teen. This height is the UK average for a boy of 12.
Information – Cedric has known nothing other than the space between the floors where he lives with his parents Marcella and Boian.
Traits – Brave, curious, eager to learn, intelligent
Skills – Basic defence in a fight both using a pin sword and shield, and unarmed combat.
Character colour scheme – Oranges and yellows.
Name – Boian Hall
Age – Mid to late thirties
Height – Five foot 7 inches
Information – As the main protector of the house under the floorboards, Boian is in charge and leads the others. He is motivated by fear of humans he learnt as a young borrower growing up with warrior borrowers who believed in the monsters’ humans could be. When he met Marcella they moved to the terraced house where her family was originally from before the house was turned into flats. He took her surname of Hall.
Traits - Brave, cautious, resilient, protective.
Skills – Offensive and defence skills in a fight both using a pin sword and shield, and unarmed combat. Thanks to his upbringing he has the skills of survival which he teaches Marcella and Cedric.
Character colour scheme – Reds and darker yellows.
Name – Marcella Hall
Age – Mid to late thirties
Height – Five foot 6 inches
Information – Marcella is a descendant of the Clock family (those of the original Borrowers story by Mary Norton). Her own fear of humans came from her family stories which describe the demolishing of the clock’s home over 60 years ago which was believed to be in the Borrowers benefit.
Traits - Cautious, problem solver, protective, quiet, natural instinct to flee rather than fight, kept by the love of her son.
Skills – Survival skills, making something out of nothing. She is the maker of the family, and often finds creative solutions to problems using limited resources.
Character colour scheme – Greens and browns
Primary button images. (front and back)
Boian’s button
This four-hole button is simple in design, however the concentric circle pattern on the front and back adds an added depth and detail the would not impede on any added distressing, carvings, and other details I can build on top of for the button shield.
Distressing- As Boian’s shield this button could have been brought from his more violent previous life before meeting Marcella; therefore, it should be the most worn of the three shields. For example, grooves and slashes can be added to show the markings left behind from a fight/training session with a sharp weapon (e.g a half scissor or blade). Blunter and heavier weapons would make dents and chipped off markings where the blow was forcible enough to break the material.
Materials – The distressing and effects can rely heavily depend on the material the button is made of. For instance, a soft wood would mark up a lot easier than a dense plastic. For this button I would really like to try casting it. This would involve first making the button itself to scale and specified design out of clay or carved material such as a form of foam or styrene, then creating a negative using plaster and re-casting that in the desired material such as resin.
Details – Aside from the circle pattern on the original button, there should also be an element of personalisation, of character to the shield. If Boian has been carrying this around for years, it will have its own story from his journeys on top of the distressing effects. From Boian’s background there could be a family or gang symbol, an identifier of the group that is carved or chiselled on each of the member’s shields/ weapons.
There also needs to be some kind of handle on the back of each button. This can be as simple as some oversized string threaded through the holes of the button, or a more complicated design such as straps that are attached across the back of the shield for the arm to loop through.
Marcella’s button.
This button is smooth and clean cut, without pattern or an overly big rim to it. This is what makes it perfect for Marcella’s shield, she doesn’t have the background of Boian. Coming from a more conservative background, Marcella is very new to the whole idea of war and violence.
Distressing – There would be minimal distressing on this shield, Marcella is less eager to fight. It could also be a newly acquired button, meaning it is newer.
Materials – I would like to make this out of wood. There are several methods I can think of; the simplest way I can think of is a circle of MDF with a top circle rim which is then rounded by sanding. Making it out of wood also allows for better caving.
Details – As the most creative of the three, Marcella’s shield would be the most ornate. This button allows the added detail to show better. To develop the design of this shield, research should be undertaken to see different types of carvings from different time periods (e.g. medieval) to serve as inspiration for Marcella’s decoration.
Cedric’s button shield.
This button is a little different, it has a loop back instead of the usual two or four holed fastening. This difference also affords the wielder more protection. The Button itself is curved, rather like an upturned shallow bowl.
Distressing – As the button is metallic, it would have a more used scratchy finish, as it would not be as easily cut or heavily dented.
Materials – This button would be made of fibreglass, as metal itself would be far to heavy and expensive for its use in theatre. Having never worked with fibreglass before, this presents a good opportunity to use the material with what is a mostly simple. From what I understand I would make a mould of the button and fibreglass into it.
Details – The button itself would be impossible for a borrower to carve into as the material is much stronger as they are technically weaker than a human due to their scale. Therefore, the character of the shield should be brought out through add on decorations such as things stuck on to it, tied to the handle or wrapped around the rim.
Preliminary button shield designs.
(left) Basic idea of what Boian's shield could look like in terms of size and shape. (right) A basic design inspired by the shield pattern research is could be completed by simple painting it on with acrylics or emulsion or by using different coloured materials that are then pinned on. scaled up push pins would be too large, but flat headed fabric pins scaled up could be the perfect size.
(left) A botton design for Marcella, inspired by the geometric design of button no. 20 on the primary button images. This design could be done by carving into the surface, glueing on a laser cut design or painting the design on in another colour. (right) a design inspired by the shield design research but with using items that are around the borrowers, in this case pencils.
Concept art.
Preliminary Marcella button design. This design is inspired by the shield design research and I tested out what it would look like in different colours whilst trying to stay in the colour scheme of the character.
Cedric's button design, concept art. The shield has three beads hanging off the handle of the shield, one of each colour signifying each of the members of the Hall family. Red - Boian, Green - Marcella and yellow - Cedric. Of course these beads may get in the way in a fight so they may not be feasible for the final product.
(left) A botton design for Marcella, inspired by the geometric design of button no. 20 on the primary button images. This design could be done by carving into the surface, glueing on a laser cut design or painting the design on in another colour. (right) a design inspired by the shield design research but with using items that are around the borrowers, in this case pencils.
Concept art.
Basic button design for Boian with experimentation of colours. In a physical representation of this it could be completed by coloured resin, or spray painting over.
Week commencing 15th February
Started testers see Making/Testers page.
Week commencing 22nd feb
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Initial designs (1-5) for the in swords from these I can pick and choose to create a tailored design for each of the three borrowers. (1) Simple design where the the grip is made from string, which at this scale is much thicker and the knot makes a visual hilt. (2) This design carries on from the idea of the last although instead of the knot the hilt is made from a bent safety pin. This is more practical allows for more scaled up items to be used informing the play.
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(3) This pin is the most adapted from the original, it is a combination of a push pin and the fabric pin. The push pin looks most like a sword/dagger allowing for it to be easily gripped. However it looses the continuity and flow of the swords and I believe it would look out of place in the play. (4) This design incorporates a classic swords trait, the fuller. The fuller is a groove down the centre of the blade, used to both lighten and conserve sword steel. Of course the blade on the pin sword is round not flat so it would be done that the characters carved it out them self to make it lighter.
5
Thinking about the hilt and it being made from other found items. This hand guard would be created from a bent nail it could also be bent out away from the hand to act as an offensive element.
This design is for Cedric's Pin sword, it has a thread grip that the knot becomes the hand guard. This would be made with rope acting as scaled up string, and could be wound in string acting as scaled up thread.
This is Marcella's initial final sword design, with a fuller running down the blade and a bent safety pin. With the dowel I am using for the blade, I am not sure that the fuller design will work, as a back up I will use a similar design to Boian's sword. As they are a couple, it would make sense that they similar swords as a sign of their strength.
This is Boian's final sword design. His blade is the most worn as it has been in use in more dangerous environment for longer time than the others. The grip is made of found material, and the hand guard is made from a sharpened peg spring. This peg spring could be made
This week I completed the gel coats and fibre glassing of Cedric's button see the Making Page .
This week I completed the gel coats and fibre glassing of Cedric's button see the Making Page .
Week commencing the 29th feburary
Continuing with Cedric's button I sanded and distressed it. I also got the main body of Marcella's button done using AutoCAD to make a technical drawing from my KAPA foam sculpt for the laser cutter to create on MDF. Finishing the week, I learnt the use of expanding foam to fill the spheres at the end of the fabric pins.
Week commencing 7th march
Continuing with Cedric's button I sanded and distressed it. I also got the main body of Marcella's button done using AutoCAD to make a technical drawing from my KAPA foam sculpt for the laser cutter to create on MDF. Finishing the week, I learnt the use of expanding foam to fill the spheres at the end of the fabric pins.
Week commencing 7th march
Making Boian's button shield. MDF mould then vac formed.
Thinking about scaling up material for a basic shirt/jumper.
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3-6 are Hessian materials, these could be used as scaled up versions for 1-2 linen and calico. 1&2 would be easily accessible to the borrowers from the flat below, where the tenant is an avid sewer and maker.
The majority of this week was focused on making Boian's large button. See making page
14th march
This week I focused on finishing Boian's button. I got my 24 mm rope and tried it in Marcella's button, seeing how the handle could be made. In the final three days I made two walnut hats by sculpting clay and vac forming.
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| popista.com |
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| www.shutterstock.com |
My design for the borrowers helmet takes the traditional shape of a walnut and adapts it to suit the the theatre. As you can see from the design on the left, I have enhanced the size of the walnut's ridges and dips, this will make it unmistakable even to an audience member 30 foot away. I aim to imitate the colours of a walnut for this prop whilst adapting it for stage by making the dips darker and the raised areas lighter. I chose to make the helmet out of walnuts, because of the natural strength it possess makes it perfect. Walnuts would be available for the borrowers to steal around Christmas time when nuts are bought more regularly for use of snacks in social gatherings. In terms of size, the helmet's will be 12 times the size of an average walnut width 30-35mm length 37-43mm. Of course there will be naturaly varying in sizes
21st easter week 1
This week I got to paint and distress a lot of props, including the walnut helmets, the shields and the match.
4th april
This week I designed, made, and painted my pencil fence.
This design (Left) is a 3D design, each Pencil would have 3 visible sides of each pencils (these could be of varying thickness's to imitate different orientations of the pencils. This could be made of MDF, Foamex or carved from Polystyrene. These would be a straight pencil fence with varying heights of the pencils. (Right) This design is similar to the last, however, there is two sections that join together in the centre to form this triangular shape. This shape would emphasise the subject being photographed (as this is the main point of this pencil fence design).
Sticking with the shape, but changing the 3D design to 2D. This would allow for me to show my 3D painting skills.
11th April
This week I made and painted my half scissor prop
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| Google.co.uk. (2016). half a pair of scissors - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=half+a+pair+of+scissors&espv=2&biw=1092&bih=650&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJzvCV_o3MAhVF0RQKHWS1B5wQsAQIKg#imgrc=JMQcwtSQ300y2M%3A [Accessed 14 Apr. 2016]. |
18th April
This week I received, edited and painted by cable reel to look like a wooden bobbin.
This design has a thread manufacturers label on it, but half has been ripped off, this could be from natural wear and tear or on purpose. This label effect could be made by taking a high resolution image and printing it out at the appropriate scale. However, this would not show much skill and as this is theatre there does not have to be small detail. Therefore this can be painted on with painted distressing and a small shadow around the edge to show that the label is separate to the top of the spool.
25th April
Week of the photo shoot, I planned out all the photos I wanted to take as I only have two hours and lots of props.
Here is a selection of my final images, to see the rest click here to go to my website.
2nd May - Final Week
This week is just finishing of bits and bobs, updating the blog, the website and getting images and business cards printed.
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