Syllabus

Week 1 (Feb 17): Introduction to set construction along with Grip & Electric Departments
We dive into the Course Overview and discuss the basics of set construction, including What it takes to work in the grip or electric departments.

  • Titles and Roles on a production

  • Departments and organization

  • Film set language and phrases

  • Walkies and set communication

  • Run through a typical day on set

  • Set Health & Safety

  • Production paperwork

  • Working with people

Week 2 (Feb 24): Introduction to Set Construction
This lecture will dive into the specifics of how set construction works and what to expect:

  • Reading the script

  • Set design and development

  • Construction logistics

  • Tools of the trade

  • Identifying hazards and safety concerns

  • Small set construction

Week 3 (Mar 2): Introduction to the Electric Department (with guest lecturer Tommy Garrett)
This lecture provides detailed information on the Electric departments as well as discussing

  • Crew breakdown

  • G&E communication

  • Truck setup and gate etiquette

  • Loading in and staging

  • Essential components and cart set up

Week 4 (Mar 9): Set Construction in Collaboration with Production Design (with guest lecturer Sarah Sharp)
This lecture provides detailed information on set construction along with how these departments work together with the production design for what you see on film:

  • Guest production designer speaker

  • Ways to consider set designs

  • Determine the construction process

  • Learning your limits

  • How to strike a set

Week 5 (Mar 16): Diving head first into the Grip Department (with guest lecturer Tommy Garrrett)
This lecture provides detailed information on the Grip and set safety departments:

  • Staging near set

  • Setting a light

  • Understanding safety concerns and potential hazards

  • What to know about the space

  • Stand vs. Rigging

  • Setting a Flag and a Modifier 

  • Things to know about set

Week 6 (Mar 23): Deep Dive into the Construction Department
This lecture provides detailed information on the components of set construction that may need to move during a shoot day:

  • Wild Walls

  • Ceilings

  • Troubleshooting

  • Large Set Build

Week 7 (Mar 29): Taking a leap with the Electric Department (with guest lecturer Tommy Garrrett)
This lecture provides detailed information on the Electric department and a brief look at the world of lighting a set (touching on dmx):

  • DMX basics

  • Situations to avoid when lighting

  • Basic intro to Amp vs Watt

  • Mapping out the light plan

Week 8 (Mar 30): WRAP! Wrapping out a set, Wrapping out a truck and Getting Hired Again
This lecture provides detailed information on lighting a set, wrapping out at the end of the shoot, and working within the industry in the art and grip/electric departments.

  • Light the set

  • See it on monitor!

  • Wrap out of set and back to truck 

  • How to put yourself out there and find work on future productions