Overview 

This standard is about interpreting a brief and planning visuals that will be used in live productions. Visuals could be, but are not restricted to, projections, holograms and videos. You will need to interpret designs, seek out any additional information and prepare detailed, accurate and practical plans in consultation with other members of the team.

This standard is for anyone who plans visuals for live production.


Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. use information to plan visuals, seeking advice and assistance when required
  2. identify requirements for visuals, including any opportunities, limitations and constraints
  3. negotiate suitable changes with decision-makers when requirements cannot be met
  4. select equipment to meet production requirements, taking account of technical and financial factors and equipment availability
  5. plan rig positions for equipment that provide the best quality for visuals within venue constraints
  6. plan choice and position of equipment to allow for intended staging of productions
  7. plan systems that are achievable and within budget and time constraints for productions
  8. include contingency plans for equipment failure within budgetary constraints
  9. produce specifications for the systems you devise
  10. use reliable information to recognise and anticipate budget overspend, identifying reasons for it and agreeing actions to deal with it
  11. keep records of agreed plans

 


Knowledge and Understanding

You must know and understand:

  1. where to obtain information about the production requirements
  2. the effects of different stage formats on visuals and their importance 
  3. who is responsible for designs and creative and technical requirements and how you will be kept up to date on any changes to design requirements
  4. how to breakdown the requirements of designs for visuals, including different approaches for pre-recorded or live visuals
  5. how lighting designs, positioning and activity can affect visuals
  6. formats and conventions used in diagrammatic and written specifications, including the symbols, terminologies and conventions used for electrical, mechanical or electronic drawings and specifications
  7. the types of drawings used for visuals including schematic drawings, how they interrelate, how to extract dimensional or statistical information from them and identify areas that are unclear or incomplete
  8. stage terminology and its meanings including upstage, downstage, stage left and stage right
  9. production, financial and resource constraints and deadlines, the quality parameters for the work and the flexibility around agreed constraints
  10. the roles and responsibilities of creative and technical team members
  11. the lines of communication, how to promote understanding, trust and good will and when it is and is not appropriate to share information
  12. relevant aspects of regulations, environmental and health and safety considerations in the use of materials, processes, technology and the venues involved and how to carry out risk assessments of planned visuals for staff and audience
  13. when specialist support is needed and how to access it
  14. style, quality and typical staging characteristics associated with different kinds of production including live music, theatre, dance, opera, corporate events or arenas
  15. who needs confirmation about systems and how best to provide this
  16. the performance characteristics of equipment and which have the greatest potential to meet the production requirements
  17. record keeping