module 6 LISTENING AN INTERVIEW WITH A SUCCESSFUL SET DESIGNER 1 Listen to the following interview with a successful set designer carefully and fill in the blanks using some of the following words. COMMUNICATION ancient foreground historic historical inch life make up produced protagonist sang show up sing sung together virtually visually Interviewer: You are one of the most well-known set designers, can you describe your job? Set designer: A set designer conceives the overall design of a show, and also oversees the creation of most (or all) of the scenic elements that (1)............................... that design, depending on the size of the production. I.: What kind of education should a good set designer have? S.D.: This job can require an incredible amount of knowledge ranging from basic design skills and terminology to an encyclopaedic knowledge of (2)............................... periods and styles, from (3)............................... to modern, and from fine art and interior design. One production may require a Depression-Era car and a dusty (4)..............................., while another the splendid excess of the Baroque or Rococo eras. I.: Who do you work with? Can you tell us something about your working relationships? S.D.: The set designer typically works closely with the director, to bring the visual elements of the production to (5)............................... in a way that fits with the director s vision. The set designer also works closely with the costume and lighting designers to ensure that all three major design elements work well (6)...............................; for instance, to ensure that all elements are (7)............................... as desired under the designer s chosen lighting, and that sets and costumes work harmoniously together instead of clashing (8)................................ I.: What are the challenges a job like yours involve? S.D.: Set designers may be given the formidable task of creating a sense of immensity and limitlessness within the relatively small space of the stage. They may need to fill every (9)............................... of visible space, or conversely, make the emptiness (10)................................ It s all a matter of creating the appropriate world. Theatre backstage. 282