These guidelines are for the undergraduate designer and/or technician who is preparing for the required Theatre Department review. This portfolio review is conducted once each semester by the Department and all majors and minors are required to participate in the review process in order to retain good standing in the Department.
The purpose of the review is to allow each candidate to demonstrate that he/she is making continuous satisfactory progress towards the completion of the degree requirements and that each candidate throughout their time here at Hamline University is increasing both the level and sophistication of their skills. The standards in this guideline are drawn from the recommendations and requirements of organizations such as the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, the University and Resident Theatre Association and from the general requirements of graduate schools, theatres and production companies.
General Requirements
Each candidate should have prepared an up-to-date resume. This resume should follow one of the accepted Departmental models. The candidate must have a copy of the resume for each member of the review panel as well as a copy within the portfolio.
Each candidate must be prepared to present all portfolio materials to the review panel in a clear and organized fashion. The presentation should be treated as if the candidate was presenting the portfolio to a potential employer or to a graduate school admissions committee. The presentation should be considered a "formal" and not an "informal" event.
Each presentation may last up to eight minutes and the candidate should be prepared to respond to questions from the review panel. These inquiries may range from questions about historical research undertaken to realize a design to questions about rendering techniques and/or strategies.
Candidates may assume that the Department will provide access to a slide projector, VCR and a display area. Any additional equipment needed for the presentation is the responsibility of the presenter.
Portfolio Contents
The contents of the portfolio will, of course, vary depending on the interests of each individual. It should also be noted that the portfolios of students beginning in the program will be smaller and less sophisticated that the portfolios of students who have been involved in the process for several years. Presenters should resist the temptation to "pad" the contents of the portfolios by adding numerous slides or miscellaneous drawings in an attempt to make bulk substitute for quality. A well thought out presentation supported by several high quality examples of the work is better than a large portfolio that has been hastily conceived and poorly thought out.
Portfolios may include some or all of the following items:
1. Samples of drafting. These may be either originals or bluelines (preferred) and should show an ability to adhere to standard graphic conventions. Work in this areas would include standard floor plans and specific construction and/or detail drawings. Particular attentions should be paid to including drawings that are complicated, require multiple views or which show specific or unusual construction techniques. It is advantageous to have both computer generated and hand drafted plates in the portfolio.
2. Samples of freehand drawing. These may be drawn from the student's sketch pad or may be assignments from classes. The work should show the ability to realize work in three dimensions, a command of form and line and the use of several media.
3. Photographs of specific production construction projects. These photos should illustrate projects for which the presenter had primary responsibility. Items in this area may include upholstery projects, specific prop items, makeup photographs or the realization of costume or accessory items. To provide for the greatest clarity the presenter should plan to include samples of source material provided by the designer; before, during and after shots; or the rendering which formed the basis of the realization.
4. Renderings or model photographs. These may be for either realized work or the result of class projects. The renderings or photographs should be mounted, labeled and of presentation quality. Scene Designers may wish to show the set under several different lighting conditions or in several variations. A groundplan is required with all scene designs. Costume Designers should plan to have all renderings properly labeled and swatched. Where possible, photographs of the realized setting or costume should accompany the rendering.
5. Lighting plots. These may be either realized work or the result of class projects. Plots should be accompanied by all the necessary paper work. When the plot has been realized, a sequence of photographs should demonstrate the various alterations that the design made possible. Additional consideration should be given to photographing a cue sequence in the show to illustrate the movement of light within the script.
6. Sound designs. Realized sound designs should be presented on specially prepared tapes that will be linked to the presentation provided by the candidate. Special attention should be given to original composed music, generated or sampled sounds, or the use of new or advanced techniques. Where appropriate a sound plot indicating speaker positions should be included as well as cue sheets and appropriate record sheets.
7. Demonstrations of other special abilities and/or skills. This category includes items that reflect on additional interests and abilities that the candidate may have or be developing. Items in this category would include (but are not limited to) skills in computer graphics, puppetry, sculpture, remote control devices, sound and/or music, and special lighting instruments. Items of this type that reflect a potential use in the theatre production should have some mention or illustration in the portfolio. Careful selection of "parallel skills" can often make the difference in obtaining a position. Most producing organizations are looking to hire people with possibilities and talents that will add to the organization's repertory. Chose these areas wisely.
Portfolio Format
Each portfolio is a unique creation that reflects on the skills and abilities of the designer/technician that assembled it. Considerable care should be given in the arrangement and display of the materials in order to have the portfolio best demonstrate the abilities of the designer as well as indicate organizational skills. Neatness counts.
Most portfolios will consist of a combination of photographs, bluelines, renderings, background or supplemental slides and additional miscellaneous materials. You will need a case to neatly contain all of these materials. Choose the portfolio carefully. It should be large enough to hold your renderings (24x18) and be wide enough to hold twenty to thirty pages of materials. You may want to consider a portfolio that has large plastic pages in a built-in binder or a type that allows you to remove or reorganize pages. Remember that your portfolio is not a static document and may well be reconfigured to meet the needs/requirements of specific job interviews. The choice depends on the types of materials you have and the manner in which you wish to present them.
Slides should be in some sort of plastic slide index and should be numbered. A typed sheet should provide all the necessary production information for each slide. Generally you should not select more than four slides per production unless you are demonstrating some special effect, cue sequence or the slides have special merit.
Production photos may be mounted into montage boards which integrate research materials, preliminary sketches and final designs into one display piece. Photos may also be substituted for slides and a sequence of production photos may be arranged on a board to give a sense of the design. This techniques can also be used by lighting designers to indicate cue sequences or may be modified by sound designers to show actions that motivated or were linked to specific sound effects. Think about the size of your pictures and their organization on the page. A large photo (8x10) will often be used as an attention getting device and then there will be smaller (5x7 or 4x6) smaller photos in the same layout.
Items should be arranged in the portfolio in some type of sequence. The layout does not need to reflect a chronology of your design work - instead it should be selected to show a range of your skills and abilities. Think theatrically - open with a really impressive piece and close with a really impressive piece. You may organize the portfolio around design areas, types of shows, work at different locations, or simply as a reflection of a set of abilities.
Portfolio Presentation
The presenter should be able to enter the room, greet the committee and then open the portfolio and have all the necessary materials in order and ready to present. Remember that you do not need to show all of the work that you have done but you do want to show work that will be the best examples of your skills and abilities.
At the presentation the prospective employer will be considering not only the work that you are showing but also your personality and how you might fit into their organization. You need to prepare and practice your presentation carefully. A few suggestions:
1. Enter the room in a confident manner and greet each member of the committee. Introductions may be done by the chair or you may need to introduce yourself.
2. If there is no guidance from the employer, set out the agenda for your presentation. Do not start by opening up your portfolio and laying on the table - all the focus will then be on your work and your comments will lost.
3. Make a copy of your resume available to each member of the committee. You will want to review some of the highlights of your work - As it relates to the specific job that you are applying for. This will help focus the interview and fix your credentials in the employer's mind.
4. Transition into the portfolio presentation - "I'd like to show you some examples of my work which...." Remember to set the stage for what the employer will see based on what the job qualifications require and the way you have organized your materials.
5. Provide a commentary for the portfolio - give background on the theatre, production budget, design concept, etc. so that the work can be seen in context. Allow time for looking (you don't need to talk through the process) and for questions.
6. Have a conclusion to the portfolio presentation which will allow for comments from the employer.
7. At the back of your portfolio always have supplemental materials (additional photos, extra design examples, several other renderings.
Portfolios should be updated on a continuous basis. Older work should be weeded out and newer work should replace it. While you may wish to retain some special showcase projects, it is a general rule that the portfolio should focus on your work from about the past five to eight years.
Prior to your presentation plan to meet with your advisor and/or the Designer/TD to review your presentation and to discuss the contents of the portfolio and its organization.
