“ I ' m proud to say I ’ ve worked with low budget productions and big-budgeted ones with equal fervor and commitment .”
STAGE
“ I ' m proud to say I ’ ve worked with low budget productions and big-budgeted ones with equal fervor and commitment .”
What are the usual challenges encountered by a set designer / scenographer during production ? What are some of the considerations that need to be addressed ?
In the Philippines it ' s definitely budget , but it never hindered me creatively . I am very proud to say that I ’ ve worked with low budget productions and big-budgeted ones with equal fervor and commitment .
Also , I make considerations on the space / theater I ’ m working in , the legal restrictions on the materials and theatrical rights owners , and even the collaborators you work with . I tend to gravitate towards directors who share the same ethos , passion and quirkiness as mine as the collaboration would be beneficial and enjoyable to everyone involved in a project .
How does one start a career as a set designer ? What design disciplines should a scenographer / set designer be adept in ?
Passion for theater and the performing arts would be a priority coupled with a great work ethic .
For design disciplines , I would say visual arts , art history , engineering , architecture and a little bit of mathematics . It is never easy but a holistic education on the field and the liberal arts would be helpful to their craft .
Also , I have always believed that the best designers are the best researchers . For any designer to create something original or fresh , one needs to know what has been done before and as much as possible not to replicate it . The dramaturgical research assists in creating design , may it be period or something out of this world . The more you know , the more equipped you will be in tackling a project .
Was there a particular project that served as a turning point in your career ?
In 2013 , I designed “ Piaf ”. Nobody knew me back then and it was five years since I left Manila to work in Hong Kong . It was the story of French singer Edith Piaf also known as ‘ La Mome ’ ( the Little Sparrow ). I designed a set made of dilapidated French shutter windows that violated the rafters and the height of the RCBC Theater proscenium . I designed the set as a bird cage ( symbolically ) but added the little surprises like making entrances into doors , windows , shadow screens and wardrobes .
Another one would be “ Bridges of Madison County - The Musical ” in 2015 . The scenic design is a gallery composed of rustic frames anchored by one central image - that of a tree . The imagery I hoped to have achieved were these fragmented frames of memories pieced together in space and somewhat floating ; in Francesca ’ s eyes , a moment in the past , and in Robert ’ s , a life that could have been . Creating a world inside a frame , both a dream and reality , underneath a myriad of stars using hundreds of Edison bulbs . These individual frames transforms into different set pieces used by the actors like the bed , kitchen , windows etc . Some of the frames have hidden individual projectors that allow the images to morph into portraits in one of the poignant scenes in the finale . This production is a favorite of mine because it was effective in forging the story forward ; challenging audience ’ s imagination with all the surprises on the set and it had a very romantic feel with all the scenic elements combined .
What is your dream gig ? Have you landed it yet ?
I have always dreamt of designing for operas . I have prepared so many design ideas for different operas so when the opportunity arrives I will be ready . A favorite opera of mine is “ Turandot ” as I ’ ve always been fascinated by the architecture of the Forbidden City and Chinese cultural history .
What excites you everyday about your chosen career path ?
It would be the storytelling and creation . Every artist would answer the same ; but for a designer to create worlds from an idea translated to paper and constructed to reality that will be enjoyed by audiences on stage is an exhilarating job . I have been so blessed with continuous projects locally and internationally because these opportunities allow my design voice to be heard / seen by audiences and if it inspires a couple of people to pursue arts , that is exciting for me .
Who were your artistic idols , and how have they shaped your design choices and aesthetic ?
A Filipino designer would be Gino Gonzales . He is the most proficient stage designer continuously working in the
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