Video / Projection Design - New Plays Festival

Prior to starting work on any Columbia Theatre production, please make sure to read and understand the duties and stipulations for general design work at Columbia and the specific design area as detailed below.

General Information for All Design Disciplines

  • The Theatre Program will only be responsible for department-approved designs that are received by their designated deadlines.
  • Columbia property may not be altered without express permission.
  • It is the responsibility of each designer to keep and fill out a comprehensive list of their items, categorizing everything by owner and location origin.
  • There are no deliveries of purchased goods available on the weekends.
  • All items purchased by the production budget are the property of Columbia University after the production.
  • Current NYU Theatre students may not be compensated for work on thesis productions. Reimbursement for legitimate expenses is permitted, with some exceptions.
  • NYU designers need faculty permission from NYU to participate in Columbia SOA thesis productions.
  • If a designer is going to be remote for all or most of the design process, their participation in the production must be approved by the relevant production staff to ensure that the designer’s in-person duties are adequately covered by a member of the production team. It is strongly recommended that designers be able to attend in-person rehearsals and meetings.
  • A written and signed agreement indemnifying Columbia of liability must be provided for any items loaned to the production or borrowed for the production from sources outside Columbia.
  • Each design area has a Festival Coordinator (Scenic, Props, Costumes, Lighting, Sound, and Video/Projection). This person is intended to be the liaison from your production to the staff throughout your process. They are there to coordinate the design ideas of the director/playwright/designer, within the parameters listed in each of the areas below.

Important Locations

Video/Projection Designer Deliverables

Video/Projection Designer Responsibilities

  • Present at all Columbia Production Meetings, and Technical/Dress Rehearsals.
  • Video/Projection Designer is responsible for programming all video cues.
  • Video/Projection Designer is responsible for operating QLab/video software during technical rehearsals.  During final dress and performances, one operator for sound/video is provided.  See collaboration section below.
  • Working directly with the A/V Supervisor to ensure proper hang, focus, and ordering (if necessary).
  • All drafting MUST be turned in on time in Vectorworks or PDF format.
  • Source any purchases needed and send links/information to the Production Manager for payment.
  • If any items were loaned or borrowed, the Video Designer must submit a master list and coordinate transportation of said items to/from the theater.

Video/Projection Design Stipulations

  • Each show is allotted one of the stock Panasonic projectors which can be rigged in collaboration with the Video Coordinator.  The production may add one (1) camera, and up to two (2) video surfaces with total additional I/O being four (4) devices.
  • Equiptment specs and drawings available in the Lenfest Flexible Performance Space Inventory Google Drive.  
  • The Theatre Program will supply a computer to run video, equipped with QLab 5 Video Pro License, Isadora, MadMapper, NDI, and OBS. A KVM system will be available for tech. Please inform Video Coordinator in advance if other tech accommodations will need to be made.
  • Cameras and additional projectors may be rented through the Film Program Equipment room by the playwright or producer with requisite training, which occurs at the beginning of the spring semester. The production is wholly responsible for the management and care of this equipment.
  • The production is responsible for creating and sourcing any video or projected content in QLab.  PowerPoint or Keynote files will not be sufficient.

Collaboration with Sound Designer

  • Video/Projection QLab cues will be fired via network cues from the Sound QLab. The Video/Projection Designer will need to work with the Sound Designer to build these network cues throughout tech. The A/V Supervisor will provide templates for this and assist in confirming the connection and operation of these cues.
  • During performances, the Sound QLab will be operated by a student employee. If the production would prefer video cues to be fired by a separate individual, this will need to be approved ahead of time, and the production would need to supply the additional crew member.

Video Coordinator/AV Supervisor: Jacob Robinson

Contact: [email protected]

Video Coordinator Duties include

  • Video/Projection design will only be possible if an approved Video/Projection Designer is hired through the production.
  • Helping with the implementation of the designer, director and/or playwright’s vision, and acquiring what is needed for the production.
  • Loading in/setting up audio/video elements
  • Anticipating changeovers between shows (striking/placing audio elements)
  • The Video Coordinator is only responsible for the actual elements of the production (nothing pre-load in, such as video cues or projectors/televisions/cameras for rehearsal).
  • Please Note: The Video Coordinator will not be at the performances.  A Sound/Video QLab operator will be in place for all performances.