Video/Projection Design - Acting Thesis

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.
• 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.  This form will be provided by the Production Manager.

Video/Projection Designer Responsibilities

• Present at all Columbia Production Meetings, Video Focus, 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.

Resources

• A complete video inventory including computers and software can be found in the Inventories folder.
• Information and drawings of the theatre space (including the approved seating arrangement for the 2026-27 school year) can be found in the Lenfest Center for the Arts Google Drive.
• Loans and/or borrowing sound equipment may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the A/V Supervisor to ensure it will work with our existing equipment and can be installed within the labor budget.  Additionally Columbia cannot repair or maintain rented or borrowed equipment. For more information on borrowed and loaned items, please see Renting / Borrowing Items from Outside Sources.
• If additional equiptment or supplies need to be purchased, please see Making Purchases section for more information.

Tech Process

• The A/V Supervisor will hang and focus the approved plot.
• The A/V Supervisor has a total of 7 hours to load in any sound and video approved design components.
• The video system may not be used without the presence of the A/V Supervisor, unless express permission is granted.
• A KVM setup with access to the Video Mac Studio will be available during tech.  Please inform the A/V Supervisor in advance if any other tech accommodations will need to be made.

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.