Developing and Maintaining a Design-Tech Portfolio: A Guide for Theatre, Film, &TV - Softcover

Jaen, Rafael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 024080712X ISBN 13: 9780240807126

Publisher: Focal Press, 2006

Synopsis

This book is a practical guide to aid in the process of creating, developing and presenting successful Theatre/TV/Film design/technology portfolios in the fields of scenery, costumes, lighting and sound. The book will consist of four sections or chapters. The first section is dedicated to the realization of effective portfolio showcases and it will identify materials and techniques used to produce them. This chapter will also identify specific requirements by discipline including scenery, costumes, lighting and sound and will cover the different portfolio requirements to apply for graduate school, jobs in the field, professional organizations and for promotional purposes. The second section is dedicated to the development and use of digital portfolios and it will look at the different software used in this area. The third chapter is about presentation and marketing and it will describe how to develop personal presentation techniques, resume, business card, and web pages. Finally, the fourth section offers key information in regards to the maintenance and updating of portfolios. Each chapter will feature real samples from the professional field and a page of "do's and don'ts” with comments from experts in each design-tech discipline.

About this title

Review

Quite honestly, this is the best textbook available on the market today for theatre and film students interested in putting together their design portfolios. Professor Jaen has compiled an excellent and practical source for students. It is thorough with insightful tips for developing, presenting, and maintaining visual materials. Included are outstanding samples that best exemplify the traditional portfolio, digital portfolio samples, and samples for specific presentations, such as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and the University/Resident Theatre Association. It is a MUST for any theatre or film design student!--David "Kip" Shawger, Jr., Kennedy Center ACTF National Chair of Design/Technology and Associate Chair / Head of Design Department of Theatre and Dance Ball State University

I just got a call tonight from my senior costume design student who was at URTAs today, hoping to get a chance with some grad programs - I gave her the book as a good show present last semester, and she re-did her portfolio and her presentation using a lot of the guidelines from the book. She got called back to 21 grad schools!!!

--Debra Krajec, USITT Costume Commissioner and Costume Design Faculty at Marquette University

My uncle ordered this book for me when I told him that I planned to interview for MFA Programs in Costume Design. This book was an indispensable resource while developing my portfolio. Although you could spend hours researching different portfolio options and blindly guess how you should prepare for interviews, this book will very clearly explain everything you need to do to make your best impression. This book is an exciting resource for the theatre student or professional looking to take their design/tech portfolio to the next level. If you carefully read through all of the information this book has to offer, I have no doubt you will be impressed with your newly assembled portfolio; giving you the confidence to succeed in your interviews. --Amy Schrag, Furman University Student, Costume Design

About the Author

Rafael Jaen has a vast experience in portfolio development and has been presenting workshops on this subject matter for the last 10 years -his audiences have included high-school students, undergraduate students, teachers and professionals in the field. He was originally an architecture student in the Universidad Central de Venezuela (his country of origin), there he began his interest in theater and portfolios in 1978 while working with small theater groups. Eventually, he entered his design work in a competition and won a scholarship to study Theatrical Design in the USA. He applied to New York University and was accepted after a successful portfolio review--even though he didn't speak English yet! While in school, Mr. Jaen worked as a designer and assistant designer for different companies. His mentors (Broadway Designers/ Technicians) showed him the importance of marketing and showcasing the designer's work in a comprehensive portfolio and with resumes and business cards. After graduation in the 80's Mr. Jaen worked as Design Associate and Costume Designer for different costume houses and companies in the USA and other countries. He also ran a successful Fashion business dedicated to haute couture--bridal and tailoring. For it, he developed different portfolio-books showcasing design styles with cut sheets and fabric swatches. In the 90's he began a fruitful collaboration with Emerson College, developing a very successful costume program. Eventually, because of his impressive portfolio, he was offered a position as Emerson Stage's Resident Costume Designer. He started to teach at Emerson College and became the Costume Area Head. While at Emerson he developed a series of portfolio workshops to assist undergraduate students apply to graduate school. He has expanded on these workshops and has been presenting them in various conferences (all over the country) including the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Mr. Jaen has degrees in Theater Design
Rafael Jaen has a vast experience in portfolio development and has been presenting workshops on this subject matter for the last 10 years -his audiences have included high-school students, undergraduate students, teachers and professionals in the field. He was originally an architecture student in the Universidad Central de Venezuela (his country of origin), there he began his interest in theater and portfolios in 1978 while working with small theater groups. Eventually, he entered his design work in a competition and won a scholarship to study Theatrical Design in the USA. He applied to New York University and was accepted after a successful portfolio review--even though he didn't speak English yet! While in school, Mr. Jaen worked as a designer and assistant designer for different companies. His mentors (Broadway Designers/ Technicians) showed him the importance of marketing and showcasing the designer's work in a comprehensive portfolio and with resumes and business cards. After graduation in the 80's Mr. Jaen worked as Design Associate and Costume Designer for different costume houses and companies in the USA and other countries. He also ran a successful Fashion business dedicated to haute couture--bridal and tailoring. For it, he developed different portfolio-books showcasing design styles with cut sheets and fabric swatches. In the 90's he began a fruitful collaboration with Emerson College, developing a very successful costume program. Eventually, because of his impressive portfolio, he was offered a position as Emerson Stage's Resident Costume Designer. He started to teach at Emerson College and became the Costume Area Head. While at Emerson he developed a series of portfolio workshops to assist undergraduate students apply to graduate school. He has expanded on these workshops and has been presenting them in various conferences (all over the country) including the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Mr. Jaen has degrees in Theater Design

Edition details

• Publisher: Focal Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 024080712X
• ISBN 13: 9780240807126
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200