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BTEC Technical Theatre & Production


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Moderation: I've removed this BTEC info from other topics as it's probably only interesting to students and teachers. As many have guessed, I do lots of work for Edexcel, who run the BTEC courses, and am responsible for writing what many people are actually doing in the colleges and schools. So I have an insight into what should be out there. I'm always willing to answer any questions, but need to point out that I'm not allowed to speak with a BTEC voice, just that of somebody who does understand the specs and the rules. That said.... read on. paul

 

Right! I want to explain how BTEC works and to put things straight.

 

A school or college select a number of component units to deliver. They have over 60 to select from and need 6/12/18 in total for the 3 types. This means you can't assume students have done what you think they have. Only a few places do automated lighting where they will be taught what you are all talking about. If they did the other lighting units there is no moving kit content at all.

 

They could study full body make-up or period wig design and not lighting. So you need to ask BTEC people the units they study. How do I know? I wrote them. BTEC means nothing without the unit names. Far too wide.

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Out of curiosity, techie18, what units are you doing?

 

Sorry the previous list did not come out as planned. The units I am doing are as follows

 

Lighting 1, Lighting 2, Sound 1, Sound 2, SM, DSM, ASM, FOH, arts business, arts administration, arts context, design 1, mask making, production planning, production workshop

 

There are other which I cannot think of a present but it works out at around 18 units I have to complete over the 2 years. A pretty good course and will prep me for uni (if I decide to go).

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when you get to uni they have all the latest technology at your finger tips such as movers etc.

 

Don't count on it. And if they do, it'll most likely be covered in the course anyway. From personal experience going to Uni and already knowing half of what they are teaching sounds like a great idea, until you realise that it means you have 5 hours a week of being taught things you already know. Once you realise that, it becomes very boring very quickly.

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What worries me most about the way production is handled in colleges is the way everyone seems to think that having clever kit is the answer. Most of us, I suspect would rather just treat them as tools. Pick the right one, and it makes the job easier, and normally produces better results.

 

I suppose I haven't really changed the way I do things very much at all - basic illumination first, then add specials as required. Very rarely can these specials be movers, sometimes because of cost, but often because the ones available can't do what a simple profile can, unless it's a very expensive one - which for my scale of working would be a waste. The old kit people often smirk about can usually do it perfectly well, and not require the bells & whistles controller to make it happen.

 

The Lighting 1(really called in the new 2007 course - Stage Lighting Operations) unit is a good example - it covers Profiles, fresnels, PARs and floods. The Lighting 2 (called Stage Lighting design) - covers what you do with the things! There is even a note that says moving head or mirror fixtures are not required to complete the unit. It also uses the word 'generic' used to describe a luminaire capable of basic functions such as intensity.

 

There is nothing stopping your teacher including moving lights. I assume that you're actually doing the last year of the 'old' technical theatre course - the new one is tweaked rather a lot and is now simply called Production.

 

The older course did have some 'rules' - operation and design were combined, and just got tougher in the 2nd year.

Lighting 1 required you to design lighting using a minimum of 12 lanterns and had just 6 changes (as in cues). It also insisted the design must use 3 different type of lanterns (note luminaire didn't exist then!) and require the use of gel, gobos and shutters/barndoors. It suggests a memory desk with submasters as ideal.

 

One BIG point. It does require you to understand DMX - analogue control is included as a historical element. It also requires you to understand power calculations and electrical theory.

 

 

The old version got replaced for people starting it in September. They are different beasts now. In the old one people could do the first lighting unit and not do the second, but you couldn't do 2 without doing 1 first. The new one is a free choice - so people who like designing but have a real problem with ladders could do the design unit and leave the cable bashing and ladder climbing to others.

 

p.s. Thanks for the editing Andrew.

 

 

I've often thought that if people doing the interviews for real jobs had a copy of these things, they could ask some really searching questions. On a personal level - I'd not even consider anybody who got a 'pass' in these units for a lighting job. ANYBODY keen should be able to get at least a 'merit' - and most should be able to get a 'distinction'.

 

If anyone want's the full version of these to smirk/pick over let me know and I'll email you one.

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I've often thought that if people doing the interviews for real jobs had a copy of these things, they could ask some really searching questions. On a personal level - I'd not even consider anybody who got a 'pass' in these units for a lighting job. ANYBODY keen should be able to get at least a 'merit' - and most should be able to get a 'distinction'.
Thanks for that. I know that the BTEC National diploma in more difficult than the National certificate. I was considering doing the national certificate next year in is it theatre operation (or summin along that lines) as by doing this I would be able to do more with LX and sound (gr) rather than doing SM and all the set design stuff. I don't suppose there is a national certificate in just lighting is there? I feel the course I am doing know is pretty complex with it being a production course and there being so many different areas. I would be happier just doing LX and nothing else.
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Personally I think it should be something we get to use before going to uni as when you get to uni they have all the latest technology at your finger tips such as movers etc.

 

In all honesty, that's not entirely true. The college I work/study at has (sensibly) refused to buy moving gear in the future, as we can't justify the annual expense. If you need something, it has to be necessary to your design, and obtained on a hire basis. I know we're not alone in that approach.

 

That's not to say we don't invest in the latest technology (we do) - just that we're not buying moving gear.

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Sensible bloke Nick.

 

I don't suppose there is a national certificate in just lighting is there?

 

Everyone gets confused by this.

There could be, but it's so narrow, I doubt if the centres would have enough students to make it viable.

 

for the record:

A National Award is 6 units

A National Certificate is 12 units

A National Diploma is 18 Units

 

The hardness (level of all 3) is exactly the same.

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I don't suppose there is a national certificate in just lighting is there?

 

Nope, but if you were able to do the National Award, and were allowed to choose all your units (Apart from the compulsory, obviously!) you could choose U67 - LX Design, U66 - LX Operation, and U68 - Automated Stage Lighting. But, like paulears says, there would probably very little call for a course like this.

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I have to say that I studied a BTEC in Performing Arts (Technical) a few years back and I came out with Distinction Distiction Merit. We did Automated Lighting the Only issue with this was that the Tutor had apsolutly no experience with Automated lighting or what DMX was, to add on top of this the college had no automated lighting at all. This was a Performing arts College to assume that Because your going to a Specialist college to study the subject doesnt mean they will have the Kit.

BTEC are actually really hard so I have to say Paul you certainly do put us young guys to the test ** laughs out loud **

sam

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To put simply I think the course could be taught by anyone with access to the internet. When I started the college had just got a new production tutor ( they started easter) before that anyone who could teach did something, before that they had performance teachers and were doing mask work. It is possible with the units, but I'm sure bloody boring.
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We did Automated Lighting the Only issue with this was that the Tutor had apsolutly no experience with Automated lighting or what DMX was, to add on top of this the college had no automated lighting at all. This was a Performing arts College to assume that Because your going to a Specialist college to study the subject doesnt mean they will have the Kit.

Actually - the automated lighting unit specifically states a minimum of kit - both in fixtures and control, and even has a little tag saying a non-moving light controller is not sufficient. It states a mimimum kit requirement, and suggests additional kit can be hired in to complete the course. These rules are not secret, but public documents that anyone can read. If you had no moving lights - how did you pass?

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I dont know how the college managed it but some how I have the Automated lighting as part of my BTEC

Which, sadly, might well be some kind of indicator as to the worth (or lack of it) of a BTEC qualification - colleges like Sam's are handing out passes in modules which they can't possibly have taught because they don't even have the required equipment, let alone someone who knows how it works.

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Hey, im a noob to the forum but found this topic n thought id say what stuff we have at the college I study. Cirencester college, Sundial theatre. I agree with ....."cant remember ur name sorry" but the man who wrote the course, you dont need amzing equipment to do well but I think it does help in ways. Just designed a show (alice in wonderland) and usually we go on a big moving head hire, but for this I used 80 generics becasue moving heads couldnt simply do the jobs, ok I did hire in 12 movers, but thats not really alot.

 

Are b tec allowed to let students know the points region? as in how many points a D is for a unit? thanks

 

Gunnell

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