Hi there.  I am hoping to post once a month a few thoughts and ideas on lighting along with some recent articles that I have written for ‘Teaching Drama’.  To get the blog rolling I thought that I would include some quotes from some recent reviews of ‘Give Me Some Light!!!’. 

So watch this space and keep visiting this site on a regular basis and then perhaps more teachers will find it as the rating increase.  Keep in touch – send me an e-mail – let me know what your problems are over using your lighting in school and I will endeavour to answer them on this page. -  Skip Mort     

‘Give Me Some Light!!!’ Review Bites!

Act 1 ‘So You Need a Technician…’

“’Give me Some Light!!!’ aims to educate the teacher and student in the art of stage lighting by taking both on a journey ranging from an introduction to the very basics to a sophisticated understanding of lighting, its technical vocabulary and its artistic application.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

 ‘I am unaware of any resource which provides such well-informed and well-produced instruction, and the balance of watching the DVD, using the workbooks and gaining practical experience is excellent and it provides a much needed learning resource – not least for teachers.’    ‘Drama’

Act 2: ‘Taking the Drama out of Lighting’:

Essential viewing both for students approaching lighting design for the first time and for teachers who need to brush up on the latest technology and practice.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

 “The DVD opens up imaginative possibilities for students and explains, in sensible detail, how effects can be achieved.  The use of split screens also allows for cause and effect to be clearly demonstrated.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

 “….the series is unashamedly for the specialist and revels in technical details.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

Act 3: ‘So You’re Lighting the Production’

I would thoroughly recommend this course to highly technically-motivated students and to those who are working on theatre productions in or out of school.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

 Health and Safety is a key issue throughout the series …… The use of bump hats, working at height and other safety issues are integrated into the framework of the DVD, but with an intelligently light touch.  Explanations and rationale are given for the use of safety equipment and procedures, which is far more likely to have a positive effect on the working practices of students than a dictatorial approach.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

 “If the full course were to be studied rigorously you might be signing to a gargantuan time commitment.  Doing so might well create excellent lighting designers.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

‘The Complete Works’ study guide:

“The study guide and student workbooks are very sound educationally, full of interesting points and presented in an engaging way.  Technically I can’t find fault with them.”     ‘Teaching Drama’

“Although the information is relevant for BTEC courses, there is rather more detail than is necessary for the purposes of GCE, AS and A2 level.”     ‘Teaching Drama’

 “’Give Me Some Light!!!’ will serve as a definitive guide for many years.”    ‘Drama’

 “There are precious few resources for teaching lighting effectively at any level in the classroom and I thoroughly agree with Skip Mort’s premise that most teachers of drama are in need of training in this area. . . . . .  Considering the cost of an INSET course it represents value for money.”    ‘Drama’

 “The series is exciting and imaginative addition to technical teaching material.  On the whole, the series, retailing at £234, represents value for money.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

“The brains behind the course are clearly a man on a mission: to make sure that by the end of the series the student feels “fully equipped to start lighting your production”.  My judgement is that he comes pretty close to achieving his aim.”    ‘Teaching Drama’

‘Give Me Some Light!!!’ has been reviewed in:

‘Teaching Drama’; Spring 2 2006, Spring 2 2007, Rhinegold publishing – reviewed by Peter Jolly Director of Drama Dulwich College

‘Drama’; Summer 2006, Winter 2007, The Journal of National Drama – reviewed by John Somers Lecturer in Drama Exeter University

‘Sightline’; Winter 2007, The Journal of Theatre Technology and Design ABTT – reviewed by Brian Fairchild freelance technician

 

Skip Mort Lighting Services  - www.stagelightingtraining.co.uk – skipmort@www.stagelightingtraining.co.uk