I found the whole of In Extremis a very valuable and educational experience from start to end. It have given me wonderful opportunities to work on something not usually associated with my course and to carve myself a niche for future employment potential.
Drawing the set was fairly challenging in itself, as Rhiannon didn't know the exact measurements of her set and I had to do a lot of work from the model box, and also change a few of her measurements to make it work structurally. I feel I put in a lot of hours into the digital drawing for this, and my trial and error system has made me fairly confident in AutoCAD and able to work quite quickly. Having Richard going over my drawings and telling me where I needed to improve I felt was very important, as my tutors in the department aren't experienced in digital technical drawings and the advice they could offer me was limited. This isn't anything bad against the course, I know I'm bringing something new to Costume.
I think that when you look through my drawings from version 1 to version 2, you can definitely see an improvement. I'm learning all the time with AutoCAD and I will be for as long as I use it so my drawings will constantly be improving. Ideally what I would've done is to have redrawn everything as we made it after the build so I have almost a set of blueprints for In Extremis, but because I went straight into A Soldier's Tale I couldn't.
My favourite set of drawings are for the Wheel, and even when you look in the file, you can see my complete working progress (not printed in full) and my trial and error, going down different pathways with the drawing. It didn't take as long as I thought it would do, only a couple of days, and I was very proud of myself. The only frustrating part was that I sent Richard the CNC ready file so he could cut it, which was millimetre perfect and he didn't use it. If we had used mine, the wheel would have been equilateral!!
I think that when you look through my drawings from version 1 to version 2, you can definitely see an improvement. I'm learning all the time with AutoCAD and I will be for as long as I use it so my drawings will constantly be improving. Ideally what I would've done is to have redrawn everything as we made it after the build so I have almost a set of blueprints for In Extremis, but because I went straight into A Soldier's Tale I couldn't.
My favourite set of drawings are for the Wheel, and even when you look in the file, you can see my complete working progress (not printed in full) and my trial and error, going down different pathways with the drawing. It didn't take as long as I thought it would do, only a couple of days, and I was very proud of myself. The only frustrating part was that I sent Richard the CNC ready file so he could cut it, which was millimetre perfect and he didn't use it. If we had used mine, the wheel would have been equilateral!!
My drawings were referenced constantly throughout the build for measurements, angles, and construction and being a valuable part of the whole 2D to 3D realisation because of my knowledge of the set meant that I was always involved in the process, despite being left out of a few meetings at the beginning of the unit (which was frustrating but I overcame that). Richard understands the role I want to take on and so pointed me in the right direction all the way.
Working with Richard on the set build was great fun, whilst being highly educational. During the build we deviated from my drawings slightly, due to things like problem solving and making things more structurally sound. For example the wheel is completely different to the one I originally drew, but the end result is still the same. I'm really proud of what I have achieved, especially as I'd never picked up a power drill before the build and but the end I was tying the structure together 4 metres up in the air!
It was a long and tiring build, but I made a conscious effort to keep morale up, to keep motivated and to work quickly and efficiently. Yes, I made mistakes, there is a knack to drilling and I need to work on my interior spirit level as I was drilling wonky, but that just comes with time and practise. I didn't make any drastic mistakes that affected the build, which was great! I'm always scared of ruining something.
The feedback I received from the actors and my tutors was all really positive which felt great, I think I've found something I am truly good at and fortunately, I can make a career out of!
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| Rhiannon and I before the structure came down. |
