Performance Visual Design | A Super Date with Mr. Broom
A Super Date with Mr. Broom is a group project for the Performance Practices course at Macquarie University. This performance adopted a play-within-a-play approach, bringing behind-the-scenes action to the stage by simulating the on-set environment and interactions of a film crew. The audience was immersed in a film studio tour experience, witnessing a live film shoot.
The visual design of this project centres on a studio tour setting, 270-degree surround projections, and achieving stage effects using low-cost materials. To create an immersive experience, beyond the performance itself, I designed various props and media elements to evoke the atmosphere of a film studio visit from a peripheral perspective. These included crew pass cards, invitations, filming notice boards, a clapperboard, and other props. All visual elements adhered to a cohesive design language.
Crew Pass
Invitation Cards and Poster
Notices and Table Tent
It is worth mentioning that, since our performance aims to highlight the importance of both onstage and backstage elements, I incorporated the design concepts of this project into the reminder sign as well. From the icon of a person dancing with a broom to the ‘DO NOT TELEPORT’ text, I wanted the visual and the feeling conveyed by the design to align with the spirit of the project, ensuring consistency throughout.
Clapperboard
The clapperboard is an essential prop on a film set, but I didn’t want it to be just an ordinary prop.
Inspired by the Jaws clapperboard and a conversation with a dear friend, I designed the clapperboard in the shape of Mr. Broom, which also serves as the key visual for this performance.
Scene Diagram
Read online: https://link.ericzhang.design/mr-broom-scene-diagram
This scene diagram notebook is both functional and serves as a prop for the performance.
The A5 size ensures that each scene diagram remains readable while being portable, allowing the director to carry it easily. The smaller size makes it resemble a realistic prop that a director might hold on an actual film set, without being as large and cumbersome as an A4 notebook, which could detract from the stage’s visual effect.
The printed diagrams are placed in a spiral-bound display book for easy flipping and content adjustments. With two diagrams visible at once, the director can quickly reference the current scene and the crews’ necessary movements for the next scene.
Mr. Broom
Stage Background Design
The welcome screen (P2) was shown during our preparation for the formal performance to provide the audience an immersive feeling that they are invited to viewing the behind-the-scenes.
For the performance, we also designed a reset period in the performance, initiated by the director calling ‘cut’, whenever the performer needs extra time to change costumes. During this time, the director and crew members also took the opportunity to act out the behind-the-scenes work that happened during filming breaks.
To clearly distinguish it from the welcome screen and avoid giving the audience the impression that our performance has ended, I designed the transition screen (P1) with a dark background and added glowing effects to the visual elements to convey a futuristic, technological feel that complements the ‘Technical adjustment’ message onscreen. Through this distinct visual differentiation and the onscreen text, the audience would understand that this was also part of the performance.
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Disclaimer: This project is solely for educational purposes and is not intended for any commercial use. Copyright belongs to the A Super Date with Mr. Broom group, MMCC8055 Performance Practices, Macquarie University, 2024. The mockup images used in the Stage Background Design are copyrighted by Orbyt Studio and are included for demonstration purposes only, with no commercial intent.