Elements and Performance Criteria

Set elements and devices on which research and experimentation could be required may include:
rostra
flats
treads
stairs
flooring and floor cladding, eg tarkett, rakes
scaffolding
traps
revolves
trucks
lifts
flown pieces
soft drapes, eg legs, borders, cycloramas, backdrops, drops
large props, eg furniture
hydraulics
pneumatics
electrical and mechanical winches
set building accessories, eg castors, slides, tracks, wires, pulleys
automated and animatronic devices

The need for research and experimentation on set construction techniques and media may be related to design requirements for:
special effects
overall creative direction
new effects

Media for set construction may include:
timber
timber products, eg plywood, particle board, craftwood, Masonite
metal products, eg bars, tubes, sheets, moulded or cast metal
fibreglass
canvas and other fabrics
plastics, eg moulded, sheet
fabric
paper
fasteners
adhesives

Appropriate techniques may include:
timber construction techniques
fabrication
metalworking
welding and soldering

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:

the expressive qualities of set construction as it relates to the nature of the work, the style of the production and the qualities of the performance
innovative and experimental set construction techniques in 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D)
ways in which highly effective interaction between the effects produced by sets and performance action can be achieved
the behaviour of various materials under different types of lighting
ways of adapting set construction skills across styles, genres and art forms, including film, television, radio and live performance in dance, music, drama
techniques for testing finished and unfinished materials, eg fabric, leather, vinyl, plastic, foam, latex, found objects, straw, paper, and cardboard
the use and properties of a range of paints and media not generally used in set construction
the properties and characteristics of a variety of materials before and after art finishing
testing finished and unfinished materials, such as fabric, leather, vinyl, plastic, foam, latex, found objects, straw, paper, and cardboard
sources of raw, part-processed and processed materials and components from a range of sources and suppliers, and ascertaining their suitability
research skills and sources of information to inform research and experimentation on set construction
costs and costing processes for set elements
organisational and legislative occupational health and safety procedures particularly in relation to set construction
copyright, moral rights and intellectual property issues and legislation as they apply to sets
environmental issues associated with tools and materials used in sets and potential issues associated with new approaches
literacy skills sufficient to undertake research and interpret information and material from a broad range of sources
numeracy skills sufficient to evaluate resource costs

Linkages to other units
This unit also has linkages to other set construction units and design units, and combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate, eg
CUFSET01B Conceive, develop and realise set designs
CUFPRP01B Conceive, develop and realise props designs
CUESET04B Use research, innovation and experimentation to create props

It is strongly recommended that this unit be assessed with or after the following units:

CUFSET03B Make sets
CUESET11A Develop set construction plans to meet design requirements

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

in depth knowledge of a wide range of techniques and media that may be used and adapted for set construction
ability to create innovative set effects through appropriate research and experimentation

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

creative collaboration with others in a process to experiment with new techniques to achieve effects for a particular production requirement

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

evaluation of effects developed by the candidate to meet a particular brief
evaluation of ideas and methods developed by the candidate to create a range of different effects and production contexts
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of materials and techniques
review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (eg people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

set designs, set elements and devices, materials and techniques

Communicating ideas and information
Researching options for new construction methods or media (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Presenting ideas to other production personnel (2)

Planning and organising activities
Organising a testing session for new media and techniques (2)

Working with others and in teams
Brainstorming ideas with colleagues (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Evaluating cost options (2)

Solving problems
Undertaking specific testing to address a problem (2)

Using technology
Adapting equipment to allow for achievement of different effects (2)