TASK FIVE: Backstage Role Blog- WOZ

 At an earlier date, we began by looking at the numerous backstage jobs we could take part in to help the production behind 'The Wizard of Oz'. We were told that as part of our grade, we are being assessed on our both our performance, but also our role within our backstage jobs. I was immediately intruiged by the 'Set Design' role, where we told that we would prepare props and set; including painting the yellow brick road. I believe I am quite a creative person, so I opted for that role, along with a large group of people, which I believe should make the process much more efficient with a small group of people working on each separate task.

  To aid with the process of building the set and making the stage as live-filled and 'Oz-like' as possible, me, Ash and Gracie started on painting the yellow brick road; we began by soaking kitchen sponges in yellow paint, then placing them in a brick style to simulate the traditional yellow brick road from the original source material. It took a while for me and Ash to figure out an effective system in which to wuickly yet accurately finish the road, however after sloght trial and error for the first three rows of bricks, we found a way which was much more efficient but also worked for both of us. With this nee system, there was still a few anomalous errors, however we were able to finish painting the elevated staging to emulate the yellow brick road. This experience has taught me a valuable lesson in communication and working as part of a smaller team, as well as a larger one; without the help of Ash and Gracie, the process would have taken so much longer than needed, and wouldn't have really benefited anyone.

  The yellow brick road was then continued outside of lesson hours with Ash, along with three other members of our class, despite the fact none of them were a part of the 'Set Design' team; they were already in on the day and were eager to help. Being accompanied by Kane, we began to bring the yellow brick road further down from the scaffolding onto the stage floor, stretching it all the way to the entrance and the fire exit- each from their respective sides on the stage. During this process, however, we began to run out of paint, leading to us having to preserve and reactivate the medium on our sponges in water, just so we could keep going and mapping out the 'road'; Kane quickly returned with more yellow paint, however- leading us to fully complete the painted scenery for the show by the day's end.

  Near to the opening week of the show, I discovered that the props table was disorganized and was still missing props which were essential to the show (for example, the Wicked Witch of The West's whip for Act Two), whichled to me coming in on a Friday in order to organise it with a group of my classmates, who had come in to also act on their other various backstage roles. I was able to contact individuals within the 'Set Design' team individually who I had seen hadn't contributed much and requested them to source certain props- props which they could easily find within their house- and have them to be brought in by the following Monday. I then found any misplaced props and re-organized them onto the props table which has been marked out with certain sections for different props by another member of the team.