Blog Post #5: Shout out to Nita

Is it cheap to use an actual theatrical lighting picture? Probably. Am I still going to do it anyways? Why yes, yes I am. I checked the guidelines, and I'm pretty sure there was nothing in the assignment that said anything against using such a picture, so here I am. This picture is from last quarter's grad DCP, Mrs. Warren's Profession, directed by Sara Rodriguez and just happened to be lit by our very own Nita Mendoza, and, yes this is part shameless plug, because that's me casually posing in the picture. It was my first DCP and when the big first meeting between the cast and crew happened, Nita presented us with images (much like we did for the picturization project) to represent each act of the play. This was for top of show (if I remember correctly), which took place on a spring morning in an English garden. Take notice of how Nita's lighting works with the minimalist scenic design by Kathryn Jug to create a full atmosphere of the scene. The sky is bright and clear blue through the use of the bottom cyc, gobbos are implemented and softly diffused to create the illusion of a lush garden shrouded by trees and their shadows, and the sun's warm rays shine brightly through the left casting a shadow on my face as it's turned the opposite way. We just got these pictures (photo credits go to Isiah Walk) recently, and it's mystifying actually being able to see the show from the audience perspective for once. Looking at all the various picture's throughout, I was struck by how colorful the lighting could be at times (with us cast in lavender, blues, and even warm amber depending on the scene) which sort of makes sense; Nita's picture's that she brought in bordered on impressionist (almost Monet like) for a couple of scenes. Mrs. Warren's Professsion was gorgeously lit by Nita, with it I hold many treasured memories, and being able to look at production photos fill me with such warmth and serenity... almost like a shaded English garden on a bright and beautiful spring day.