MODULE 9

An art is always created with a technique. A technique is the way the artist uses and
manipulates the materials to express an idea or feeling through an art. This lesson will discuss the
traditional art techniques, their descriptions, and applications to contemporary arts. This lesson
will guide you to easily identify the evident techniques used in the contemporary artwork.

II. Techniques Used in Contemporary Arts

A. Application of Traditional Techniques to Contemporary Arts

Traditional Art Application to Contemporary Arts

Puni (Bulacan) - This is a popular Straw Folding. In this art, the

Bulakenyo’s way of decorating using straws are folded by rolling
leaf fronds folding which has a elongated sheets of wax coated
Malayan origin. paper into cylindrical, hollow tubes.
Origami is from ori meaning
“folding”, and kami means “paper”.
Origami is the art of paper folding
that is associated to Japanese
culture.

Singkaban (Malolos, Bulacan) It is Bamboo Art. To use bamboo for

a decorated bamboo arch to decorations, it must undergo some
welcome signage of a town, city or processes such as cleaning and
village in the country. cutting, peeling, splitting, stripping
or weaving it. For more detailed
designs, artists use incising,
burning, carving, and dyeing.

Saniculas (Pampanga) Saniculas Polvoron Molder. This kitchen tool

cookies made with imprint of San can help you mold the powder for
Nicolas de Tolentino, the miracle polvoron into perfectly oval or round
healer according to Pampanga’s shapes (biscuit molder, doughnut
local legend. molder)

Pabalat (San Miguel, Bulacan) The Packaging. The packaging design

art of making the pabalat or can be simple and straight forward,
pastillas wrappers has transformed or colorful and complex (decorated
in recent years from being a local, packaging).
folk tradition into a popular art.

Taka (Paete, Laguna) Paper Maché. Using molds, paper

Taka refers to the paper maché pieces or pulp are put together with
using carved wooded sculpture used a glue or other adhesives.
as a mold. ___________________________________

Pagbuburda (Taal, Batangas and Stitching. Stitches are the basic

Lumban, Laguna) Taal embroideries elements of sewing, knitting or
are characterized by fine design with embroidery whether by hand or
delicate, embossed, durable and machine.
colorful patterns. Loom Bands. These are also called
as rainbow looms which are a
 plastic tool used to weave colorful
rubber and plastic bands into
decorative items such as bracelets
and charms.
Nylon Bracelets. A tough light
weight elastic synthetic polymer
ornament band hoop or chain worn
on the wrist

B. Common Techniques in Contemporary Arts

There are three techniques that are commonly used today in contemporary arts today.

1. Minimalism. This is an artistic movement that seeks to take away unnecessary and leaving
only the essential. The artworks that usually use this technique use a well selected material
that is indispensable in art production.

2. Found Objects. This means taking something that people seem to find useless and use it in
a unique way in order to make an artwork. When people seem to think that something must
be thrown away as junk, it is used to tell a story and create a diverse perspective that we
are looking for.

3. Large-Scale Art. This is an art that accounts for the creation of something huge to express
diverse perspectives in artwork. This art is created for public view.

II. Medium Used in Contemporary Art Forms

Often, artists will most likely use materials available to them. This means that the
resources their locality have is important for their art. The “local” can refer to material that is
easily available in the community. It can be any materials such as woods, materials, paper that
are easily produced and available in the community. The local can also refer to wherever the artist
finds himself or herself.
In discussing the use of materials, it is important to discuss medium. A medium is defined
as the material or substance used to create an artwork. Using these materials, the artists express
his feelings or thoughts. The medium used in each artwork varies based on the artists and their
art forms.

A. CLASSIFICATION OF ART FORMS ACCORDING TO MEDIUM

Classification Description Art Form Medium
Musical use of rhythms, music, poetry, song, musical instruments,
sounds, instruments, dance, theatre artist traditional musical
human voice instruments made by
local materials, body
and movements,
integration of stage,
design, performance
elements and script

Practical art with immediate designs, architect, cement, paper,

use in daily life sculptor bamboo, wood,
bricks, stone,
concrete, metal,
wood, stone, clay,
glass

Environmental An art that occupies installation, public wires, junk, recycled

 space art materials

Pictorial Works uses shapes, painting, drawing, camera,

pictures, graphics design, photography celluloids/negatives,
processing chemicals
prints

Narrative based on story drama, novel, music language

and dance

B. Contemporary Techniques and Materials in Contemporary Arts

Contemporary Arts Techniques

Mark Salvatus' Secret Garden 2 This art was created for a small
room at the Vargas Museum to
show a site -specific work. Being
able to accommodate the audience
and experience the "garden" makes
the art interactive. It is also
important to note that this secret
garden was created with inmates
who used plastic spoons, forks and
other materials. minimalism, found
objects

Interactive Games by Ikoy Ricio This artwork is composed of set of

trump card with images of
Philippine car wrecks, its body
parts and details of accident. These
cards are installed on the table with
chairs for the players. found objects

Untitled (Mirrors) by Maria This artwork used traditional

Taniguchi medium of acrylic on canvas and
traditional modern style of
abstraction. Instead of typical
painting, the artist used diligent
brushwork that the painting
encourages meditations apart from
viewing. large – scale Art,
minimalism

Felix Bacolor's Waiting (2012) This space in Museum of

Contemporary art and design is a
simulation of a waiting room with
real digital clocks and metallic
immovable chairs. large - scale art,
minimalism

Anonymous Animals in Mariyah The excavated animals were

Gallery in Dumaguete 2013 presented with specific and
(Taguchi, Teves, Sollesta, scientific names and other
Vanlenzuela and Ranada) important details for a real animal.
Invented stories by curator make
the animals seem to exist with
 embedded journalist/photographer.
large- scale art, found objects

Module 10
The choice of art materials is a vital part of the artist’s approach to his or her
work and it is important to pick the right kind of materials. As a new or budding
student-artist, any artwork that you will be creating is considered as contemporary
art provided that it is an original concept. It should be conceived by the artist him
or her self. Call it reproduction or personal rendition, copying somebody else’s work
is short of making some kind of artistic plagiarism. It’s duplicating an original
artwork with or without insignificant changes.
In creating a unique and original contemporary artwork, many artists rely
on the appropriate and adequate supply of art materials. Local art materials are
locally available materials from the region, province, city or town. The availability
and accessibility of local art materials make them convenient and easy to use in
creating art. Local art materials in combination with the tools and equipment used
to create art are referred to collectively as art media. For example, paint and brush,
paint is the material, and brush is the tool, together they make art media.

Local and Indigenous Art Materials

It is important to distinguish the difference between indigenous art materials
and local art materials. Anything indigenous naturally comes from the place or
locality. It is not introduced to the place or imported from somewhere else. Whereas,
anything local also comes from the place or locality but may or may not be originally
part of that place or locality. It could have been introduced to the place or locality by
colonists or settlers from other places.

Indigenous art materials are materials that are natural or inherent from
the place or locality. It has been there right from the start. All indigenous art
materials are local materials but not all local art materials are indigenous. Local art
materials could be a mix of indigenous art materials and introduced art materials.

Kinds of Local Art Materials

The use of local art materials in creating various types of arts has become
the showcase of Filipino creativity, resourcefulness, and artistry. The following are
kinds of local materials that can be found in the different regions and provinces of
the country:
1. Abaca, also called manila hemp, is extracted from the leaf sheath around the
trunk of the abaca plant known scientifically as Musa textilis, which is related to
the banana plant. Initially used as material for rope, the abaca found its way in
the arts. The plant can be found in plantations in the Bicol Region and in the
different regions of Mindanao.
2. Coconut Shells or bao, are actually used for wood carving, improvised cooking
utensils and myriads of other uses. Laminated coconut shells are considered as
almost the same as the quality and appearance of turquoise shells or ivory.
 Coconut shells are bountiful anywhere in the country where coconut palm trees,
scientifically known as Cocos nucifera, are planted. These shells are byproducts of
coconut fruit processing.
3. Bamboo or kawayan, mistakenly identified as a tree, is actually a kind of grass.
Classified scientifically as a plant of the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass
family Poaceae. It is found almost throughout the archipelago. The bamboo stem
has plenty of uses and one of its prominent use is in creating art.
4. Capiz or kapis shells come from the windowpane oyster, a bivalve marine
mollusk in the family of Placunidae. They are abundant in the Philippines,
commonly found along the coastal waters. Cleaned and processed capiz shells
are used for various artistic applications like windows, lanterns, and walling.
5. Rattan is a naturally renewable palm belonging to the subfamily Calamoideae of
climbing palms. It is widely used as furniture, handicrafts, and building material.
It is grown in plantations in Western Visayas and Mindanao.
6. Small or Cowrie shells or sigay, scientifically named Cypraea chinensi,
measure about 2 centimeters each. They are often used in shell jewelry and
shell craft work. They are popular for their vibrant color. They are found on
sandy seafloor around the Philippine islands.
7. Junk, which are old or discarded articles, are considered useless or of little value
but for the creative eyes of an artist they are essential in creating a well- known
art form called junk art. The discarded materials stored or hidden away inside
homes or thrown in garbage bins are usually made up of plastic, wood and metal.
8. Dried leaves falling off from branches of trees and plants are inexhaustible.
Ranging from pale yellow to dark brown, dried leaves are plentiful throughout
the year. Dried leaves art is already considered a craft of its own. Palm,
pandanus, or sea grass leaves are used to create artistic mats or banig.
9. Plant seeds can be acquired from farms and rural areas. Others can be bought
commercially like corn, sorghum, mung beans, sunflower and the like. Seed art can
be found in certain localities. They are distinct for their creative and colorful designs.
10. Rocks and sand of various types are abundant. They vary in size and color,
allowing for varied art forms.

Local art materials can be classified as traditional and non-traditional.

Traditional art materials available locally are those that are usually bought from
department stores and bookstores. They include crayons, oil pastel, watercolor,
colored pencils and other usual materials used in school. Non-traditional art
materials are materials that are not usually used in creating art like coffee, plastic
bottles and recyclable materials that are similar to those used in junk art.

MODULE 11
The pictures presented in the previous activity are a mix of different art
materials and artists at work. Many can be said of them, some of the responses of
objective, one of the bases for critiquing while there some that are subjective and
personal, based on emotions, based on preference and beauty. It is essential to
 find the bases of making a critique.

Critiquing Versus Criticizing

Taking note of the process of creation, paying attention to the kind art
materials and the way they were used, considering the art technique that was
applied, are some of the ways of critiquing.
However, relying on feelings for evaluation, depending heavily on the visual
appeal of the artwork, judging the finished product of the creation as either
beautiful or ugly, nice or not nice, are some of the gauges used for criticizing.
Critique is taken from the Greek kritike tekhne, which means "the critical art“.
It is somewhat a formal word that typically refers to a careful judgment. It refers
to the detailed analysis and assessment of something. On the other hand, criticism
refers to a sharp or severe disapproval of something, generally based on perceived
faults or errors. It is judging with disapproval. It is negative in nature.
Critiquing Criticizing
Thought more than felt Felt more than thought
Concerned with the process of Concerned with what is
creating art perceived
Considered the artist’s technique through the senses
Considered the artist as good or
More objective than subjective not good
More subjective than objective

Critiquing Available Art Materials

In using available art materials, they have to undergo evaluation for them to be
deemed really useful. The usefulness of these art materials is dependent on certain factors.
Each art material has to be examined in certain ways. Some of the basic considerations in
critiquing available art materials are availability, accessibility, and affordability.

Availability. An art material has to be obtainable, ready for use, at hand.

Simply put, the art material exists or is physically present for the artist to use. It is
already there; this is the quality of being able to be used or obtained.

Accessibility. An art material has to be within the artist’s reach, easily acquired
without much effort or difficulty for the artist. It is the quality of being acquired or
used easily.

Affordability. An art material has to be within the financial capacity of the artist to
be purchased or bought. The artist can bear or meet the expense of acquiring the
needed art material. Though a cheap good quality art material is good but an art
material acquired for free is still the best.

Critiquing Appropriate Art Technique

Art Technique is the manner and ability by which an artist employs the
technical skills of a particular art. It is the means, process or methods of using art
materials in a manner that the artist wants to use in order to create an artwork. It
is also important to assess art technique that is going to be used in creating an
 artwork. Some of the considerations in critiquing the appropriate art technique
are appropriateness, mastery and practicality.

Appropriateness. The manner by which the artist is going to apply in creating an

artwork should be suited to the kind of art materials that will be used as well as
suited to the kind of art technique.

Mastery. It is expected that the artist is skilled and highly knowledgeable of the art
technique. The right art materials are there and the suited art technique is
appropriate to the art form but if the artist is not adept with the use of the specific
technique to be applied, the outcome might run contrary to what is expected.

Practicality. Art technique should be functional and sensible for the objectives or
purpose set by the artist for the creation of the artwork. Practicality makes the art
technique truly appropriate when it is indeed useful for the artist and when it is
understandably fit for the kind of art materials and for the conceived artwork.

MODULE 12

Garbage are scattered around our environment, especially by those people

living in the National Capital Region (NCR). This trash from our surroundings or
community can be recycled to produce something new and transform it into a local
product or a piece of art.

The Philippines has been blessed with a lot of local materials according to previous
discussions. Some of these are Abaca, Bakbak, Bamboo, Buntal, Buri, and many
others that are constantly being developed by talented Filipinos.

But in the long run, our skilled Filipinos have gone through various trials especially
on the scarcity of the materials used and the growth of technology that hinders the
development of our existing methods in the development of local materials so that
new generations are gradually forgetting the materials used and the application of
techniques of our past.

In this lesson, we will go back to the local materials and the techniques of yesterday
that are gradually being forgotten.
Singkaban Based on the book (Sandagan, 2016), Singkaban is a
type of Filipino art of shaving a bamboo for home
decors and bamboo arches for weddings, mass
gathering, fiesta, and as welcome signage of a town,
 city, or village in the country. It is broadly utilized as
enrichment amid town celebration in Bulacan.
Experienced workers who strive to shave bamboo,
layering to make curls and sensitive twirls to reach the
unique art in this field. Perhaps, it is an art form
ensuring that art is acknowledged and is open to
everybody within the community and their visitors.

(Tope110383, 2013)
Puni According to (Flores, 2018), Puni is a traditional art of
leaf folding. It is an ancient art of weaving that uses
elongated leaves. It starts with preparing the leaf,
folding the leaf, tightening the package, and trimming
the garnish. It is one of the recognized crafts in the
weaving industry. In the history of Bulacan, they use
these leaves in making “Kubol” as a resting place, as a
wrapper for their foods, and most of all as a creative
toy for children. It was only during 1998 when it was
called Puni.
These leaves were widely used then but now, it's
becoming obsolete and become a dying art. With the
(Malolos, 2010) cooperation of the local governments of Bulacan, it is
gradually being introduced to the new generations.
Today it continues to be used to create woven baskets,
bags, fans, and most of all as "Palaspas" by Catholic
believers at the beginning of Holy Week. Currently,
these leaves are imported from Sampaloc, Quezon. The
leaves dry and crumbled within a few days. It is more
common to use that are dried treated and dyed for
strength and color.
Pabalat As featured by Galvez in 2016, the province of Bulacan
is known for making Pastillas de Letche one of the
Filipinos' favorites. It is made from carabao’s milk and
sprinkled with white sugar. After this is done, it is
wrapped in plain white paper and then placed in
packages to be released to the market.
Due to the unique mindset and creativity of the
Filipinos, they had a unique approach in making
pastillas. In the town of San Miguel, the unique
(Bulakenyo.ph, 2020)
production of paper used to wrap pastillas first
emerged. This art was soon transferred to the town of
Malolos, Bulacan.
Mrs. Luz Ocampo was only eleven years old when she
became fond of making designs on pastillas wrappers.
When she was a child, they had a business on
sweetened products and one of them was the
pastillas that she later loved to make its cover that we
still recognize until today.
This kind of art is what we called borlas de pastillas,
the intricately-designed wrapper is made from papel de
hapon or Japanese paper. First, Make a design on the
tracing board. Trace the design on the papel de
Hapon or Japanese paper. The real challenge comes
with cutting the paper where the design is traced. The
designs include Bahay kubo (nipa hut), rice field,
farmer/farmers, Maria Clara, flowers, landscapes,
figures, or specific activities and scenarios.
Wrapper-making used to be folk art, but the tradition
is slowly diminishing. Today, Ate Naty Ocampo Castro
continues the legacy of her mother – offer her borlas
de pastillas- to keep this culture alive and to be
recognized by the current generation (Amaia, n.d.).
Taka Paete, Laguna is one of the most colorful and creative
places in the Philippines. The name Paete is derived
from the word chisel which is an important tool used
for sculpture.
Taka or Paper Mache was first recorded in the 1920s
when Maria Bangue made a paper toy. The papers
were molded from wood carving and glued with paste.
After drying, the paper was removed from the molder
and reassembled, dried, and painted in a decorative
(Hariboneagle927, 2017) pattern that eventually becomes toys and ornaments.
Unfortunately, no one knows if her artworks were
saved after her town was consumed by fire and almost
all traces of Takas she made are gone.
Every April the Paete people are busy making
Christmas characters like Santa Claus, Rudolph the
red nose Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman in
preparation for the upcoming holiday season.
 Within the town, almost all the shops sell various
Filipino-inspired designs carabao figurine, Maria Clara
dolls, and horses in a variety of options. Some new
designs are cherubs, toy soldiers, giraffes, rabbits, and
a variety of fruits — all in different colors and sizes
(Baldemor, 2020).
Pagpapalayok or Pottery- Kare-kare, Paksiw, Sinigang, these are only some of
making the Filipino dishes we love to feast on. Of course,
they're only more appetizing served hot off the fire, in
a clay pot. Our use of clay pots is one of the things that
highlight the Filipino trademark of our dishes.
Despite many changes, the people of Pasig still
preserve one of the oldest and most important art
forms of the city the pottery-making.
The tradition of Pottery-making lives on in Pasig until
now. Where the products include not only ornamental
jars but also those used in everyday living.
Some pottery makers in Pasig import clay in San
Mateo, Rizal. The first step is passing the clay through
the mill. Then, they shape it in a mold made from
"Plaster of Paris." Next, they put the clay on the potter's
(Valenzuela, 2015) wheel. After it's done on the wheel, it will be buff and
smoothen the pot. Drying takes one or two days
depending on the climate. When it rains, the pots can
take one week to dry. When it is sunny, it can take only
one day. When the pots are dry, they can be baked in
the kiln. The ideal time is eight hours of baking. In
baking, if you heat it too suddenly, the pots break, so
you have to heat it slowly. At first, keep the heat low.
When the pots turn red, that means they're almost
done so turn up the heat until the embers spark.
Today, they used old pieces of wood and plywood as
fuel in their ovens. However, potters before used
carabao dung and hay. That's what they used back in
the 1950s. When the pot is tapped and sounds like a
bell it is cooked then it must be inspected once more.
Finally, it will be painted with latex or acrylic paint, or
coated with a glaze to make it shine (Castro, 2020).
Sanikulas Cookies or News featured in Youtube last 2018, considers
Panecillos de San Nicolas Pampanga as the culinary destination of the
Philippines.
Atching Lillian Borromeo is one of the famous food
historians and experts in Pampanga. Her recipes are
handed down from her grandmother whom she called
“Impo”.
Atching Lilian also makes Panecillos de San Nicolas,
whom Filipinos believe to possess healing properties.
Arrowroot is the main ingredient in baking the said
cookies. The arrowroot plant was inherited from her
(Judgefloro, 2017) ancestors. They had to plant the arrowroot and wait
eight months for the roots to mature. The roots are
then processed. It is pounded and soaked in water. It
is sun-dried and ends up as powder. That's the flour they
used for San Nicolas cookies. Unlike these days you can
easily buy ingredients from the store. But at that time,
they didn't even have flour.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl – cornstarch,
baking powder, salt, sugar, egg yolks, coconut milk,
softened butter, lemon zest, and oil. Blend well with a
wooden spoon. Slowly add the cake flour and the rice
flour, knead it into the mixture till it resembles a thick
dough, and has a smooth surface. Mixing by the hand
should take about 10 minutes till it is smooth and all
ingredients are incorporated.
Place the dough into an airtight container and freezer for
2 to 4 hours or overnight. When ready to bake, take the
dough out of the freezer and thaw on the counter for 8
to 10 minutes. Keep the dough very cold so it is easy to
roll out and handle on the heirloom cookie molds.
Grease with baking spray or shortening the surface of
the San Nicolas mold which has the design. Make sure
to grease the inner crevices and corners so that dough
can be removed easily after shaping. Place a chunk of
the dough, about 4 tablespoons over the San Nicolas
mold, on the hand-carved portion. Flatten with your
hand to spread it around evenly. Place a piece of
parchment or wax paper over the dough, which is over
the wooden mold. Using a rolling pin, roll and flatten
the dough so it gets embedded in the design.
Place a round or oval cookie cutter over the San
Nicolas mold, to cut the dough to the appropriate
shape needed. Trim the edges of the cookie if needed,
whether round or oval. Quickly transfer the molded
dough onto a baking sheet that has parchment paper
or a silicone baking sheet.
Bake Pan de San Nicolas at a preheated oven of 325 F
degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or till top is brown. When
done, cool the cookies on a cookie rack. They will be
crisp on the outside but will have a slightly soft
shortbread texture inside. It will take at least 30-40
minutes for the cookies to cool on the rack. When Pan de
San Nicolas cookies are cooled, wrap in white cellophane
wrappers to show off the intricate designs. Store in an
airtight glass or plastic jar.

San Nicolas cookies are quite bland in taste. People say

it's good for people with diabetes. The absence of
sweetness makes it excellent when it is paired with hot
chocolate (Sison, 2017
 MODULE 13
SUBJECT
According to Sandagan and Sayseng (2016), subject refers to anything that
represented in an artwork. It can be an object, person scenery, colors and etc.
even though subject can be the center of an art some masterpiece do not have
subjects.
When we are talking about subject, there are two types of arts. A rts that
have subject are called Representational or Objective Arts. These arts present
stories, images, representations, symbols, etc. Examples are graphic arts,
literature, sculpture, painting, and theater arts. While art works without subjects
are called Non-Representational or Non-Objective Arts. These arts attract
straight through the senses. Examples are musical arrangement, architecture,
weaving and other functional art
MEDIUM
Medium refers to the materials used in an artwork. It is the instrument of
every artist to convey message in an artistic manner. It can be colors and
brushers for a painter; sounds for a musician; movements of the body for an
actress or dancer; it can also be the words for every writer; wood or clay for a
sculptor.
When creating an art, it does not mean an artist should have the
expensive medium for creating a masterpiece, it can be anything available. As
long as it can conveys the artists’ message it can be used.
FORM
Form refers to the physical characteristics of an art. It is about the
utilization of the elements of art such as line, shape, form, space, color, value,
 and texture. And these elements are arranged based on the principles of design
in creating masterpiece.

After understanding the concepts artists considered in creating art, you

are now ready to leap to a bigger step of producing an art production. According
to Quipper (2018), there are 4Ms to consider:
METHODS
Methods refers to the framework of the production. It provides the
skeletal plan that will serves as the guide for the whole production. It contains
the objectives or goals, material, procedures, manpower assignment, target date
of finish.
Objectives or goals are the expected output or result of the production.
Objectives must be SMART; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time
bound.
Title or name of Production refers to the name of productions. The name of

the production should be the one to catch the audience’s attention.

Target Audience refers to the group that is the primary target of the
production.
Procedures are the activities that need to be done.

Venue or Platform refers to the space you will use to execute your
production. It can be physical space or an online platform.
Date of Implementation or Target date of Finish is the expected of
production’s launching date.
MATERIALS
Materials refers to the artwork presented on a production such as the
script on a drama, music and lyrics, or choreography. It is the center of the
production that consist the concept that is expressed through art.
MACHINE
Machine refers to the mediums, machinery, tools, or equipment to be
used in a production. On a theater production machines are the physical
materials such as stage lighting, sound systems, or any technical medium.
MANPOWER
Manpower refers to the team of people assigned to a specific role. It can
be the director, producers, choreographers, dancers, artist, or crew. Because of
them the whole process of creating the production can be fun and it will be
easier to accomplish.
MODULE 15

There are many different things to consider in putting up an art production.

This may vary according to the resources, type, and other things. In general, here are
the Four Methods (4Ms) to consider:

Methods

Methods will determine the standard procedure of a production. This is the

step-by-step procedure of the production. This provides the structure or
framework which will be its foundation. We also call it the production plan. The
method shall contain the following:

● Objectives or goals - the end-result or the outcomes of the production

● Materials - the main concept and/or storyline
● Procedures - the activities that need to be done
● Manpower assignment - the person assigned for a particular activity
● Target date of finish - the activity’s date of finish

Materials

This refers to the artwork to be produced and presented to the audience such as
the script, playwright, music, and choreography. A material must have a concept. A
concept is the main idea, message, context, or story that needs to be conveyed.

Machine

These are the materials, machines, or equipment to be used in the production.

These may refer to the physical materials in a production design such as the stage,
lighting, sound systems, or any technological medium.

Manpower

Manpower refers to the production team. Each will be assigned to specific

activities in the plan.

● Concept writers - create and write the storyline and/or script

● Researchers - research to ensure a properly contextualized and well-informed
production
● Director - the head of the production; the one whose vision manifests the most in the
production
● Producers - produce machineries and manages the manpower
● Choreographers - produce the act and the motions in the storyline to be executed by
the artists
● Performing artists - lead the roles in the storyline
● Crew - the associates in the production
 MODULE 16
Production Planning
An artistic production demands not just the skills to make the art, but also a
rigorous planning ability. This is called the production planning, and there many
different parts and tasks involved before you can properly execute a production.

In order to properly execute a production, you have to go through a systematic and

rigid planning period. This involves many different tools and materials depending on
the nature of your production. In general, you must first plan out the basic details of
the production, namely:

Type of production (exhibit, concert, play, etc.)

When coming up with a type of production, consider the 4Ms. Ensure that your
methods is fitting, your material can be best conveyed in the chosen type, your
machineries are enough to execute the production, and that your manpower has the
skill set required for the selected type.
Title or name of production

Your production name has to be catchy, memorable, and unique. Remember, you
want to compel an audience to view your artwork, and a generic title might not do the
trick. Once you come up with a name, research about it first before making it final to
ensure that it does not have negative associations and that it has not been overused in
the past.
Venue or platform

The venue refers to the physical space where you will execute the production. This
can be a theatre, street corner, cafeteria, classroom, or similar places. When it is not
necessary to execute your production in a physical place, then you still have to
consider a platform. A platform can be social media sites for digital productions, radio
shows, or other avenues which you can use so that your artwork reaches your target
audience.
Target audience

The target audience refers to the demographic group which your production primarily
targets. Try to identify a specific target audience. For example, instead of saying you are
targeting students as your viewers, identify their grade range and name of or type of
school. Moreover, you also have to consider the audience’s quantity and capacity to
ensure maximum participation or viewership.
Date of implementation

Your implementation date must be realistic and must give you enough time for
preparation. It is suggested that you come up with a calendar of activities, marking
milestones in your production process, to ensure that you are on time and that the best
quality is met. Remember, a good production takes time and the process will require
patience and diligence.
Resources

Your resources refer to manpower, machineries, and financial considerations. For

manpower, you have to make sure that the demand of the production fits the
availability and capacity of the people involved. For machines, you have to confirm the
availability of the necessary items such as lighting, design, props, and other things. If it
is unavailable, then think of ways in which your team can still produce these
machines.

Further, your resources are hugely defined by your financial capacity. A lot of time in pre-
production stage is ideally allotted to fundraising. You may raise funds through selling
things or through finding sponsors who believe in your production’s vision. While it may
feel like putting up an art production is expensive, it does not always have to be. Find ways
to maximize available materials and cheapen the cost.
Objectives

Objectives refer to the goals you have for your production. Objectives have to be
identified before starting the production process. These will define what your
production has to achieve in order to be considered as successful.

Objectives must be written in infinitives (to + verb) and it must be SMART or

specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound.
● Specific - use concrete action verbs as opposed to abstract ones (i.e. the verb you
use should suggest specific actions on how to go about it)
● Measurable - identify quantifiable metrics
● Attainable - ensure that it is realistic, and it can be attained given your resources
● Relevant - the objectives set must have significant impact to the production when
achieved
● Time-bound - identify specific points in time (or time period) when you have to
meet a certain objective

For example, consider the objective: to raise awareness on the subject matter of the
play. This objective is not SMART. First off, it is not clear as to how a “raised
awareness” will be measured (through an evaluation sheet, a survey, etc.) nor is it
clear as to what the subject matter is (people may interpret a play differently).
Further, it did not provide metrics, so its attainability is not knowable and is not time-
bound.

A suggested revision may be: to raise awareness by 50% on breast cancer measured
through a post-event survey distributed at the end of the play. This objective meets all
of the criteria mentioned above.

After the implementation stage, your team should have an evaluation period. During
then, discuss the good and the bad parts of the production, and check what you have
achieved side by side with your objectives to see how much of the production is a
success.