Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to repair, maintain and alter scenic art elements used in a range of television, film and interactive media productions.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the unit 

Scenic artists, painters and set making staff apply the skills and knowledge outlined in this unit.

Generally they work as members of set construction crews under the supervision of a workshop manager.

They are responsible for the care and maintenance of scenic art elements, which includes painting and colouring a full range of textures associated with sets and props. They require a good understanding of scenic art processes, as well as an appreciation of artistic criteria.

They need to be proficient in the use of a range of hand and power tools.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Identify maintenance requirements

1. Liaise with relevant production personnel  to confirm production requirements 

2. Check scenic art elements  required for productions  to identify any faults  that need to be repaired or alterations that need to be made

3. Discuss priorities for repair and maintenance of scenic art elements with relevant production personnel

4. Ensure elements are labelled, coded and stored safely in an appropriate order to meet production requirements

5. Handle consumable or hazardous materials  correctly and according to relevant OHS regulations 

Repair scenic art elements

6. Liaise with relevant production personnel to confirm required repairs

7. Ensure sufficient supplies of materials are available to cover needs during production

8. Clean scenic art elements ensuring delicate or problem materials are serviced with care

9. Apply paint to specified areas of scenic art elements where appropriate

10. Complete minor repairs to scenic art elements as appropriate and place in storage  according to enterprise procedures

Undertake alterations of scenic art elements

11. Read and interpret instructions received concerning required alterations to scenic art elements

12. Complete alterations as instructed or seek assistance from appropriate production personnel according to individual level of responsibility

13. Ensure altered components are labelled properly and stored as required

14. Complete documentation  in accordance with enterprise procedures

15. Maintain a clean and safe work area and store materials and equipment  appropriately

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication and teamwork skills sufficient to:

• liaise with relevant production personnel, e.g. scenic art designer, scenic artists and set construction crew
• understand and carry out instructions and creative directions as required
• complete routine workplace documentation
• work effectively as a team member

• literacy and numeracy skills sufficient to:

• accurately interpret scale drawings and measurements
• account for minor expenditures, e.g. petty cash

• technical skills sufficient to:

• use a range of materials and hand and power tools to maintain scenic art cloths
• apply a range of materials to scenic art elements, e.g. paints and adhesives

• self-management and planning skills sufficient to:

• prioritise work tasks
• work under pressure and meet deadlines
• seek expert assistance when problems arise
• label and store finished scenic art elements in an orderly manner
• maintain a clean and safe work area

Required knowledge 

• industry knowledge, including:

• roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in designing and realising productions
• understanding the artistic and technical elements of productions
• terminology associated with production scheduling

• characteristics of a range of materialsused inscenic art, including paints andcloths
• scenic art design and construction processes
• different types of construction materials and techniques
• familiarity with storage and identification processes and systems
• methods for the safe handling of hazardous materials
• OHS standards as they apply to preparing and priming scenic art cloths

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• ability to:

• organise and store scenic art elements in line with production requirements
• demonstrate attention to detail when repairing, maintaining and altering scenic art elements
• follow directions and instructions
• handle hazardous materials and equipment in a safe manner

• collaborative approach to work.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• completion of scenic art maintenance tasks within typical workplace time constraints
• access to the tools, materials and equipment required to maintain scenic art cloths
• access to productions requiring scenic art cloths
• access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required
• use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance
• direct observation of the candidate repairing or altering scenic art cloths
• inspection of scenic art cloths maintained by the candidate to determine whether correct procedures have been followed and production requirements have been met
• written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

• CUESCE05B Apply a general knowledge of scenic art
• CUFSCE201A Prepare and prime scenic art cloths.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Production personnel  may include:

• scenic art designer
• production designer
• scenic art department personnel
• scenic art supervisor and manager
• scenic art production staff
• props department personnel
• head of department
• director of photography
• director
• producer
• technical director
• floor manager
• other technical/specialist staff.

Production requirements  may include:

• day and night
• deadlines
• hazardous situations
• in a studio
• on location - exterior
• on location - interior
• outside broadcast.

Scenic art elements  may include:

• backdrops
• costumes
• cycloramas
• decorative walls
• drops
• flats
• flooring and floor cladding
• flown pieces
• large props, e.g. furniture
• lettering
• models
• murals
• rakes
• rostrums
• scaffolding
• signage
• soft drapes
• stairs
• treads.

Productions  may include:

• animations
• commercials
• documentaries
• feature films
• filmed events
• interactive media productions
• live or pre-recorded productions of any type, e.g.:

• music
• drama
• comedy
• variety
• sport
• news and current affairs
• game shows
• forums or special events

• live theatre and events
• music videos
• short films.

Faults  may include:

• breakages
• chips
• dirt
• marks
• rips
• stains
• weathering.

Materials  may include:

• adhesives
• cleaning agents
• cloths, including:

• canvas
• gauze
• nessle
• wool
• silk
• velour
• synthetic fabrics

• dyes
• fire retardant
• gaffer tape
• nails and screws
• primers
• putties of various types
• solvent-based paints
• spare parts
• texture mediums
• water-based paints.

OHS regulations  may include:

• Australian Recommended Safety Code for Film and Television
• commonwealth, state and territory OHS regulations
• relevant local government construction rules and regulations
• relevant national and international standards, guidelines and codes of practice, e.g. the Building Code of Australia.

Storage  may include:

• containers
• offices
• on location
• refrigeration
• shelving
• temporary buildings
• warehouses.

Documentation  may include:

• colour charts
• computer generated
• confirmation of receipt and dispatch notes
• descriptive scenic art checklists
• fault reports
• manually written
• manufacture schedules
• manufacturer specifications and instructions
• measurement charts
• memos of instruction
• paint colour formulas
• production schedules
• running sheets
• scenic art breakdown lists
• scenic art design
• scenic art schedules and plans
• sketches
• stock orders
• stock reports
• technical drawings.

Equipment  may include:

• brushes
• charcoal sticks
• conversion tables
• cutting boards and tables
• dyeing facilities
• glue guns
• graining combs
• hopper guns
• measuring tapes
• power tools
• rollers
• scissors and cutters
• sponges
• spray-guns
• stamps
• tacks
• tools, e.g. wire cutters, hammers and pliers.

Unit sector 

Competency field 

Visual communication - scenic art

Co-requisite units