Theatre Design & Technology - Oct 1969 - 17

proposed system. They are not interactive
parts of a program already in existence at
at this time. Both the writing area and the
display area presently available are ten inches
square.
The computer operator starts the CATP program. He does so with a few simple operations, loads magnetic tape on the tape
handlers, and checks the plotter and typewriter to see they will operate properly. Then
he may leave until it is time to shut the
machine down.
Now the designer and director are faced
with a single display of the instruction set.
(Fig. 3) The designer can now point to the
word "draw" and a symbol will appear i ndicating the computer is in "draw" mode.
Anything drawn on the tablet will now appear
on the next display in a simple line drawing.
As the ground plan is drawn, lines may be
moved, erased, lengthened, or revised by
using. a simple set of symbols that the
computer knows. When both the designer
and director are happy with the plan, one
can point to the instruction "names."
Using the typewriter one may put a title
on the production, indicate which scene and
take he is starting with (the program will
assume Scene 1 Take 1 otherwise), and list
the cast. At this time one can also call for
symbols representing cameras, microphones
and other special production items which
will be moved about from scene to scene.
As these items are typed, they will appear
in a Iist on the display.
To properly arrange the cast, chorus, crowds,
cameras, etc. one returns to the instruction
set and points to "move." Now using the
pen one points to the first cast member,
say "A," and moves across the drawing,
watching as the character "A" moves on
the plan. When properly placed for Take
No.1, a gentle pressure on the pen tells
the computer you are set, and "A" remains where you want him. In the same

way one sets all the items from the list
either on the plan or off in the wings ready
for a later take.
Pointing to the instruction "arrow" enables
the pen to place arrows near cast members,
set pieces, cameras, etc., indicating where
they will move after this initial take.
This completes the first 'take'. If there is
anything that needs to bechanged, one need
only point to the instruction required, say
"move" and then the camera or actor can
be moved to a better position. Things may
be added or deleted easily at this point.
When a best first guess is complete, one
need only point at "next" and the plan
with all markings appears on the next display
to the right of the first. What remains of
the original drawing is everything except
the arrows, and the title is changed to
Take No.2.
New set items may be drawn in now for
Take No.2. Members of cast, crowd, cameras, etc. can be moved to their next positions. Arrows can again be added. Special
notes and comments can be typed along the
bottom of the drawing. When complete one
again points to "next" and continues.
In my simulated setting I have drawn a corner, and three wagons. The characters for
the scene No. 5 were "A, B, C, and D."
In Take NO.2 (Fig. 4) "A" and "B" have
been moved onto the set, "C" and ;'D" are
in the wings up left. Arrows have been
added indicating motion for" A" and two of
the wagons. For Take No.3 (Fig. 5) parts
have been moved, cast changed, and arrows added. Then still more changes have
been made in Take No.4 (Fig. 6).

Fig. 3 Photo of instruction set as displayed

Fig. 4 Photo of scene 5 take No. 2 with
cast "A & B" on set and arrows added indicating motion to be taken

If I want to go back, I merely have to
point to the instruction "back" and the
scenes appear in reverse order. If changes
are required, within certain reasonable limits,
they may be as easily made as it was to
originally set the take. Then one advances
th rough the takes again as before. The

Fig. 2 Photograph of terminal operator area.
Special pen is lying on the tablet writing
surface, the light-pen is hanging at the
right of the left display unit, and the switch
box is at the extreme left next to the drawing surface

-",

Fig. 5 Photo of take No.3, "D" now on
set, "A" exits, wagons still move

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