Since the set for this murder mystery is in a casino, this leaves a lot of possibilities for the set design team and the possible items we must create. On the first day, once the project was announced, some people went to the room in which the game will take place and took notes and measurements of the area. They also noted any items of interest that may be useful during setting the scene or for other departments such as the puzzle team.
For example, we now know what on-site resources or items we may use like the two large couches, the dozens of chairs, and most notably the bookcase. It’s good too to see there is a screen in case the transmedia team would like to project something, and the multiple “nooks” in the corners of the room allow us to be more creative in how we use the space.
Since our group is so interconnected with other teams, one major challenge we expect to face is lack of communication or last minute notices. For example, the first few days we weren’t able to do much other than get the room layouts since we had to wait until other teams decided on things such as the setting of the murder mystery or initial puzzle mechanics. Still, we tried helping by providing some ideas to the puzzle team in hopes that it could help them during their brainstorming process. We’ve also worked on a moodboard for us to refer to once we begin designing the items we need.
A couple of days ago though, we have finally received an update from the puzzle team on some items they need from us. Moving forward, the main course of action will probably be to start getting these items together and continue checking in with the puzzle team and updating on our progress or any changes they may want. With this however, some expected challenges would rely on the resources available to us. We have yet to check out the Logan Center to look at their prop shop to see if there’s anything we may use. Depending on the results, we’ll have a better understanding of what items we may have to buy out-of-pocket or go out of our way for, or perhaps in the worst case scenario we might have to let the puzzle team take some actions that may not be possible.
For the time being, we’ll need to get together as a team and go over what items each member should work on or ways we can get creative in achieving these goals. Some of our members have already listed their skills which may come in useful when discussing who does which task, but in the end we are a team and will support each other throughout the process, especially when things start going at full speed as we are nearing the deadline.
One group we plan to stay close with is the transmedia design since they’ll also be dependent on the set for their technological needs and we may need their help for ours. For example, some items the puzzle design team has requested may require something digital, so we may have to coordinate some stuff with both the puzzle and transmedia team to make sure we’re able to accomplish their vision.
In consolidating the division of teams, set design also merged with costumes due to their relatively small size, and we have been working in the same Discord channel to best communicate our ideas and progress to one another. The costumes team have met with Nathan Rohrer, the head of the Logan Costume shop, and have been approved to pull any pieces and accessories needed from the project from there. Alongside costuming all plot relevant actors within the murder mystery, the costume team will also select accessories that will be accessible for people entering the murder mystery to choose from as to give our players the feeling of roleplay by allowing them to embellish themselves with jewels. Three piece suits, detective hats, and doctor scrubs have already begun to be pulled at the shop because once the acting team has a finalized cast list, then we will begin fitting specific actors into specific costumes. Actors will meet with the costume team in the shop to accomplish all of this based around their schedule and the hours of the shop. The construction of a special garment for the manager is also underway that will include copious amounts of playing cards, sparkles, and hot glue, so stay tuned!
