Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: vanishing words

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Firace
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Joined: 5/08/07
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Topic: vanishing words
Posted: 6/07/07 at 3:05pm

Hello All-

Check this out!!! I just wrote a script which calls for a character to have some lettering on his shirt. he comes on stage... He turns around for approximately 20 seconds and when he turns back around...the letters need to be gone...any suggestions on how to make this happen???

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TimW
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Joined: 8/10/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 83

Posted: 6/07/07 at 3:30pm

Don't know if this will work, but what if you did something like schools do with felt letters, pictures on a felt board.

Not gifted in fabrics, but maybe this will start some ideas.

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Kathy S
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Joined: 8/21/04
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Posted: 6/07/07 at 5:02pm

There used to be a product that was available in joke stores that was an "ink" that you could spill on fabric and it would disappear when it was dry. I don't know what it was actually called and I don't know if you could manipulate it to do what you want it to do but it might be a start...

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Topper
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Joined: 1/27/05
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Posts: 543

Posted: 6/08/07 at 3:19pm

First, I'm assuming the shirt in question is like a jersey -- no collar or buttons -- with writing across the chest.

Perhaps a simple solution would be to buy (or make) a blank jersey with no lettering on it. Purchase some excess material that matches the color and texture of the shirt. Pattern and cut a "false front" that covers the entire front of the shirt and attaches with tiny snaps or velcro at the shoulders and armpits. (Where the seams of the shirt naturally are placed) It will be on this false front to which you sew, iron-on or otherwise attach the letters.

The actor can wear this apparatus with little restriction of motion, the bottom part can be tucked into the trousers. At the moment of change, the actor simply turns upstage, removes the entire false front and ditches it behind some scenery.

When he turns back, chances are good the audience will be too distracted by the missing letters across the chest, that they won't be looking for attachments near the shoulders or armpits. If necessary, you may add additional securing points down the side of the shirt, again where the seam occurs. These would be hidden by the actor's own arms, standing naturally.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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P&M Sales
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Joined: 4/18/05
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 38

Posted: 6/09/07 at 2:02pm

I don't know whether this will work, but it's worth a try!

1) Make the lettering out of UV paint which in normal stage light is the same colour as the cloth it's printed on, but is a contrasting colour when under UV.

2) Fire up one or more UV lamps on stage well in advance of the character's entrance (they normally take about 5 mins to warm up) and flood the stage with it.

3) With moderate levels of stage lighting you should be able to see the lettering while the character faces forward.

4) When he/she turns round for the 20secs, kill the UV light (possibly have a lighting change as well because the UV will snap off - they're not dimmable - and this change might be noticeable).

5) Face the front again, and the lettering has gone!

I've never tried it, so I can't guarantee anything, but in principle it should work.

best regards

David
http://www.stagescripts.com

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biggertigger
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Joined: 4/16/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 188

Posted: 6/12/07 at 10:03pm

This sounds very interesting, wish we had a little bit more information of this scene. Blocking is everything, so swap outs maybe possible. Here is a video of "magic changing clothes" that can give you an idea of what "swap out" is. You can also google magic shops that can show you how this is done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-wUgnyGv0

Obviously, you would have to stage it so they don't go into a bag, but behind a tall piece of furnature or crossing behing a Japanese Screen. Just some thoughts.

The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

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Joan54
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Joined: 10/03/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 207

Posted: 6/13/07 at 9:20am

That is the most amazing video.....take a look.

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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neilfortin
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Joined: 11/20/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 210

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:20pm

To learn how to do this would be amazing for a show! it all has to do with quick zippers and pull tabs, there are a few articles online about how it is done. Like one of those inflatable lifesaving vests, these clothes all have quick zippers on them. Google "quick change" and some pretty good websites will come up on how this effect is produced.

Community Theater makes us smile

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Firace
Walk-On
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Joined: 5/08/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 6/14/07 at 12:04pm

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUGGESTIONS...YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!!

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theatremonkey
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Joined: 6/04/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 35

Posted: 6/23/08 at 1:16pm

one word........velcro. the answer to everything

theatre monkey

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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
Firace Walk-On Joined: 5/08/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: vanishing words Posted: 6/07/07 at 3:05pm
	Hello All- Check this out!!! I just wrote a script which calls for a character to have some lettering on his shirt. he comes on stage... He turns around for approximately 20 seconds and when he turns back around...the letters need to be gone...any suggestions on how to make this happen???

	IP Logged

TimW Star Joined: 8/10/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 83	Posted: 6/07/07 at 3:30pm
	Don't know if this will work, but what if you did something like schools do with felt letters, pictures on a felt board. Not gifted in fabrics, but maybe this will start some ideas.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 6/07/07 at 5:02pm
	There used to be a product that was available in joke stores that was an "ink" that you could spill on fabric and it would disappear when it was dry. I don't know what it was actually called and I don't know if you could manipulate it to do what you want it to do but it might be a start...
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 6/08/07 at 3:19pm
	First, I'm assuming the shirt in question is like a jersey -- no collar or buttons -- with writing across the chest. Perhaps a simple solution would be to buy (or make) a blank jersey with no lettering on it. Purchase some excess material that matches the color and texture of the shirt. Pattern and cut a "false front" that covers the entire front of the shirt and attaches with tiny snaps or velcro at the shoulders and armpits. (Where the seams of the shirt naturally are placed) It will be on this false front to which you sew, iron-on or otherwise attach the letters. The actor can wear this apparatus with little restriction of motion, the bottom part can be tucked into the trousers. At the moment of change, the actor simply turns upstage, removes the entire false front and ditches it behind some scenery. When he turns back, chances are good the audience will be too distracted by the missing letters across the chest, that they won't be looking for attachments near the shoulders or armpits. If necessary, you may add additional securing points down the side of the shirt, again where the seam occurs. These would be hidden by the actor's own arms, standing naturally.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

P&M Sales Lead Joined: 4/18/05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 6/09/07 at 2:02pm
	I don't know whether this will work, but it's worth a try! 1) Make the lettering out of UV paint which in normal stage light is the same colour as the cloth it's printed on, but is a contrasting colour when under UV. 2) Fire up one or more UV lamps on stage well in advance of the character's entrance (they normally take about 5 mins to warm up) and flood the stage with it. 3) With moderate levels of stage lighting you should be able to see the lettering while the character faces forward. 4) When he/she turns round for the 20secs, kill the UV light (possibly have a lighting change as well because the UV will snap off - they're not dimmable - and this change might be noticeable). 5) Face the front again, and the lettering has gone! I've never tried it, so I can't guarantee anything, but in principle it should work.
	best regards David http://www.stagescripts.com
	IP Logged

biggertigger Celebrity Joined: 4/16/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 188	Posted: 6/12/07 at 10:03pm
	This sounds very interesting, wish we had a little bit more information of this scene. Blocking is everything, so swap outs maybe possible. Here is a video of "magic changing clothes" that can give you an idea of what "swap out" is. You can also google magic shops that can show you how this is done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-wUgnyGv0 Obviously, you would have to stage it so they don't go into a bag, but behind a tall piece of furnature or crossing behing a Japanese Screen. Just some thoughts.
	The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 6/13/07 at 9:20am
	That is the most amazing video.....take a look.
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

neilfortin Celebrity Joined: 11/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:20pm
	To learn how to do this would be amazing for a show! it all has to do with quick zippers and pull tabs, there are a few articles online about how it is done. Like one of those inflatable lifesaving vests, these clothes all have quick zippers on them. Google "quick change" and some pretty good websites will come up on how this effect is produced.
	Community Theater makes us smile
	IP Logged

Firace Walk-On Joined: 5/08/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/14/07 at 12:04pm
	THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUGGESTIONS...YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!!
	IP Logged

theatremonkey Lead Joined: 6/04/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 6/23/08 at 1:16pm
	one word........velcro. the answer to everything
	theatre monkey
	IP Logged

Topic: vanishing words( Topic Closed)
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