have an 'actor run' light effect associated with the witch cursing the baker and his wife in Into the Woods. I am going back and forth between the light generating from the witch or generating from the baker and his wife. I think it would work both ways: The light comes from the end of the witches staff and the actors double over. The witch uses her staff the light appears no the actors and they double over. I just have to pick which would the easiest and most reliable. I've looked at the hand held flashing LEDs but I have never used them. Does anyone have any experience with them?

If I can't get something localized I might do something larger scale and run it from the board, or I could combine the the two and have a quick blackout and the flashing LED's.

 

As you can see I am of two, possibly three minds, with this. Any ideas would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Linda

 

We didn't worry about the staff glowing when we did "Into the Woods" we just used a special on the Baker and his wife.  However I did have to manufacture a functional wand for the Ice Witch in "Lion, Witch, & Wardrobe" which may help you out.

 

We used a small MagLite brand flashlight to illuminate a quartz crystal in the tip ofthe wand and used a blue gell to color the effect. Then we would hit the victims with a special (Blue Flash) when the witch just after the witch hit her little button on the flashlight.

 

The lighting  was fairly dark though, not sure how well it will work with brigher lighting. Pehaps you could use a larger MagLite.

 

It's actually pretty simple to put together just a little tricky strengthening the rod or staff.  Just attach the MagLite to the upper end of the staff then afix the crystal or crystals over the lens of the MagLite be sure load the MagLite with fresh batteries and test the gell color before construction (learned those the hard way). If you'll use a heavy gauge (rigid) wire or rods to bridge between the body of the staff and the Maglite (3-4 should do) then space them out evenly around MagLite handle and tape them tightly to the MagLite next insert your staff end between the rods butting up to the end of the Maglite and tape to the Staff. Finally, begining about 3 - 4 inches below the rods wrap your Gaff Tape tightly around the staff, spiralling up making sure to miss the button on the MagLite but going just past the lens. Once you've secured the MageLite to the Staff, affix your crystal over the lens of the MagLite using whatever setting style you wish (I'd probably just use a 6 point wire cage to hold it in place, but you could use clear apoxy resin to mount the crystal/s permanently to the lens. Now, go back to the staff, and starting about 1 inch form your first wrap spiral another piece of Gaff tape up till about 1/8th of an inch below the end of the first piece of Gaff. Repeat this step starting about 1 inch above the last strip and ending 1/8th of an inch below the end of the last piece until you have a tappered and rounded end at eh top of your staff.

 

Remember NOT to cover the switch on the MagLite or you won't be able to turn it on when you're finished.

 

If you want a knarled old branch looking staff try adding some "popcorn" or "peanuts" under the last couple of stips of Gaff Tape... the Paint