Active TopicsActive Topics  Display List of Forum MembersMemberlist  CalendarCalendar  Search The ForumSearch  HelpHelp
  RegisterRegister  LoginLogin
Lights and Sound
 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound
Message Icon Topic: creating fog fx(Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post Reply Post New Topic
Author Message
DnoMan
Walk-On
Walk-On


Joined: 7/01/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0
bullet Topic: creating fog fx
    Posted: 1/07/07 at 9:48am

Hello. I am doing the lighting design for "The Unexpected Guest". I have been asked to create the  fog effect at the opening of Act 1-something to do with real fog not taking stage directions. I have been given a few suggestions such as a pinwheel set up  and others but as a very   "green" lighting designer I don't know which effect may be best. The effect happens in the UR corner and is seen through 2 windows and a set of French doors. Any ideas would be appreciated

Thanks

IP IP Logged
bmiller025
Star
Star
Avatar

Joined: 10/06/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 82
bullet Posted: 1/08/07 at 8:39pm
I am not familiar with the play, but let me try to suggest some things for you. I am curious what you mean by a "pinwheel setup." If you have a backdrop that is void of detail behind the windows and french doors, and you hit it with a floor mounted lighting instrument, you can create a nice effect with a 'pinwheel' slowly rotating in front of the light. This pinwheel will intermittently block a portion of the light, if you put something inside the pinwheel that obscures a portion of the pathway of the light. The pinwheel needs to rotate very slowly, and there should only be a little of the light blocked at any one time. This might work better if you have more than one light and pinwheel.
 
What does fog look like outside a window? Very subtle, gradual shifts in shape and intensity.
 
Instead of using a pinwheel, you could always have a technician very slowly wave a stick or even a pencil in front of the light. I have created a very nice effect of two people watching a movie by hitting them with a followspot, and having a couple people wiggle pencils in front of the light. It creates a subtle flickering that the audience picks up, with no obvious shadows.
 
When you have a bit more precise detail about what you need to do, let us know.
http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
IP IP Logged
DnoMan
Walk-On
Walk-On


Joined: 7/01/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0
bullet Posted: 1/09/07 at 9:41am
Thanks for your reply. The pinwheel idea we had was very much as you describe. After consulting the techie at the theatre she suggests we use a "hazer"-"cracker" in the film industry? That will create particles in the air that we can have our patio light reflect off to look like fog. The effect is at the intro when a character is to be seen lurking about in the fog.
IP IP Logged
avcastner
Star
Star
Avatar

Joined: 12/21/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 85
bullet Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:36am

Just want to relate a smoke machine gone wrong story (just in case you decide to go that directon)--

 
We turned on the smoke machine for the opening of our play during our first tech.  We set off the fire alarm system in the theatre, which shut down all of the power in the building for 3 hours.  (Considering we were opening that night at 7, it was an interesting day).  Needless to say, we didn't use the smoke machine for the play.
IP IP Logged
whitebat
Celebrity
Celebrity
Avatar

Joined: 8/05/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 137
bullet Posted: 8/07/07 at 12:22am
We used a fog/smoke machine and garden hoses to pipe fog where we wanted it.  Yes, the machine gets very hot.  I believe ends got melted and had to be cut off the hose.  But one can fill the hose with fog/smoke and blow it to where you want it.  That way the fog can be concentrated... still run the fog machine from one angle and blow it on from another. 
IP IP Logged
DnoMan
Walk-On
Walk-On


Joined: 7/01/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0
bullet Posted: 9/03/07 at 4:12pm
Well the show is over and the effect worked quite well. We ran it through a large ventilation type hose to direct it. The one thing that went wrong one night was it was left on too long and the smoke came up over the top of the set,  creating an eerie smoke that mesmerized the audience for a minute or two.
IP IP Logged
Gaafa
Celebrity
Celebrity
Avatar

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181
bullet Posted: 9/04/07 at 6:09am
It's great when a creative acident works! Did you keep it in the show?
I'm sure I have related this before?
Not had a lot of drama with smoke, only dry ice going wrong - No the dry ice worked as it was ment too, it was the crew that caused the blue!
It was an Opera & they had a raked false stage, which went from 6' US at the cyc down to the deck at the setting line, at the apron.
The dry ice machine was mounted on a rostrum usc behind the raked false stage. It was on' stand by' & had bioled. Rgw dry ice was loaded in the basket with the lid secured. When the cue was got the go, they dropped the ice in the water. Nothing happened! A tit [Techie In Training] released the lock down on the lid to check, other techies dived totry & hold down the lid, but couldn't. The The Prima Sop was standing just above the ice machine in a hooped dress, she was just coming to her last  big warble of the song. The machine blew off it's lid & exploded a fountain of hot/cold water & ice/mist. The diva hit a note, upon copping the lot - I bet she has never reached it since - & got smothered in her dress, showered in water, then fell to her knees, but because it was  a raked stage, almost  ended up  in the pit feet in the air.
When the techies had set the machine up, it had flexible elephant hose fitted, to deliver the ice/mist to the top of the false stage. For it to roll down while the Diva finished  on the last bars.
Unfortunatly the hose had sunk at the centre weighted down with evaporated water, between the rostum & the stage. Filling it up with water, the exspanded ice/mist pressure couldn't force past the water, so it became a build up of pressure inside the water chamber. Resulting in everyone being washed over, the diva receiving a standing ovation & the punters rolling in the aisles.
Moral;- Always Idiot check everyhing, everyrime!

      Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP IP Logged
Post Reply Post New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums version 8.05
Copyright ©2001-2006 Web Wiz Guide
buy generic cialis are in line cialis canada outcome for yourself viagra sales cost saving benefit viagra uk convert your buy phentermine online pay phentermine cod payment Lenders Everything xanax online your existing xanax overnight absolute must free incest stories online The value gay incest advance The key free dog sex pics cash flow dog sex the reduced noise free gay college guys of the period gay guys