Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Cyclorama Dilema

Message

   Hello.  Our theatre company rents theatre space at a local high school.  The high school does not have a cyclorama.  I would very much like to use a cyclorama in my set designs which allows for the change of light in the background for changing time and mood/feelings.  We are going to be doing Scarlet Pimpernel and I envisioned using a red wash on a cyclorama behind the guillotine to help convey blood/death (not to be gory).

I checked with our local theatrical rental company.  They said I need a stretchy cyclorama that can be illuminated from behind.  But, they do not have one to rent.  Is there anything else I can use?  I would like to change the colors to red, sky blue and maybe even a dark purple.  I have sewn up a white backdrop before (20 x 22), using muslin but I do not think I could illuminate a sewnh white backdrop our of muslin.  Any ideas???

Author	Message
Kim L. Star Joined: 2/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 86	Topic: Cyclorama Dilema Posted: 8/16/10 at 2:15pm
	Hello. Our theatre company rents theatre space at a local high school. The high school does not have a cyclorama. I would very much like to use a cyclorama in my set designs which allows for the change of light in the background for changing time and mood/feelings. We are going to be doing Scarlet Pimpernel and I envisioned using a red wash on a cyclorama behind the guillotine to help convey blood/death (not to be gory). I checked with our local theatrical rental company. They said I need a stretchy cyclorama that can be illuminated from behind. But, they do not have one to rent. Is there anything else I can use? I would like to change the colors to red, sky blue and maybe even a dark purple. I have sewn up a white backdrop before (20 x 22), using muslin but I do not think I could illuminate a sewnh white backdrop our of muslin. Any ideas???
	Kim

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SM_Ted Player Joined: 7/31/10 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 8/16/10 at 6:39pm
	A PVC Cyc can be backlit, but it won't be quite as saturated as if it were lit from the front. What is the reason that you need to backlight it?
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Kim L. Star Joined: 2/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 86	Posted: 8/16/10 at 7:39pm
	I guess I don't really need it backlit. I thought I did but I guess I don't know what I'm doing. Can you tell me how to make a pvc cyc? The area I was hoping to have lit like this is about 22' tall by about 35'ish. If I wanted to make the width smaller, I could pull the black traveller in a bit. What type of fabric would I use? Thank you!!!!!!!!
	Kim
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SM_Ted Player Joined: 7/31/10 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 8/16/10 at 8:46pm
	Unless you have experience and the proper tools for working with Vinyl material, best to either purchase or rent one from one of the excellent soft good companies around. A PVC Cyc is cheaper than a traditional fabric cyc. Check in with Stage Fab and/or Texas Scenic for more info. The trouble you're going to run into making it yourself from fabric, is I doubt you will be able to purchase a single 22x35 piece of fabric as an individual consumer. If you can live with seams in your cyc, any heavy white poly/cotton should work for you. Also be aware that your local fire code will undoubtedly require all theatrical soft goods to be flame retardant.
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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 8/16/10 at 9:03pm
	I generaly get away with using Shadecloth, wich comes in upto 3.5M widths off the 50M roll & various colours;- Aussie Shade Solutions, The Inventors of Shade Cloth Blinds ... Which nwon't help with your 22" height, although you could use 2 strips? This is used for both a cyc or scrim. However lighting a cyc is normaly down from an 'X' position [overhead] focused as a wash on the cloth. Although years ago we also utalised a reflector cloth US of the cyc to give a full colour wash, by bouncing the light thru the cyc especialy if ground row lighting ['Z' position] was used on large cyc cloths to give a full coverage. Your muslin [calico] coth would work just as well for a cyc, if tail batern pockets are fitted & cloth stretchers [Holdons] are utalised. Holdon clips - in stead of eyelets & grommets Edited by JoeMc - 8/16/10 at 9:51pm
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Topic: Cyclorama Dilema( Topic Closed)