I need a boat to "float"
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2429
Printed Date: 5/15/25 at 8:06pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: I need a boat to "float"
Posted By: cbcses
Subject: I need a boat to "float"
Date Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:29pm
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I need to make a small boat (to hold 2 or 3 people) that looks like it's being rowed across the stage. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
CBCSES
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Replies:
Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 5/29/07 at 10:51pm
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This is one idea that works best during a dark murky scene such as in PotO. Build supports on a wagon (rolling plateform) to support a regular boat. Paint supports black. Attach a long rope on lead end of the wagon. Use low lighting and low lying fog to mask the rope and wagon. Have stage crew slowly pull the wagon across the stage. You may even use blue gelled lighting across the fog to create "water" look. ------------- The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes. |
Posted By: Kurt Muller
Date Posted: 5/30/07 at 2:33am
Depends on how much realism you're going for, of course.
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Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:01am
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If you are going to pull the boat off stage with the rope and low lying fog, which is a great idea! I can only assume that there must have to be some sort of simple track that it gets pulled along so that its not veering off course the whole time, Also with the fog, if your actors are "rowing" the boat, it might stir up the fog and accidentally show the whole structure underneath...just a few things to think about, but I have seen the whole fog idea done before and it works really well! ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |
Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 5/30/07 at 2:24pm
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Neil, if you use fixed castors (the ones that don't rotate) the platform will keep it on course. You can also screw down a slat track on the stage as well. As for the rowing stirring up the fog, it will swirl and may expose some of the structure, that is why it should be painted black to blend in with the stage, and secondly, it wont take much away from the scene. If people are paying more attention to the set then the show, then the actors are not doing there stuff. ------------- The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes. |
Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 5/31/07 at 9:15am
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haha very true, that always seems to be the case when I go to see something for pure enjoyment, it never works out becuase I am trying to figure out how everything else is done! Great tips! ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |