using a scrim without fly space
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4810
Printed Date: 5/14/24 at 7:06pm
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Topic: using a scrim without fly space
Posted By: Kim L.
Subject: using a scrim without fly space
Date Posted: 9/11/10 at 8:59pm
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I am interested in renting a scrim for our production. The problem is that we have no fly space in our theatre. My question is can I use a scrim that slides open (like a shower curtain) instead of flies out? I am hoping to project a gobo onto the scrim. The rental place said that I need to have a pipe at the bottom to keep the scrim taut. So, how do I get the pipe in and out when I am trying to slide it across? Any advice??? ------------- Kim |
Replies:
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 9/11/10 at 10:31pm
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You can use a srim as a "traveler' which would be easier to handle if the venue has a 'Tab track'. as scrim srechers applied to the off stage edge of the scrim & tied off in the wings, so when the scrim is tracked on it will stretch automaticly. http://www.fittingservices.com/products.php?product=Hall-Stage-CH%252d5-Clip-HoldOn-Mini-Hook - Heavy
duty HoldOn Mnii Curtain Hooks Your hire company may have some Holdons in stock as they are cheap enough. er to use a chain in the scrims tail batten [pipe]pocket.Vicki Franks is the one to help with scrim hire & the use of travelers.
http://www.studio-productions-inc.com/ - http://www.studio-productions-inc.com/ ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: SM_Ted
Date Posted: 9/12/10 at 1:39am
| You can use chain in the bottom of the scrim instead of pipe. It won't keep the scrim as taught as the pipe, but will still work. |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 7:50am
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Another "option".. You say you have no fly, so you can't take it straight out the top, but if you have any space at all, you might consider a roll up. They are available for rent or purchase. For my last set I built two out of 2/4's and carpet tube.. ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:09am
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Anybody that thinks you need a fly to do a musical should see a show at the Goodspeed opera house in Connecticut. Their proscenium is at 17', and their "grid" is at 18'. Wings are around 8' at best. They have totally mastered the art of roll-up scenery over the last century. They also slide pieces in from the sides in sections. Goodspeed productions are extremely high quality in every department.
------------- David M |
Posted By: DonnaFromCobalt
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:19am
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Most rental scrims will not have travellers clips as they are designed to fly. Most likely, you will have to buy one that is especially made for your facility. ------------- Donna Wymore backdrop rental manager Cobalt Studios |
Posted By: Kim L.
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 2:58pm
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So much information...thank you.
1. I could DESPERATELY use knowing how to manage the art of roll drops. David, are you are a part of Goodspeed? Would anyone there give me a few tips on roll drops? Wish I could take a road trip from Michigan to Connecticut! 2. Donna-the theatre I work with has a track and little individual "thingy's" that slide on the track. Are those the clips? Do most scrims come with grommets? Could I tie them on like you would do a backdrop? ------------- Kim |
Posted By: DonnaFromCobalt
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 3:31pm
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Hi Kim,
Tying ties on a traveller track is tricking because the ties get all bunchy and can get hung up easily. Most scrims come with grommets but you can have traveller clips sewn on if you have the scrim made for you. Since I'm probably not allowed to post a picture with this post, you can e-mail me directly at rentals@cobaltstudios.net and I will send you a picture of what traveller clips look like. Also, roll drops (olios) take a little getting used to. They work on a pulley system. The backdrop needs to be trapiziodal in shape (bigger on the top than on the bottom) and the roll drum / tube must be at least 9" in diameter (a Sonotube is good for this). ------------- Donna Wymore backdrop rental manager Cobalt Studios |
Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 4:14pm
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If you click on the http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/new_reply_form.asp?PID=25063&PN=1&TR=8 - reply new_reply_form.asp?PID=25063&PN=1&TR=8 - b http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/new_reply_form.asp?PID=25063&PN=1&TR=8 - utton in the upper right corner of each post you will be transfer to a new page for you to enter your reply. On that page there is Insert Image icon that should allow you to put an image in your post. Unfortunately it didn't work when I tried it just a couple minutes ago. Something about "Error... Only members with sufficient permission can access this page.". It has worked for me before, and I've got lots of stars  ------------- David M |
Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 6:05pm
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Unfortunately I have not worked at Goodspeed, and haven't used roll-up drops. There must be a lot on the subject on the internet. BTW, I worked at the Tibbits Opera House in 1965 (Coldwater, Michigan). ------------- David M |
Posted By: SM_Ted
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 8:21pm
| The "Roll Up" drops are called Olio Drops you can find info about them online and in any good stagecraft handbook. |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 9/13/10 at 9:57pm
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From Vicki Franks previos post some time ago;-
http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3828&KW=olio - http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3828&KW=olio
Which covers her article on olio [oleo or tumblers]
This topic may cover it better;-
http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2685 - Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Oleo Drops ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 9/14/10 at 12:03pm
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You can travel a scrim--if its non stretchy (like our Chameleon scrim is non stretchy). You also can use a scrim for a roll drop like an "oleo", but again it works best if the scrim is non-stretchy and doesn't need a side seam. Sharkstooth is stretchy and needs to be anchored off stage to prevent the hourglassing from damaging the effect. Chameleon overcomes those issues, but has a size limitation.
Contact me if you have any questions. You can call 1-800-359-2964 if you want more information about Chameleon, or check out our site http://studio-productions-inc.com/white_papers/wp_oleo_olio_rolldrop.html - http://studio-productions-inc.com Also the Oleo article on our site has been recently updated to correct a few ommissions: http://studio-productions-inc.com/white_papers/wp_oleo_olio_rolldrop.html - http://studio-productions-inc.com/white_papers/wp_oleo_olio_rolldrop.html
------------- _____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:43am
The curtain clips I posted are used on the side of the scrim to stretch out the cloth to reduce the 'hour glass' effect a.k.a 'stretchers', however as mentioned by Vicki her scrims, don't suffer from this problem.
Normally backdrops, scrims, drapes & flown coths have eyelets[grommets] spaced out on the top so it can be tied off onto the head batten or tab track runners. I found over the years it is easier to use releaseable electrical cable ties, rather than the old tie off strings/rope.
http://cableorganizer.com/cable-ties-releasable/ - http://cableorganizer.com/cable-ties-releasable/
------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Theatermama
Date Posted: 9/19/10 at 6:47pm
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I do theater in a very small black box and once we needed a projection scrim, actually they used them several times in different ways. All were homemade and they actually worked quite well.
Once was a wood frame with white sheeting material stretched and stapled and then it was wired on one end to the grid and they rigged a pulley system to lower it and raise it out of the way. That was more of a projection one.
They have hung one from the edged of the curtain rod that hides the back stage and just cover it with moveable set pieces when it is not in use.
The high school has very little fly space and they use a professional roll down one.
I also saw 2 different uses in theaters where they put a scrim on a wooden frame that sat on the floor and was moveable and that worked very well.
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