Design Issues and Solutions -

[achstechdirector]

We have a giant poetry contest at our school every year, poetry out loud.
I designed the set with 3 giant white gossamer panels, a column with tons of backlight from the floor and the podium center forward of the column

I really want to do some dramatic lighting to the gossamer panels

A little explanation of sketch that is attached

The big panels of gossamer are draped so they are at like 175% fullness and the outside ones hang straight on the inside and sway off on the outside. The center one is hung at the same fullness but it sways on both sides. The center is set back and the contestants will enter from between the outside and center panels. The column will be tall and white and have a lot of uplighting from the back and will be very dramatic and the gossamer panels need some lighting but i am stumped. i thought maybe blacklighting or a deep green or soft diffused white

Ideas please i beggeth of you

[lieperjp]

Could you do something with gobos??? Maybe a simple break up pattern in S4's and add a color scroller and a rotator???

It's an idea, but you would have to work hard for it not to detract attention from the main idea: the poetry.

[achstechdirector]

Originally Posted by lieperjp

Could you do something with gobos??? Maybe a simple break up pattern in S4's and add a color scroller and a rotator???

It's an idea, but you would have to work hard for it not to detract attention from the main idea: the poetry.

Yes that was my original intention but our teacher wants a flowy smooth backdrop and breakup gobos would do their job breakup besides we are a little limited in the s4 department and in the ers department altogether. In other words, we don't have the fixtures to light the entire set and get for tight lighting on the podium and accompanying jazz band too so we are going for pars and fresnels in the set area of things

[achstechdirector]

Thanks though as they say great minds think alike

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by achstechdirector

In other words, we don't have the fixtures to light the entire set and get for tight lighting on the podium and accompanying jazz band too so we are going for pars and fresnels in the set area of things

Why not use the Pars and Fresnels to light the Jazz Band??? (Unless throw distance is too far, like from a catwalk?)

After all, you are going for a wash on the Jazz band, I think, and Pars and Fresnels work well for washes... Better than ERS, IMHO. Or at least easier. Then you can have some ERS lights for your set. If you have some barn doors, you probably could even use a few Fresnel on the podium. Plus, if they're exposed they add that artsy light flair that some people like.

[wfor]

Originally Posted by achstechdirector

Yes that was my original intention but our teacher wants a flowy smooth backdrop and breakup gobos would do their job breakup besides we are a little limited in the s4 department and in the ers department altogether. In other words, we don't have the fixtures to light the entire set and get for tight lighting on the podium and accompanying jazz band too so we are going for pars and fresnels in the set area of things

If yoh have the fresnels close enough, and had them on a spot focus, they could create a splotchy effect, leaving some areas in the dark. This would look good on the band when they arn't playing and there is a speaker.

I would give the stage a full wash with whatever fresenel and pars you have, and then run two ERSs on the lectern. Then use whatever ERS you have left with gobos, have them as a textured background. I wouldn't use spinners, possibly during transitions if you can.

Hmm- another suggestion- what if you uplighted your backdrop with pars or fresnels on the ground, pointed like columns. If you could have any S4s down there, put spinners in them, have it going slow the whole time. That would look good.