The Who's Tommy

[DHSLXOP]

Hi Everyone,

Our theater company is currently thinking about doing the show "The Who's Tommy." I was wondering if anyone had ever done the show (and share how you lit it), or if anyone had any suggestions on how to light the show. (I've seen some pictures online, and to me they look like a lot of moving lights in this show...does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this show without them, or have a low cost aternative) Thanks everyone for their help.

[Footer]

OK, I am going to rant a bit here. What is the concept of YOUR show? How does your director see the show? What is the color pallet of the other design elements? I can not stand it when people go "how should I light this" when in reality you should be asking yourself, "how do I envision this". In order for a production to actually look like something all design elements have to mesh along with the acting style and direction of the production. Is your director trying to recreate the movie or do something completely different?

Sorry if I am coming off a bit harsh, but this is really beginning to annoy me.

[DHSLXOP]

Originally Posted by Footer4321

OK, I am going to rant a bit here. What is the concept of YOUR show? How does your director see the show? What is the color pallet of the other design elements? I can not stand it when people go "how should I light this" when in reality you should be asking yourself, "how do I envision this". In order for a production to actually look like something all design elements have to mesh along with the acting style and direction of the production. Is your director trying to recreate the movie or do something completely different?
Sorry if I am coming off a bit harsh, but this is really beginning to annoy me.

Like I said, I just want to know what other people have done, to be able to know if it can be done without all of the moving and other intelligent lights. (and if so, how it can be done) If not, then I know that i cannot pursue this show any further, and there is no point to even design anything. (The way we decide shows is to 1) read through the rights companys; 2) find a show and research it on the internet 3) look at pictures and videos; 4) if it seems doable, peruse the script to be able to read through it...I know this may seem different but it has proved effective for us)

[Van]

I think footer has I.T.S. too.

[DarSax]

There's no such thing as a show you can't light.

[avkid]

This was done 2 years before I came, but I do know that zero wiggly lights were involved:
http://www.endicottarts.com/tommy.htm

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Van

I think footer has I.T.S. too.

Actually its more of a just got done with a show that annoyed the crap out of me and scrambling to get a rep plot hung for a dance company that refuses to tell me anything about want (so they are getting what I give them, though I did throw up some scrollers so its not all that bad).

But... on the OP thing... What are you wanting to do with the show? Do you want it to look like a rock concert? What kind of inventory do you have? You can do alot with lekos/gobos/haze/shutter cuts and a crap load of saturated colors.

[taylorjacobs]

im going to agree with footer. it is my BIGGEST pet peave when people ask what you did for this show blah blah....like i can understand effecs, but the whol show cmon. someone spent depending on the show months of hardwork desigining the show and you want to just steal it from them. im really protective of my work, and believe that copying someone elses work is not fair to them and if you do steal other peoples work you shouldnt be in this buisness.



alright that was my rant
for somereason this topic seems pointless. any show can be done. you have to DESIGN...woah..the show to what you have. given with this show it is helpful to have robotics, but you can do a ton of things with standard instraments.

sorry if this was too harsh, thats just how i feel about it

[SHARYNF]

I am sure this will start an argument, but I think the over reaction and the idea that people are stealing your design is a bit extreme

Most people I think would admit that the real design and look comes from the focus and how you impliment the lighting plot. Telling some one you used 25 mac700's 100 S4 zooms etc etc is NOT going to give some one your design.

It would be like asking Jackson Pollack about one of his paintings, and him telling you the colors he used, the layers and the various dripping/brushing etc and believing that based on that you could steal his design.

I also have strong feelings on this topic, I think that the questions you are getting are more about the design and equipment specs and approach and not the design.

In addition a lot of the folks on this forum are learning, and imitation, and guidance on a starting point are very valuable as a learning experience.

I guess put another way you can send two people out with s cheap digital camera, give them the same scene to capture and even go over an approach to the task and even then you will get amazing differences in the final product.

I think the idea that sharing the concept approach equipment and even plot is still a long way from stealing a design.

Anyway everyone has their own approach and feelings on this topic, which is want makes the world go round ;-)

Sharyn

[DarSax]

Well fine, since no one quoted my post and expanded (god, guys...) I guess I'll have to expand myself. You had asked if it was even doable without intels; I say again, there's no such thing as a show you can't light. There's fixes and jerry-rigs and pretendings for every look you could possibly need. I think maybe why people are getting so defensive is because you (DHSLXOP) are approaching it like "if I can't get help on this show, I won't do it." That shouldn't be the mindset you should have. Granted, if you wanted to do like, the Phantom of the Opera without the chandelier you might have a problem, but for most shows it's all about what you bring to it. I've seen "Emerald City" done in the Kennedy Center with vari-lites, and I've seen it done in my theater with 3 green-gelled lekos. I wasn't sitting at the latter going "Man this was almost great, but it didn't have vari-lites," I was sitting at the latter going "This is Emerald City, our version. It's pretty cool."