Projections on to Cyc

[museav]

Originally Posted by klloveall

The purpose is more to allow scene changes to happen fast, not to mask them, and also to have some animations between scenes. Also, we didn't really want to have a bunch of different backdrops flying in and out (mainly we don't have that many linesets).

Which still leaves it open that an image filling the stage opening will either be interfered with by anything in front of it with front projection or backlight anything in front of it with rear projection. That may work, at least with rear projection, for virtual sets, however you noted running some animations during scene changes and that would mean that anything happening in front of the screen would interfere with or be backlit by those images.

Originally Posted by klloveall

I must say thank you all for all the input and any more would be greatly appreciated. Also, I have two more questions:
1. About how much would it be to rent an RP screen 18' X 50'?

Unless somebody has one laying around from a similar application, you probably won't find an 18'x50' rear projection screen for rent as that is definitely a non-standard format and would be a custom screen. And if you did it find one you'd still have to deal with trying to get an 18' tall image with only 10' of total depth behind the screen, which would seem to require substantial mirror systems or maybe a 2x4 array of projectors or something like that.

Originally Posted by klloveall

2. About how much would an LED curtain/wall cost to rent of the same size?

This likely falls into the "if you are asking how much, then you probably can't afford it" category. A typical indoor LED tile is about 18"x20", so you are talking a maybe 12x30 or 11x33-34 array. Then you have to build some frame to support an array that large. And find a processor that can handle that size array. And figure out how to provide the 55,000-110,000W or so of power that might be required. To give some reference, it has been reported that the 4mm pixel pitch, nominal 15' tall by 26.5' wide LED wall at Comcast Center cost around $2.2 million. Your 18' tall by 50' wide application calls for a wall that would be about 2.26 times that area, so say around $5 million. A monthly rental might be $500,000 or more if that was even possible. Of course, you could go with lower resolution tiles or a 'curtain' and maybe reduce the power consumption and perhaps the number of tiles. If you're serious about pursuing this I can put you in touch with some manufacturers.


While the concept is great, the practical realities of physics, physical space and budget may make it difficult to realize.

[ruinexplorer]

For low resolution LED solution, you can rent an LED curtain from Rose Brand. I don't think this is the resolution that you are looking for.

I agree that you should drop the idea of filling the entire cyc with projection and either concentrate on the upper portion of the cyc or the upper portion without filling the entire width of the stage. Consider how they did this digital scenery for Peter Pan (article from Live Design magazine). When doing the scene, it adds to it, but during scene changes, it draws attention from the perfomance area.
Or to consider the smaller image and how it helps, consider Jersey Boys (look at the seventh photo for video image). They use LEDs as opposed to projection and that display flies in and out, but it is just to show that you don't need to fill your entire space to have effective video.