Black smoke in an enclosed environment, such as a theater, is a really, really < let me add one more> REALLY bad Idea.
My first show was Barefoot in the Park, which was an absolute smash, but my production on the stage of Backdraft was what really got them excited. This whole idea of 'In Your Face' theatre really affected them. The conceptualization, the whole abstraction, the obtuseness of this production to me was what was interesting. I wanted the audience to feel the heat from the fire—the fear—because people don't like fire, poked, poked in their noses. You know, when you get a cinder from a barbeque right on the end of your nose, and you kind of make that face, you know? That's not a good thing. And I wanted them to have the sense memory of that. So during the show I had someone burn newspapers and send it through the vents in the theatre. And well, they freaked out, and 'course the fire marshal came over, and they shut us down for a couple of days.
Black smoke in an enclosed environment, such as a theater, is a really, really < let me add one more> REALLY bad Idea. If for no other reason than it will set off your smoke alarm. Second Reason: black smaoke would impair the vision of the audience in any attempt to leave the theater in case of an emergency. Third: < and my chemistry knowledge is limited> the amount of particulate you'd have to put in the air to acheive a "black Smoke" would be toxic at best. Change the idea, change the colors, change the Directors mindset.
So during the show I had someone burn newspapers and send it through the vents in the theatre. And well, they freaked out, and 'course the fire marshal came over, and they shut us down for a couple of days.
"People don't like to have fire poked... poked in their noses."If you haven't seen Waiting for Guffman, drop what you're doing and buy it now!
White fog is the way to go in a theatre and we've got some suggestions of how the thread starter could get the desired effect. Hope it is okey with a small hijack of the thread.
How would you do it outside, say simulating a house fire, for film/tv or one of those combat/war re-enactments. Except using pyro/smoke cans, is there a smoke generator that can create a controlled black smoke effect.
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