Max Warasila
Member
As the title suggests, I am working on the production of The Giver at my high school. There are a lot of effects to be done since we are doing the production in B&W with pops of color (as per the script). Most of them are already planned, in progress or working. There is one effect, however, that is stressing me out - the books. Throughout the course of the production, over 1,200 books change from black and white to, "every shade imaginable." They have to change in phases, there are no scene change opportunities, and they are seen at almost all times. A lot of ideas were juggled around, and about three weeks ago we settled on building 1,200 books that light up a color from the inside, but are colorless on the outside. I felt that this was the easiest and cheapest way to create a realistic looking set of books.
I was almost right. The issue is that, as you might have guessed, there are 1,200 books to light up! Building them was going to happen anyway, but as the person wiring them, it seems impossible to get 1,200 books done by my deadline, simply because of how we're wiring them up - re-purposed Christmas lights.
My question posed to you all is if there is a better way that won't break the bank. I have a few ideas that I simply don't know exactly how to execute or how to make nor what products would work. The BEST thing for what I'm working on right now would be a string of lights I can put through all of the books that I can individually control over DMX or another control protocol. Kind of like an EPiX Strip, but in rope or even individual light form.
Another idea was using fluorescent paints or pigments to reveal color. However, I do not know of any pigments (though I'm sure they are out there) which are colorless when lit by anything other than UV lights. The other issue is how to isolate the individual sections of books - which essentially means a controllable UV fixture, like an ellipsoidal. Ideally, there would be a way to stick a UV bulb in our existing S4 or Leko fixtures (G9.5 base lamp would be great), but I doubt something exists quiet like that.
I'd really love any ideas I can get. Post them here, PM or email me. While I'd rather not spend my time wiring up 1,200+ lights, I can do it if necessary. I just would like to keep up with school while I'm at it.
I was almost right. The issue is that, as you might have guessed, there are 1,200 books to light up! Building them was going to happen anyway, but as the person wiring them, it seems impossible to get 1,200 books done by my deadline, simply because of how we're wiring them up - re-purposed Christmas lights.
My question posed to you all is if there is a better way that won't break the bank. I have a few ideas that I simply don't know exactly how to execute or how to make nor what products would work. The BEST thing for what I'm working on right now would be a string of lights I can put through all of the books that I can individually control over DMX or another control protocol. Kind of like an EPiX Strip, but in rope or even individual light form.
Another idea was using fluorescent paints or pigments to reveal color. However, I do not know of any pigments (though I'm sure they are out there) which are colorless when lit by anything other than UV lights. The other issue is how to isolate the individual sections of books - which essentially means a controllable UV fixture, like an ellipsoidal. Ideally, there would be a way to stick a UV bulb in our existing S4 or Leko fixtures (G9.5 base lamp would be great), but I doubt something exists quiet like that.
I'd really love any ideas I can get. Post them here, PM or email me. While I'd rather not spend my time wiring up 1,200+ lights, I can do it if necessary. I just would like to keep up with school while I'm at it.