I am doing a musical where an actor is to be thrown off a building. My director would rather not have the actor actually fall. I'm asking if anyone has any ideas on how to make someone look like they are falling from a 12' platform with lighting effects instead of actually falling.
Several years ago I saw a production that used a strong up light to give an illusion of falling. The ser up was an actress on a bridge. She leaned over and Reg lights shifted to a single up light for about a second then a blackout
It gave the illusion of falling / wind in the actresses face / horror and exultation that she had done it.
Not a realistic look, but captured the emotion wonderfully.
Best falling effect I've seen was a production of Les Mis where he 'jumped' off the bridge, was back lit to create a silhouette, and they raised the bridge gently while he 'fell'. Don't know if you have the fly space to go higher - maybe not start at 12'.