cvanp
Active Member
Hey all,
hopefully I can explain this well.
I was recently appointed the Set Designer for a production of Rent. One of the big ideas going in is that we'll be using a lot of projection.
Based on the preliminary "dreams" for the set, there might be anywhere between 5 and 10 distinct projectors operating at a time.
What those images are for:
Basically in our preliminary dreams, we have 5 (at most, 3 at least) giant industrial windows that will be RP'd on, with images of the environment. Because they'll be RP'd through the window, they don't have to look particularly crisp or nice.
At the end when Mark showcases his film, that obviously has to be projection. As the film starts again with the Finale, we want to bath the audience in projection as well. We figure we can get away with 4-5 projectors to cover the audience and the majority of the theatre's walls in light, if we position carefully. At that point, all the images are the same.
Because of the quality of projectors we have, projecting onto the audience is less for making the image visible, but to have shadow and light swirling over the audience, making them a part of the film. We know it won't be great quality already, and that's ok.
My concerns:
My biggest concern is that with that many projectors needing to be run, how the heck do we do it in a way that can be synced up and driven by one person to minimize problems? And really, what are the technical challenges that I don't know?
My most preliminary understanding of this is that we would need a super powerful computer with about 6 graphics cards with VGA out (some of those would double, for the projection on the audience which is all the same). But that just seems absolutely insane, and altogether impossible to pull off.
Another concern is budget. I'm only willing to take $1k out of the budget for this, but I can definitely find other sources of money for this through fundraising and such.
TO SUMMARIZE, what I kind of am looking to learn:
Thanks so much for your help! I know this is a big challenge but I am really committed to going the extra mile to make it happen, even if it means selling my soul to afford the appropriate equipment .
EDIT: Should I be looking into media servers? The only one I'm really familiar with is the Hippotizer, and it only has two outputs. As I said already we're looking for more.
Additional thoughts: I could probably do it with 3 outputs: 1 for the back upstage industrial window, 1 to be split among the stage left and right windows (however many there are) and 1 that would be designated as the end documentary video feed (to be projected onto a sheet or whatever out of the projector practical and onto the audience). That might simplify things.
hopefully I can explain this well.
I was recently appointed the Set Designer for a production of Rent. One of the big ideas going in is that we'll be using a lot of projection.
Based on the preliminary "dreams" for the set, there might be anywhere between 5 and 10 distinct projectors operating at a time.
What those images are for:
Basically in our preliminary dreams, we have 5 (at most, 3 at least) giant industrial windows that will be RP'd on, with images of the environment. Because they'll be RP'd through the window, they don't have to look particularly crisp or nice.
At the end when Mark showcases his film, that obviously has to be projection. As the film starts again with the Finale, we want to bath the audience in projection as well. We figure we can get away with 4-5 projectors to cover the audience and the majority of the theatre's walls in light, if we position carefully. At that point, all the images are the same.
Because of the quality of projectors we have, projecting onto the audience is less for making the image visible, but to have shadow and light swirling over the audience, making them a part of the film. We know it won't be great quality already, and that's ok.
My concerns:
My biggest concern is that with that many projectors needing to be run, how the heck do we do it in a way that can be synced up and driven by one person to minimize problems? And really, what are the technical challenges that I don't know?
My most preliminary understanding of this is that we would need a super powerful computer with about 6 graphics cards with VGA out (some of those would double, for the projection on the audience which is all the same). But that just seems absolutely insane, and altogether impossible to pull off.
Another concern is budget. I'm only willing to take $1k out of the budget for this, but I can definitely find other sources of money for this through fundraising and such.
TO SUMMARIZE, what I kind of am looking to learn:
- How would projecting to this many surfaces work?
- What type of software/hardware would that require?
- How much would it cost?
Thanks so much for your help! I know this is a big challenge but I am really committed to going the extra mile to make it happen, even if it means selling my soul to afford the appropriate equipment .
EDIT: Should I be looking into media servers? The only one I'm really familiar with is the Hippotizer, and it only has two outputs. As I said already we're looking for more.
Additional thoughts: I could probably do it with 3 outputs: 1 for the back upstage industrial window, 1 to be split among the stage left and right windows (however many there are) and 1 that would be designated as the end documentary video feed (to be projected onto a sheet or whatever out of the projector practical and onto the audience). That might simplify things.
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