Ghost Illusion - Passing through a closed door

[chrislawton88]

Hi,

 

 

I am about to start work on Ghost the musical (amateur) and have been looking at the illusions required in the production.

 

The main one which is puzzling me is when Sam (the ghost) passes through a closed door.

 

I have done a bit of research into this and am aware of Pepper's Ghost, but do not think that it will be appropriate in the performance space as there is little space in the wings, no pit at the foot of the stage and the audience is very close to the performance.

 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

[peza2010]

Does your door exsist? How is it constructed? where on stage is it?

[Dave m]

AFAIK using Pepper's Ghost normally relies on a "corridor" type traditional auditorium rather than one where the audience can be wider than deep.

does the door have any other user? i.e. is it a practical door

[ImagineerTom]

Peppers Ghost doesn't rely on that...

 

That aside, I'd really advise against using any PG style method to achieve the effect - its incredibly easy to do it badly, gets expensive and is very time consuming to do right. There were literally thousand of hours of research and development (and a lifetime's experience from several people) to create that brief sequence in the show and even then it doesn't actually work that way most people think it does.

 

I'd be looking at a different technology and staging for a whole host of reasons. Personally I've always liked the idea of making the door out of a painted lycra type fabric so that he can literally (and visibly) push his way through the door and warp reality around him.

[Brian]

...making the door out of a painted lycra type fabric so that he can literally (and visibly) push his way through the door and warp reality around him.

 

Is it possible to (rear?) project onto such a material? I can envisage an interesting illusion where the projected image distorts to exaggerate the effect as the actor deforms the material.

[mac.calder]

Is it possible to (rear?) project onto such a material? I can envisage an interesting illusion where the projected image distorts to exaggerate the effect as the actor deforms the material.

 

Front project certainly is... I did a show a few years ago where we had a painting which we projected onto - having it come to life - and then had someone pass through it as if they emerged from it. It was a neat little trick.

[ImagineerTom]

you can rear project, the problem is a) when he's passed thru you'll have shadows and b) you have to fold and crease the lycra to create a trap/hole in the middle and that will mess with the rear projection.

 

Front projection suitable positioned (so that the actors body phsically masks the shadows he casts) or using 2 projectors from different angles and suitable keystone would give you the wibbly-wobble morphing effect of the lycra door and projections for the least hassle.

[kerry davies]

Someone might remember Forkbeard doing their "Brittonioni Brothers" show using two projectors from acute angles, as Tom suggests, and a two part screen overlapped in the centre vertically.

 

The gag was that the actor in a film clip walked out of the screen then returned to the film clip after some "live" business. I saw it as a punter in a touring show around village halls so don't have detail but it must have been fairly straightforward.

[indyld]

I did a show years ago that had seemingly 'closed' walls all around with an enormous dado rail (that was actually for actors to walk and stand on). The wall hid a number of entrances that were made of overlapping, thick, rubber sheeting that was stretched into place and painted in. The result was invisible entrances that had actors literally appearing and disappearing through the wall. The rubber instantly closed around anything that wasn't sticking through it.

 

The most breath taking entrance was the DS trap that had a character forced up through the stage through a similar rubber device. We tested it with the PM during the fit-up and she reported that being pushed through felt like being re-born all over again. Simple effect, looked great. Rubber deteriorated a little after month run.

[chrislawton88]

Thanks all for your responses and ideas.

 

This is in the very early stages and we haven't even constructed the door, so we are starting with a blank canvas.

 

The idea of using two sheets of rubber stretched and painted had crossed my mind, I was just worried about you being able to see this bending round the actor as they push through it, but seems like the easiest option.

 

What are personal experiences with this technique and the believability of it?

 

Cheers

[alistermorton]

An actor going from a lit stage to backstage which is in (near) blackout through a slit in a stretchy/bendy door covering should look quite good, I'd have thought.

[indyld]

 

What are personal experiences with this technique and the believability of it?

 

 

Well, each effect was over quite quickly (although the up through the floor was more slow and dramatic) so the actors didn't particularly linger half way through. It was more of a 'pop', and they are there. However, there was times when odd arms and legs appeared through, the rest of the slit remaining well closed. The paint finish was plain and dirty rather than detailed so nothing appeared to distort the look too much. I guess the risk for you is that this supposed ghostly effect actually ends up looking like a comedy rubber wall routine - it depends on the action.