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Searchlight Effect for Neville's Island


Guest mattladkinlx

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Guest mattladkinlx

Hi there,

 

I am currently lighting Neville's Island at the Headgate theatre in Colchester and am having problems thinking of a solution to the helicopter searchlight effect for act 2.

 

Normally it would be fine as I could just use a moving head lantern in the rig and control it from a computerised desk. 2 problems with that :- 3.7m floor to rig height and too smaller venue to cope with fan noise.

 

I have a range of generic fixtures (Patt 743's, Patt 123, Patt 23, Cantata profile, SIL 30 1K Profile, PAR 64) but cant think of a way of having a moving effect apart from a mirror attachment with no fans(?!) attached to a generic lantern but then there is the problem of ceiling height. The effect needs to cirle around the stage before coming to rest on the 4 characters standing CS.

 

A followspot is also not possible as the effect needs to be almost a downlight from the onstage rig.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

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Hi Matt,

 

If you want a moving mirror with no fans, you could do worse than Vari*Lites offering: VLM

 

See: http://www.vlps.co.uk/rental/rental_automated.htm

 

No fan on the unit, but you would need a seperate smart repeater.

 

http://www.shepperd.co.uk/glossary/pages/logos/VLM.gif

 

You would need to contact PRG

 

Hope this helps,

 

F - Wyg

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Guest mattladkinlx

thanks for the idea.

 

The one problem is size. The unit is far too large for my venue which has just 3.7m to grid height (to ceiling 3.8m!)

 

any other ideas?

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Hi Matt,

 

Could go completly retro and go with the old joystick controlled pan can attachedments. these can go on Pars, Sils, just about any think. Cheap and cheerful and don't take up much room. So long as you don't have to be millimetre precise, could be a goer.

 

Try looking here: http://www.pslx.co.uk/Pancan.htm or Google

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Going back a few years to 'old technology' - how about a "Pan Can"? They were the start of scan lights, I believe!

Not sure where you might find one (or if there is a newer version) but they were basically a moving mirror that was fixed to the front of a par can and then a cable off to a joystick control. No fans but you would need someone to operate it manually on the joystick each night. But you could then make it move where you want and finish where you want - controlling the beam width by deciding what lamp you want in your parcan.

Hope that either helps in your search or gives others ideas of a newer version that may be available

 

EDIT - why can't I type faster!!!!

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Hiya,

 

Found it...

 

Rosco ICue

 

I'm sure if you ring around the hire companies they will have one.

 

The one we used at National Youth Theatre was supplied by Whitelight - however, I do believe that was bought from them.

 

From the picture it looks like there is no fan...

 

Hope this of some help

Regards,

 

Nick

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