Shimmering back curtain

[andysquibb]

I've been asked to look into providing one of those multi-coloured foil strip-like backdrops for a forthcoming production. It's the school dance scene in grease, which as the more easgle-eyed amongst you will now have spotted, it is for one scene. Singular. One scene and one scene only, however (next challenge) there's no flying space. So, the only posible way of dropping this in and out would be to roll it.

 

I can't really describe the curtain any better than those foil-strip things... think Butlins and you're half-way there. Think cheesy Maitre-D in a glitter jacket running a talent show and you're pretty much there.

 

Any ideas? I've got to admit I'm stumped on this one. It may be we have two issues here, sourcing the curtain and sourcing some clever device which can roll scenery up.

 

Um...

[the kid]

We used something similar for Guys and Dolls in the Hot Box scene. We had it on a piece of 2x1 and had hooks on the wall to attach it to. The rest of the back ground was moving flats.

[mumbles]

I've been asked to look into providing one of those multi-coloured foil strip-like backdrops for a forthcoming production. It's the school dance scene in grease, which as the more easgle-eyed amongst you will now have spotted, it is for one scene. Singular. One scene and one scene only, however (next challenge) there's no flying space. So, the only posible way of dropping this in and out would be to roll it.

How is the backdrop going to be hung for starters? If you're having somekind of flat wall which with this you would then cover for this scene, then it just requires being attached to the back, and hung over the top for this scene, then removed for the others.

 

In terms of getting hold of one, many companies can supply them, any specific suggestions would depend on where you're based.

[soundo26]

Rosco supply them, they are in their catalogue, can't give any oyher details cos I'm out on the road at the moment

[w/robe]

These curtains do not like being moved, folded or crushed as they quickly resemble a birds nest. You could attach them to webbing and track them if you have enough width for them not to be too crushed in the wings. If you do track them it is probably worth keeping them closed when the show is not on to let them drop.

[andysquibb]

Okay, in answer to (most of) the above questions...

 

This is on the Isle of Wight

 

This will be hung down in front of 6 fixed flats. These flats pretty much reach the lx grid from the stage, and there is no room to walk behind them (always makes for an interested challenge).

 

I'm aware that this stuff does not like being folded or crushed hence the idea of rolling them in from above. I'm sure such devices exist but probably a). Install only, not hire. b) expensive. c) a nightmare to setup and operate in a limited space.

 

This is pretty much the only option that I can see as there's no track to run it on. It may well be this idea is a non-starter, just trying to at least explore all options.

 

Thanks for replies so far.

[Suzette]

What you are looking for is called a slit drape or slash drape - as you say strips of glitter foil. Flints sell both budget "slash curtains" and the more expensive "Rosco slit drapes".

If you go with budget ones then get a 2" drop strip of webbing with ties and staple the slash to the webbing and tie to bobbins on a tab track. This is assuming you have a tab track?

[Ynot]

I've been asked to look into providing one of those multi-coloured foil strip-like backdrops for a forthcoming production.

I have several slash curtains (diff colours) in our stock here - all attached to 3 ft lengths of 2 x 1" timber. Now, you COULD hire these, but to be honest, the total hire plus carriage costs down to the IoM involved (both ways) are likely going to be more than the worth of the slash - you may be better to look at buying your own

[andysquibb]

What you are looking for is called a slit drape or slash drape - as you say strips of glitter foil. Flints sell both budget "slash curtains" and the more expensive "Rosco slit drapes".

If you go with budget ones then get a 2" drop strip of webbing with ties and staple the slash to the webbing and tie to bobbins on a tab track. This is assuming you have a tab track?

 

No track available (oh wouldn't it be soooo much easier!!) :unsure:

 

Hence why the only option as I see it is for it to roll up on something.

[3guk]

Can you not just have a raised bit so that the curtain can be quickly dropped behind it when not in use, and then with two pulleys in the roof raised using sash cord or something ??

[w/robe]

Do other people think that Andy could do this on a tumbler round a scaff bar, slash attached to a batten at the top and probably gaffered to the scaff at the bottom. If there were enough scaff beyond the slash to avoid it getting caught in the ropes it MAY work.

[Andrew C]

There is a method for tumbling with the large dia bar fixed high and rotated around a pivot. You would need to be able to rotate the bar in both directions, but it should be do-able.

[Tomo]

I'm very doubtful that a roller will work for a slash drape, as each layer will get caught on the previous layer on the drum, ending up with a tangled mess.

 

I used this stuff for several months, and while it looks absolutely gorgeous, it's a complete pain in the rear end to deal with.

 

It's literally extremely thin and light plastic foil, and barely falls under its own weight.

 

Given that you aren't having anyone come through the drape, I think your best bet may be to pin it top and bottom to a black drape and roll the whole assembly up - that will stop slash coming into contact with slash, and give it a bit more weight when unrolling as you can put a chain or similar in the bottom of the black drape.

 

If you can get one, a tab track is the easiest way to deal with it given that you don't have a flytower.

[dbuckley]

No track available ... Hence why the only option as I see it is for it to roll up on something.

From a long way away, no track looks the easier problem to solve, then you can have the hanging thing slide in on the track. I'd have thought (though never tried) that rolling up and unrolling was doomed to failure, unless you put a weight on the end of each and every strand of the slash.

[Dj Dunc]

We tried backing it with a lightweight black fabric when rolling it, and so the layers can not mingle, but also if ther is no "wind" on stage, and the winding is done slowly, it coils up perfectly

 

dunc