followspots

[dave_m]

Hi guys,

at an amdram venue that I help at, we're looking for a followspot for the next production (blithe spirit) to give the ghost a "glow". So far, we're looking at using a mac 300/stagecolour 300/mac 250 for the followspot, using a custom made program that one of us is writing at the moment. But in case we can't get this working, can anyone suggest a fairly short nose followspot that we could mount backstage on some scaff? (preferabley no source fours. They're stupid!)

 

Thanks in advance

[smeggie]

all depends on your budget - what's the throw of the spot, how bright need it be?

 

and for really small ones it can be worthwhile using a S4 with the usual spot bits [iris, handles, etc]

 

I know they're not the nicest to use all day as a lime, but in a pinch they do fairly nicely.

cantata fs could do you, depends on what you define as short nosed :P

[dave_m]

errrmmm, budget is about 60-70 (That's around the price of the ml's we got quoted for). Throw is max 20m.

How longs a cantata? (actual unit length)

[JimWebber]

Personally, I wouldn't touch a mover as a lime with a bargepole! It's difficult enough programming the moves in... Even if you do manage it the talent will have to make exactly the same moves night after night!!! Can YOU trust THEM to do that?????

 

Go with a traditional lime my friend! In the past I have used CCT freedom Followspots with lots of success (Cheap to hire too).

 

Why exactly are Source 4's stupid???? - Although admittedly I've not tried followspotting with one...

 

Just my 2p

 

Jim

[paulears]

I'd agree with the above comments - movers as followspots are the kiss of death. I had a dedicated disco style controller lying about and attempted to use the joystick control - totally useless. They overshoot, they always start with a lurch, the momentum means that you continually miss where they really should be, the iris and pan/tilt rarely have the same feel, so just don't cut it. I have a pair of manual follow spots based on Golden scans, and the iris hysteresis makes matching beam size really difficult - a manual iris can be gently nudged to gradually open or close so slowly it goes un-noticed, not something that a motorised one finds an easy task.

 

As for pre-programmed follow spotting. If this works, then everybody would do it, saving the cost of spot ops. They don't, because it is, as they say, ......doomed.

[dave_m]

hmmm, we thought it was a fairly good idea at the time.

Source fours are evil because they don't balance properly, and (I feel) they get more hot than other lamps.

 

The program I was talking about wasn't actually a program in the desk. It's a program designed to be used with OPENUSB + a laptop w/mouse or graphics tablet. Link to prototype

[smeggie]

it 'can' work, but in reality it's not worth the hassle of it really - if you really have no space for a spot then I suppose it'll do at a pinch, but tbh if I was faced with that scenario when I've the people to op it then I'd use the manual any day - can accomodate any errors and be used for other bits of the scene if it's called for without half an hour of arranging the programming....

 

if you really really have to use a moving light for the job, use a scanner [i.e. moving mirror] unit - far lighter, faster to respond and generally cheaper to hire too.

 

as for the S4's, if you have them set up properly then they're reasonably usable, just make sure you've got a nicely lubricated set of axes to slide over, and make sure the weight at the front isn't too much [or devise a counterweight to fix into the bottom of the handle and balance it for you - worked for me when in my hour of need]

 

AC

 

PS, The cantata followspot is ... 880mm by 340mm across, and 395mm from spigot to top.

the strand 818 is damn old, but simple and does the job cheaply if you can get a good one.

depending on how long you want it for, then possibly a foxie from RJ could do you nicely - quality kit but it ain't cheap to get.

[u_dakka]

we were able to hire the followspot we needed for our show for £45 for the week (well as it happens it was 10 days). just hire one in, its definately better than using a MAC for followspotting.

 

andy

[pete LD]

Source fours are evil because they don't balance properly, and (I feel) they get more hot than other lamps.

 

Less of the slagging of source 4s!! 15/30 zooms are nasty and dont balance but a 19 degree would work but as you have the budget just hire a proper follow spot. Nothing fancy just a Cantata spot or maybe a beam light if its just for a "glow"

 

I agree with everyone else movers are a bad idea. been there, done that, hired a follow spot!

 

HTH Pete

[GridGirl]

Selecon Pacifics - either the actual Pacific followspot, though they have a long nose on them, or a regular Pacific profile with whichever lens tube you want on it. Seriously nice profiles, you just have to watch the heatsink on the back end of them if you're using it for a followspot...

[Ike]

I second the Pacifics, all the ones I've seen recently have had a wire mesh heatsink guard fitted although I don't know if it's standard or an optional extra.

[david.elsbury]

The wire guard is now standard on all new Pacifics, due I believe to the exact reason that there is a severe risk of burning oneself on the heatsink.

 

David

 

*edit to clarify*

[svincent]

ahh movers for follow spot in am dram is a no no for me they lurch the talent never do exactly the same thing two nights in a row

 

my suggestion to you is robert juliat buxies or crickets depending on venue size, cheap to hire easy to use dont get massively hot and are generally really reliable - I've never had any problems with them and use them for lots of small venues most hire companys will have them I would think