workie2209 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Hi My Am Dram group is doing Wizard of Oz in the summer and they want to have the good fairy to appear on stage after a flash of pyro. But the Director has said that "I Dont want an ugly pyro box in the Middle of my stage". My first thought was to construct a type of vehicle from macanno that would be able to slide to were I need it bang the pyro and then pull off stage again but I have been told by people that this is dangerous. Do people have any other ideas for me to think about and resolve this problem. Thanks Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 You could probably sink most of the box bit into the stage if you have or could have a false floor (could be built over an open trapdoor if you have one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 You must secure the pyro sffect to something! and usually run a wire to it! among the footlights is one likely place fixed to scenery is another or discretely slid onstage and slid off again. It is your show, and your safety assessment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikienorth Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 In my AmDram past I have seen holes cut in the stage to allow a pyro pot to be completley recessed so the top of the pyro is flush to the floor. This requires you to be able to make holes in the floor and competently repair them. Literally a round hole the size of the pyro with the 'ugly box' mounted underneath. Otherwise think about mounting it in or on the set, especially a truck near to where the fairy appears from, or that the fairy can appear from behind Look into the fabrication of a custom firing box, either a lower profile, or disguising it behind a suitable scenic peice, for example the muchkins, make a small scenic peice that looks like a flower bed. Emerald City a collection of green rocks, Poppy field a bunch of poppies, and so on. These are set and stuck by the pyro operator each scene, and other ones can be made that are non pyro, to blend it in. Obviously taking in to account the maintaining of a safe zone around the pyrotechnic for persons, and ensuring that whatever you fix the pyro to needs to be fireproof, and not be affected by the black and white blast staining that takes place. This needs to be a price/results decision for your director. Ugly boxes = predictable and impressive flash for the fairy magic, Clean floor = imaginative but non pyrotechnic solution, or naff effect, should the other ideas not suit budget, blocking, or building. Above everything, no matter what happens you need to ensure your fairy is not too keen to get on stage, and WAITS FOR THE FLASH. Been there, seen the singed skirt. I wasn't the firer. You could always do what one show did recently and attach string to the pyro pot as well as a cable so you can 'whip' it off stage the moment it has fired. String on fire, pot in mid air it is removed that fast, and it makes it into the wing still smoking. And that is a professional production, after that I'm saying nothing except I was a punter that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Another thought is to disguise the pyro box and hide it in a plant pot or behind a piece of scenery (thinking stylised greenery type cutout things) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Bear in mind that in an end-on theatre it probably doesn't matter if the flash happens on the front of the stage rather than somewhere more localised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozbiz Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Hi My Am Dram group is doing Wizard of Oz in the summer and they want to have the good fairy to appear on stage after a flash of pyro. But the Director has said that "I Dont want an ugly pyro box in the Middle of my stage". Did you say " I don't want an ugly director near my pyro?" :blink: We use small L shaped stands, which are matt blank. We put he pyro and our remote controlled unit on that.So none of the punters can see what is there..........we have done many productions including the Wizard using this system...perhaps our Director was more "pyro friendly".We tended to use spark jets, flame projectors for the Wicked witch and we used bubbles for the good witch... a different idea. I think the theatre would lynch me if I drilled holes in the floor :down: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFX1 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 You shouldn't need an "ugly pyro box" for a simple flash. Use a wired pot rather than a plug in cartridge. Glue it to a metal plate for stability and so you don't scorch the stage (better would be to weld a short section of tube to the plate and sit the pot in the tube). The pot will only be a couple of inches diameter by about an inch high. As has been said already drilling the stage is the best option but possibly not practicle for an amdram production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikienorth Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Drilling the stage and amateur practicalities are very possible. When I was involved in doing this it was an amateur stage - the society owned the venue, so it was no issue at all If the venue is temporary staging (Steeldeck or any other type) make your own section that can replace the normal deck, with the holes you need, one of the benefits of modular staging systems. If the stage is in a school then chances are you may be out of luck, as it might be concrete under the wood, not hollow. Church halls, ask, hired theatres, again, ask. If you agree to be responsible for returning the stage to it's original state with effective patching and maybe a couple of bits of new hardboard, then you might get a more positive response than you might first of all expect. Some theatres have floors designed to have sections removed and custom made panels inserted.... But the best way for this sort of thing is probably to hide it behind scenic elements. (cheaper too!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Pyro "stick"? By that I mean the pod mounted on a piece of 3x1, which is painted the same as the floor; get a trusted crew member to push it on stage just before it's needed, pyro goes off, pod is pulled off. When I've done it, I put a dead-man's switch on the end of the stick, so the person pushing the stick has control over whether the pyro fires or not (we have had episodes where cast members get in the way so the stick can't go on, etc etc) - just gives you that extra level of safety. Here's a pic where you can see the pod (it was taken at a dress rehearsal before we'd had time to paint the stick/pod/cable!), circled nicely in red....this was (obviously!) a production of the Wizard of Oz, the RSC version, and the pyro was for the Wicked Witch's exit rather than Glinda's entrance, but the principle is the same... http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e26/kiwitechgirl/munchkinlandedit.jpg If the director doesn't even go for that idea, then you may have to inform them that without an "ugly pyro box" it will be tricky to get a pyro flash for the entrance! As another idea, had you considered a robotic hung above the stage? Less obvious, but it may not be the effect you're after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workie2209 Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Thanks for the advice GridGirl, its something that I hadnt thought about. At the risk of sounding stupid wat is a Robotic. Thanks Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Thanks for the advice GridGirl, its something that I hadnt thought about. At the risk of sounding stupid wat is a Robotic.Robotics are pyros which simulate electrical flashes - eg when a live would touch a neutral.Go to Le Maitre's site and find the robotics and check their videos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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