Flying risk assessment

[librarian28]

Forgive any misconceptions- we only have Home & Away to go on and they seem to lurch from crisis to crisis on a daily basis.

I'm also a little ignorant as to whether (like with water going down the plug hole the wrong way) Australian web pages turn upside down when they arrive here but Roderick's last line (which may have started out when it left him as the first line) says -

"Finally you would conduct a Safety Inspection in-situ to make sure all identified risks are addressed and control measures are in place". And I was just taking his advice. I'm dead conflicted now.

[flypig]

Chuckle, chuckle.

 

Very good Librarian28.

 

You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to create everything up-side-down here so that it arrives for your viewing pleasure the 'right' way round. That's why we have some of the best riggers in the world in Oz.

 

However, your point is taken and I stand corrected and hopefully you will now be resurrected from conflict.

 

In some instances it is impossible to assess and/or eliminate all risks prior to an event. Also, I believe you are quite correct in saying that the situation should constantly be reviewed and updated. I'm not certain if it's the same for you there, but here a good risk assessor is also the 'On Site Safety Officer' who in fact does this (Roderick will put us clear on this one I'm sure).

 

The points you make in your example of the 'French Flat' are certainly valid, and would surely be dealt with in a Safe Work Method Statement either incorporated into and/or referred to in the RA (again, a question for Roderick to answer)?

 

As for 'Home & Away' What a truly well balanced depiction of Australian life that is? Look out, there's another crisis lurching this way!

 

H

[rgye]

There is a way of doing this without the need for a risk assessment or endangering the cast - use a projection screen and a live camera and green/blue screen off-stage. With a bit of imagination you can paste your 'flying' actors over interesting, even moving backgrounds, and because it's live with a bit of ingenuity they can interact with other cast members on stage.

[kitlane]

There is a way of doing this without the need for a risk assessment or endangering the cast - use a projection screen and a live camera and green/blue screen off-stage. With a bit of imagination you can paste your 'flying' actors over interesting, even moving backgrounds, and because it's live with a bit of ingenuity they can interact with other cast members on stage.

 

What a ghastly idea. Even easier to rent the DVD and watch it at home.

 

The BBC and ITV rarely make a good job of live chromakeying (take a close look next time a politician is talking from a regional studio with a picture of the town behind them - rubbish!). Imagine that about 10 times bigger.

 

In order to make the actor looks like he is flying you are going to have to suspend him anyway. Lying on your stomach on a box just doesn't cut it.

 

What happens when you want the actor to turn and face the other direction? What about a summersault? The practical issues are legion

 

Artistically it would be a disaster.

 

It is not very difficult to fly people on stage in relative safety - if you know what you are doing. But it isn't cheap and should only be done by the professionals. Call Foy's, Hi-Fli, Freedom Flying etc.

[Ynot]

The BBC and ITV rarely make a good job of live chromakeying (take a close look next time a politician is talking from a regional studio with a picture of the town behind them - rubbish!). Imagine that about 10 times bigger.

 

In order to make the actor looks like he is flying you are going to have to suspend him anyway. Lying on your stomach on a box just doesn't cut it.

 

What happens when you want the actor to turn and face the other direction? What about a summersault? The practical issues are legion

 

Artistically it would be a disaster.

Hmmm.. ©

I feel that is rather harsh...

 

Whilst green-screen work is admittedly not something I'd expect a green (pun intended) amateur to attempt with any degree of success, it CAN be done quite effectively.

 

Whilst we're an amateur venue, we count a full time TV director and cameraman amongst our regulars - he is heavily involved (and indeed is co-producer) of our highly popular 2 week panto in January.

This year's offering saw Dick Whittington sailing the seas in the Nautilus, (as a change from the passe sailing ship!) and the the upstage fixed build had a 12 foot wide oval screen USC.

This was used for a variety of effects, one of which being the sub's front view camera (think the Star Trek screen on a sub...) and had a vision loop of rippling water and fish.

Cue the dame to go out in snorkel and flippers to 'catch' the captain's supper, and we had a filmed sequence of said dame in bright orange 'wet suit'. Filmed against a green screen, he was on top of a cylinder on wheels to allow for the breast-stroke simulation through the 'water', with a couple of the crew out of sight of the lens moving that where needed - turning the thing round on cue.

Whilst there was indeed a little corona style blurring around the edges at times, the overall effect was very good and impressive.

No somersaults, I'll grant, but even if properly flying, that's not often required.

 

We did a similar thing a few years back with Aladdin's magic carpet - and will do so again next year.

[librarian28]

I'm sure rgye wasn't suggesting that the green screen plan would work for most venues or requirements. Or that all it needs is imagination. We do a good few photo and video shoots where it is required to get 'em up in the air - for example this Bluewater Shopping Center Ad. It's now the age of high definition but I don't think (even now) it's a given that you end up with a corona effect. For theatre, the improvement in projector quality over only the last couple of years has been fantastic and there must be many imaginative sequences that could be undertaken incorporating - of course- live flying.

 

Off topic, but the reason regional TV backings are so bad seems to be that no-one cares. I nagged the BBC here in Manchester for several years because their representation of Manchester was gotten by hanging a camera out of a toilet window - giving a view of the air-conditioning plant on the roof of the building over the road. Only recently have they taken this on board and tried moving it higher. And now you can just see the Central Library at the back of the same criminally composed shot. When you think of all the great views of Manchester that could be shown to the world. (Honestly, there are many!)

[rgye]

I think I should spring to my own defence!

 

Of course chromakey is not a perfect alternative and no substitute for the real thing, but the Blue Room does cover a wide spectrum from professional theatre techs to kids putting on school plays. The fact is that there are many school and amateur productions for which real flying is not an option: even with the help of a specialist rigging company the venue may be unsuitable or the cost unaffordable. Chromakey opens up the possibility for some sort of flying effect, particularly as many school and amateur groups already use projected backdrops now the kit is so accessible.

 

No, chromakey doesn't look great when done badly, but the advent of beaded FP screens and lens-ring light sources instead of the literal green/blue backgrounds of old make it much easier to get a clean effect, nor is the new kit that expensive. Chromakey is not going to replace live flying at the London Palladium, but it can provide some good creative opportunities for amateurs and youngsters trying to add some wizardry to their shows.

[Jivemaster]

The "Risk Assessment" needs to be a dynamic thing! You identify the hazards, assess the risks, and reduce both hazard and risk as much as possible, Then you have to look whether the remaining hazard and risk is acceptable and insurable. However whenever the conditions change then there may be extra thoughts needed on the HA RA and Method statement. (such as Peter Pan's understudy is taller heavier or just a different shape from the usual performer so you check that the RA fits the new cast member.)

[kitlane]

I have used chromakeying (both live and pre-recorded) myself on many occasions with greater or lesser degrees of success. I am all in favour of using innovative methods of presentation but only if it is appropriate to the show and serves it well artistically. The OP was asking a specific question regarding Peter Pan. I really don't think one can make this show work by nipping off into the wings every five minutes and performing in front of a green screen.