How to create a Train Effect

[Mrrock101]

Hi Everyone,

 

So the scene is this: A fugitive is running to try and escape from a steam train in a tunnel behind him. At the end of the scene he falls and has his leg severed by the train.

 

I've had a couple of thoughts about how to create this (with our limited school budget). Primarily, as it's set in the thrust with no scenery, isolating the actor in a single, softly-focussed, profile - gelled in a steel blue. Then I would add in increasing billows of smoke along with a random strobing pattern in increasing intensity from the two Atomic 3000's, that would be positioned DSL & R. And possibly some blinders (also DSL & R) to fade in and out quickly in time with the sounds cues of a train whistle. As he falls for the end of the scene, I would silhouette him with the two blinders.

 

I was just wondering about any ideas anyone else might have to set this effectively?

 

Thanks,

Josh

[Brian]

My first thought - too much light.

 

Atomics and blinders? For a steam train? Or are you not going for realism?

[Mrrock101]

The whole play is quite artificial and non-naturalistic.

 

I think what I was trying to describe was probably a cool spot highlighting just the performer, with an increasing wall of backlight to compliment the increasing volume of the sound cues.

 

So no, not very realistic. I think I'm trying to portray the fear and impending danger more than the actual train (which can be shown through sound). If that makes any sense! :D

 

Josh

[timtheenchanteruk]

wish I could find it, but its about 15 years since we used it...

I did Blitz many moons ago, and we had a passing train effect, basically a octagonal (possibly more faces than that, its been a while) cylinder mounted vertically, ours a 10V controlled speed for rotation, it came with an adjustable sheild to go round it to stop spill, and you shone a profile at it.

We used it for the scenes with passing tube trains, the adjustable speed made it useful for slow passing, or it would go pretty quick for faster trains.

 

Cant even find a pic of anything similar on the web, but may be recreatable fairly easily

[jonic222]

For a steam train effect I've used a smoke machine from the side of the stage with a profile mounted above it (offstage at about head height) for the train's light. For a passing train effect there is an effects which can be used, which I think is what's being suggested above (though I've never used at and am not sure how good an effect it would be). Available from Stage Electrics - http://www.stage-electrics.co.uk/productHire.aspx?code=DD19. Personally I'd stick with what I suggested to start with, with the smoke and train headlight building up until the moment where the person is 'hit', at which point they both stop. Some careful timing with SFX needed I think.

[GridGirl]

I don't know that I'd have random strobing - realistic or not, it doesn't scream "oncoming train" to me at all. Ever-increasing brightness on the blinders yes (assuming the hypothetical train is moving from US to DS), or else the most powerful lantern you can find, rigged US on a dropper so it comes in flat, getting brighter and brighter - this way you get the point source effect, which may look a lot more like an oncoming train's headlight.

[RoyJ]

I've seen the exact effect used in the ghost train on a very small stage in a village hall with very little equipment,I didn't get chance to find out how it was done,but it looked very realistic.It might be worth contacting the lx director/designer for Marlowe players in Derby to ask advice.I believe they have a web site.I would also agree that your first proposal seems too much light.Hope this helps,regards Roy

[Jamtastic3]

I realise the train is coming from backstage. But wouldn't it be far easier doing the old fashioned way.....

Actor running on the spot, body facing upstage, actor looking over his shoulder to the audience. Blinder positioned downstage facing towards upstage.

No smoke needed, volume increased as train approaches, blinder increases in output to a sudden blackout?

 

I think the smoke could be a bit cheesey but could work if it's dispersed in the blackout from the side of the stage. The blackout lasting 2 seconds. 3 second fade up, the scene comes up as being dark and smokey with the actor on the stage floor.....?

 

Just ideas...!

[FlashGordon]

The idea of using atomic 3k´s sounds cool to me - but I would have a slow fade in using either a blind effect or frequency at 100% and then cut them.

(you see the headlights along time before they come so an exponential curve on the dimmer would be cool too)

[timsabre]

I agree with Jamtastic, keep it simple. Let the actor create the train in the audience's imaginations. Anything else is going to look reeeeally cheesy and distract from the actor.

 

Don't think "I've got these Atomic strobes, how can I use them to create a train effect...?", think "what will draw the audience into the action best".

[mark_s]

I'm not sure that you're going about it the right way with the blinders. It all depends on your set of course, but if he is running in a tunnel the last thing I'd want to do is illuminate the entire stage in an uncontrollable manner - it completely ruins the intimacy that's suggested by the fact that it's in a tunnel.

 

What I'd aim to do is use a single source of light from the side, with cold filter of your choice, starting dimly and increasing steadily in intensity as the train approaches. Some smoke, from the same location, would be be good, but don't go overboard. As the train passes at the end of the scene, cut that source of light, and add some dim, quickly decaying dull red light from the equivalent position in the opposite wing (or slightly further upstage, so more 3/4 backlight), and end in blackout. You will no doubt have to mess about with the timing of the last cues to get it to look sensible.

 

What's with the red light you ask? Well, trains have tail lights. Also, if you were to go from incredibly bright train light to blackout, in my mind it will look slightly odd. Also, the fast decaying red light will work well with the agonising scream that your character may well let out as he gets his leg sliced off...

[Jamtastic3]

Also, if you were to go from incredibly bright train light to blackout, in my mind it will look slightly odd.

 

It's a cheap and tested idea that has worked many times based on the whole 'caught in car headlamps' technique.

What would work is that at the height of the train approaching with lighting at a sharp increase near 'impact', a blackout should occur. The continuing loud sounds of a train whistling through a tunnel, heighten's the audience's imagination and suspense as to what they may think has happened. It's also a good cover up for a few seconds to hit some smoke and to get the actor positioned for the next part on the stage. You could produce a whizzing light effect from carrages passing by but in this situation, the train is heading away from the audience and it isn't strictly necessary.

Also, I believe that if you see a very strong light coming at you and then it suddenly is taken out of your sight, you perception is that everything seems darker than it should be, until your eyes adjust to dim surroundings.

 

(Sorry if I sound completely patronising!)

 

You are right though about the blinder and it could be that a soft profile spot could be used instead for minimal spillage over the stage.

[RoyJ]

Also, if you were to go from incredibly bright train light to blackout, in my mind it will look slightly odd.

 

It's a cheap and tested idea that has worked many times based on the whole 'caught in car headlamps' technique.

What would work is that at the height of the train approaching with lighting at a sharp increase near 'impact', a blackout should occur. The continuing loud sounds of a train whistling through a tunnel, heighten's the audience's imagination and suspense as to what they may think has happened. It's also a good cover up for a few seconds to hit some smoke and to get the actor positioned for the next part on the stage. You could produce a whizzing light effect from carrages passing by but in this situation, the train is heading away from the audience and it isn't strictly necessary.

Also, I believe that if you see a very strong light coming at you and then it suddenly is taken out of your sight, you perception is that everything seems darker than it should be, until your eyes adjust to dim surroundings.

 

(Sorry if I sound completely patronising!)

 

You are right though about the blinder and it could be that a soft profile spot could be used instead for minimal spillage over the stage.

 

On the back of that, why not try a low voltage beamlight,or even a 240v beamlight,patt 750,patt 58 or even a patt 50a if you can find one.Regards Roy

[Biskit]

Just a small point you may want to consider... where is the play set? If it is in the UK, bear in mind that locomotive headlamps were just single burner parafin lamps with a lens. They were primarily to give a visual indication of the type of train as it approached a signalbox (the position of the lamps on the front of the engine being a code for the type of train, ie. slow passenger, freight, express, etc). They didn't really give a lot of light out as a 'headlight' - drivers relied on knowledge of the route, and signals being lit, to know where they were at night.

 

On the other hand, other countries, such as the USA, did have large bright headlights on their engines.

 

If your sound effect is of a steam engine working (ie. chuf-chuf-chuf kind of thing) rather than just coasting along (ie. ratling and banging) a more real effect would be a dim flame-yellow pulsing in time with the 'chuffs' getting brighter as the train approaches, as this represents the fire light shining out of the cab. Trut me, it is far more noticeable than the parafin headlamp in reality!

 

Engineman hat off now!

 

Ben.