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Storm Effect


bingpopcorn

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I'm looking to create the effect of a gale on stage. It's required to be highly portable, for thousands of miles of touring with an amateur group, including a transatlantic flight. It is therefore needing to be robust, by vitue of the mileage needed, and reasonably inexpensive, by virtue of the amdram.

 

My best thoughts on the subject have been to construct a mounting for a smoke machine which partially funnels it through cooler* followed by a high speed fan** be projected from one wing to some extractors for the opposing side of stage to create a draft which will pump it out of the building swiftly.

 

Gale-direction side light would then theoretically pitch in to complete the effect.

 

Is this likely to fail me? Does anyone have any better ideas/ tips to build on mine?

 

 

 

 

*To keep the smoke from creeping it's way up to any smoke detectors which may appear in venues who stare blankly at the concept of fire alarm isolation

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... a mounting for a smoke machine which partially funnels it through cooler* followed by a high speed fan** be projected from one wing to some extractors ...

Something like this then...

post-207-0-05095700-1300639661_thumb.jpg

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The problem is that wind is invisible in real life and the effect of a real wind will be seen where it's wanted and everywhere else. The set will need suitable stability and any stage legs/tabs etc should start to have a life of their own once you switch the fans on.

 

I'd be looking at a projected solution, probably animation wheels with clouds and some leaves passing in the breeze. Still continued suspension of disbelief requires that the effect is NOT ott and that the dialogue and acting reflect the level and direction of the intended breeze.

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If you take the "Twister" theme park ride sometime you'll get to see what sort of lengths one has to go to to create a convincing "gale", its just not practical as a theatrical effect. You'll need to fool the audience with suggestion.
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-and you would need to make sure the venue has a good enough sound system to cover all the din of fans etc etc going...

 

in the words of Richard 'O Brian on The Crystal Maze...."will you start the fans pleae!" :** laughs out loud **:

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As others have said doing this for real is virtually impossible in a theatre without causing some ill effects.

 

You will need to use the actors and the lighting to create the perception of a gale, and maybe a small fan of to one side of stage just to give some 'movement' to the actors costumes/hair , if they are standing still.

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I've seen a similar thing done before using some large fans (like this, first result I came up searching for what I remember) and some sound effects. You get a fan noise and some "wind" from the fans, and make it sound more like wind with the effects. It's never going to be a decent gale but might give you something usable.

 

Something that springs to mind: it you're going on a transatlantic flight, that suggest you might be going somewhere where the voltage won't be the same. So things you buy may not work.

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