dynamo Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Hey all, I a directing a version of Return to the Forbidden Planet and would love some advice on the video production end. As you know, there are several images projcted on a screen throughout the show. Could anyone tell me hat those images looked like? Where they sort of cheezy B-movie style clips? Professioanlly produced? Any recomendations as to how to approach this? Any help/insight from you would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 the projections are what is happening outside the spacecraft, so it's the asteroid storm for great balls of fire, smoke type stuff during the landing and a moonscape once you're on the planet - add the monster aproaching sequence. think star trek and you're close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 In the original London Bubble Theatre Co version (performed in a tent around London in1983), the video "talking head" narrator / chorus was pre recorded, played by Dr Magnus Pyke, (well known" looney scientist TV celebrity" of the time) and the Monster of the Id was a hairy toy spider shot live in macro using a camcorder if I remember rightly. there was a big puppet arm which was used for the monster at "full scale", possibly operated by the ASM as well as doing the OHP (see Ken's post above). I don't recall the asteroid storm I'm afraid probably too busy "rocking out" to the music to be watching the video... It was (I assume intentionally) very lo-tec, even for it's day. When I saw the less lo-tec version at the Pic in the late eighties, early nineties, the audience participation emrgency drill polarity reversing exercise felt much more self conscious than when done in a leaky tent on Blackheath. and I have absolutely no recollection of who the narrator was. (Oops - just shows how well I remember the west-end version - it was at the Cambridge, not the Picadilly. How could I possibly forget?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamo Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 Thaks for the help. Alo wondering this: Are there any compter programs that one could use to create special efects and then perhaps transfer them somehow to a DVD? For instance, I know we now can create great screensavers on our computers. Just wondering if that could somehow be utilizied. During our production, all of our projetions will probably be taken off a laptop computer. Just trying to educate myself on this, and many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 There are a great many programs that can be used to create these effects. Only trouble is, most of them are expensive, and most of them need a great deal of specialist knowledge in order to use them properly.As part of my MSc I did a course in the use of 3DS Max to create these - however I can't afford a legal copy for myself! Far too expensive.Otherwise I'd offer to give you a quote. If you decide to do this stuff yourself - there are a lot of pitfalls.I've seen a great many pieces (some in pro theatre) that look terrible because they forgot about details such as how the footage would loop.Make sure you take the time to do it properly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Some Bloke Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 When I saw the less lo-tec version at the Pic in the late eighties, early nineties, the audience participation emrgency drill polarity reversing exercise felt much more self conscious than when done in a leaky tent on Blackheath. and I have absolutely no recollection of who the narrator was.(Oops - just shows how well I remember the west-end version - it was at the Cambridge, not the Picadilly. How could I possibly forget?)<{POST_SNAPBACK}> It was Patrick Moore (from The Sky At Night), IIRC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 Patrick Moores version was excellent. Don't forget that the entire point is all the effects should look very 'amatereurish'. So rubber monsters, asteroids painted uv and dangled on fishing line, dropped in by a bar in view all look great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-pitters Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 I was fortunate to 'participate' as a passenger (audience) when the show visited the Theatre Royal in Norwich. The stage set was first class, sound engineer (whoever it was) was a genius and the overall effects stunning. We (wife and I) became totally involved, which the production team had set out to achieve. From space age side arms (hair dryers) to the tentacles, every aspect of the production was to perfection. Sadly, the follow up (From a Jack to a King) was a tad disappointing. However, the CD regularly gets a damn fine airing (speakers set to intergalactic level) but I wish we could have obtained a DVD or Tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkfold Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Did it in school recently (The Ashcombe, Dorking, Surrey) Wonderfully cheesy, when they were traveling on the ship, we used a cutout of a rocket made from a Fosters can(I think) loaded into one of the colour slots on the followspot, and then tracked that around the room untill the paint on the can started to burn, much to amusement of the audience :D Total cheese is the way forwards on this.When the monster attacked, we used those little foam disc launching guns to "fight" it, dont expect to see the discs, but the flashing lights and cheapo sound effects are worth it. As for video, we used a platform, masked from the audience with a man height window in it made from gauze. This was the "Video" wall, with light changes turning it "on and off". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1nuzz Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 ITS BACK AND TOURING AGAIN.... Just thought id let ya all know! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
back_ache Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 ITS BACK AND TOURING AGAIN.... Just thought id let ya all know! :D Here's the website http://www.rttfp.com/rttfp_basingstoke.php not a big tour though, just twelve dates, this is whats left May 23rd - 10th June Northcott theatre, Exeter June 12th - 17th June Theatre Royal, Nottingham June 19th - 24th June Forum Theatre, Billingham June 26th - 1st July Wyvern Theatre, Swindon July 3rd - 8th July Theatre Royal, Richmond July 17th - 22nd July Malvern Theatre, Malvern July 24th - 29th July The Lowry, Salford July 31st - August 5th Theatre Royal, Plymouth August 7th - 12th T Theatre Royal, Norwich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w/robe Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Sadly, the follow up (From a Jack to a King) was a tad disappointing. I think this was written first but only became a West End and No1 touring production after Forbidden Planet was such a hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1nuzz Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Im off to see it on Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oovis Posted May 20, 2006 Share Posted May 20, 2006 I think it's a shame they edited Patrick Moore out of the Original West End cast CD when it was re-released. It's lost some of the character of the show for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted May 20, 2006 Share Posted May 20, 2006 But the new narrator is one of his best mates - Dr. Brian May CBE, well known astronomer and guitarist out of Queen :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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