return to the forbidden planet

[derschotte]

Hi Guys - I am trying to create an effect whereby crew members aboard the spaceship 'Albatross' are trying to rev a generator up (so we thought we could show a power bar similar to a battery power readout) and as the cast work frantically on the generator we see the power bar light up more and more. Does anyone know of an app for a smart phone or any video effect that I could possibly use?

[paulears]

Sorry? An app for a smartphone? If the power bar is the usual type of thing for this, won't it need to be big and 'B' movie-ish? A multi section box run off dimmers, or perhaps even an LED 24 cell bar would do the trick. What would the app be for? As you want a pre-determined sequence of ups and downs, it would just be a pre-made cue list - one random ups and downs followed on cue by one going right to the top. Or have I missed something.

[timsabre]

I think the OP was thinking of using it as a source for a video projection.

As you need it to respond on cue I think that rules out any pre-made videos. You could probably do something with powerpoint (ugh) if you are really stuck. But it would be an easy task for After Effects or similar.

[Ynot]

What desk are you using?

Not for 'Planet, but a rather good natured ETC tech bod answered my call when I needed something of that ilk for an LED bar in panto a couple of years back - got it on our Ion to drive a sub which had the LEDs out when the sub was out, but as I took it up, the first 3 bars came on green, the second 3 amber and the top two full red. Sliding that fader up & down could be viewed as a VU meter style display and was very controllable.

It was a little unpredictable at times BUT worked for most of the 14 shows.. :)

 

As I said, Ion, driving a Chauvet colorRail 8-cell LED bar.

 

 

[paulears]

Personally, I'd avoid video projection for things like this because it's not 'real' enough. The beauty of the show is in the practical stuff. UV painted balls hung on string for planets are so much better than projected planets on a screen. Too clever and it's not meant to be clever.

[derschotte]

Thanks guys - Think I'm going to go with the crew working frantically working at a panel/board, whilst a surging power bar (battery power readout) is projected onto video screen and add appropriate sfx. thanks for the tips though!

[Stuart91]

A number of years ago I produced a "Clapometer" as a powerpoint presentation. It was very simple - each slide had the same background graphic and the "meter" advanced slightly each time. There were about 30 slides in total and the person operating just hammered Page Up/Down roughly in time with the activity on stage.

 

I agree with Paul that a solution like this is not going to be as effective as an actual prop, but if you're just needing a quick and dirty thing for one minor scene it could do the trick.