Swizzuk Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Hi All, In our upcoming production the director has asked for a fiery hell scene, and would like the effect of fire on stage. It needs to be a quick and easy (and cheap'ish) solution as show is in about 3 weeks. First thought is smoke and lights but wondering if anyone has done something similar and what you did? cheers james
vinntec Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Hi James, well it depends on what they want. You can certainly hire fire animation attachments which you normally hire with an appropriate lantern(s), or something simpler stand-alone really for discos such as this or this. You can also have real flames or silk flames. If it is the reflection of fireside that they want, then this can be done with three lanterns doing a random chase (typically red, orange, and amber) mounted on the ground (or above). Decide what sort of thing you want then have a word with your normal hirer.
timsabre Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Rising smoke lit from below in flickering orange/red looks fairly realistic as fire - use a vertical firing smoke machine or divert with pipes. Silk flames always look a bit tacky to me but if you ware wanting a stylised effect it might be ok.Use fast dispersing smoke fluid or the action will soon disappear into the fog.
Stuart91 Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Silk flames always look a bit tacky to me but if you ware wanting a stylised effect it might be ok. Some definitely look better than others. We have a couple that are reasonable, they use coloured MR16 bulbs to uplight the cloth. The standard selections seem a bit blue to me - it looks like a gassy flame rather than a bonfire-esque effect which I expect is what people will expect for a fiery hell scene. However it's done us fine for corporate events that are probably happier with a cleaner looking flame. One of my proudest moments was when a drunken guest spent several minutes trying to light a cigarette from them...
IRW Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 In a venue I used to work at, we once had a touring tribute show in, and with that show was a Jerry Lee Lewis tribute. The show toured with a fake baby grand with a big square hole in the top., within which sat a disco-dave style fanned cloth flame effect unit. The touring crew sarcastically referred to it with words to the effect of 'the most spectacular flame effect you've ever seen'. I'll leave everyone to imagine how brilliant it was!
Stuart91 Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 I had an Abba tribute act turn up with a fake baby grand, which was carefully positioned so that the "keyboard" couldn't be seen by the audience. Instead there was a minidisc player mounted behind, and the performer slapped vigorously on the bare wood where the keys should have been. They were gigging quite extensively so it was clearly convincing enough people...
Don Allen Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 In the realm of suggestive rather than realistic, you could use some effects lights, not as realistic as the effects wheels available, but two on a cyc work ok.
alistermorton Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Any mileage in hiring a Le Maitre fake flame or two? Fake flame link
timsabre Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Any mileage in hiring a Le Maitre fake flame or two? The trouble with silk flames is you'd need loads to look convincingly like hell rather than just a few random flame effects here and there. Some glowing smoke and red/orange wash possibly with ripple/flame projections would give the impression much better in my opinion.
alistermorton Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 The Le Maitre fake flame isn't a silk effect, though; it's lighting into vapour. If it were me, and I was on a tight budget, I'd be lighting smoke/fog, as you suggest. Just thought I'd throw this in as another suggestion.
timsabre Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 The Le Maitre fake flame isn't a silk effect, though; it's lighting into vapour. Doh yes, of course it is. Sorry, there has been too much discussion of silk flames.
alistermorton Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 IKWYMhttp://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif
Swizzuk Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 Thanks all, good replies there and food for thought. Really appreciate that.Director has opted for the silk flame effect lights - not really my first choice but I'll try and enhance the scene more with some coloured stage washes. Am tempted at some point just for the sake of it is to build one which uses smoke and lights as suggested. How hard can it be?!
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