bugsy malone

[mr techie]

I will shortly be stage managing Bugsy malone I was just wondering how I could make the car the director would like it as real as possible ???

any ideas

thanks

[weatherhead]

how big is the stage area you have and how are the scenes the car is in going to be staged? I.e do you know where and how it has to move from and to

[Darkfold]

Just drive it on

[weatherhead]

have you got the wing space to make some kind of naff off replica thingy and have it pushed on by crew at appropriate moment? Or you could have some kind of flat but rigid rolling up assembly - real as possible? Get some artist to design it. Fly it across......

hmmm maybe a bad idea. Whatever you do, maybe a haze machine behind it will add to the effect.

[the kid]

I think about there is a topic on the Grease car. Depending on how big there are companys that will hire one out. We hired the full taxi for "fame" 3 years ago.

[erroneousblack]

This must be a first. A query on a technical site regarding Bugsy Malone that doesn't mention "splurge guns"!!!

[Just Some Bloke]

the director would like it as real as possible ???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I always think that a beautifully painted 2-dimensional car carried on by the people squatting behind it can be much better than one that tries to look real but can never succeed (without actually being a real car). It's all down to the designer's skills and abilities! Intentionally 2D is funny, a 3D car that isn't a car can be a bit naff.

[Darkfold]

verymuch so. 2D is blatant and proud, where 3D can only dissapoint unless it really is good, by which time you may as well use the real thing.

[weatherhead]

here here, my first instinct would definitely be hit the 2D, much more feasible in your position (ur profile says you work in a school theatre).... and any school theatre I know wouldn't be able to store the car offstage anyhow if it was 3d.... not with out serious fire exit HS rules intervening!

[Modge]

We actaully did grease at school with a very gutted ford escort, mounted on caster wheels. part of the performance was done on the hall floor at audience height and thats where the car was (they mostly sat on in as I recall - It was when I was in year 9 and my first ever show)It was simply pushed fowards about it's own length to go from unobtrusive to in view and lit.

[weatherhead]

I just recently went to the NT shell connections festival at Newcastle and they did a car in one of the plays with just some seats on casters - not realistic but it was good to be able to see the action inside it. My worry would be if you had like a real car on stage and there was dialogue or anything going on inside it it would be totally lost...... just a thought

[the kid]

I actualy like that idea of castered seat's, was it on a grid ( like a square) and seats on the corners or individual seats castered?

[weatherhead]

it was like two individual seats mounted on what looked like bits cannibalised from an old style "military grade" computer trolley, if you know the sort I mean. I didn't get a close look at it, and couldn't find the guys responsible at the after - festival party, but it looked fairly secure. The casters just looked like standard (if somewhat heavy duty) black plastic sheathed affairs though. The two seats were together as one unit, and in one scene the guy was driving the car and moved it by just bracing his legs against the floor and pushing! It was quite comedy, but I think it was meant to be....

 

It looked like some kind of home welding jobbie would be required to construct such a contraption.

[Suzette]

have you thought about having a lightweight small square car frame made from wood that Fat Sam and Bugsy get inside, lift up using handles on the inside and run on with, and the same for Dandy Dan and his driver - a bit like Fred Flintstone's car except they stand inside and walk/run with it.....

Can work quite well with a show like Bugsy and gets a laugh!