Pracs

[mac.calder]

I did a really really really stupid thing. I agreed to work with a director who I KNEW only did ART for the sake of it being ART, not to make it look good. She has decided that she wants to use NO theatrical lights, in has told me on no uncertain terms that I am to use pracs only... actually what she said was "I want you to use standard household lights". Then when I bought in some strips of indoor spotlights (6 to a bar, which I had wired up into three circuits with gel frames made out of cable ties (long story)) she said "No". So I am in a large (800 seat) p. arch venue, and required to light the thing with household fixutres.

 

I need ideas.

 

I have a bunch of festoons, I also have some hanging light holders (bayonet fittings on one end, power socket on the other) and a few lamps. I cannot even get away with home made reflectors for footlights.

 

I am stumped as to how I am meant to get a decent ammount of light on a stage.

[peter]

One main thing would be getting the balance right between FOH and on stage. If you can run the houselights at a lower than normal level, do it. That'll make the audience members eyes adjust to the lower ambient level and therefore the stage won't seem so dim when you come to run the show.

 

What is the set like? Is there any opportunity to sneak some theatrical lights in to back up the effects of normal lights? (A fresnel following the same path as a hanging light, for example). It should be possible to get a decent level of light onto stage, its just a case of making it look like its only coming from the pracs.

[Andrew C]

I am stumped as to how I am meant to get a decent ammount of light on a stage.

Sell each member of the audience a large mag light, and have the cast wear head torches... In short, I think you're stuffed. I wouldn't try that on a 10x5 stage, never mind a big one.

 

Are you allowed FoH lanterns; hmm thought not! :o

[Paul Graham]

Go for the industrial/urban look - fitting with the play.

 

http://www.asdlighting.co.uk/index1.asp

high bay range

plotting will be limited as these will take a bit of warming up (nice preset effect!)

[JimWebber]

Hi,

I would agree with Peter.

 

If you can sneak in a couple of theatre lights to "Back Up" practicals, and possibly use a touch of F.o.H you may get away with it.

I think the key lies in some very careful plotting. I'd try to do this away from the dictator Director if possible, then present it as a "Fait Accompli"

 

If all else fails, and the result looks sh*te, you could always resort to a rather drastic fallbback measure.

 

Say "Yes Maam, No Maam, three bags full Maam" and then do whatever you need to make it look presentable. She is hardly likely to interrupt the first night shouting "No, No, No, it all looks wrong" (Especially if you have made it look right!) Future career prospects must be taken into consideration before trying this one...

[mac.calder]

One main thing would be getting the balance right between FOH and on stage. If you can run the houselights at a lower than normal level, do it. That'll make the audience members eyes adjust to the lower ambient level and therefore the stage won't seem so dim when you come to run the show.

 

I will do that.

 

What is the set like? Is there any opportunity to sneak some theatrical lights in to back up the effects of normal lights? (A fresnel following the same path as a hanging light, for example). It should be possible to get a decent level of light onto stage, its just a case of making it look like its only coming from the pracs.

 

The set is simple, a living room style setup, painted rear cyc (lit with fluros), a beauro, a pair of couches and a coffee table.

 

The problem I have with backing up with theatrical fittings is that I have a budget, which is reasonable, but any purchases I make have to be co signed by her and the producer (it is a really fudged up company IMO, and I doubt I will work with them again, or at least that director). The venues lantern stock costs extra. I have a pair of pars and a couple of profiles in my own 'stock' *if it could be called that* and a bunch of 'pracs' (like those mentioned) that I bought from the bargin bin at ikea - because noone likes black in their home =)

[StevieR]

How about a large chandelier with as many golf-ball lamps as possible. That should put out a reasonable amount on stage but you'll still need some FOH.

 

And then there's that question of if a Chandelier is appropriate for the set?

 

Hmmm....

[P. Funk]

Probably wouldn't suit... but you could do a Big Clive, or at least get some inspiration!

[andy_s]

do what she asks, and get your name taken out of the programme. If you're asked to be the lighting designer, they should let you design it....

[KindredHyperion]

Yep, in short I think you're pretty stuffed. If all purchases have to be co-signed by this director, then there really isn't much you can do.

 

I've always wanted to run a gig lit entirely by anglepoise lamps...

[bright spark]

I may be wrong (having never done it) but will 100W at 'theatre heights' be bright enough??

 

I can't think of anything that would do the job properly.

 

You could have a word with the theatre in advance, and see if they will tell your director she can use the fixed rig only.

 

Years ago a director told me he needed parcans; but did it work no, I needed fresnels and/or fixtures with barn doors.

 

I learnt by my mistakes:)

 

Good luck!

 

If its a big theatre, and imposible, either do what other people have said and do as she asks and no not get credited, or refuse to do it.

[dbuckley]

I am stumped as to how I am meant to get a decent ammount of light on a stage.

 

Fluorescents. Lots of them. :)

 

Second on the houselights - Whenever possible I set houselight level as part of the design, so you can set the mood, read somewhere once that its the first impression folks get when they walk in "calibrates" their eyes for what follows...

 

(Of course, as this puts the houselights on the desk I spend a lot of time taking houselights out of presets when I accidentally record them...)

[mac.calder]

I may be wrong (having never done it) but will 100W at 'theatre heights' be bright enough??

 

I know it would not be powerfull enough at 'theatre height', so I was going to approach it with a LOT of floor and side based lighting. I am hopeing she will let me blow a couple of hundred on purchasing a few outdoor floodlights with tripod stands...

 

 

I can't think of anything that would do the job properly.

 

You could have a word with the theatre in advance, and see if they will tell your director she can use the fixed rig only.

 

It's a university theatre... if there is one thing university theatres want, it's money. They dont have a standard rig, and they charge like an arm and a leg for what they consider to be 'extras' (lights, rigging gear, extension leads, mic leads, mics)

 

Years ago a director told me he needed parcans; but did it work no, I needed fresnels and/or fixtures with barn doors.

 

I learnt by my mistakes:)

 

Good luck!

 

If its a big theatre, and imposible, either do what other people have said and do as she asks and no not get credited, or refuse to do it.

 

I am tempted.... lord am I tempted. But if I do manage to light the show using pracs, I think it is an acheivement I want to be credited for (I will mention in the bio that 'Mac Calder has never been asked to light a show using only house hold fixtures, it has been an interesting and bumpy ride" or some such)

 

I am stumped as to how I am meant to get a decent ammount of light on a stage.

 

Fluorescents. Lots of them. :)

 

I am using fluoro's for the cyc lighting, although I need to source some dimmable ones from somewhere, I know they exist.

 

Second on the houselights - Whenever possible I set houselight level as part of the design, so you can set the mood, read somewhere once that its the first impression folks get when they walk in "calibrates" their eyes for what follows...

 

(Of course, as this puts the houselights on the desk I spend a lot of time taking houselights out of presets when I accidentally record them...)

 

Yeah I always include house lights in the lighting design, although I have usually only used them to set an atmos, and not to set a level for the lighting state - or if I did, it was unconciously.

[dbuckley]

Heres another thought - photoflood lamps. Available in two sizes, 275W (same size as 100W normal lamp) and 500W (same size as 150W), normal bayonet cap base. Short lamp life though cant remmber what it is. Generate lots of heat, might be "funny" if used in a normal fitting with a normal shade.

[themadhippy]

get some of those 500w halogen uplighters and some mirrors directly above