Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Help with gels

Message

   Hello,
I'm a  music teacher who has little to no experience with stage lighting. Our HS just underwent a complete remodeling, including our auditorium. We now have a brand new lighting system and I am presently on a very steep learning curve, with our first production being the weekend before Thanksgiving!

I need to order gels for our new lights. Our old auditorium had lights that we basically flipped the switch and prayed that we didn't blow a fuse. We never changed the glass gels (I don't even know what they are called) and basically had NO control over lighting. This is really all new to me.

I know that choosing gels can be very show specific and go with preferences of the lighting director - but could someone just give me an idea of some basics that we would need? I'm hoping to just get through this first show and then be able to spend some more thought and time on the spring musical.

We've got 36 pars, 12 fresnels, and 30 ellipsoidals. I'm not even sure how I go about figuring out how much gel "stuff" I will need?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Amy

PS When I say "we" I really mean my sister and I (she is the HS music teacher and I am at the ES) We are basically the theater department and she knows about the same amount as me! Thanks again!

Author	Message
afinnteach Walk-On Joined: 10/15/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Help with gels Posted: 10/28/08 at 9:26am
	Hello, I'm a music teacher who has little to no experience with stage lighting. Our HS just underwent a complete remodeling, including our auditorium. We now have a brand new lighting system and I am presently on a very steep learning curve, with our first production being the weekend before Thanksgiving! I need to order gels for our new lights. Our old auditorium had lights that we basically flipped the switch and prayed that we didn't blow a fuse. We never changed the glass gels (I don't even know what they are called) and basically had NO control over lighting. This is really all new to me. I know that choosing gels can be very show specific and go with preferences of the lighting director - but could someone just give me an idea of some basics that we would need? I'm hoping to just get through this first show and then be able to spend some more thought and time on the spring musical. We've got 36 pars, 12 fresnels, and 30 ellipsoidals. I'm not even sure how I go about figuring out how much gel "stuff" I will need? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Amy PS When I say "we" I really mean my sister and I (she is the HS music teacher and I am at the ES) We are basically the theater department and she knows about the same amount as me! Thanks again!

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skoehler Lead Joined: 5/19/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 10/28/08 at 1:45pm
	Without knowing exact specifics it is hard to give advice, but generally speaking: Pars use an 11" frame, 4 cuts per sheet ERS's and fresnels TYPICALLY use 7 1/2" frame (smaller if the ellipsoidals are Source 4's or other like newer designs) or 6 per sheet. You probably don't want too saturate colors, and a good mix of warms, cools and neutrals. In the Rosco world: R02, R04, R08 and R09 are all decent warms, without too much saturation, yet enough color to actually do something. Cools: R61, R64, R65, R68 (this one is beginning to get a little more saturate) Neutrals (not truly neutral but can generally be either warmish or coolish depending on level) R51 and R54. For some pink accents, I use primarily R33 and R36. for some oomph of color R80 is a great deep blue, R26 a bright but good red, R27 is a bit deeper, Amber, outside of the ones listed above, R17 and R21 are two I use a lot. Green (wonderful color but use carefully) R87 and R88 are nice brighter, R89 and R90 good deep greens. All that being said, color can be very tricky, these should work for general lighting, go with one coor for warm front, one for cool front, with a possible set of deeper warms and cools for top lighting. Color choices are also very personal, so I am sure others might have other general choices. Good luck.
	Steven Koehler Managing Director Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette www.lafayettecivic.org
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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 10/28/08 at 7:41pm
	G'day Amy I agree with Steven & his suggestion of the normal frame sizes, which are fairly typical for Parcan, Fresnel & Profiles [ellipsoidal] Colour filter [gel] sheets are generally 20" x 24" size, this size sheet was established from the original Gelatine filters [Gelatin] that were produced using 'Bakers Tray' to float & cast the first sheets. Also rolls are typically 24" or 48" wide & 50' long. The size has not changed to any great degree over the years, this will help in doing your sums, to work out how many PPS [pieces per sheet] you will get. Colour filter companies such as Rosco, Lee & others have a lot of info on their sites that will help you. One thing to think about "that it is not the colour you put in, but rather the colour that is filtered out- with lighting". One other analogy I use is to think about lighting, as though the punters heads react much the same as a [PAL] colour TV monitor, with the 3 colour [RGB] guns to transmit the colour onto their screen [brain]. Eyes being the camera, with the s colour receptors, that transmit via rods to mix & compute the colour transmission into the brain. Anyhow this does not get the wee'n a nappy, you will discover a lot of "what's it all about", further down the track. Via info gleaned or your creative accidents. A lot of theatrical lighting suppliers put out a filter selection promotional pack, which is usually cheaper. Also occasionally they might have rolls of gels they wish to quit, for whatever reason, you get cheap. They may also even show you how to focus the lanterns & even demonstrate what light to use where & how. The equipment manufactures are very helpful with this in most cases. Especially with the logistics of setting up your control desk & Dimmer racks. Further the Gel companies put out wall charts & colour swatches on their products, normally you can snaffle these for no charge. Not only, but if there is a local Comeatre in your area, get to know them, especially the lighting techies. Even with proeatre venues, as most techies are helpful, especially when their ego's are stroked & they are a good reusable resource to have as a go to or on board. not forgetting the resources here on the Greenroom. Remember in this game there are no silly or stupid questions, so ASK away!
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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