Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: underwater rocks/coral

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george
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 4/16/09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: underwater rocks/coral
Posted: 3/04/10 at 5:01pm

Hi, I have some foam rocks painted granite and need to turn into underwater beauty, may coral but certainly pretty. off hand i'm thinking spraying stencils, and maybe fake greenery that can be sprayed and stuck in like they do for centerpieces. Not sure how will look.
Any other ideas, or has anyone done my original thoughts?
thanks.
george

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vickifrank
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Joined: 9/21/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 332

Posted: 3/04/10 at 6:54pm

I'd do a lot with lights and moving gobos to get an underwater feel. Also consider reflecting light off moving plastic films. It might be nice to make your greenery sway a bit with the 'current'.

There are several types of coral that you can mimic. The rounder types like brain coral and some of the similar compack types can be sponged with paint on to what currently is a rock. The more branching spindley types of coral can be built from wood and padded out.

Are you planning on a layer of sand at the bottom? What show is this for? Are these tropical shallows or deep sea?

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

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george
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Posted: 3/05/10 at 12:53pm

Hi, to answer your questions-no sand, The Little Mermaid (original story...ballet), deep sea but colorful...it is a ballet so i'm not looking for geographical accuracy, just pretty and impressionistic.
Where do you get "moving plastic films"? and how would you make the greenery sway?
thanks again.
george

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vickifrank
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Joined: 9/21/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 332

Posted: 3/05/10 at 2:19pm

I was thinking mylar, but couldn't think of the name for that moment I was posting (a brain block). If you reflect light off of moving mylar you get that moving reflection.

With a ballet you could cut the greenery from fabric and hang it, then it sways from either air currents or how you move it. I could see the greenery cut from many fabrics, but the Chameleon Scrim that my company sells, doesn't need hemming and can cut to irregular shapes, and it translucent, whish should be good for such greenery.

I wouldn't worry about making the rocks and coral 3-d, because ballet directors usually want nothing on the floor to get in the way. In fact your's is pretty ideal for an all fabric set.

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

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Mr. Lowell
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Joined: 1/30/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 269

Posted: 3/15/10 at 12:27pm

I stumbled on a website that has underwater scenery. It's mostly for proms and such, but worth a look:

http://208.112.78.180/portal/default.cfm?Page=DRS-ThemeSet-UnderSea

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
george Walk-On Joined: 4/16/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: underwater rocks/coral Posted: 3/04/10 at 5:01pm
	Hi, I have some foam rocks painted granite and need to turn into underwater beauty, may coral but certainly pretty. off hand i'm thinking spraying stencils, and maybe fake greenery that can be sprayed and stuck in like they do for centerpieces. Not sure how will look. Any other ideas, or has anyone done my original thoughts? thanks. george

	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 3/04/10 at 6:54pm
	I'd do a lot with lights and moving gobos to get an underwater feel. Also consider reflecting light off moving plastic films. It might be nice to make your greenery sway a bit with the 'current'. There are several types of coral that you can mimic. The rounder types like brain coral and some of the similar compack types can be sponged with paint on to what currently is a rock. The more branching spindley types of coral can be built from wood and padded out. Are you planning on a layer of sand at the bottom? What show is this for? Are these tropical shallows or deep sea?
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged

george Walk-On Joined: 4/16/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/05/10 at 12:53pm
	Hi, to answer your questions-no sand, The Little Mermaid (original story...ballet), deep sea but colorful...it is a ballet so i'm not looking for geographical accuracy, just pretty and impressionistic. Where do you get "moving plastic films"? and how would you make the greenery sway? thanks again. george
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 3/05/10 at 2:19pm
	I was thinking mylar, but couldn't think of the name for that moment I was posting (a brain block). If you reflect light off of moving mylar you get that moving reflection. With a ballet you could cut the greenery from fabric and hang it, then it sways from either air currents or how you move it. I could see the greenery cut from many fabrics, but the Chameleon Scrim that my company sells, doesn't need hemming and can cut to irregular shapes, and it translucent, whish should be good for such greenery. I wouldn't worry about making the rocks and coral 3-d, because ballet directors usually want nothing on the floor to get in the way. In fact your's is pretty ideal for an all fabric set.
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged

Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 3/15/10 at 12:27pm
	I stumbled on a website that has underwater scenery. It's mostly for proms and such, but worth a look: http://208.112.78.180/portal/default.cfm?Page=DRS-ThemeSet-UnderSea
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
	IP Logged

Topic: underwater rocks/coral( Topic Closed)