Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: stars

Message

   For a '60's psychedelic version of "As you like it" I want to hang stars that vary in size from 3" to 16".  They are cut from wood and painted and hung upstage. They do not light up.  They should all be at the same distance downstage from the cyclorama, and they are hung at different heights.  I do not want them to spin on single strands of monolfilament.  I foresee that this could be a nightmare of fishing line.  I could use a scrim, but I don't know if that would help.  I mean, I'm sure it's not a good idea to pin objects to a scrim.  I'll bet somebody's done something like this.  Maybe they purchased, or made, a net with holes about 4" by 4".  Or something like that.  I don't want to do this by trial and error, so if someone has done it before, please let me know how.

Thanks,

Tom

Author	Message
pykirk Walk-On Joined: 2/16/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Topic: stars Posted: 7/24/14 at 8:35pm
	For a '60's psychedelic version of "As you like it" I want to hang stars that vary in size from 3" to 16". They are cut from wood and painted and hung upstage. They do not light up. They should all be at the same distance downstage from the cyclorama, and they are hung at different heights. I do not want them to spin on single strands of monolfilament. I foresee that this could be a nightmare of fishing line. I could use a scrim, but I don't know if that would help. I mean, I'm sure it's not a good idea to pin objects to a scrim. I'll bet somebody's done something like this. Maybe they purchased, or made, a net with holes about 4" by 4". Or something like that. I don't want to do this by trial and error, so if someone has done it before, please let me know how. Thanks, Tom

	IP Logged

bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 7/27/14 at 11:46pm
	I have pinned styrofoam stars to a black scrim. Worked great, and I was able to light them distinctly from the cyc behind them. . I wouldn't want to risk damaging the scrim with anything heavier than that. I think to keep them stationary, you will need at least two monofilament lines attached to each star, maybe more if you go that route. They still are likely to sway in breezes though. There might be fine woven mesh fabrics available that are less costly than scrim, that would support the weight of the stars that you may want to look into. I am not familier with 4x4 net like that. I would expect that the fibers would need to be thick enough that they would be visible, thus ruining the illusion you are trying to create. Good luck!
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
	IP Logged

pykirk Walk-On Joined: 2/16/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 7/29/14 at 12:34am
	Brian, I could pin the styrofoam stars to the cyc. Any thoughts on that? The cyc is up for replacement anyway, so the stars would hide a multitude of sins (and rips). I think our lighting guys would light the stars all right.
	IP Logged

bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 7/29/14 at 12:03pm
	The big challenge with that is that you can't light the stars separately from the cyc, and that will reduce the magic a bit. If the cyc is lit, for example, dark blue, and the stars are lit with white, or any other color at an extreme angle that doesn't spill onto the cyc, you would maximize its effectiveness. That is the benefit of the translucency of a scrim. It is certainly cheaper to do it the way you suggest though!
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
	IP Logged

pykirk Walk-On Joined: 2/16/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 7/30/14 at 2:06pm
	I see what you're saying. So, I have a black scrim. If I pin the stars to the scrim, and stabilize the scrim, then why would I need the monofilament? I don't doubt what you say, but please explain for my curiosity. Thanks, Tom
	IP Logged

bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 8/01/14 at 3:11pm
	Sorry for my poorly written response! If you attach the stars to the scrim, you don't need the monofilament. I think I was trying to answer two separate questions at the same time. I think scrim is the better way to go!
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
	IP Logged

pykirk Walk-On Joined: 2/16/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 8/03/14 at 2:36am
	Thanks Brian. Not much action on this forum, but you came through for my question. I'll remember to come back here the next time I have a question. Tom
	IP Logged

Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 8/28/14 at 11:06pm
	Everybody went with the notion that you should make the stars out of Styrofoam and pin them to a scrim, buy if you want to get them away from a scrim and make them out of wood (as you originally intended) why not hang them with TWO pieces of monofilament or black line (one on each side of the star)? Hanging a star with one line will allow it to twist and turn, but with one line on each opposing point it can't turn, and if the support lines are set a little wider than the star itself the star shouldn't move around or sway too easily. Edited by Spectrum - 8/28/14 at 11:11pm
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

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

Topic: stars