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Drifts ???

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2707
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 1:25am
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Topic: Drifts ???
Posted By: skitipzip
Subject: Drifts ???
Date Posted: 10/02/07 at 6:36am
I have been asked to build 4 12' "drifts", I am not sure what they are or used for. But they do have something to do with hold up the set without putting screws into the floor.



Replies:
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/02/07 at 8:49am
I realise our theatre terms are different, but I'm lost as to what a 12' means or used for.
I doubt it means a' stage drift' which is an aside between the actor & the audiance or when the show it's self starts to drift from the script.
I feel this could be as in a 12' french brace, to stop the tops of 12' flats from moving? Normally this would be handled by a Ledger.
There again it could be a 'clearance pole' used for guiding battens from fouling in tightly packed Fly systems.
So I think it would be a clue to ask the question of the one wanting the driftsConfused.
Unless someone here can throw some light on it as a localised term?Ermm




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      Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}



Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 10/02/07 at 10:14am
I call em Jacks


Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 10/02/07 at 1:16pm
12' means it's 12 feet tall, Gaafa.  I'm also assuming skitipzip means a French brace.
Skitipzip ... a French brace is simply a triangular frame, hinged to the back of a piece of standing scenery and folded flat for storage.  You weight the base of it (w/ pig weight or sandbags) to hold the scenery down, instead of nailing it directly into the stage.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!


Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/02/07 at 10:22pm
Sorry Nanette!
I forgot to add 'drift' to the question "What a 12' .... means?
I feel sure it is a [french] stage brace as you descibe, is what Skitptipzip is chacing.
We usualy refer to Shaters 'Jacks' in stage bracing as being a french brace with a castor on the end of the base board, which is hinged at the other end on  the up right. The cross brace timber is hinged at at the top of the up right as well, leaving the other end free floating . On the base board, which is flat a nogging is added to hold the cross brace t&  jam behind. In order to support the brace & the sets Flat while it's on the deck.
If & when the Flat wall needs to be shifted. With the braces base held up by the castor off the deck.
The techie steps on the end of the base board & jacks up the Set, untill the cross brace slides along the base board & jams behind a further nogging. Allowing the set to be moved on the castor.
The operation is reveresed to drop the Set flats on to the deck again.
Gawd this is hopless to describe properly, where a drawing would be far easier!
But it's wonderful how we have different terms that relate to the same thing!
Maybe we could do with a cross reference glossary?Wink






-------------
      Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}




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