CORTEC Corrugated Cardboard Scenery
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=3208
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 3:47pm
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Topic: CORTEC Corrugated Cardboard Scenery
Posted By: George L Pettit
Subject: CORTEC Corrugated Cardboard Scenery
Date Posted: 5/27/08 at 9:49pm
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There is a new website available to promote the use of corrugated cardboard to build theater scenery and props. Its creator is a professional United Scenic Artist designer with over 40 years of experience, much of it using corrugated as a scenic material. If you wish to see the possibilities and methodology of using corrugated to create professional quality scenery, including the CORTEC Guide which is a FREE download, go to my website: http://www.cortecscenery.com Let me know what you think! Thanks, George Pettit georpett@gmail.com ------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |
Replies:
Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 5/28/08 at 8:09am
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This is a very interesting idea and one I have contended for years, is a viable, less expensive and equally as reasonable way to do things. I WILL say this however, that you MUST have a consummate artist who is capable of turning cardboard into these props, set pieces and so forth - one who is visionary, creative and who thinks out of the box.
There is another site you may have seen that is similar to your own. There was a link here for a while but the name of the site is Cardboard King or something like that. Here's the link http://www.geocities.com/cbking43/index.html - http://www.geocities.com/cbking43/index.html
What HE does is more of the architectural creation kind of thing but again using cardboard. I have always said, it CAN be done inexpensively as long as you have someone who is incredibly creative and artistic who can finish these things to make them look as legitimate as they need to be. So cheers to you for coming up with some interesting ways to do things like this. Understand however, that it's not new. A LOT of companies have been using cardboard for years and years now. It's available, it is often FREE and you can make something out of what others might look at as nothing.
Nowadays, the company I worked for has taken to the blue or pink sheet insulation foam for creating woodwork. All you have to have is a really creative carpenter who has all the tools necessary to mill lumber into woodwork designs and the foam can be used the same way. IT IS however a bit hard on router bits but those can be sharpened and if you get the better bits, they last significantly longer and stay sharper for a long time. PLUS these foam sheets can be cut to just about any shape with the right tools - even homemade heated wire cutting tools for this foam and a variety of hand-held tools. It's a bit toxic if you're not careful but with proper ventilation using hotwire tools on foam renders some incredibly cool results.
But yes indeed I sincerely endorse the use of cardboard as long (again) as it's being used by someone creative and visionary enough to be able to put something together from nothing and then finish it off well so it looks like whatever it's supposed to look like. AND your work appearing in your gallery, gives me the impression that YOU are one of those highly creative and resourceful people who can do what a lot of people cannot. Good for you. VERY nice work and great results. REALLY enjoyed looking at your gallery of work. Very cool what you've been able to do. I especially like your Phantom set. Amazing artistry there. I DO like the idea of SOME 3 dimension stuff though although your painting of these pieces is incredible - i.e. your Guys And Dolls sewer set with that HUGE drain pipe....looks as 3 dimension as it could possibly be. BUT with the Phantom set, the PIPE ORGAN?? There is a way again that's not only inexpensive (should you or anyone ever do a set like this again) is to use BROWN KRAFT PAPER and ROLL the paper, then coat it with brown heated glue. Actually I have an old book that uses this technique to actually create the pipes for a home pipe organ and it works.
But yes, cardboard is an amazing tool. I mean if a semi-truck can drive over a cardboard bridge (yes it's been done) then cardboard surely can be used for a LOT of things in theater. And again, it's been done successfully for a long time in my world. It wouldn't hurt to learn how to use it well in this regard as it really DOES save a lot of time and money. The ONLY thing I learned is that you CANNOT paint only one side of a sheet of cardboard at at time. BEST to paint them both at the same time. When it dries on one side the cardboard curls in that direction. BUT if you do both sides at the same time (have to hang it and secure it somehow) it WILL prevent that. But bracing it as you do helps in that regard too.
 Thanks for the link to your site. Interesting stuff there. Appreciate that you shared this information.
TonyDi
------------- "Almost famous" |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/28/08 at 8:49am
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I whole heartedly agree with Tonydi. I used cardboard a lot back in the 60's, working in TV. Where everything was sticky tape & cardboard - probably still the same these days.
One thing with cardboard it made you quite adept in using the curling to ones advantage. However these days. applying & ensuring that they are fire retardant - Can be a bit of a drama, with delimitation!
But for stage work with props & whatever, cardboard can work well! It's cheap enough to chuck out, if one stuffs it up & it's very light weight.
G'donya Gorge! ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: sconjott
Date Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:22am
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Definitely worth a longer, closer look. I'm going to have to try some of these.
George the http://www.cortecscenery.com - http://www.cortecscenery.com site appears to be down right now, so i'll have to take a look later but Cardboard King was very interesting. Thanks for making me take a second look at corrugated cardboard. ------------- There are NO small roles, only small actors... |
Posted By: George L Pettit
Date Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:32am
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Corrugated needs to be fireproofed before it's use on stage or in public, and I have been successfully doing the fireproofing with liquide "California" gallon bottles for many years. Lay sheets flat, face down, spray with a fine spray with a garden sprayer, let it soak in, turn over & spray it on the front. Both sides should be all wet at the same time to prevent warping. When dry, TEST to make sure it will hold a flame. Your local fire department can tell you the rules it has in place. It is very important that no fire is caused and people injured by corrugated cardboard scenery!! George Pettit. http://www.cortecscenery.com Download FREECortecGuide2008
------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |
Posted By: George L Pettit
Date Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:22pm
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To TonyDi: May 28.08 Thanks for your comments! My focus with this website is to encourage the use of corrugated as an alternative to luan as a flat covering material, and as an alternative to potroleum based products. As I state on the website, Corrugated is made of a high percentage of recycled content and requires less use of power tools, thus eclectricity. Think coal fired power plants contributing to global warming which is the biggest problem facing the world today. Working with plastics has it's own negative environmental problems. I believe using corrugated can be effective without the user being a great craftsman or master scenic artist. Although the “Cardboard King” website projects are good ways to simulate real wood architectural and decorative elements, there is a simpler alternative or STYLE that can be created using corrugated, that has as much or more justification and validity as a totally realistic creation. A quote from your post: “ ...to put something together from nothing and then finish it off well so it looks like whatever it's supposed to look like.” I have a question, does it have to look like something else? Why can't it look like corrugated cardboard as a representation of this or that? In any case, my Guide attempts to give directions on working with corrugated that have been a problem all along. I cover fireproofing: SAFETY first, always!...and how to manage warping in the production process, and notes on storage. Thanks again for your interest. I'd like to get an email: and talk more. mailto:georpett@gmail.com - georpett@gmail.com
George Pettit May 28.08 ------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |
Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 5/29/08 at 8:07am
SCONJOTT the LINK for some reason will NOT work. GOOGLE IT and then link to the site from the Google link and it works. Had the same issue yesterday when I went to look. Actually here's the link to the front page from Google so use this instead.
http://www.cortecscenery.com/home/ - http://www.cortecscenery.com/home/
TonyDi ------------- "Almost famous" |
Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 5/29/08 at 8:19am
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George YOU SIR ARE RIGHT. The comment I made about making something from nothing then finishing it to look like other than cardboard rather than - as YOU state it - "Why can't it look like corrugated cardboard as a representation of this or that"? - is much better than MY statement. Maybe I meant that it's cool to take a cardboard BOX or FLAT SHEET and make a PROP out of it or a piece of furniture or WHATEVER. I mean I just like the idea of someone looking at something made from cardboard and not being able to tell it's cardboard. I mean not that I'm against cardboard - I've used it for years as well. BUT - and here's the SADDEST part - a LOT of people look at sets and props and if it LOOKS like cardboard or if they can TELL it's cardboard, they automatically consider it "cheap" and a "poor representation" of whatever it's supposed to look like. And yes, I've heard those comments made. Yet, I've also seen and/or made use of cardboard, finished to look like what I was trying to make it look like and people HARDLY believing me that it WAS cardboard. SO to me, it was a TOOL that while "cheap" to some, to me was FRUGAL, INEXPENSIVE, environmentally conscientious (can you say recycle) and just plain easy and fun to work with - especially if I could come up with a finish that made it look "other" than cardboard, well that was the fun part. I never balk at what someone thinks if they recognize the cardboard I've used on a set. Frankly I don't care what they think. It was a TOOL used to build or add to the set without breaking the bank. AND since it was there ONLY to enhance what the ACTORS were doing - then if someone didn't like the cardboard sets and spent more time criticizing that instead of "seeing the show" as a whole, suspending their disbelief (which some people often have no clue how to do) then that's their problem. Doesn't change what good things I think about cardboard. And I will and have continued to use it to the fullest and best whenever needed and compatible with what I was doing.
Don't misunderstand that I was criticizing it. I've used it far too long for THAT to be the case and again I could care less what someone else thinks of my use of it if THAT is all they're worrying about with the show. SO I DO agree with YOU - my statement may have been a bit bass-ackwards and better stated the way YOU did. THANKS for a great idea, a great site and some great words.
TonyDi ------------- "Almost famous" |
Posted By: George L Pettit
Date Posted: 5/29/08 at 1:01pm
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I just read your response and you wrote all the right things. I love the wide eyes and "I can't believe it's just cardboard!" Of, it is not just cardboard, it is corrugated cardboard, glue, effort, and imagination. I took your original statement as an opportunity not to criticize, but to make a point, and I am happy you have made it yourself, probably better than I. Thanks. George ------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |
Posted By: bmiller025
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:16am
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I just recently designed a show that had a set made entirely of cardboard!
http://members.aol.com/bmiller025/Memo/Memo.htm - http://www.brianmiller.biz/Memo.htm
The look I was going for was to make the world seem both artificial and cheesy. We painted most of the furniture to look like cardboard, and did the same with many of the props. I was hoping to make the secretary's typewriter out of the stuff as well, but there wasn't enough time. :)
It worked quite well. Not in the same league as Mr. Pettit's stuff, but it wasn't intended that way.
In addition to creating a distinctive look, the set was also remarkably cheap! I think we spent about $60 total for it! It was nice having a limitless supply of free recycled material to use! ------------- http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm |
Posted By: George L Pettit
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:57am
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Dear Brian, What a wonderful example of the creative use of corrugated cardboard! You have made my day! Your set is a great example of a professional looking set made without the scene painting that may put off people who think you need to be a good scenic artist to make it work. Thank you for posting this, and for your photographs which leave no doubt that corrugated can be used flat or as a sculptural material. I really appreciate the feedback! Feel free to email me at georpett@gmail.com with any more comments or hints. P.S. Thanks also for the link to your program. George Pettit <http://www.cortecscenery.com> ------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 12:37pm
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Can using corrugated cardboard in new ways be called "Thinking outside the box" ? ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: George L Pettit
Date Posted: 6/20/08 at 2:16pm
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Can using corrugated cardboard in new ways be called "Thinking outside the box" ? Answer: Yes! This Cartoon, if I can attach it, would add "thinking inside the box.  ------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |
Posted By: Pamw
Date Posted: 7/23/08 at 8:31am
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All this talk of cardboard brings back fond memories...
I have worked with "The Cardboard King" and he was incredible! Sadly, he passed away a few years ago, but his widow has kept up the website and you can still get his CDs. He was pure genius! ------------- Pam |
Posted By: George L Pettit
Date Posted: 3/01/10 at 12:58am
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Under the topic SET DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION there is a topic discussing "GREEN" ways of building and recycling scenery which has some good ideas. It includes a link to a website, <http://www.cortecscenery.com> which has free instructions about using corrugated cardboard to build professional quality theater set scenery and props. It is on the discussion board in several locations. Google CORTEC cardboard theater scenery. George Pettit, set designer. ------------- George L Pettit, Cortec Corrugated Cardboard Scenery |