Set Design and Construction: Growing and shrinking screen

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Growing and shrinking screen

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=4145
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 2:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Growing and shrinking screen

Posted By: SweeneyBob
Subject: Growing and shrinking screen
Date Posted: 7/24/09 at 6:14am

I am currently working on a two-person production of Alice in Wonderland in which 1 woman plays Alice and 1 man plays all the other characters. Now, the script calls for a Victorian dressing screen that makes up the backdrop. We have decided that in order to give the effect of Alice shrinking and growing, we will make the screen grow and shrink. So when Alice gets big, the screen will get smaller and vice versa. Now, my question for you is how can I build such a screen? Any ideas?

Replies:

Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:51pm

You could do that with projection. If I'm understanding this correctly, the dressing screen shows Alice in sihouette. That gives you two options, one is a direct projection of live action on the screen. The other requires a shadow that shrinks and grows. As you move Alice (or cutout of Alice or 'puppet Alice) farther from the screen and closer to the projector, she grows bigger. If Alice is moved closer to the screen and farther from the projector she shrinks.

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

The theater scrim people

Posted By: SweeneyBob
Date Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:58pm

That might be cool too. What I was actually referring to is a structure that moves up and down.

Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 7/25/09 at 9:23am

You could also project the screen (including frame) either live action or shadow to cause it to shrink and grow.

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_____________

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

The theater scrim people

Posted By: SweeneyBob
Date Posted: 7/26/09 at 4:57am

You've suggested that twice. I don't want to and can not use a projector.

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 8/01/09 at 10:36pm

If uostage space area is the problem, for you not usin rear projection? You can bounce the image off a mirror, which can give upto a 1:15 image increase.

This can be done cheaply, using the Linnebach project, which is ease to knock up your self. :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnebach_lantern - Li http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnebach_lantern - Linnebach lantern - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnebach_lantern - nnebach lantern - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

from an old floodlight or a black box with a light scource, can be very effective.

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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: Musicman315
Date Posted: 8/11/09 at 12:38pm

You could just move the screen straight back when Alice grows to give the illusion that the screen is shrinking.... the further back you move the screen, the smaller it will look to the audience.

Posted By: kries13
Date Posted: 8/12/09 at 3:45pm

If you can't use a projection do you have a fly system? Could you do this with a back drop that can grow or shrink dependant upon what you needed at what time in the show.

Or could you do the same thing with a small personalized screen that had a track system built into it. Kind of like a Roman Shade only expanding up from the bottom instead of retracting to the top. If that makes sense?

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kries
I art therefore I am.
www.artisrelative.com