Set Design and Construction: underwater rocks/coral

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underwater rocks/coral

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=4495
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 2:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: underwater rocks/coral

Posted By: george
Subject: underwater rocks/coral
Date 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

Replies:

Posted By: vickifrank
Date 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?

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

The theater scrim people

Posted By: george
Date 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

Posted By: vickifrank
Date 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.

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_____________

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

The theater scrim people

Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date 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 - http://208.112.78.180/portal/default.cfm?Page=DRS-ThemeSet-UnderSea

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