Staging/Scrim Lighting Techniques

Howdy,

I'm trying to find a good resource (or responses here) on what type of material is best for producing opaque to transparent scrim transitions on stage, as well as the proper method of doing that type of lighting. I've seen it done very well in a few places, and am acting a the "proponent" of this for an upcoming series. Only problem is, no one on our tech team has any experience with it.

So, if you've done this and can help great! If you know where I can find good detailed instructions on it that will work too!

Thanks!

In Him,

As far as a resource go to www.rosebrand.com they are a supplier of all kinds of staging equipment including scrims. I would also look at www.rosco.com they don't sell scrims but they have tech notes that could help you with lighting. I will continue to look in some of the stage magazines I get at work. I hope this helps.
Kevin

[dljordaneku]

Dave,
I don't know anybody over there, but I think Gardenside Baptist Church over on Alexandria Dr. uses a transparent scrim during their Easter play each year. It might be worth a call to them and see who you can talk to there. Also, if you do call them, put a plug in for our meeting later this month

dj

David,

The material is called a sharkstooth scrim and if you are considering using one I would highly reccommend rental or purchase of a professionally manufactured drape as the material is hard to sew.

The main technical requirements to make the effect work well are the physical space you have in your building, especially working upstage to downstage, available drape hang position, and available lighting hang positions.

It also depends on your desired effect, reveal keyed, reveal silhoutte, etc.

I would be happy to explain the concepts but forum and email are not the best way to do it as there are too many space dependent variables that need to be known.

If you are interested we could set up a time for a phone conversation. In the meantime I have attached an example of what you can do with a scrim.

Scrim 1 shows a black background with the houselights on, scrim 2 shows the scene behind the scrim when it is lit.


I know these aren't the best pictures but they are all I have readily available.

Greg Persinger

Sorry here is Scrim 2.

Greg

I've heard from a couple different sources that scrim rentals are hard to come by. The rental companies find the scrims do not get treated the way they need to be treated to work properly for more than a very few rentals without a lot of headache. One guy told be his story of a couple rentals the first one was only good for one and his next one he dbl the life to a whopping two rentals. So if you do try and rent one and do find one to rent be aware it may not be in the best shape that it should be.

I don't believe that scrims are hard to come by but don't expect every production company to have them in stock.

I know of 4 companies in Nashville that have 2 or more scrims in stock in both black and white.

Expect to pay top rental dollar as these are more expensive to purchase than standard black goods and they are easier to tear up so they have a shorter life expectancy than standard black goods.

Also when renting from a reputible company the scrim should come to you in good shape and you should return it that way.

Rental companies expect small tears and pulls but not huge rips that ruin a scrim so if you rip it expect to buy it.

Greg Persinger