fire effect

[plasteredone]

Hello everyone!

I've posted a couple of other questions and everyone has been a great help. I've really appreciated it and am considering becoming a pro member.

My current idea is a sermon on hell. I want to use as much sound/lighting as I can to help people visualize the place.

I would like to have a fire effect everywhere on stage. (Ceiling sides 10 feet tall sloped to center at 12 feet all painted white) The fire doesn't have to be as clear as what a projector would be, just give an appearance of the different color changes. (much like a real fire would make)

Any other ideas? I'm very interested in what you guys could come up with.

note: We, like everyone else, are on a low budget (meaning my budget), and we only have par 56's (14) and 2 par 48's. plus 16 75 watt track lights. (dmx controlled)

also, I've considered the sense of smell as well, Maybe some sulfer in a sandwich bage for people to smell. If that won't work than something really repulsive.

Thanks,

Greg

Oh, we also want to use parts of this for a church video project.

[Les]

Ah yes, the fire effect.

First, the answers that will cost money, I would guess rentals as to purchase these things would require quite a bit of money.

Searching on this I found that Rosco has a product out that produces a fire effect. Check out the X24 light from them. I don't know of the rental rates on them but you may be able to rent a couple of those to get the effect.

What I have done in the past is used a Rosco Prismatic, #3806, which has the coloring that you would want. Put that in a Gobo rotator so it will have motion, and then add a steel gobo in front like 78129 or 77960.

Now, that will also require buying some stuff and renting some stuff. You would have to buy the steel Gobo's, usually around $10 each. You can usually rent the lights, the pattern holders, and the rotating pattern holder. I haven't rented this stuff in a long time so I don't have any accurate rates.

Assuming those are too much the another solution that may work would be to use several of the Par 56 lights and gel them with a couple of different reds, oranges, and yellows. To create the actual movement will depend upon your DMX console. If you have one that you can program a chase sequence where the lights don't go on/off but they can dim you can make a pattern where they "randomly" would be dimming and coming back up to create a motion effect. Again that depends entirely on the ability of your board.

But, even that solution will cost money. You will have to buy the gel, put that in your lights and spend the time to program it.

Your best bet may be to call a lighting rental house and ask them what they have and tell them you are on a budget. They may rent something inexpensive from AMDJ, Chauvet, Elation, etc. I am just not familiar enough with their lines.

I think with any effect adding a Hazer will enhance the look as well. Maybe even a good fog machine to get the thicker "smoke"

Have fun.

[bpalermini]

I am not a lighting guy, which I will prove in a moment, so take this as you wish.

Could you find a video of fire and then just use as many projectors as you have access to to put it on the walls, etc with your lights set fairly dim? You could feed them all from one PC through a distribution amp.

[waynehoskins]

We used something from GAM, the FireFX or something like that, on a show in college. ReelFX I think is the series: it's essentially a gobo belt. Good effect. Nifty gizmo. I don't recall, but it may have to go in the iris slot.

The rotating Prismatic and a steel gobo in front is also cool.

Source Fours used to rent for 15/day - 20/week, I think, a few years ago. Gel around here is $6/sheet, which you can get 6 6" (9 S4) cuts from.

[Les]

I knew I was missing an effect! I thought we had done that back in the college days but I couldn't remember how we did it. The other effect I described, with the prismatic and gobo, was used on a country singers set at a place I used to work.

If I remember correctly the Gam Film/Fx Fire worked better and may end up being easier and cheaper as there are less bits to rent or purchase.

If you go to their website under product listings you can click on the Film/Fx tab to see the product.

They also show you how to use split gels to make your own fire looking gel.

I've got to do more lighting....I am starting to forget all of these cool products.

[[Director] Joseph B]

Originally Posted by bpalermini

I am not a lighting guy, which I will prove in a moment, so take this as you wish.

Could you find a video of fire and then just use as many projectors as you have access to to put it on the walls, etc with your lights set fairly dim? You could feed them all from one PC through a distribution amp.

That would be my suggestion too. You can pick up now at Staples a 1500 lumen projector for $400.00 (I think theres a rebate). So it might even pay to buy one or two rather then rent.

[Sysmom]

Hmmm, sulphur in little plastic bags won't have nearly the impact that a general sulphur smell would. Because you can just close the bag real fast.

You might want to look into the safety ramifications, and what it would take to have a MILD sulphur smell just over the whole room. But would it permeate everything and linger? I don't know.

You might even think about mixing it with some smoke smell. Not actual smoke, mind you - hate to send Sister Gracie into an asthma attack.

Can you program your house lights to vary intensity, add to the flickering effect of whatever you decide to do on/around the stage?

deb

[plasteredone]

thank you everyone for your replies. especially you Les. Everytime I read one of your posts, I really pay attention. I hope you will frequent this site for some time.

I'm not sure if my board will do that (dim in chase mode). But I did think of that. (speaking of chases, do the dimmerpacks have to be set to "relay" in order to run chase sequence?)

I have considered getting another projector and set it for its widest tallest setting and settle with that. But in order to really be effective, it would have to be very large.

I'm also considering a lightning effect with medium thunder sound backgrounds. Call it a "firestorm".

What would be something that you guys would do?

I've also thought about putting a red light in a vented box under our plexiglass lectern to make it glow red (If that would work it would be very cool)

We do have a fog machine, but it's hardly up to snuff with the generic stuff I've pieced together. (some off brand fog machine that was purchased probably from a big box store, and it probably hase an oil based mixture.

[Steve Vanciel]

Originally Posted by plasteredone

speaking of chases, do the dimmerpacks have to be set to "relay" in order to run chase sequence?.

Simple answer - no. A chase is a control timing function - balancing the fade up/down time with the length of time between stop and start, and the time between several fixtures starting and ending. With a "bump" button, up and down time are nearly instant while the length is dependant on how long you hold the button down.

I've also thought about putting a red light in a vented box under our plexiglass lectern to make it glow red (If that would work it would be very cool).

That could work - could be very hot. But seriously, be sure to have good ventilation or you may have a unplanned scenic melting effect.

We do have a fog machine, but it's hardly up to snuff with the generic stuff I've pieced together. (some off brand fog machine that was purchased probably from a big box store, and it probably hase an oil based mixture.

"Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!" (see thread on haze machines.)

[2cool]

Again not a lighting guy I do sound, but I stumbled across an effect from our 3' LED strips that gave a fire effect on our white walls. I was doing a youth concert and had no light guy so I just moved the light fader that sent the signal to the (4) 3' LED strip lights to change to the next color any how in between red and orange it began to (merge/flicker) and the result was a moving mixed color pattern on the wall I was able to control the speed also. Sorry I cant explain it but man it came off real cool. BTW dont use any smells it will take away from the speakers message. They say smell/the ole-factory sense is one of the strongest and I dont think your pastor would appreciate people leaving during his message. Unless this is a play and if that is the case...'Stink bombs work well for an unpleasent oder and can be spread via a good fan.