[SML] Supertitles Screen brainstorming

[Bruce Purdy]

 As many of you know, I’m involved with an Opera company, which puts on one show every summer. Officially, I’m the Lighting Designer, but. That includes hanging, focusing and operating said lighting, hanging scenery and other light rigging, creating sound effects and such as may be needed and pretty much any other “tech” needs.

For the past couple of years, they’ve interested in Supertitles. Although I’ve made it clear that I want nothing to do with creating or operating the titles, I’ve been frequently asked to consult on the matter. ( Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions a year ago. ) The issue has come up again, and it looks like they want to make this happen this year.

The producers had the Theatre test their in-House digital cinema projector on the slightly lowered main curtain and apparently liked what they saw. Now they want me to design and build a projection screen to hang from a DS batten. They want it to be 6’ tall by 28’ wide!

My first thought was to build a huge “Broadway style” ( soft covered ) flat. I also thought about a hard covered ( Luan? ) flat. Aside from the impossibility of transporting such a monstrosity and storing it for the next year, I have no place to build it.

I then thought of a row of smaller flats butted end to end with a”stiffener” on the back. Finally, I wondered about the feasibility of a fabric strip ( like a short dark grey cyc ) with top and bottom pipes. To be honest - that one sounds the simplest as well as being the easiest to store and transport.

I’d love to hear any thoughts, opinions and ideas.


Bruce
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Bruce Purdy
Central New York Magic Theatre Co.
http://brucepurdy.com