Does Anyone Know about Theatrical Lighting?

[scanne]

I'm interested in finding out more about theatrical lighting and GOBOS. Does anyone have any info or links or good books they can recommend? Thanks!

 

[freckles and boo]

What kind of information are you looking for? Do you have any specific questions?

 

[scanne]

I want to purchase a followspot that has a gobo insert. I want to find a catalog or website that has lots of different gobos. I am putting on a production of Disney's High School Musical and was hoping to find a gobo that looks like the inside of a gymnasium.

 

[freckles and boo]

There are many companies that make patterns (gobos). Rosco, Apollo, and GAM come to mind. My husband is a lighting designer (I design scenery). I really don't know if the pattern slot in follow spots are standard sizes so you should be sure to check that out before you order any gobos. There are thousands of patterns out there, but if you can't find what you are looking for all those companies will make custom gobos for an extra charge if you can provide artwork for them. Have fun.

 

[ducklite]

My DH used to be a lighting designer.

He says that a gobo won't work in a follow spot as the lens is too big. Normally they are used in leiko's or a basic projection lamp.

He says that Rosco has the largest stock catalogue.

I'm not sure that a gobo is going to do what you are looking for it to do.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Call BML Stage Lighting, (201) 617-8900. They can help you. Ask for Julie, she's very nice and will be able to help you with a rental (buying lighting instruments will be prohibitive) and get you set up with what you need.

Anne

 

[MonorailGuy]

If you're looking to move a gobo around, you probably need to go with a robotic light, and that is very cost prohibitive, as you need the light itself (quite expensive) along with the controller that can control it (also quite expensive).

Do you have an existing lighting system?

 

[freckles and boo]

If you're looking to move a gobo around, you probably need to go with a robotic light, and that is very cost prohibitive, as you need the light itself (quite expensive) along with the controller that can control it (also quite expensive).

Do you have an existing lighting system?

I was curious about whether/why you want to gobo to move, too. Are you trying to kill two birds with one stone with a follow spot? As others have said, it probably isn't the best tool for the job.

 

[ducklite]

If you're looking to move a gobo around, you probably need to go with a robotic light, and that is very cost prohibitive, as you need the light itself (quite expensive) along with the controller that can control it (also quite expensive).

Do you have an existing lighting system?

You could put a gobo in front of an intelligent instrument, but I'm not sure how well that would work--you'd need something with a medium beam, and I think the lens/mirror opening on that instrument would present the same problem as the follow spot opening, just too wide to support a gobo.

You can rent intelligent lights now (like a Martin or Clay Paky--not a Vari) fairly inexpensively. The price is no where near as prohibitive as it once was.

I'm getting the impression she wanted something static though. A leiko would be the best bet, and the school very likely already has a suply of those. If not they are dirt cheap to rent, and they don't need a board, they can plug into an extension cord into the wall. Even if you want to dim it you can build a "dimmer" with $10 worth of Home Depot suplies for one of those.

Actually her best bet is to call Julie and talk to her about her needs. That way she can rent the right instrument for the job and just have to buy the gobo itself.

Anne

 

[crazyme5kids]

Where in NJ are you? I just pull a few of my husbands industry trade books out, if you want I'll look and see what might be nearby for you.

 

[ducklite]

I was curious about whether/why you want to gobo to move, too. Are you trying to kill two birds with one stone with a follow spot? As others have said, it probably isn't the best tool for the job.

I saw a really cool thing done with a moving gobo once. I can't even recall what the gobo was, but when you entered the event, the gobo was on a small intelligent light source rigged above the doorway. It was shining onto the carpet, and it moved around from spot to spot. Hard to describe, but it was very clever. There was also a large production budget behind the event.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Where in NJ are you? I just pull a few of my husbands industry trade books out, if you want I'll look and see what might be nearby for you.

Call Mountain! Call Morpheus!

Um...OK, I'll wake up now. Nevermind.

Anne

 

[freckles and boo]

I saw a really cool thing done with a moving gobo once. I can't even recall what the gobo was, but when you entered the event, the gobo was on a small intelligent light source rigged above the doorway. It was shining onto the carpet, and it moved around from spot to spot. Hard to describe, but it was very clever. There was also a large production budget behind the event.

Anne

That is my husband's territory... he designs lighting for large corporate events all over the place with big budgets and whizbang toys. My eyes just start glazing over when he starts talking techiespeak. I have a solid understanding of basic theatrical lighting that abruptly ends after conventional instruments.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Call Mountain! Call Morpheus!

Um...OK, I'll wake up now. Nevermind.

Anne

. I think the OP's best bet would be to call small local companies that specialize in high school type productions. I think you would get a much better deal for your needs from them.

 

[ducklite]

That is my husband's territory... he designs lighting for large corporate events all over the place with big budgets and whizbang toys. My eyes just start glazing over when he starts talking techiespeak. I have a solid understanding of basic theatrical lighting that abruptly ends after conventional instruments.

Are you married to Allen Branton?

I've never worked on a lighting crew, but I have been on road crews doing other assorted mundane and not so mundae tasks, and I always was fascinated by the lighting end of it. I have been drafted to run follow spot a few times--NO SINGING IN THE CLEAR-COM'S!

DH did some industrial/event work, but mostly he did tour LD work. Everything from CSN to Rage Against the Machine to Naughty By Nature to Willie Nelson.

Anne

 

[freckles and boo]

Are you married to Allen Branton?

I've never worked on a lighting crew, but I have been on road crews doing other assorted mundane and not so mundae tasks, and I always was fascinated by the lighting end of it. I have been drafted to run follow spot a few times--NO SINGING IN THE CLEAR-COM'S!

DH did some industrial/event work, but mostly he did tour LD work. Everything from CSN to Rage Against the Machine to Naughty By Nature to Willie Nelson.

Anne

First to the OP, sorry for the hijack!!!

No, my guy really does stick to the corporate stuff... Intel, Big Pharma, auto shows, etc. That way he is gone for a week at a time instead of months at a time. I couldn't handle being a rock widow. I've seen those marriages go kaput fast. I like my kids to see their daddy on occasion!

 

[ducklite]

. I think the OP's best bet would be to call small local companies that specialize in high school type productions. I think you would get a much better deal for your needs from them.

Um, yeah. Can you imagine calling Morpheus to rent a single fresnel?

BML does a lot of work with local schools as well as national tours, which is why I suggested them. They even do weddings!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

OP--

Here's an article I found that might give you some ideas. It describes how the lighting and staging was done for Disney's touring version. You're not going to have the budget for most of it, but you might be able to get some ideas. If there's any technical stuff you need help with, let us know and we'll "translate."

http://livedesignonline.com/concerts/school_rock/

Anne

 

[crazyme5kids]

I didn't know that about BML, see you learn something new every day. I'll have to tell my husband Allen has a fan. That is if he ever gets home from his "early" day . Yeah I'm kind of pissed. Can you tell?

 

[scanne]

Wow, everyone! Lots of info - more than half of it I don't understand. My head is spinning, but I am grateful for your responses.

I was looking at purchasing this followspot.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Chauvet-Followspot-400G-with-Stand?sku=803086

In the description, it says it has a gobo slot (?) - forgive me if I butcher the lingo!

I would not want the gobo to move - I would use if for the scene where the basketball team sings "Getcha Head in the Game" and I was also thinking that a gobo of a starry sky would be good for "Breaking Free" with Troy and Gabriella at the end.

I'm not working with a big budget at all. If I told you what my school gives me to produce a show, you'd laugh. I do A LOT of fundraising!!!

I would like to hear more from all of you that have shared ideas thus far.

Anne - I will call Julie this week. Thank you for that number!

Thanks again to all of you for your help.