Return-Path: X-Processed-By: Virex 7 on prxy.net X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.1.8 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #25 Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 17:15:29 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #25 1. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by Villem Teder 2. Hiding velour seams WAS: Black Masking by Barney Simon 3. One-year technical faculty appointment available at NCSA Design and Production.. by "Booth, Dennis" 4. Re: Drapes in High Schools by Barney Simon 5. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) by usctd [at] columbia.sc 6. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by "Fred Schoening, Jr." 7. Re: Microvision disks? by Herrick 8. Re: Counterweight Rigging by Mike Brubaker 9. Re: Prepare for an aneurism... by Stephen Litterst 10. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by Rigger 11. Re: VL1000s (Was "VR1000s") by Stephen Litterst 12. Re: Microvision disks? by IAEG [at] aol.com 13. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) by Bsapsis [at] aol.com 14. Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ... by Stephen Litterst 15. Re: Microvision disks? by Stephen Litterst 16. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by MissWisc [at] aol.com 17. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks by Stephen Litterst 18. paint pigment by "Brandy Bitzer" 19. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by "Jon Ares" 20. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks by Rigger 21. Re: "Truck loads" by IAEG [at] aol.com 22. Re: paint pigment by "Tony Deeming" 23. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) by "Delbert Hall" 24. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) by "Paul Schreiner" 25. Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by "Paul Schreiner" 26. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by IAEG [at] aol.com 27. Hi! Frank by Michael Powers 28. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by Herrick 29. Re: Hi! Frank by Herrick 30. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by "Tony Deeming" 31. Re: Hi! Frank by Bsapsis [at] aol.com 32. Re: Rings (warning: almost completely OT) by "Paul Schreiner" 33. Re: Pub Etiquette by Stephen Litterst 34. counterweight rigging by b Ricie 35. Re: paint pigment by "Mason, Richard" 36. Re: Counterweight Rigging by "Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson" 37. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by "Paul H. Sullivan" 38. Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) by "Storms, Randy" 39. Wal-mart by Roger Harrison 40. Re: Pub Etiquette by "Delbert Hall" 41. Re: Rings (warning: almost completely OT) by Herrick 42. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by Herrick 43. Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) by "Matthew Breton" 44. Re: Black Masking by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 45. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 46. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 47. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by Wood Chip-P26398 48. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 49. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 50. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 51. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by "Matthew Breton" 52. Re: Black Masking by Steve Larson 53. Re: Hi! Frank by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 54. Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) by Herrick 55. Re: Hi! Frank by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 56. Food for thought by CB 57. Re: Counterweight Rigging by CB 58. Re: Powerpoint Background by CB 59. Re: Food for thought by CB 60. Re: Powerpoint Background by Rigger 61. Digital stills from video -- what resolution? by "Storms, Randy" 62. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks by CB 63. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? by Steve Larson 64. Re: Powerpoint Background by "Tony Deeming" 65. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? by "Tony Deeming" 66. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? by Boyd Ostroff 67. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? by Boyd Ostroff 68. DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background) by James Feinberg 69. Re: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background) by Steve Larson 70. Re: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background) by Steve Larson 71. Re: Counterweight Rigging by Mick Alderson 72. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by MissWisc [at] aol.com 73. Sex drugs and Opera/ food for thought by "Mike Rock" 74. Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) by "Joe Meils" 75. E=MC^2 by CB 76. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks by Richard Niederberg 77. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by Richard Niederberg 78. Re: Food for thought by Richard Niederberg 79. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) by Richard Niederberg 80. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) by Richard Niederberg 81. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) by Richard Niederberg *** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject *** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to *** one message subject in each reply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601073903.007ea630 [at] mail.interlog.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 07:39:03 -0400 From: Villem Teder Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) > >> ...Sing Faster... > Speaking of "Sing Faster", how many other theatres unload arbors the way shown in the movie? I asked a carpenter from SFO here recently setting up Rigoletto if anything was "acted up" for the movie and he said no, that is how they did it. He added that some threw to their sides and others over their shoulders. The big issue was to make sure the weight got past you before you let go! Villem Teder Local 58 Toronto ------------------------------ Message-ID: <40BC71D4.3040708 [at] JosephCHansen.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 08:08:52 -0400 From: Barney Simon Subject: Hiding velour seams WAS: Black Masking References: In-Reply-To: Catching up after the holiday... I see that someone offered: "...with 50% fullness will also hide the vertical seams of the good because the pleats are sewn at the seams." ( I seemed to have missed the original post) I question if this is really true. At my old job, The sewing room did all sorts of gyrations to insure that the seams were hidden within the the pleats. Having installed a couple of thousand drapes, and now owning a couple thousand more... I believe that after five to six feet from the webbing, the pleats have started falling out and catching their own wave action, seams and all. The only place that I could see it really forcing the hiding is at the top, which most of the time, is hidden behind a proscenium, valance, or border. I could force an analogy with baseball, where the only inning that a manager can actually control the batters going to the plate, is the first; after that, they just go in order. Barney Simon (we do actually try to hide the seams here anyway) Joseph C Hansen Company Drapes, Drops, and Dance Floors NYC ------------------------------ Subject: One-year technical faculty appointment available at NCSA Design and Production... Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 08:26:51 -0400 Message-ID: From: "Booth, Dennis" This is not a drill. North Carolina School of the Arts Design and Production will have a = one-year, full-time technical faculty appointment available for the = 2004-2005 academic year, to begin in early September 2004. This = position will probably not be advertised. During the term of this = position, a national search will be launched for a permanent hire, and = the person who holds the one-year position will be invited to apply. Briefly, the responsibilities for this position will include: teach two = full-year stagecraft related courses, teach one full-year metalworking = (welding) class, serve as advisor for student mounted productions and = other classroom and advising duties as appropriate. Professional scene = shop experience is desired. Salary to be negotiated, a state benefit = package will apply.=20 Please contact me off-list at boothd [at] ncarts.edu if you're interested in = more information. DGB Dennis Gill Booth, Technical Director =A0 North Carolina School of the Arts=20 =A0 School of Design and Production=20 =A0 1553 South Main Street=20 =A0 PO Box 12189=20 =A0 Winston-Salem, NC=A0=A0 27117-2189=20 * Voice:=A0 (336)770-3232 x127=20 * FAX:=A0=A0 (336)770-3213=20 * Email: boothd [at] ncarts.edu=20 * D&P URL: http://www.ncarts.edu/ncsaprod/designandproduction/=20 * Faculty=A0URL: http://faculty.ncarts.edu/dandp/booth/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <40BC7685.7050201 [at] JosephCHansen.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 08:28:53 -0400 From: Barney Simon Subject: Re: Drapes in High Schools References: In-Reply-To: William Knapp wrote: Hi Bill! >It's amazing how many schools were sold masking that is ocher with fullness. > > Here in NYC, that is the 'official' Broad of Ed specification, written I believe in the 30's. IF the school is using Board of Ed money, they must use BOE purchasing and specs. I've sold many drapes to schools that the PTA, or the graduating class, or Bette Midler has put up the money, they get what they want (and is usually correct in a theatrical way). Also bureaucrats are notorious for simply copying existing specs if they apply or not, often contradictory. >I was talking to someone ... recently and they said "we just give >them what they ask for". > > A lot of time the drapes are specified by "experts" and and bought by "no-nots." I recently had a specification for a National Park facility 1000 miles away, with a 12' high x 25' wide proscenium, asking for 32 oz velour, fully lined, sewn with 100% added fullness, for the main AND ALL THE MASKING! I admit fully, that it would have been easier to simply sell them what they asked for, I believe most took the easiest route to no-bid it (I did). It turns out that we did find them a local company to 'hand-hold' and I still ended up building the drapes of an appropriate weight and construction (the ideal situation for all concerned I think). Barney Simon Joseph C Hansen Company Drapes, Drops, and Dance Floors www.JCHansen.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3044.207.201.197.68.1086095261.squirrel [at] webmail.columbia.sc> In-Reply-To: References: Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:07:41 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) From: usctd [at] columbia.sc Those systems seem great, but holy cow are they expensive! What is the solution for the average theatre without million dollar supporters? I think it would be a shame for counterweight rigging to go by the wayside. Yes it has it's ergonomic issues, so to speak, but it allows for so much flexibility. Don't you think this will be compromised? -- Eric Rouse TD-University of SC, Columbia Freelance Foyboy > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > Eric - No, I have never had a teeth clenching experience with a winch. > Knock on wood. I have mainly used Scott Fishers' flying winches. > These are top quality winches and I love their programmable controls. > > Bill Sapsis - Yes it was you that I quoted, but since you only posted > this remark yesterday, I thought everyone on this list would know who > made it. I thought everyone on the list reads your posts and commits > them to memory. Yes, the quote was taken out of context, but I always > thought a FACT was TRUE even if it taken out of context. > > And while I am taking Bill comments out context, let me add this one to > the list. Bill said, "As for counterweight being on the way > out.....IMHO...Yup!" OK, if you think counterweight is on the way out, > what will replace it? > > Hoffend & Sons is trying to take automated rigging systems mainstream in > the US. Many of you have seen or read about Hoffend's Vortek. Hoffend > calls it "The Automated Standard for Safer Theater Rigging" and it has > won numerous prestigious awards (www.hoffend.net). I think the system > is being marketed primarily to high schools and community theatres, and > if it catches on I expect we will see a lot of other companies with > similar products. I will agree that automated rigging systems are more > dangerous in some ways than manually operated systems (things > unexpectedly getting caught on a moving batten), but they are safer in > other ways (no ladders to climb, no counterweights to drop, no runaway > arbors). You just have to weigh one aspect of safety against another. > Hoffend obviously thinks the overall safety of the system is very high > or they would not market it the way they are doing. > > J.R. Clancy also makes automated rigging systems, although I think they > primarily market them to large venues. Their web site says, "Our > program of ongoing product development of winches and control systems > ensures that J.R. Clancy products offer safe, reliable, cost effective > performance for the entertainment industry." Clancy does not claim that > motorized systems are safer than manual systems, but they don't claim > manual systems are safer either. What they do say is that motorized > systems are "easier to install and use." > > Anyone have any specific safety issues with either Hoffend's or Clancy's > automated rigging systems? > > IMHO, the most important aspect of safety (anywhere) is usually not the > equipment, but the user. Training the user to properly use any tool or > piece of equipment is the primary key to safety. If we could eliminate > operator errors, overall safety would improve greatly. > > > -Delbert > > > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <32718145.1086093243061.JavaMail.root [at] wamui03.slb.atl.earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 07:34:03 -0500 (GMT-05:00) From: "Fred Schoening, Jr." Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) LOL! The one on my wall says "Will trade miracles for gear." "Big Fred" Schoening Technical Director Dallas Theater Center Dallas, Texas, USA -----Original Message----- --Andy, working on his, "Will mix or rig wireless mics for food!" sign ;o) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 08:38:06 -0400 Subject: Re: Microvision disks? From: Herrick In-Reply-To: Message-Id: <8825F2CC-B3C8-11D8-9FF0-0003934521EC [at] hglightingdesign.com> Oh C'mon who doesn't love THE GOLD KEY! ah tape drives. how I miss ya. Ok for the record we're at 3 experts that say double density and 3 experts that say HD is fine. seeing as how I can't find any single sided DD's I'm hoping the latter 3 are correct. On Monday, May 31, 2004, at 23:26 America/New_York, Brian Aldous wrote: > > > Oh, and btw Herrick - stop whining. I just got back from the > Catskills where I had to make a show I wrote last summer at Jacob's > Pillow on an Obsession work on a Kliegl Performer. I hadn't > programmed one of those since 1987. Now that's a board that should > really be forgotten. It saves to a TAPE drive! > > Brian Aldous > > > Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.0.0.22.0.20040601074853.04f652e0 [at] mail.insightbb.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 08:02:06 -0500 From: Mike Brubaker Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging Cc: psyd [at] cox.net In-Reply-To: References: A few years ago, someone posted a link to a patent for a device designed to work very much like that. Perhaps someone with a better memory than I can remember enough about it to have a successful search for the patent. http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html Mike At 02:14 PM 5/31/2004, MissWisc [at] aol.com wrote: >In a message dated 5/31/4 1:09:07 PM, psyd [at] cox.net wrote: ><weight without actually removing it from the arbor?>> > >You need a way for the weights to not be attached to the arbor at all until >they're needed. (If they're attached, they are conterweighting the batton ... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:07:28 -0400 From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: Prepare for an aneurism... Message-id: <40BC7F90.E585C939 [at] ithaca.edu> Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts References: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com wrote: > The Forth Bridge was the first great steel structure. There is something delicious about this sentence. -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ Message-Id: In-Reply-To: References: Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:08:29 -0400 From: Rigger Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) At 11:33 PM -0700 5/31/04, Jason wrote: > Is it on sale at Wal-Mart? I wouldn't know. You'd have to ask someone who will go there. -- Dave Vick, IATSE #274 Head Electrician, The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University Carpe Per Diem ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:17:39 -0400 From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: VL1000s (Was "VR1000s") Message-id: <40BC81F3.64602AA4 [at] ithaca.edu> Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts References: Tom Heemskerk wrote: > --------------------------------------------------- > The noise of moving VLs during orchestral pieces is known to bother some > players, so we change them during applause. The only other noise we thought > might be an issue for the orchestra was a faint squeal which we could hear > up close at maybe 10-12k coming out the back end of the fixture, but the > players can't hear it when the electrics are at trim. (I think a great many > symphonic players have significant hearing loss up the there anyway.) It depends on where you sit in the orchestra. My hearing loss has been in the midrange, oddly enough. I think it had a lot to do with my section (trumpet) always being placed in front of the drum end of the percussion section. Steve LItterst -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ From: IAEG [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1da.2302d50d.2deddc0a [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:18:02 EDT Subject: Re: Microvision disks? In a message dated 6/1/04 5:38:34 AM, Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com writes: << Oh C'mon who doesn't love THE GOLD KEY! ah tape drives. how I miss ya. Ok for the record we're at 3 experts that say double density and 3 experts that say HD is fine. seeing as how I can't find any single sided DD's I'm hoping the latter 3 are correct. >> I have a couple of shows I do annually that use a MICRO VISION FX they are all written and stored away on 2HD disks. very best, Keith Arsenault President IAEG - International Arts & Entertainment Group Tampa, Florida 813 831 3465 Mr. Arsenault's Office 813 205 0893 Mr. Arsenault's Cellular www.iaeginc.com ------------------------------ From: Bsapsis [at] aol.com Message-ID: <11a.32fc743c.2deddd5a [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:23:38 EDT Subject: Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) In a message dated 5/31/04 10:52:17 PM, halld [at] etsu.edu writes: << Bill Sapsis - Yes it was you that I quoted, but since you only posted this remark yesterday, I thought everyone on this list would know who made it. I thought everyone on the list reads your posts and commits them to memory. Yes, the quote was taken out of context, but I always thought a FACT was TRUE even if it taken out of context. >> "Commits them to memory" ??? That's crap. Your sarcasm is noted. "FACT was TRUE" ?? Since when do my comments in an e-mail become facts? They are simply my opinions. Facts get backed up with documentation. And where I come from, anytime someone gets quoted, that person gets named. << And while I am taking Bill comments out context, let me add this one to the list. Bill said, "As for counterweight being on the way out.....IMHO...Yup!" OK, if you think counterweight is on the way out, what will replace it? >> Little tiny guys with pointy ears who have the ability to make a wish come true. Y'all can fight about who's better, Clancy or Hoffend, I'm not interested. Clancy is the oldest rigging company in North America and Hoffend has also been around, in one form or another, for quite some time. I would think that it would be in everyone's best interest, and for the sake of accurate information, that representatives of both companies be given a chance to defend themselves before this list starts to dissect them. Just my opinion. Bill Sapsis Sapsis Rigging, Inc. www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 800.292.3851 fax 267.278.4561 mobile We stand behind, our work. and under, ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:35:58 -0400 From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ... Message-id: <40BC863E.E98F0336 [at] ithaca.edu> Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts References: Bsapsis [at] aol.com wrote: > --------------------------------------------------- > And please advise where you got the information on the lighting equipment and > who told you that local 1 kept the electronic dimmers off Broadway. I was > working on Broadway at that time (you are alluding to Chorus Line, which I > helped build) I would tend to disagree with that comment. I wasn't there, but I'm inclined to agree with Bill on this one. In Linda Ellis' book "The Speed of Light" several folks comment that everyone jumped on the computerized bandwagon because it freed up all the light board ops to become spot ops. Interestingly enough, as I searched for the specific reference there were repeated references to Broadway skipping the preset board phenomenon completely. -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:41:45 -0400 From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: Microvision disks? Message-id: <40BC8799.B1ACBC8F [at] ithaca.edu> Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts References: Herrick wrote: > --------------------------------------------------- > > Oh C'mon who doesn't love THE GOLD KEY! > > ah tape drives. how I miss ya. > > Ok for the record we're at 3 experts that say double density and 3 > experts that say HD is fine. seeing as how I can't find any single > sided DD's I'm hoping the latter 3 are correct. I recall having some luck at formatting HD disks as DD in the console. That was five years ago on an Insight, though but it might be worth a try. Steve l. -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:49:44 -0400 From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Message-ID: <7511DD7A.4BD652DC.007B9F2A [at] aol.com> In a message dated 6/1/2004 1:31:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time, james [at] cleveland-theater.com writes: > As in Wagner the anti-Semite? Yeah... we teach kids about Hitler the anti-Semite too. Hopefully our children will learn from the mistakes of their ancestors. Kristi ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 10:16:18 -0400 From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks Message-id: <40BC8FB2.52EBB86C [at] ithaca.edu> Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts References: StevevETTrn [at] aol.com wrote: > > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > >Weren't the old ETC boards generally *EGA* monitors? > > I think you're right, with the old nine pin connector, and hence the > incompatibility. We tried various adapters, but the newer monitors seem to only > emulate the EGA standard rather than actually accept it. The other problem is that the original Expression didn't put out the same refresh rate as a normal EGA card of the time. I can't find my records on this, but there was a discussion on-list about this a few years back. An NEC Multisync is your best bet. ETC will customise your EGA monitor to work, but they said it's not really worth the price. > As far as shopping at secondhand stores, a Major International Entertainment > Conglomerate corporation won't go there (except to buy decorative properties). > Perhaps it is a convenient excuse to get the latest and hottest new gear. > Truck loads of Strand and Altman lekos, fresnels, and PAR cans are hauled away > because it is not labor cost effective to refurbish them or because they are > not the hot "new" Source 4 flavor. Same goes for old light boards and dimmers. When and where does this happen? I'll be happy to load our van up with anything salvageable. Steve L -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ From: "Brandy Bitzer" Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:20:06 -0500 Subject: paint pigment Message-Id: <20040601142006.EF87B1F4FEB [at] ws1-2.us4.outblaze.com> Hello All... It is nice to be back on the list again... I have recently graduated from Franklin Pierce College. I am currently the Lighting Designer for the New London Barn Playhouse in NH. I was looking in our supplies and found a whole lot of old paint pigment.(needs a bonding agent to work) We don't use it since no one really knows how to use it, so it has just been sitting around. I have been sent to see if there is a proper way of disposing it, or if I can sell it. There are many colors and a lot of it...5 gallon buckets of this stuff. If any one is interested in this please privately email me for more details. If any one has any suggestions about this please post them. Brandy Bitzer Lighting Designer -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm ------------------------------ Message-ID: <002201c447e3$de6955d0$0201a8c0 [at] BRUTUS> From: "Jon Ares" References: Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 07:22:27 -0700 > > Is it on sale at Wal-Mart? > > > I wouldn't know. You'd have to ask someone who will go there. > Just in case the first query wasn't facetious, the video will not be available for purchase until June 29. Netflix is advertising it, but I don't know for sure if it's actually available yet - maybe Dave knows (I don't subscribe). Of course, it's not unusual for rental companies to have it before the mass marketers do. I suspect "Sing Faster" might be too narrow of a market for Wal-Mart to carry, anyway. Not that I will find out - I cannot stand battling the crowds and the filled aisles with the women with the overflowing cart and 8 screaming children. -- Jon Ares www.hevanet.com/acreative ------------------------------ Message-Id: In-Reply-To: References: Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:22:39 -0400 From: Rigger Subject: Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks At 10:16 AM -0400 6/1/04, Stephen Litterst wrote: >> Truck loads of Strand and Altman lekos, fresnels, and PAR cans are >> hauled away because it is not labor cost effective to refurbish >> them or because they are not the hot "new" Source 4 flavor. Same >> goes for old light boards and dimmers. > > When and where does this happen? I'll be happy to load our van up > with anything salvageable. ME TOO!!! -- Dave Vick, IATSE #274 Head Electrician, The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University Carpe Per Diem ------------------------------ From: IAEG [at] aol.com Message-ID: <128.42ee8094.2dedec0c [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:26:20 EDT Subject: Re: "Truck loads" In a message dated 6/1/04 7:17:01 AM, slitterst [at] ithaca.edu writes: << > As far as shopping at secondhand stores, a Major International Entertainment > Conglomerate corporation won't go there (except to buy decorative properties). > Perhaps it is a convenient excuse to get the latest and hottest new gear. > Truck loads of Strand and Altman lekos, fresnels, and PAR cans are hauled away > because it is not labor cost effective to refurbish them or because they are > not the hot "new" Source 4 flavor. Same goes for old light boards and dimmers. When and where does this happen? I'll be happy to load our van up with anything salvageable. Steve L >> Steve, , I didn't see who the original poster was of this, , BUT, , sounds like he is describing FELD ENTERTAINMENT, and they do have trailer loads of old gear but in general it goes to "friends of the family" i e other , smaller circus producers who have had some relationship with Ringling Bros over the years. very best, Keith Arsenault President IAEG - International Arts & Entertainment Group Tampa, Florida 813 831 3465 Mr. Arsenault's Office 813 205 0893 Mr. Arsenault's Cellular www.iaeginc.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <032101c447e4$71ba8020$0a01a8c0 [at] Tony> From: "Tony Deeming" References: Subject: Re: paint pigment Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:26:35 +0100 You might want to try Ebay ........ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brandy Bitzer" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 3:20 PM Subject: paint pigment > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > Hello All... > It is nice to be back on the list again... > I have recently graduated from Franklin Pierce College. > I am currently the Lighting Designer for the New London Barn > Playhouse in NH. > > I was looking in our supplies and found a whole lot of old paint > pigment.(needs a bonding agent to work) We don't use it since no one > really knows how to use it, so it has just been sitting around. > I have been sent to see if there is a proper way of disposing it, or > if I can sell it. There are many colors and a lot of it...5 gallon > buckets of this stuff. If any one is interested in this please > privately email me for more details. If any one has any suggestions > about this please post them. > > Brandy Bitzer > Lighting Designer > > > -- > ___________________________________________________________ > Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com > http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm > ------------------------------ From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:16:44 -0400 Organization: ETSU Message-ID: <000d01c447e3$11dd4a80$6400a8c0 [at] delbert> In-Reply-To: Hi Eric, Tiffin builds a rope lock that will hold hundreds of pounds (I do not know the exact amount), but it is much more expensive than the average rope lock. Despite this, they sell a lot of systems with this rope lock because they market it as a safety feature of their system. It is interesting that Hoffend is doing the same thing with their Vortek systems - claiming the safety is worth the additional expense. Time will tell if their marketing plan is successful. In a way, this sorta relates to our Wal-Mart vs. Mon and Pop discussion. Hoffend is definitely trying to find their niche, rather than competing against the Big Guys. This discussion began with Mr. Diaz's article denouncing the safety of automated rigging systems. Some people agree with Mr. Diaz, some people don't. But rather that speaking of automated rigging in general, I thought it might be more productive to speak of specific systems. I was not asking if people preferred Hoffend over Clancy. I wanted to know how the people on the list compared the safety of each of these specific systems to counterweight systems. Do you feel they are safer than counterweight? Yes, automated systems are expensive. And I agree with you on the flexibility of counterweight systems. I don't think counterweight systems are in danger of going away anytime soon. They have server us well, and beside, gravity is free. I also don't think automated systems will go away either. I think people who want the safety features and the convenience of an automated system will pay the big bucks for it. I think there will be a market for both systems for a very long time. Look at it this way, ESTA's current draft of a proposed standard for "Mechanical Counterweight Rigging Systems" includes specifications for a "typical rope and sand bag lineset." Other systems? I remember seeing a patent, a number of years ago, for a system that pumped steel pellets unto a "bucket" arbor. It looked to me like an interesting possibility, but I guess it did not catch on. On the whole, I don't see anything revolutionary happening - someone prove me wrong, please. -Delbert -----Original Message----- Those systems seem great, but holy cow are they expensive! What is the solution for the average theatre without million dollar supporters? I think it would be a shame for counterweight rigging to go by the wayside. Yes it has it's ergonomic issues, so to speak, but it allows for so much flexibility. Don't you think this will be compromised? -- Eric Rouse TD-University of SC, Columbia Freelance Foyboy > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > Eric - No, I have never had a teeth clenching experience with a winch. > Knock on wood. I have mainly used Scott Fishers' flying winches. > These are top quality winches and I love their programmable controls. > > Bill Sapsis - Yes it was you that I quoted, but since you only posted > this remark yesterday, I thought everyone on this list would know who > made it. I thought everyone on the list reads your posts and commits > them to memory. Yes, the quote was taken out of context, but I always > thought a FACT was TRUE even if it taken out of context. > > And while I am taking Bill comments out context, let me add this one to > the list. Bill said, "As for counterweight being on the way > out.....IMHO...Yup!" OK, if you think counterweight is on the way out, > what will replace it? > > Hoffend & Sons is trying to take automated rigging systems mainstream in > the US. Many of you have seen or read about Hoffend's Vortek. Hoffend > calls it "The Automated Standard for Safer Theater Rigging" and it has > won numerous prestigious awards (www.hoffend.net). I think the system > is being marketed primarily to high schools and community theatres, and > if it catches on I expect we will see a lot of other companies with > similar products. I will agree that automated rigging systems are more > dangerous in some ways than manually operated systems (things > unexpectedly getting caught on a moving batten), but they are safer in > other ways (no ladders to climb, no counterweights to drop, no runaway > arbors). You just have to weigh one aspect of safety against another. > Hoffend obviously thinks the overall safety of the system is very high > or they would not market it the way they are doing. > > J.R. Clancy also makes automated rigging systems, although I think they > primarily market them to large venues. Their web site says, "Our > program of ongoing product development of winches and control systems > ensures that J.R. Clancy products offer safe, reliable, cost effective > performance for the entertainment industry." Clancy does not claim that > motorized systems are safer than manual systems, but they don't claim > manual systems are safer either. What they do say is that motorized > systems are "easier to install and use." > > Anyone have any specific safety issues with either Hoffend's or Clancy's > automated rigging systems? > > IMHO, the most important aspect of safety (anywhere) is usually not the > equipment, but the user. Training the user to properly use any tool or > piece of equipment is the primary key to safety. If we could eliminate > operator errors, overall safety would improve greatly. > > > -Delbert > > > > ------------------------------ Message-Id: <200406011441.i51EfUHg010166 [at] tshield.longwood.edu> From: "Paul Schreiner" Subject: Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:41:30 -0400 In-Reply-To: > OK, if you think counterweight is on > the way out, what will replace it? > >> > > Little tiny guys with pointy ears who have the ability to > make a wish come true. When do you expect to have some in stock? I'd like to spec a few for our upcoming renovation... Paul Schreiner Technical Director, Longwood University Theatre 434.395.2250 ICQ# 2269284 ------------------------------ Message-Id: <200406011441.i51EfYHg010190 [at] tshield.longwood.edu> From: "Paul Schreiner" Subject: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:41:33 -0400 In-Reply-To: > I appreciate what both you are saying, but I think it is more > important for kids to be exposed to the Wagnerian 'Ring' than > the Tolkien 'Ring'. Mmmmmmm...I dunno 'bout that. If you're talking about seeing them, then I agree. But LOTR, as literature...? Head and shoulders above practically everything put to paper in the past 70 years, IMHO. As an aside, anyone else here seriously disappointed with the butchering (I mean, adapting) that was done in turning it into a screenplay? Also...the comment was made that Wagner's Ring Cycle is THE acid test (okay, I shifted emphasis) for any modern opera company...and from a technical/orchestral/stamina standpoint, I'd agree. But the voices needed for Wagner are completely different from, say, Mozart, and I'd find it tough to judge the quality of a company's voices overall by listening solely to the Wagnerian portion of the repertoire. Paul Schreiner Technical Director, Longwood University Theatre 434.395.2250 ICQ# 2269284 ------------------------------ From: IAEG [at] aol.com Message-ID: <14.2af90db7.2dedf0ec [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:47:08 EDT Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) In a message dated 6/1/04 7:42:15 AM, schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu writes: << Also...the comment was made that Wagner's Ring Cycle is THE acid test (okay, I shifted emphasis) for any modern opera company...and from a technical/orchestral/stamina standpoint, I'd agree. But the voices needed for Wagner are completely different from, say, Mozart, and I'd find it tough to judge the quality of a company's voices overall by listening solely to the Wagnerian portion of the repertoire. >> and since the standard of the opera business is that all of the principal voices are basically what in every other performing art would be called a "Guest Artist" it makes it a whole different thing entirely very best, Keith Arsenault IAEG - International Arts & Entertainment Group Tampa, Florida ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 10:43:23 -0400 From: Michael Powers Subject: Hi! Frank Message-id: <1086101003.40bc960b495a8 [at] mail-www3.oit.umass.edu> At 06:56 PM 5/30/2004 -0400, Frank Wood wrote: >I don't, but thank you for the thought There is a North Country >proverb which >runs, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but >names will never hurt me". Frank, I know I'm not the first, hope I'm not the last. Welcome back, what took you so long? ;-) Michael Michael Powers, Technical Director UMass Theatre Department 112 FAC West 151 Presidents Drive, Ofc.2 Amherst, Ma. 01003-9331 413-545-6821 voice 413-577-0025 fax mfpowers [at] theater.umass.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:03:07 -0400 Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) From: Herrick In-Reply-To: Message-Id: On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 10:41 America/New_York, Paul Schreiner wrote: > > > As an aside, anyone else here seriously disappointed with the > butchering (I > mean, adapting) that was done in turning it into a screenplay? > To which I reply: Paul how would you have edited it any better? If Jackson had been making it for a home movie yes you are right but it had to be marketable and 3 hours per book is about as good as it gets. Yes I miss Bombadil too but he really doesn't further the story at all. FWIW if you get the extended versions they really do flesh out some of the weak spots. and before you even bring it up.. of course Faramir was character-assassinated. -H > Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:04:59 -0400 Subject: Re: Hi! Frank From: Herrick In-Reply-To: Message-Id: <0D38FEA8-B3DD-11D8-9FF0-0003934521EC [at] hglightingdesign.com> He's on Dialup AOL (at 14.4)and he's still downloading the Walmart posts and wondering what a "Wal" is. On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 10:43 America/New_York, Michael Powers wrote: > > Frank, > > I know I'm not the first, hope I'm not the last. Welcome back, what > took you so long? ;-) > > Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Message-ID: <037101c447ea$2b871950$0a01a8c0 [at] Tony> From: "Tony Deeming" References: Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:07:34 +0100 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Herrick" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 4:03 PM Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 10:41 America/New_York, Paul Schreiner > wrote: > > > > > > As an aside, anyone else here seriously disappointed with the > > butchering (I > > mean, adapting) that was done in turning it into a screenplay? > > > > To which I reply: > > Paul how would you have edited it any better? If Jackson had been > making it for a home movie yes you are right but it had to be > marketable and 3 hours per book is about as good as it gets. > > Yes I miss Bombadil too but he really doesn't further the story at all. > FWIW if you get the extended versions they really do flesh out some of > the weak spots. and before you even bring it up.. of course Faramir > was character-assassinated. > > -H > > > > Herrick Goldman Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the films, having been a Tolkein fan for many years. (Just wish the Leicester Square Odeon mini-screen we watched #3 at had slightly comfier seats for the epic viewing!!) Ynot ------------------------------ From: Bsapsis [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1e0.220a71de.2dedfb33 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:30:59 EDT Subject: Re: Hi! Frank Frank. I'll be in London for ABTT next week. I should be at the show on Thursday. Hopefully we can get together for a beer. Bill Sapsis Rigging, Inc. www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 800.292.3851 fax 267.278.4561 mobile We stand behind, our work. and under, ------------------------------ Message-Id: <200406011555.i51FtFDI018652 [at] tshield.longwood.edu> From: "Paul Schreiner" Subject: Re: Rings (warning: almost completely OT) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:55:14 -0400 In-Reply-To: > Paul how would you have edited it any better? If Jackson had > been making it for a home movie yes you are right but it had > to be marketable and 3 hours per book is about as good as it gets. > > Yes I miss Bombadil too but he really doesn't further the > story at all. > FWIW if you get the extended versions they really do flesh > out some of the weak spots. and before you even bring it > up.. of course Faramir was character-assassinated. I knew Bombadil was doomed from the get-go. I got over that part. In fact, I'd probably have done the same thing for the same reasons. The whole Faramir thing is my biggest beef. Especially since I've used "Faramir" for an internet handle since about '95. Speaking of character assassinations, how 'bout Elrond (esp. his attitude towards Aragorn)? I'd also have cut about 98% of the 45 minutes (or at least it seemed that many) spent in the first movie showing Saruman and the inner workings of Isengard. Too much of that sort of thing was taken out of the realm of imagination and shown in front of us instead...and that was a big waste of time that could have been spent elsewhere. Likewise the battle between Saruman and Gandalf...we knew where Gandalf was, and it ruined the mystery. I was disappointed with all the plot changes showing people waffling on actions (ostensibly to "heighten dramatic tension") like Treebeard and the Ents. There is something a lot more powerful to me in seeing people take up arms knowing they're not coming back but doing it anyway cuz it's the right thing, than having to be "convinced" or roused into a lather by "one more dastardly act"... Speaking of Ents, I always thought that while Saruman was pretty nasty to the trees of Fangorn all along, he really didn't take it to extremes until after the Ents ruined Isengard. Kinda like a displaced-revenge sorta thing. Why that long narrated prologue? Why couldn't we have found out through the action just how powerful the Ring was, rather than having it all spelled out for us so that the audience already knew what Bilbo was holding before even the end of the party? I guess my (second-)biggest complaint is how it was turned into an action movie first. It's not supposed to be about the magic. Saruman's wizardry was in his voice, not in being able to cast lightning bolts about the firmament. All that time spent showing the creation of the Uruk-hai could have been saved for a more complete treatment of Galadriel (where were the gifts??) for example. Or, better yet, the Scouring of the Shire. Or more about the developing friendship between Legolas and Gimli. IOW, what is in the books an incredibly inspirational (and supremely well-crafted) story about ordinary people doing world-changing extraordinary things loses too much of that effect because the movie version of Middle-Earth (due to the overemphasis on magic and effects) bears practically no resemblance to our own world. But again, that speaks to the economics involved, and the perceptions of what one needs to make a "successful" work of art. (There...does that sorta make this stagecraft-related? ) OTOH, the Balrog was spot-on...and of all the plot changes, there was one I really liked, and that was the inclusion of Arwen in the first installment. It worked. The sappy she's-gonna-die crap during ROTK, though... :P There are, of course, other things that irked me, but that's mostly cuz I have spent waaay too much time (if that's actually possible) studying the series and some of Tolkien's other works, and get caught up in the details too much for my own good. Anyone who really wants me to get into it any more than I already have can email me off-list... Paul Schreiner Technical Director, Longwood University Theatre 434.395.2250 ICQ# 2269284 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:57:07 -0400 From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: Pub Etiquette Message-id: <40BCA753.DA57C00F [at] ithaca.edu> Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts References: Tony Deeming wrote: > --------------------------------------------------- > Whereabouts you headed over the ocean? London. I'll be heading over late in July (still fighting with our international programs office over housing). If we get bored in London (not likely) we might do a weekend trip up to Scotland to visit distilleries and check out the ancestral homestead. Steve L. -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20040601161609.59586.qmail [at] web50601.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:16:09 -0700 (PDT) From: b Ricie Subject: counterweight rigging In-Reply-To: >>Why couldn't the weights be set up with some sort of choice of available weight without actually removing it from the arbor?>> I have often wondered why there is no "liquid" counter weight system out there. It would be nice to hang a 150pound good and then dial up 150lbs to balance the line set exactly. It would do away with those heavy blocks that seem to be such friends with gravity, as well as make the loading rail obsolete. No weight or people in the air sounds like a good idea to me. ===== Brian Rice b_ricie [at] yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. http://messenger.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <0F98C8BA43C00C42AFFBE000DA9DDB23011F1677 [at] pollux.richmond.edu> From: "Mason, Richard" Subject: Re: paint pigment Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 12:19:53 -0400 Brandy, We here at University of Richmond would be interested in talking to someone. We have lost our supplier of Dry Pigment. You can contact me offlist at rmason [at] richmond.edu or contact me at 804.287.6836. Rich Mason Assistant Technical Director University of Richmond Theatre & Dance Dept Modlin Center, Room 110B Richmond, VA 23173 804.287.6836 office 804.287-1841 fax 804.400.7803 cell rmason [at] richmond.edu -----Original Message----- From: Tony Deeming [mailto:deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 10:27 AM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: paint pigment For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ --------------------------------------------------- You might want to try Ebay ........ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brandy Bitzer" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 3:20 PM Subject: paint pigment > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > Hello All... > It is nice to be back on the list again... > I have recently graduated from Franklin Pierce College. > I am currently the Lighting Designer for the New London Barn Playhouse > in NH. > > I was looking in our supplies and found a whole lot of old paint > pigment.(needs a bonding agent to work) We don't use it since no one > really knows how to use it, so it has just been sitting around. > I have been sent to see if there is a proper way of disposing it, or > if I can sell it. There are many colors and a lot of it...5 gallon > buckets of this stuff. If any one is interested in this please > privately email me for more details. If any one has any suggestions > about this please post them. > > Brandy Bitzer > Lighting Designer > > > -- > ___________________________________________________________ > Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com > http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm > ------------------------------ From: "Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson" Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:24:26 -0700 Message-ID: <071301c447f4$e89fb6f0$726dfea9 [at] DrDoomsComputer> In-Reply-To: Absolutely. doom ==================================================== THE FIRST NATIONAL CONGRESS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS - Sponsored by ISETSA June 25, 26, 27, 2004 at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin ==================================================== Risk International & Associates, Inc. - Dedicated to making the world a healthier & safer place. Website: www.riskit.com E-mail: rdavidson [at] riskit.com ==================================================== International Secondary Education Theater Safety Association (ISETSA) - Dedicated to the protection of every student in the performing arts. Website: www.isetsa.org E-mail: info [at] isetsa.org ==================================================== 960 E. Bonita #158, Pomona, CA 91767 Phone/Fax: (909) 625-5961 ==================================================== -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Booth, Dennis Sent: Monday, May 31, 2004 4:50 AM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ --------------------------------------------------- Bill, You might also have mentioned that properly installed wire rope clip terminations are only 80% efficient, while properly swaged nicopress fittings provide nearly 100% efficiency. Big difference, no matter how many clips you might choose to use. DGB Dennis Gill Booth, Technical Director North Carolina School of the Arts School of Design and Production 1553 South Main Street PO Box 12189 Winston-Salem, NC 27117-2189 * Voice: (336)770-3232 x127 * FAX: (336)770-3213 * Email: boothd [at] ncarts.edu * D&P URL: http://www.ncarts.edu/ncsaprod/designandproduction/ * Faculty URL: http://faculty.ncarts.edu/dandp/booth/ -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Bsapsis [at] aol.com Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 11:04 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ --------------------------------------------------- My turn? I don't want a turn. I just flew in from Helsinki via Stockholm and boy are my arms tired.... Anyway Cloves hitches do reduce wire rope ratings but I have never been able to break a piece of 1/4" wire rope at the hitch. It has always broken above the hitch. Always. But, the wire rope guys say don't tie knots in wire rope and who am I to argue? So I don't. Two clips are required for sizes up to and including 3/8". 7/16" and higher get three. Except in California where by law all sizes get three. (stupid politicians....good salesperson) Oval swage fittings, be they Nicopress or Loos are indeed preferred. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content and is believed to be clean. ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Message-Id: <5.2.1.1.0.20040601123839.00bd4a40 [at] pop.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 12:50:18 -0400 From: "Paul H. Sullivan" Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) In-Reply-To: References: To each his own, but LOTR pales in comparison to Atlas Shrugged and Anthem, ( the Fountainhead, while important, lacks the fullness of plot) the two most vibrant and intuitive works to be penned in the 20th century. In this current time and political climate the works of Ayn Rand were never more topical or relevant. Pax At 10:41 AM 6/1/2004 -0400, you wrote: >Mmmmmmm...I dunno 'bout that. If you're talking about seeing them, then I >agree. But LOTR, as literature...? Head and shoulders above practically >everything put to paper in the past 70 years, IMHO. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Storms, Randy" Subject: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:09:28 -0700 Speaking of film butchery, I note that they will now add insult to injury by releasing "Starship Troopers II" (as if the first movie was somehow insufficiently dreadful, and they felt they should take another swing at it.) Hey, what's that whirring sound? Must be RAH spinning in his grave... Randy Storms rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Lazarus Long, Time Enough For Love ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20040601170734.61083.qmail [at] web41214.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:07:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Roger Harrison Subject: Wal-mart In-Reply-To: You know guys, this bashing of wal-mart is stupid. Wal-mart is the life blood of small town, high school theatre. We get the majority of all of our props, paint, music and alot of other stuff for our productions there. If we didn't have a Walmart we wouldn't be able to do half as good a production as we do. So those of you with monster budgets go somewhere else and spend your big bucks. For us little guys in the School trenches thank someone for Walmart. Roger Harrison Technical Director Aztec High School __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. http://messenger.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: Pub Etiquette Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:07:22 -0400 Organization: ETSU Message-ID: <000b01c447fa$e80a1ef0$6400a8c0 [at] delbert> In-Reply-To: Hey Steve, I will be in London from Aug. 1 - 15, we should get together. -Delbert -----Original Message----- London. I'll be heading over late in July (still fighting with our international programs office over housing). If we get bored in London (not likely) we might do a weekend trip up to Scotland to visit distilleries and check out the ancestral homestead. Steve L. -- Stephen C. Litterst Technical Supervisor Ithaca College Dept. of Theatre Arts 607/274-3947 slitterst [at] ithaca.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:24:23 -0400 Subject: Re: Rings (warning: almost completely OT) From: Herrick In-Reply-To: Message-Id: <8645C4FC-B3F0-11D8-9FF0-0003934521EC [at] hglightingdesign.com> I won't respond to the whole thing because there are chat rooms and lists and lists for that Paul 2 words "Extended editions" buy them! On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 11:55 America/New_York, Paul Schreiner wrote: > saved for a more complete treatment of Galadriel (where were the > gifts??) for example They're in there > . Or, better yet, the Scouring of the Shire. It weakens the ending. Yes i know we love it but after a huge monstrous climax that tiny battle is not the way to end a movie (in this day and age) > Or more > about the developing friendship between Legolas and Gimli. It's in the extended version...more quips and better friendship stuff. Including IIRC Legolas admiring the caves at helms deep. Sorry about the Faramir thing but that what you get for naming yourself after a fantasy character. Can we call you Gollum now? I could indeed talk about LoTR for weeks but not here. I'm pleased and proud that someone did as good a job as Jackson did. And that it brought those books back to the light of day hopefully the younger crowd will actually read them. I lived with Bakshi's animated version for far too long. -H Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:26:45 -0400 Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) From: Herrick In-Reply-To: Message-Id: When I read atlas shrugged I find myself really hating a large part of society. Then it troubles me more because I agree so much with her philosophy. I have started seeing bumper stickers that read "Another friend of John Galt's" Plus i really love a good burger. -H On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 12:50 America/New_York, Paul H. Sullivan wrote: > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > To each his own, but LOTR pales in comparison to Atlas Shrugged and > Anthem, ( the Fountainhead, while important, lacks the fullness of > plot) the two most vibrant and intuitive works to be penned in the > 20th century. In this current time and political climate the works of > Ayn Rand were never more topical or relevant. > > Pax > > > At 10:41 AM 6/1/2004 -0400, you wrote: >> Mmmmmmm...I dunno 'bout that. If you're talking about seeing them, >> then I >> agree. But LOTR, as literature...? Head and shoulders above >> practically >> everything put to paper in the past 70 years, IMHO. > > > > Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ From: "Matthew Breton" Subject: Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 13:38:26 -0400 Message-ID: >Speaking of film butchery, I note that they will now add insult to injury >by >releasing "Starship Troopers II" I hadn't thought the first one was successful enough to revisit -- oh well, another Grandmaster work savaged. On that note, I hear that "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman is in production as a TV series. I've always mentally linked the two: one's the quintessential WWII-turned-science-fiction novel, the other the quintessential Viet Nam. Matthew Breton Technical Director Green Street Studios _________________________________________________________________ Learn to simplify your finances and your life in Streamline Your Life from MSN Money. http://special.msn.com/money/0405streamline.armx ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <68.3fb82fd0.2dee1d35 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:56:05 EDT Subject: Re: Black Masking In a message dated 31/05/04 23:43:23 GMT Daylight Time, bipolarber [at] cyberback.com writes: > My feeling has always been that masking should be as flat, and as > featureless as possible. There's a bit of psycology to this, I agree. Seems > like an audiance member, when confronted with a simple, flat hard boarder, > quickly moves to looking for interesting details elsewhere. If there's > anything more there, they tend to linger, looking at how light is catching > the folds in the cloth, or the "sine-wave" of the bottom edge of the > curtain. Anyway, their attention is not where you want it: on the set and on > the actors. > So, I tend toward flat and boring rather than hung with fullness. The trouble is that the slightest surface imperfection will stand out like a beermat on a billiards table. Also, there's nothing quite so light-absorbing as black velvet, and the fullness means that the edges of beams of light are much more dispersed. The very best way is to design in scenic elements to mask the wings off, with black velvet drapes behind them, so as to stop the working light in the wings from invading the stage. Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <163.302f58e8.2dee2034 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:08:52 EDT Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) In a message dated 01/06/04 01:56:19 GMT Daylight Time, bipolarber [at] cyberback.com writes: > And my question to you is, how many times has the population of the UK > been kept in the dark via their "D notice" policy? Answer: you will never > know. Know, no. But these things have a habit of leaking out, sooner or later. D-notice or no, good reporters pick up hints from casual conversations with someone involved: e-mail leaks are not uncommon. Then it's down to editorial judgment. Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <192.2a5d5809.2dee2253 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:17:55 EDT Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) In a message dated 01/06/04 04:25:17 GMT Daylight Time, StevevETTrn [at] aol.com writes: > As a parent I have found it to be a bit more challenging in practice than in > theory. To educate them necessitates a certain amount of telling. Even > then, > cultural influences are so pervasive, and the allure of the "dark side" is > so > strong, that it is an ongoing contest. Kind of like Frodo, at the end of > his > journey to the volcano, being unable to finally let go of the Ring. (Hmm, > there's two references to art that inspired.) Sheer curiosity will impel children to visit sites like this. My hope would be that they are appalled at what they see. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Message-ID: <6728517EECE7D511981B00D0B78290310BD4958A [at] az33exm27.corp.mot.com> From: Wood Chip-P26398 Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:21:44 -0700 Did you see Doonesbury on Sunday? -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of StevevETTrn [at] aol.com Where is the art of today that ennobles and lifts and inspires? ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1dc.22ffefb0.2dee24ff [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:29:19 EDT Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) In a message dated 01/06/04 05:46:13 GMT Daylight Time, ladesigners [at] juno.com writes: > I appreciate what both you are saying, but I think it is more important > for kids to be exposed to the Wagnerian 'Ring' than the Tolkien 'Ring'. How interesting. I have seen Wagner's 'Ring', and read 'The Lord of the Rings' several times. I know which I prefer. Reading allows you to create your own pictires: a stage presentation imposes a director's view between you and the work. Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:31:22 EDT Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) In a message dated 01/06/04 06:32:30 GMT Daylight Time, james [at] cleveland-theater.com writes: > As in Wagner the anti-Semite? Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <7d.4f885d53.2dee2609 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:33:45 EDT Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) In a message dated 01/06/04 06:32:30 GMT Daylight Time, james [at] cleveland-theater.com writes: > As in Wagner the anti-Semite? I will just point out that some of Wagner's premieres wer conducted by a man with a very Jewish name. He employed talent where it was. Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: "Matthew Breton" Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 14:40:09 -0400 Message-ID: >I have seen Wagner's 'Ring', and read 'The Lord of the Rings' several >times. >I know which I prefer. Reading allows you to create your own pictires: a >stage >presentation imposes a director's view between you and the work. ...which can be illuminating, in and of itself. Put differently, the director's view is part of the work. It might be best when it's not imposed (or imposing), although I've felt that some plays I've seen were saved by good directing, rather than being stellar material to begin with. Matthew Breton Technical Director Green Street Studios _________________________________________________________________ Get 200+ ad-free, high-fidelity stations and LIVE Major League Baseball Gameday Audio! http://radio.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200491ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 14:43:17 -0400 Subject: Re: Black Masking From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Now, you're talking a language we all understand. Steve > beermat on a billiards table. > > Frank Wood > > ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <146.2ae4d837.2dee2a01 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:50:41 EDT Subject: Re: Hi! Frank In a message dated 01/06/04 15:48:14 GMT Daylight Time, mfpowers [at] theater.umass.edu writes: > I know I'm not the first, hope I'm not the last. Welcome back, what > took you so long? ;-) I spend three months a year in France. There, I have two problems. First, I use AOL 7.0, which sends e-mail in two-part MIME format. Second, I am charged for time-on-line. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:50:46 -0400 Subject: Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) From: Herrick In-Reply-To: Message-Id: <97BF83E6-B3FC-11D8-9FF0-0003934521EC [at] hglightingdesign.com> Yes but "Enders Game" is in full production as well! That should be good. On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 13:38 America/New_York, Matthew Breton wrote: > > On that note, I hear that "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman is in > production as a TV series. I've always mentally linked the two: one's > the quintessential WWII-turned-science-fiction novel, the other the > quintessential Viet Nam. > > Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <11a.32fe7dfe.2dee2a78 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 14:52:40 EDT Subject: Re: Hi! Frank In a message dated 01/06/04 16:31:47 GMT Daylight Time, Bsapsis [at] aol.com writes: > > Frank. I'll be in London for ABTT next week. I should be at the show on > Thursday. Hopefully we can get together for a beer. See you there! Frank Wood ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601112727.01689ca8 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:27:27 From: CB Subject: Food for thought >Sometimes students will ask us if we will allow them to do something outrageous and we tell them they can do and say what they want, except smoke cigarettes, cigars or other things on stage or commit felonies. So we censor too. While you may, in fact, censor the works of your students at your facility, the above statement doesn't support that fact. Not allowing your students to break the law is not censorship, just as not allowing any facility to produce obscenity is not censorship. Finding out just what is obscenity is another trick altogether. I think that we're having a bit of another problem with vocabulary again. Censorship and the legal definition of censorship are differing shades of grey. To clarify things, I think that companies like Mall-Wart, Clear Channel, and Disney (just to name a few) are committing a social sin, not a federal crime. Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601113930.01689ca8 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:39:30 From: CB Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging >Um, Chris? If you don't actually remove the weight from the arbor, >you're still counterweighted for however much weight's on the arbor. I told you you were going to need the salt. Hey, if anyone were going to make the sound-to-rigging translation, I thought it would be you. I was thinking as the arbor as the hole uner the pole where the weight would sit, but I see now that that would be wrong I'm thinking of the weights sitting in a stack on the floor, UNDER the arbor, and waiting there until the proper weight is chosen and a pin or plate (or whatever) is places in, under, or around the proper weight, and the arbor only takes from the stack that which is chosen. Kristi brought up a salient point, however, that this method would require that the arbor be loaded and then the batten brought in, or the batten be loaded and then hauled out to get weight. This is why the post came with so many caveats, it needed them! Now, if someone could just design a system that worked on the same principle, but allowed the counterweight to be specified with teh batten all (or part of ) the way in, they'd make bank! Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601114957.01689ca8 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:49:57 From: CB Subject: Re: Powerpoint Background While we're on the subject of backgrounds, I was wondering if anyone out there was familiar with a program that would take my scanned images and prepare it for burning a DVD in a manner that would let me make twenty or thirty seconds of an image each a chapter (or some other method of indexing it). I want to scan all of the photos that I took in Germany and make it accessable to those with PowerPoint, and also to those that might not have a computer. And, while you're at it, anyone know if I burn a DVD for use in the US, would it play on a European DVD player. Are the standards the same, or do they differ as NTSC and PAL standards differ? Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601115430.01689ca8 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:54:30 From: CB Subject: Re: Food for thought >Kind of like Frodo, at the end of his >journey to the volcano, being unable to finally let go of the Ring. (Hmm, >there's two references to art that inspired.) Thanks, I guess I have no need to watch the end of the new DVD I just got. Waited for two weeks for it. Watched as much as I could last nite with my girlfriend, a bit more before she went to work this morning, and was saving the finish for this evening. I guess I could vacuum... Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: In-Reply-To: References: Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:26:27 -0400 From: Rigger Subject: Re: Powerpoint Background At 11:49 AM -0400 6/1/04, CB wrote: > And, while you're at it, anyone know if I burn a DVD for use > in the US, would it play on a European DVD player. Are the standards the > same, or do they differ as NTSC and PAL standards differ? Consult Google, under "region 1 DVD format." The Reader's Digest version: Nope; incompatible. If you're burning them to play on a *computer*, otoh... -- Dave Vick, IATSE #274 Head Electrician, The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University Carpe Per Diem ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Storms, Randy" Subject: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 12:31:45 -0700 I'm considering purchasing a 6+ megapixel digital camera for our program, but I'm wondering -- Many consumer grade digital video cameras (miniDV format, etc.) allow the user to "harvest" digital still images from recorded video and save them as .jpg files, etc. Does the quality of these approach what can be obtained from a strictly still-image camera? Thanks in advance, Randy Storms rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601115729.01689ca8 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:57:29 From: CB Subject: Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks >a Major International Entertainment >Conglomerate corporation won't go there (except to buy decorative properties). If you were buying your prop-tarts the proper amount of beer, you'd already have your EGA monitor and a back-up by now. Look, the MIECC tells you what the rules are, and you get what you need according to thier rules. I think your next show needs a couple of monitors. Its a period piece, (the eighties?) so it NEEDS to be EGA. ; > Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 16:27:53 -0400 Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Try the Sony website and see what they say. The VX2000 and VX2100 both produce these. I haven't tried it with my VX2000 yet. I don't have access to the manual right now. We used VX2000s and PDR150s in Iraq for the combat camera crews. The attack on Saddam's sons and the capture of Saddam were shot on a PDR150. I use a Nikon D100 for my stills. Steve on 6/1/04 3:31 PM, Storms, Randy at rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu wrote: > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > I'm considering purchasing a 6+ megapixel digital camera for our program, > but I'm wondering -- Many consumer grade digital video cameras (miniDV > format, etc.) allow the user to "harvest" digital still images from recorded > video and save them as .jpg files, etc. Does the quality of these approach > what can be obtained from a strictly still-image camera? > > Thanks in advance, > > Randy Storms > rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <04cd01c44818$255726a0$0a01a8c0 [at] Tony> From: "Tony Deeming" References: Subject: Re: Powerpoint Background Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 21:36:41 +0100 ----- Original Message ----- From: "CB" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 11:49 AM Subject: Re: Powerpoint Background > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > While we're on the subject of backgrounds, I was wondering if anyone out > there was familiar with a program that would take my scanned images and > prepare it for burning a DVD in a manner that would let me make twenty or > thirty seconds of an image each a chapter (or some other method of indexing > it). I want to scan all of the photos that I took in Germany and make it > accessable to those with PowerPoint, and also to those that might not have > a computer. And, while you're at it, anyone know if I burn a DVD for use > in the US, would it play on a European DVD player. Are the standards the > same, or do they differ as NTSC and PAL standards differ? > Chris "Chris" Babbie I've not had much time to play, but I suspect that most decent DVD packaged software could more than likely do what you want wrt making a disc that can 'play' the slide show in a player. As for the NTSC/PAL type differences, yes, you will possibly have problems in some DVD players. However, many of the units coming out these days are multi-region, and can play 2 or more regions automatically. HTH. Ynot ------------------------------ Message-ID: <04d701c44818$8947b710$0a01a8c0 [at] Tony> From: "Tony Deeming" References: Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 21:39:29 +0100 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Storms, Randy" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 8:31 PM Subject: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > I'm considering purchasing a 6+ megapixel digital camera for our program, > but I'm wondering -- Many consumer grade digital video cameras (miniDV > format, etc.) allow the user to "harvest" digital still images from recorded > video and save them as .jpg files, etc. Does the quality of these approach > what can be obtained from a strictly still-image camera? > > Thanks in advance, > > Randy Storms The question you need to ask is what you aim to do with the pics - if displaying them on a PC screen, or projector, then 6MP is way too detailed - you're unlikely to be able to tell the difference between them and a 2MP shot. The only real time you need to worry too much about high res is if you're printing serious prints. OTOH, another possibility is if you're going to use a hi-res graphics card and hi-res projector for live video work. (But that gets expensive!!) Ynot ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:42:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: NTSC Digital Video (DV25) captures images at 720x480 resolution. Now one issue is that video pixels are not square, they're taller than they are wide, so on a computer monitor everything appears too short; you will need to down-res the images to 640x480 to achieve the correct aspect ratio. The other issue is that most video cameras shoot "60i" video, or 60 interlaced frames per second. These are displayed such that the even scan lines are shown for 1/60 sec then the odd lines for 1/60 sec such that there are 30 complete images per second. But since these two "fields" are displaced by 1/60 sec, if there is movement then they don't quite register and you ge sort of a stair stepped effect. Various software solutions try to compensate for this. The Panasonic DVX-100a is the only prosumer grade camera which can actually shoot noninterlaced "progressive" video (30p) where there are 30 complete images captured each second. Progressive frames will appear sharper as stills, but will still exhibit the motion blur you would expect from a 1/30 sec shutter speed. Now aside from all this, there is a new breed of consumer DV cameras that have megapixel+ CCD's that can also shoot still photos at pretty high resolution (I think some are as high as 4 MP now). So these cameras have special photo modes for capturing stills in addition to video. Typically they are recorded onto some sort of memory stick, CF card, SD card, etc. Some cameras can store the stills on tape. Generally speaking, these cameras are not the top of the line video cameras, but are more consumer oriented, in the ~$1,000 range. Take a look at the specs as you shop and see what the published resolution is for still photos. For video the specs will all be the same; 720x480 60i in the US and 720x576 50i for our friends across the pond that use the PAL system. If you're specifically interested in video cameras I would also refer you to the DVinfo.net forums at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/ which is a great place to get answers to your questions (disclaimer: I am one of the moderators there :-) Boyd Ostroff ooo Opera Company of Philadelphia Director of Design & Technology ooooooo 1420 Locust St, Suite 210 ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ooooooo Philadelphia, PA 19102 http://tech.operaphilly.com ooo (215) 893-3600 x225 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:48:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I have a VX-2000 and it has the same specs for still photos as the PD-150, VX-2100 and PD-170. These are gret video cameras, but rather limited if you want stills. The max res of still photos on these cameras is 640x480. I also have a Sony PDX-10 which is a newer design that uses megapixel CCD's. It will shoot stills at 1152x864; its consumer cousin the TRV-950 will do the same. Some of the Canon 1 chip consumer cameras will do even higher res. Boyd Ostroff ooo Opera Company of Philadelphia Director of Design & Technology ooooooo 1420 Locust St, Suite 210 ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ooooooo Philadelphia, PA 19102 http://tech.operaphilly.com ooo (215) 893-3600 x225 ------------------------------ Message-Id: <200406012118.i51LI92O021349 [at] gryphon.auspice.net> Subject: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 17:18:09 -0400 (EDT) In-Reply-To: from "CB" at Jun 01, 2004 11:49:57 AM From: James Feinberg Chris Babbie asked about making a DVD of his photos. I've just done this using iPhoto and iDVD. The quality of the images when shown on a television was not great, but that's the nature of low-res TV (see the other current thread :) I set up libraries in iPhoto for the different portions of my trip (iDVD limits you to 99 photos per library), and exported them to iDVD (the export is a function of iPhoto). The libraries showed up in iDVD as titles on the main menu. I was able to pick a theme for my menu, and program the titles to advance automatically between photos after a given interval or to manually advance (using the DVD players fast forward and rewind buttons). My only real complaint was that the ordering of photos with libraries that I'd done in iPhoto didn't carry over to iDVD. It seemed to revert to the order in which I'd taken the pictures (which could have meant file name or date in my case, I'm not sure). This system worked quite nicely for me. Now if you don't have a Mac with all of this lovely software, then I haven't a clue :) --James Feinberg Production Manager, Theatre Arts Program University of San Diego ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 17:21:42 -0400 Subject: Re: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background) From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Perhaps if you rename the photos with consecutive numbers it would work. Curious. Steve on 6/1/04 5:18 PM, James Feinberg at feinberg [at] sandiego.edu wrote: > For info on subscribing, unsubscribing, and suspending > your list subscription, go to the Stagecraft web site at: > http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ > --------------------------------------------------- > > > Chris Babbie asked about making a DVD of his photos. > > I've just done this using iPhoto and iDVD. The quality of the images > when shown on a television was not great, but that's the nature of > low-res TV (see the other current thread :) > > I set up libraries in iPhoto for the different portions of my trip > (iDVD limits you to 99 photos per library), and exported them to iDVD > (the export is a function of iPhoto). The libraries showed up in iDVD > as titles on the main menu. I was able to pick a theme for my menu, > and program the titles to advance automatically between photos after a > given interval or to manually advance (using the DVD players fast > forward and rewind buttons). > > My only real complaint was that the ordering of photos with libraries > that I'd done in iPhoto didn't carry over to iDVD. It seemed to > revert to the order in which I'd taken the pictures (which could have > meant file name or date in my case, I'm not sure). > > This system worked quite nicely for me. Now if you don't have a Mac > with all of this lovely software, then I haven't a clue :) > > --James Feinberg > Production Manager, Theatre Arts Program > University of San Diego > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 18:10:36 -0400 Subject: Re: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background) From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: A friend does the same thing. He has noticed that when shown on his big screen that often the quality is bad, but when shown on his 27" screen, it looks great. He says that adjusting the resolution on his big screen can improve the quality of the photo. Don't know if you have that capability. Steve >> >> I've just done this using iPhoto and iDVD. The quality of the images >> when shown on a television was not great, but that's the nature of >> low-res TV (see the other current thread :) >> > > > ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20040601172941.00eb1fe8 [at] uwosh.edu> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 17:29:41 -0500 From: Mick Alderson Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging Here's another firecracker for the automation/counterweight rigging discussion. An issue not really touched on are possible unintended consequences, especially to low-budget theatre, of outlawing counterweight systems. IIRC, in terms of numbers of productions, a huge proportion of theatre happens at the secondary education level, at least in the US. That segment is woefully undersupported. Many, maybe most, US high schools have something that passes for a theatre, but that gets built when the school does, and then gets ignored by administrations. When budgets are tight (always) it is easy to defer maintainance, assuming it was ever a budget line in the first place. The theatre is empty all day when the administrators are there, and in use at night only occassionally by a relatively small number of students. So its easily dismissed. It survives on the love and dedication of overworked, underpaid drama teachers, who get no budget, and little credit or respect for their labors. It shouldn't be this way, and we can pontificate all we want about it, but that's the way is is where I live. I've seen nothing on this list to make me think this isn't the situation generally. All three high schools in Oshkosh, WI have some sort of theatre space included, but I don't think ANY of them have gotten proper maintainance since the day they were built. A few years back there was a small fire in the largest of the three theatres, which caused no damage except to one leg. The fire marshal naturally condemned the rest of the softgoods (which had never been flame-proofed) and ordered them replaced. The school board had the curtains removed, and did add a budget item to replace them, but for two years or so redirected the money elsewhere. For several years the stage was "naked", no curtains. If you told this school board they had to convert the rigging system to an "expensive" automated system, those theatres would be closed down tomorrow. And I am cynical enought to think them the rule rather than the exception. I like counterweight systems because they are simple and straight-forward and easily understood. I recognize the dangers, having seen dropped counterweights and run-aways. You do need training to use them safely, but that training is pretty basic because the system is pretty straight forward. And IMO counterweight systems are more forgiving than practically anything else. We've all seen counterweight systems that quite obviously should should have been condemned, but in fact they still functioned; they hadn't hurt anybody despite severe abuse, AND repairs were fairly obvious and straight forward. I sincerely doubt that motorized systems will get proper maintainance any more often than counterweight systems do, but my gut tells me the resulting "accidents" could be more catastrophic because of the added power involved. So, the unexpected consequence: I expect most theatre people get "hooked" in high school drama programs. Limiting theatre in the secondary schools to those few schools that can afford automation AND the added trained personel required means many schools will drop theatre. So, there will be very few students left with an interest in going on to college and/or the professional theatre. It's like an iceburg. Secondary school theatre is the 90% below the surface, and college/ professional theatre is the more visible 10%. Take away the 90%, and there won't be much left. Mick Alderson TD, Fredric March Theatre Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: <19f.25514e84.2dee6fb5 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 19:48:05 EDT Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Cc: ladesigners [at] juno.com In a message dated 6/1/4 3:12:06 AM, ladesigners [at] juno.com writes: << Are these characters good examples for our children? I think not! >> Sometimes you learn more from a "bad" example than a good one, Richard. If every charactor needed to be virtus, we'd all be out of work. Every religious text even has "bad" guys. Opera is filled with sex, drugs, crazy music, crazy people and sorcery... how do you think I get middle schoolers to love it! ;) Kristi ------------------------------ Message-ID: <00bd01c44834$321dce90$176e1745 [at] Spankythelovemachine> From: "Mike Rock" References: Subject: Sex drugs and Opera/ food for thought Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 18:57:28 -0500 See me, feel me, touch me, heal me. Good ol' Tommy Mike Rock ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003001c44834$18ecfc20$7aecbed0 [at] hppav> From: "Joe Meils" References: Subject: Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 18:56:45 -0500 You know, it makes me feel really good to know there are so many passionate fans of science fiction/fantasy/horror on this list. Kinda makes up for all the years in high school I was beat up and/or ignored for reading all that "weird shit." I walked into a bookstore last weekend, and got to talking with the manager. I'd noticed almost half the strore had been taken over with huge displays of Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Asimov, Phillip K. Dick, and classics like Poe and Lovecraft.... I mentioned that I felt vindicated in my lifelong love of these genres. He told me that only romances outsold the fantasy and science fiction sections these days... and that was a regional thing... southern women love their bodice rippers. Still, kind of nice to be the forerunner of the current mainstream. It almost makes me think I should go back to a school reunion, just to rub their faces in it. But, no, I couldn't do that... mostly because the kids who tortured me over my love of all things imaginative are now either in prison, or dead from drugs. Someone on the list said it was better to have kids exposed to Wagner than Tolkien... A silly argument, I think, since they can easily be exposed to both. I say, why do they have to choose at all? Joe > Yes but "Enders Game" is in full production as well! That should be > good. > > > On Tuesday, Jun 1, 2004, at 13:38 America/New_York, Matthew Breton > wrote: > > > > On that note, I hear that "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman is in > > production as a TV series. I've always mentally linked the two: one's > > the quintessential WWII-turned-science-fiction novel, the other the > > quintessential Viet Nam. ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20040601163358.01689108 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 16:33:58 From: CB Subject: E=MC^2 >The component out of the DVD is 4m for the >RGB and audio is only 3' long. >This couldn't be causing a delay could it? BTW, the speed of the signals is roughly 3 x 10^8 Mps. Three meters represents 1/100,000,000 of that distance. If you can hear that, I got a well paying gig for you out here. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:51:54 -0700 Subject: Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks Message-ID: <20040601.170447.3820.6.ladesigners [at] juno.com> From: Richard Niederberg I like the cut of your jib! I thought that I was alone when I utilized that strategy these days, but now 'The Cat is out of the Bag', I guess... /s/ Richard > Look, the MIECC tells you what the rules are, and you > get what you need according to their rules. > I think your next show needs a couple of monitors. Its a > period piece, (the eighties?) so it NEEDS to be EGA. > Chris "Chris" Babbie ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:32:39 -0700 Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Message-ID: <20040601.170447.3820.4.ladesigners [at] juno.com> From: Richard Niederberg He also was the force behind building the Opera House at Bayreuth, with its cornucopia-shaped orchestra pit [w/ upstage tip] A stroke of genius. /s/ Richard > I will just point out that some of Wagner's premieres were > conducted by a man with a very Jewish name. He employed > talent where it was. > Frank Wood ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:39:50 -0700 Subject: Re: Food for thought Message-ID: <20040601.170447.3820.5.ladesigners [at] juno.com> From: Richard Niederberg A US Supreme Court justice stated that he doesn't know what obscenity is, either, but he did say that "he knows it when he sees it". /s/ Richard Finding out just what is > obscenity is > another trick altogether. > Chris "Chris" Babbie ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:39:20 -0700 Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) ) Message-ID: <20040601.170447.3820.0.ladesigners [at] juno.com> From: Richard Niederberg I meant as a performing art. That is what WE produce and evaluate. > > I appreciate what both you are saying, but I think it is more > > important for kids to be exposed to the Wagnerian 'Ring' than > > the Tolkien 'Ring'. > Mmmmmmm...I dunno 'bout that. If you're talking about seeing > them, then I agree. ************************************************* That is what I meant. Again, that is how we evaluate OUR success. /s/ Richard > Also...the comment was made that Wagner's Ring Cycle is THE > acid test for any modern opera company...and from a > technical/orchestral/stamina standpoint, I'd agree. > Paul Schreiner ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:42:58 -0700 Subject: Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..) Message-ID: <20040601.170447.3820.1.ladesigners [at] juno.com> From: Richard Niederberg OK, that is one order of Theatre Elves with Skyhooks. Coming Up! /s/ Richard > > > OK, if you think counterweight is on > > > the way out, what will replace it? > > Little tiny guys with pointy ears who have the ability to > > make a wish come true. > When do you expect to have some in stock? I'd like to spec > a few for our upcoming renovation... > Paul Schreiner ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:18:37 -0700 Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) Message-ID: <20040601.170447.3820.3.ladesigners [at] juno.com> From: Richard Niederberg Let's not compare Apples (literature) with Oranges (live on stage). The Music alone leads me to prefer stealing rings from the Nibelungen under the Rhine than from the inhabitants of Middle Earth. In fact, I an listening to Valkyries sing in the background as I type this, and I am in Valhalla! /s/ Richard > I have seen Wagner's 'Ring', and read 'The Lord of the Rings' > several times. I know which I prefer. Reading allows you to > create your own pictires: a stage presentation imposes a > director's view between you and the work. > Frank Wood ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #25 ****************************