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Subject: Stagecraft Digest #25
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 17:15:29 -0700
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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 <vteder [at] interlog.com>
 2. Hiding velour seams WAS: Black Masking
    by Barney Simon <barney [at] JosephCHansen.com>
 3. One-year technical faculty appointment available at NCSA Design and Production..
    by "Booth, Dennis" <boothd [at] ncarts.edu>
 4. Re: Drapes in High Schools
    by Barney Simon <barney [at] JosephCHansen.com>
 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." <bigfred [at] mindspring.com>
 7. Re: Microvision disks? 
    by Herrick <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
 8. Re: Counterweight Rigging
    by Mike Brubaker <mdbrubaker [at] insightbb.com>
 9. Re: Prepare for an aneurism...
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
10. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;)
    by Rigger <rigger [at] tds.net>
11. Re: VL1000s (Was "VR1000s")
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
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 <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
15. Re: Microvision disks?
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
16. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;)
    by MissWisc [at] aol.com
17. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
18. paint pigment
    by "Brandy Bitzer" <theatretech [at] techie.com>
19. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;)
    by "Jon Ares" <jonares [at] hevanet.com>
20. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks
    by Rigger <rigger [at] tds.net>
21. Re: "Truck loads"
    by IAEG [at] aol.com
22. Re: paint pigment
    by "Tony Deeming" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
23. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..)
    by "Delbert Hall" <halld [at] etsu.edu>
24. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..)
    by "Paul Schreiner" <schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu>
25. Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by "Paul Schreiner" <schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu>
26. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by IAEG [at] aol.com
27. Hi! Frank
    by Michael Powers <mfpowers [at] theater.umass.edu>
28. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by Herrick <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
29. Re: Hi! Frank
    by Herrick <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
30. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by "Tony Deeming" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
31. Re: Hi! Frank
    by Bsapsis [at] aol.com
32. Re: Rings (warning:  almost completely OT)
    by "Paul Schreiner" <schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu>
33. Re: Pub Etiquette
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
34. counterweight rigging
    by b Ricie <b_ricie [at] yahoo.com>
35. Re: paint pigment
    by "Mason, Richard" <rmason [at] richmond.edu>
36. Re: Counterweight Rigging
    by "Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson" <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
37. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by "Paul H. Sullivan" <phsullivan [at] yahoo.com>
38. Totally OT:  Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring)
    by "Storms, Randy" <rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu>
39. Wal-mart
    by Roger Harrison <rocky082259 [at] yahoo.com>
40. Re: Pub Etiquette
    by "Delbert Hall" <halld [at] etsu.edu>
41. Re: Rings (warning:  almost completely OT)
    by Herrick <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
42. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by Herrick <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
43. Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring)
    by "Matthew Breton" <theatricalmatt [at] hotmail.com>
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 <Chip.Wood [at] motorola.com>
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" <theatricalmatt [at] hotmail.com>
52. Re: Black Masking
    by Steve Larson <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
53. Re: Hi! Frank
    by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
54. Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring)
    by Herrick <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
55. Re: Hi! Frank
    by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
56. Food for thought
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
57. Re: Counterweight Rigging
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
58. Re: Powerpoint Background
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
59. Re: Food for thought
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
60. Re: Powerpoint Background
    by Rigger <rigger [at] tds.net>
61. Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
    by "Storms, Randy" <rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu>
62. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
63. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
    by Steve Larson <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
64. Re: Powerpoint Background
    by "Tony Deeming" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
65. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
    by "Tony Deeming" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
66. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
    by Boyd Ostroff <ostroff [at] operaphilly.com>
67. Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
    by Boyd Ostroff <ostroff [at] operaphilly.com>
68. DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background)
    by James Feinberg <feinberg [at] sandiego.edu>
69. Re: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background)
    by Steve Larson <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
70. Re: DVDs of Photos (was Re: Powerpoint Background)
    by Steve Larson <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
71. Re: Counterweight Rigging
    by Mick Alderson <alderson [at] uwosh.edu>
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" <rockm [at] new.rr.com>
74. Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring)
    by "Joe Meils" <bipolarber [at] cyberback.com>
75. E=MC^2
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
76. Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks
    by Richard Niederberg <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
77. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;)
    by Richard Niederberg <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
78. Re: Food for thought
    by Richard Niederberg <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
79. Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
    by Richard Niederberg <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
80. Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ..)
    by Richard Niederberg <ladesigners [at] juno.com>
81. Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;)
    by Richard Niederberg <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

*** 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 <vteder [at] interlog.com>
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 <barney [at] JosephCHansen.com>
Subject: Hiding velour seams WAS: Black Masking
References: <list-3532207 [at] prxy.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-3532207 [at] prxy.net>

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: <DEF9C5FC613BEC46BB08F973317F22A7028BEB [at] email.ncarts.edu>
From: "Booth, Dennis" <boothd [at] ncarts.edu>

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 <barney [at] JosephCHansen.com>
Subject: Re: Drapes in High Schools
References: <list-3522650 [at] prxy.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-3522650 [at] prxy.net>

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: <list-3534582 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-3532571 [at] prxy.net> <list-3534582 [at] prxy.net>
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." <bigfred [at] mindspring.com>
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 <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3534752 [at] prxy.net>
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 <mdbrubaker [at] insightbb.com>
Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging
Cc: psyd [at] cox.net
In-Reply-To: <list-3532571 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-3532571 [at] prxy.net>

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:
><<Why couldn't the weights be set up with some sort of choice of available
>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 <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: Prepare for an aneurism...
Message-id: <40BC7F90.E585C939 [at] ithaca.edu>
Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts
References: <list-3532043 [at] prxy.net>

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: <p06110401bce23018eec7 [at] [168.192.123.250]>
In-Reply-To: <list-3535588 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-3532245 [at] prxy.net>
 <p06110401bce126a33f17 [at] [168.192.123.250]> <list-3535356 [at] prxy.net>
 <list-3535588 [at] prxy.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:08:29 -0400
From: Rigger <rigger [at] tds.net>
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
   <http://www.whartoncenter.com/>

    Carpe Per Diem

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 09:17:39 -0400
From: Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: VL1000s (Was "VR1000s")
Message-id: <40BC81F3.64602AA4 [at] ithaca.edu>
Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts
References: <list-3514260 [at] prxy.net> <list-3514562 [at] prxy.net>

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 <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: Automation Grenade ... careful ...
Message-id: <40BC863E.E98F0336 [at] ithaca.edu>
Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts
References: <list-3524682 [at] prxy.net>

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 <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: Microvision disks?
Message-id: <40BC8799.B1ACBC8F [at] ithaca.edu>
Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts
References: <list-3536988 [at] prxy.net>

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 <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: EGA monitors: was Microvision disks
Message-id: <40BC8FB2.52EBB86C [at] ithaca.edu>
Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts
References: <list-3534741 [at] prxy.net>

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" <theatretech [at] techie.com>
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" <jonares [at] hevanet.com>
References: <list-3532245 [at] prxy.net> <p06110401bce126a33f17 [at] [168.192.123.250]> <list-3535356 [at] prxy.net> <list-3535588 [at] prxy.net> <list-3537133 [at] prxy.net>
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.   <shudder>

 -- Jon Ares
www.hevanet.com/acreative


------------------------------

Message-Id: <p06110402bce241833c21 [at] [168.192.123.250]>
In-Reply-To: <list-3537518 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-3534741 [at] prxy.net> <list-3537518 [at] prxy.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:22:39 -0400
From: Rigger <rigger [at] tds.net>
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.


<aol>
ME TOO!!!
</aol>

-- 
Dave Vick, IATSE #274
   Head Electrician,
   The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University
   <http://www.whartoncenter.com/>

    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" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
References: <list-3537542 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: paint pigment
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:26:35 +0100

You might want to try Ebay ........


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brandy Bitzer" <theatretech [at] techie.com>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
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" <halld [at] etsu.edu>
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: <list-3536956 [at] prxy.net>

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" <schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu>
Subject: Re: Automated Rigging (was Re: Automation Grenade ... careful
 ..)
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:41:30 -0400
In-Reply-To: <list-3537234 [at] prxy.net>


> 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" <schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu>
Subject: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:41:33 -0400
In-Reply-To: <list-3535067 [at] prxy.net>

> 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 <mfpowers [at] theater.umass.edu>
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 <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3537697 [at] prxy.net>
Message-Id: <CA1F81F2-B3DC-11D8-9FF0-0003934521EC [at] hglightingdesign.com>


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 <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3537741 [at] prxy.net>
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" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
References: <list-3537839 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:07:34 +0100

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herrick" <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
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" <schreinerpd [at] longwood.edu>
Subject: Re: Rings (warning:  almost completely OT)
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:55:14 -0400
In-Reply-To: <list-3537839 [at] prxy.net>

> 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? <g>)

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 <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: Pub Etiquette
Message-id: <40BCA753.DA57C00F [at] ithaca.edu>
Organization: IC-Dept. of Theatre Arts
References: <list-3505224 [at] prxy.net> <list-3506074 [at] prxy.net>
 <list-3508056 [at] prxy.net>

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 <b_ricie [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: counterweight rigging
In-Reply-To: <list-3536409 [at] prxy.net>

>>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" <rmason [at] richmond.edu>
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" <theatretech [at] techie.com>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
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" <doomster [at] worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Counterweight Rigging
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:24:26 -0700
Message-ID: <071301c447f4$e89fb6f0$726dfea9 [at] DrDoomsComputer>
In-Reply-To: <list-3530678 [at] prxy.net>

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" <phsullivan [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Rings (was: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;) )
In-Reply-To: <list-3537697 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-3535067 [at] prxy.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.



------------------------------

Message-ID: <CAAA0A148189D311A7640050DA5F8F1106919847 [at] es.bsdnet.wednet.edu>
From: "Storms, Randy" <rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu>
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 <rocky082259 [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: Wal-mart
In-Reply-To: <list-3521580 [at] prxy.net>

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" <halld [at] etsu.edu>
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: <list-3538167 [at] prxy.net>

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 <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3538157 [at] prxy.net>
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 <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3538500 [at] prxy.net>
Message-Id: <DB36A5B8-B3F0-11D8-9FF0-0003934521EC [at] hglightingdesign.com>

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" <theatricalmatt [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Totally OT: Starship Troopers II (Was: Ring)
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 13:38:26 -0400
Message-ID: <BAY14-F29Jmnz6JndFg00028a51 [at] hotmail.com>

>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 <Chip.Wood [at] motorola.com>
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: <dd.bf2f087.2dee257a [at] aol.com>
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" <theatricalmatt [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Food for thought... discuss as you please. ;)
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 14:40:09 -0400
Message-ID: <BAY14-F5SIeSOm3WsTi000294e8 [at] hotmail.com>

>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 <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
Message-ID: <BCE24685.41E9%tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3538878 [at] prxy.net>

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 <Herrick [at] hglightingdesign.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3538792 [at] prxy.net>
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 <psyd [at] cox.net>
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 <psyd [at] cox.net>
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 <psyd [at] cox.net>
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 <psyd [at] cox.net>
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: <p0611040abce2885ed777 [at] [168.192.123.250]>
In-Reply-To: <list-3539450 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-3539450 [at] prxy.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:26:27 -0400
From: Rigger <rigger [at] tds.net>
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
   <http://www.whartoncenter.com/>

    Carpe Per Diem

------------------------------

Message-ID: <CAAA0A148189D311A7640050DA5F8F1106919849 [at] es.bsdnet.wednet.edu>
From: "Storms, Randy" <rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu>
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 <psyd [at] cox.net>
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 <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
Message-ID: <BCE25F08.41F8%tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3539528 [at] prxy.net>

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" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
References: <list-3539450 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: Powerpoint Background
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 21:36:41 +0100


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CB" <psyd [at] cox.net>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
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" <deeming.tony [at] btinternet.com>
References: <list-3539528 [at] prxy.net>
Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 21:39:29 +0100


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Storms, Randy" <rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu>
To: "Stagecraft" <stagecraft [at] theatrical.net>
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 <ostroff [at] operaphilly.com>
Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
In-Reply-To: <list-3539528 [at] prxy.net>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0406011628030.17101-100000 [at] aria.operaphilly.com>

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 <ostroff [at] operaphilly.com>
Subject: Re: Digital stills from video -- what resolution?
In-Reply-To: <list-3539943 [at] prxy.net>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.44.0406011643260.17101-100000 [at] aria.operaphilly.com>

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: <list-3539450 [at] prxy.net> from "CB" at Jun 01, 2004 11:49:57 AM
From: James Feinberg <feinberg [at] sandiego.edu>

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 <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
Message-ID: <BCE26BA6.4205%tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3540221 [at] prxy.net>

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 <tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
Message-ID: <BCE2771B.4207%tiptd [at] theatreinthepark.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-3540294 [at] prxy.net>

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 <alderson [at] uwosh.edu>
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" <rockm [at] new.rr.com>
References: <list-3541091 [at] prxy.net>
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" <bipolarber [at] cyberback.com>
References: <list-3539252 [at] prxy.net>
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 <psyd [at] cox.net>
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 <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

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

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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 <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

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

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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 <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

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". <g>
/s/ Richard

 Finding out just what is 
> obscenity is
> another trick altogether.
> Chris "Chris" Babbie

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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 <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

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

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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 <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

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

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------------------------------

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 <ladesigners [at] juno.com>

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

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------------------------------

End of Stagecraft Digest #25
****************************