ALIEN Invasion
LIGHTS, PROJECTION, AND SOUND CREW: Alex McKenna
TABLE OF CONTENTS ORIGINAL IDEAS ●
Lighting ○
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Projection ○
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Page(s) 10-11
Rendering ○
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Page(s) 5-9
Page(s) 12
Purchase List/Assignment ○
Page(s) 13-14
FINAL DECISIONS ●
Lighting ○
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Projection ○
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Page(s) 19-21
Sound ○
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Page(s) 16-18
Page(s) 22
Purchased List/Total Cost ○
Page(s) 23
THOUGHTS ●
Alex ○
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McKenna ○
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Page(s) 25
Page(s) 26
Flipgrid Reflections for Acting and Technical Theatre ○
Page(s) 27
ORIGINAL IDEAS
LIGHTING THE U.F.O. The original ideas that the light crew had for lighting the U.F.O. were scrapped fairly quickly. Our original idea, having strobe lights encircle the spaceship, lighting up off-and-on in a clockwise pattern, didn’t seem fitting. Most strobe lights, specifically the rope strobe lights, are fairly tacky looking, and did not seem suitable for such a fantastical craft. While we were searching for something better than a strobe light, we came across several LED light strips. These light strips ranged in price, and some had better qualities than others, but long story short: they seemed like a perfect match. The LED light strips are capable of wrapping around the U.F.O. (seemingly) pretty easily. They are also capable of changing colors through the use of a provided remote -- so if we decided that there was already too much green lighting for this production, we could switch the light strip to a white light. The light strip also allows us to have the colors alternate by “recording” the color pattern with the remote, and then using the remote to play the chosen color choices. The light strips seem very fitting for lighting the base-area of a U.F.O., and will hopefully work very well. Later on through our light-hunting, we came to a decision that we would like to have floodlights shining up on the U.F.O. from below. We would have three of these lights, positioned both behind and to either side of the spaceship. The purpose for these lights is to make the U.F.O. stand out even more than it already would; the shining lights would bring attention to the spaceship, and give it an “otherworldly” feel. Fortunately, these lights will work similarly, if not identically, to the floodlights already previously purchased by the T.S.T. Two of the floodlights purchased will be 10 Watt, making them identical to the ones that the T.S.T. already has, but the main floodlight that will go behind the U.F.O. is 50 Watt. All of these floodlights use a provided remote in order to change colors (just like the LED light strips). The LED light strips and the 10/50 Watt floodlights both have to be plugged in -- they’re neither solar nor battery powered. In total, for just the U.F.O. itself, we’ll need four extension cords if we want to be able to use all of these lights.
LED LIGHT STRIPS:
FLOODLIGHTS: 50 Watt
10 Watt
LIGHTING THE PORCH The porch itself will only receive lighting from (mainly) two things: the porch light and a neon green glowing wire. The porch light is already something that the T.S.T. has, so this paragraph will focus more-so on the wire. The wire itself is 9 feet long, and comes with a battery pack (so this will not need to be plugged into anything). It is bendable and cuttable, so if it is too long, it can be cut, and it can easily bend/wrap around the railing. From the provided images on Amazon, it glows fairly well, and with the porch light, will not only provide suitable lighting, but will add to the “creepy” alien atmosphere fairly well. The pathway up to the porch will be lighted by the 10 Watt floodlights that the T.S.T. already owns. These lights are color changing (through the use of a remote), and light relatively well. Due to the pathway being small, it will only need two of these floodlights. The floodlights will be tilted slightly towards the porch, so they can help light up areas that may not already be well lit. Unlike the wire, these lights will need an outlet: they don’t run on battery power. Two extension cords will be needed for these lights, since the plugs/cords on the back of them are relatively short. NEON GREEN GLOWING WIRE:
LIGHTING THE PROBING AREA Taking into consideration both the tunnel and the probing room itself, we’ll have five lights in total: four (10 Watt) LED floodlights to provide lighting to the tunnel, and one (10 Watt) LED floodlight for the probing room. All of the lights mentioned will be the same when it comes to Watts and how to use it: they’re all color changing (like the lights that were previously purchased by the T.S.T.), they all use a remote in order to change colors, and they all require outlets in order to work. The four LED floodlights lighting the tunnel will alternate in color. For example, the first floodlight placed will be green, the next floodlight will be white, the next will be green again, and so on. Along with the glowing paint that (may or may not) be used in the tunnel, the lighting will be both suitable, and eery. Since the floodlights are only 10 Watts, the lighting won’t be too extremely bright, but it will also be bright enough so that you can see where you’re going. We plan on spacing out the floodlights; keeping them all relatively close does not seem ideal for the theme, nor does it seem ideal in order to keep the tunnel well lit. The probing room will (primarily) only have one light (unless a lamp is added), which will be the 10 Watt floodlight that will be placed on the ground by the bed. The purpose of this light is to cast a shadow from the aliens in the room. The light, being on 10 Watts, will not be too intense, so it won’t blind the actors, nor will it take away from the LED gloves the actors will be wearing. This light is just to create an eerie, yet interesting, effect to the probing room.
FLOODLIGHTS (10 WATT)
PROJECTION Projection will mainly only consist of two things: fog (from either a fog machine or dry ice) and a video/image projected onto a reverse projection screen (idea made-up by the crew for props). The fog needs to be low-lying, and the projected image/video should be of an alien. The fog, being low-lying, needs to either be created through the use of dry ice, or fog juice that is dense enough to keep itself from rising up. Regardless, whichever is being used to create the fog will be placed on the side of the yard with the U.F.O. (not necessarily BY the U.F.O., but just on that side of the property). It will be faced towards the other side of the yard, and (hopefully) will encase the entire property (or, at least, most of it) in fog. As long as the fog hits the pathway to the porch, and the U.F.O., I think it will still look really great (since it may not be able to get into the tunnel too easily from that side of the yard, anyways). The image that will be projected onto that screen will be one of an alien. We could use the “Alien Interview” video, or something close to that. The “Alien Interview,” in the context of our production, could be played because the aliens who have taken over the house came to our planet in the first place to save this alien who has been captured. They have (possibly) either stolen this footage, or hacked into the place where the people holding the alien hostage are located, and the footage could be “live.” If it doesn’t matter exactly what the context is, then it could just be played since it’s “creepy.” The GIF posted on Pinterest with the flashing image of the aliens could easily be seizure-inducing, so I think it would be best to stray away from images/videos like that. Even just a stereotypical still image of an alien would be better than that, since it could be as if the aliens are “marking their territory” by plastering an image of their kind onto the screen, as if they’re warning any creatures who may pass by. FOG MACHINE (400 WATT)
DRY ICE
RENDERING
PURCHASES NEEDED: ●
NEON GLOWING WIRE W/ BATTERY PACK: ○
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YXATZ4A/ref=twister_B016K7JPSO?_encoding =UTF8&psc=1
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LED LIGHT STRIP KIT: ○
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EWBZW0A/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr3_2?ie=U TF8&qid=1508264221&sr=8-2-fkmr3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&ke ywords=len+led+strip+lights+16.4+fr
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FLOOD LIGHT: ○
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DDJKSPQ/ref=psdc_14107631_t2_B015XW83 N0
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(ACCENT) FLOOD LIGHT(S): ○
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06X913ZV3/ref=mp_s_a_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid =1508807879&sr=8-25&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=flood+lights+1 0+watt
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ALIEN CHARACTER FLASHLIGHTS: ○
https://www.amazon.com/Findway-Violet-Blacklight-Flashlight-Outdoors/dp/B00A TWGCT2/ref=sr_1_8?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1508694198&sr=1-8&keywords=LED %2Bblacklight%2Bflashlight&th=1
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FOG MACHINE AND JUICE: ○
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017GSYW1G/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qi d=1508809352&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=chau vet+fog+machine&dpPl=1&dpID=41FrOpLYFQL&ref=plSrch
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FOG CHILLER (Possibly use): ○
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005R63PIQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= 1508809754&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fog+chiller+machi ne&dpPl=1&dpID=41t8yrlcrkL&ref=plSrch
CHECKLIST: Lights ●
(1) Neon glowing wire w/ battery pack
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(1) LED Light strip kit
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(1) 50w Flood light
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(5) 10w accent floodlights
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(4) 10w flood lights we already have
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(5) UV flashlights
Fog Machine ●
Fog Machine
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Fog Machine Juice
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(Possibly fog machine) ASSIGNMENT
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Clean up document to include design elements
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Pull lights that we already have
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Design/render light effects on to yard drawing
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Create purchase order (CHECK MARK)
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Include fog machine (low-lying or dry ice), LED Blacklight flashlight for alien in the probe tunnel (CHECK MARK)
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Consider power sources for each light that needs an outlet. Design and draw those with equipment needed.
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Also include a checklist of those needed items (CHECK MARK) , pull and store them for halloween.
FINAL DECISIONS
LIGHTS Our original idea for lighting the scene was not what we ended up using. In total, three items were ordered, which were the LED light strips (two of these),the neon glowing wire (only one of this), and the UV/blacklight flashlights (around five of these). The LED light strips were used as intended: they were used to wrap around the entirety of the U.F.O. The glowing wire was kind of used as intended: it was placed on the porch, but instead of being used to wrap around the railings, it was placed around the entrance-frame of the porch. The blacklights were also used as intended, basically; they were just there to charge up the glow-paint in the tunnel. As for the other lights that showed up in the show, they were all lights that had been pulled, or purchased, but weren’t listed on this list. The LED light strips gave us difficulty that we did not originally expect. The light strips were too short; even the two of them combined did not completely encircle the U.F.O. As frustrating and disappointing as this was, it was still able to work, in the end. The part of the spaceship that we could not light was located near the bushes -- in the back -- so nobody would really be able to notice it. Fortunately, other than this difficulty, not many other problems were faced -- in fact, they worked pretty well. They lit the U.F.O. quite beautifully, and created the surreal effect we were hoping for. Continuing with lighting the U.F.O., the LED light strips were not the only lights used for it. Underneath the U.F.O., two accent lights were placed; these lights were brought over from the T.S.T., and had the purpose of giving the U.F.O. itself a “glow.” It’s similar to our idea of using lights on the sides and back of the U.F.O. to make it “stand out,” but instead of around the U.F.O., they are *inside* of the U.F.O. These lights, seemingly, gave little-to-no issue. They weren’t very bright, sure, but they did their job. Moving to the left of the U.F.O., we had the porch. Around the frame of the porch (as in, the entrance of the porch), laid the glowing wire. This wire was disappointing, to say the least. It was very small and thin; it didn’t have much of a use. It may have been visually nice, but otherwise, it was most definitely a waste of money, and a fault on our part. The blacklight was also used to light the porch. The blacklight was just a bulb that was placed into the porchlight. It worked and did its job, so there’s not much to say here. Finally, we had the blacklight/UV flashlights. These flashlights were primarily used for charging the glow paint, but actors also used them for themselves, as well (such as, for their
makeup, or just to accentuate their face). They did their job decently, worked, and were easily portable. PORCHLIGHT (SEEN IN THE VERY BACK):
NEON GLOWING WIRE (SEEN AROUND THE FRAME):
U.F.O. LIGHTING (INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY):
U.V./BLACKLIGHT FLASHLIGHTS (IN THE HANDS OF THE ACTORS):
PROJECTION Our original ideas for projection slightly fitted what we ended up doing. We really did not focus much on projection, so our original ideas weren’t very precise or clear. What we ended up using, though, was a fog machine with a chiller, and a psychedelic video. Both worked well, especially the fog machine. Originally, we seemed to be leaning more towards using dry ice rather than using a fog machine. After realizing how much of a waste and let-down this may have been, the fog machine with a chiller was what was finally purchased. Elaborating on the previous statement, the dry ice may have been a “let-down” because of its price, and how much work would have to go into making sure it’s producing enough fog and the amount of time the fog would hold before more ice would need to be replaced. The dry ice was fairly expensive (not nearly as expensive as the fog machine, of course, but expensive nonetheless). In order to get the amount of fog we would have wanted, and sustain that amount, we would had to have had a pretty large amount of dry ice. Not to mention that one of the “aliens” would have to be stationed near the dry ice, and constantly refill it when needed. This doesn’t even cover how it may not even have covered the entire yard without some sort of fan, or hand-made “fog machine” surrounding it. Due to all of this, we did go with the fog machine, which was likely a better investment (since it required less constant attention, we knew it would cover what it needed to, and it can be used in later shows in the future). The fog machine worked extraordinarily well; it looked amazing coming out from behind the U.F.O. -- really gave it that creepy vibe we were going for. Was the fog machine worth it, though? Meh; it was likely a better investment than dry ice, since this can even be used later-on down the road. The projected video was nothing spectacular; it was just a video filled with psychedelic imagery. Nothing too special about it, but it seemingly fit the eerie atmosphere we were going for. Cleaning of the Fog Machine Cleaning the fog machine took patience but wasn’t too much of a pain to clean. It definitely took longer than expected but it was very rewarding to know nothing screwed up or broke along the way. I feel like I can be responsible and in knowing that I was trying to learn
how to turn on and off the fog machine by myself and run it however long for all the cleaner, fluid, and distilled water to clean it. I do feel a bit like I let down that part of the committee and of course other parts of it as well, but hopefully for the next show I will be able to help set up the fog machine and be more responsible and careful and be less careless. It definitely taught me to be careful and not careless, I know I didn’t spend too much time with the fog machine but I was able to stay on task and get it done as soon as possible and not be careless in the way I handled things. Instructions for the Use of the Fog Machine ●
(This is for when you want to do it right away/ right after performance, show, etc.) First wait till the machine is OFF and has cooled down
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(If you are not cleaning it right away start here) The fog fluid not used is placed back into the container it came from.
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Then the little fluid tank holding the fluid for the fog machine is cleaned with distilled water.
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The fog cleaner is then placed into the fluid tank (1 cup/8 ounces)
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Turn the fog machine ON
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Run the fog machine until all the fog cleaning fluid is used.
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Turn the fog machine OFF
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Clean the little fluid tank again
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Distilled water (1 cup/8 ounces) is then used to clean the inside of the fog machine
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Turn the fog machine ON
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Let it run till the water is fully gone
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Turn the fog machine OFF
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Clean the little tank with distilled water
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Place regular fog machine fluid into the tank (1 cup/8 ounces)
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Turn the Fog Machine ON
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Let it run until half the fog is gone
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Turn the Fog Machine OFF
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Store the machine with the leftover fog fluid
FOG:
PROJECTED VIDEO:
SOUND I had looked and researched about what aliens might sound like, since that was an idea to use. Using voice changers and amid all the ideas we ended up not using voice changers. So I had looked up sounds that might sound like space, since that is where aliens live and then found the voyager that was used in space to record sounds in space of the different planets and their rings. A record was kept to keep ahold of the sounds recorded. From that I found space sounds that we could use on YouTube, that had the essence of space, so we made a playlist. And so we ended up using a sound of the sun the entire time. I should have used the entire playlist but all went well. For the bedroom we used a Bluetooth player that would change colors and also go through the sounds. We didn't have a problem with it, it worked really well to make it not so silent and awkward between the viewer and the actor. Overall everything went well except a few problems with figuring out how to loop it over and over again and have a video/pictures at the same time. We didn't work on the things we needed to put first so I didn't hook up the computer to the sound system/speaker. That hit us pretty hard, we went to go help other groups and that kinda hurt our own committee as a whole. Playlist made: ●
The Eerie sounds of Saturn- https://youtu.be/Sh2-P8hG5-E
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Cymatics- The sound of Saturn- https://youtu.be/qOA6vi-wM10
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Jupiter Sounds- https://youtu.be/e3fqE01YYWs
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The sounds of the Uranus Rings- https://youtu.be/AxEa5KdPFRw
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Sounds of the Sun- https://youtu.be/GvMbUxqGuOc
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Uranus Sounds- https://youtu.be/80Ngl2RY8sA
Sound used: ●
Sounds of the Sun- https://youtu.be/GvMbUxqGuOc
PURCHASED LIST A List of What Was Finally Purchased: ●
LED LIGHT STRIPS (2) ○
$17.99 (each)
○
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EWBZW0A/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr3_2?ie=U TF8&qid=1508264221&sr=8-2-fkmr3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&ke ywords=len+led+strip+lights+16.4+fr
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NEON GLOWING WIRE WITH BATTERY PACK (1) ○
$7.69
○
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YXATZ4A/ref=twister_B016K7JPSO?_encoding =UTF8&psc=1
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UV/BLACKLIGHT FLASHLIGHT (1 SET) ○
$11.99
○
https://www.amazon.com/Findway-Violet-Blacklight-Flashlight-Outdoors/dp/B00A TWGCT2/ref=sr_1_8?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1508694198&sr=1-8&keywords=LED %2Bblacklight%2Bflashlight&th=1
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FOG MACHINE WITH CHILLER (1) ○
$149.99
○
https://www.amazon.com/ADJ-Mister-Kool-II-Machine/dp/B071H1P45N/ref=sr_1 _3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1510767865&sr=1-3&keywords=fog+ machine+with+chiller+DJ+Fog+machine&dpID=41qGcvS8VrL&preST=_SX300_ QL70_&dpSrc=srch
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FOG JUICE (2) ○
$29.99
○
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004B470XG/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i2?ie=UTF 8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B004B470XG&pd_rd_r=a50d3e44-cb9a-11e7-a77e-4f4ee7 533ebd&pd_rd_w=5OCCf&pd_rd_wg=FlQnW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_r d_s=&pf_rd_r=YXCNGVJ5HD08MWEWDQBF&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1cf9d00 9-399c-49e1-901a-7b8786e59436&pf_rd_i=desktop
Total/Final Cost: $
THOUGHTS
ALEX My feelings towards this production are mixed: in one hand, I’m extremely happy with how it all turned out. We really pulled it all together, and, in my opinion, put on a pretty great show. On the other hand, though, I feel disappointed. I don’t feel disappointed in the performance itself, or the final product, but in my own work. I feel as though I did not do enough, and feel that, what I did do, I didn’t do it very well. I just felt that I should have, and could have, done more. I feel comfortable in saying that I do feel as though I learned some things, though. Sure, maybe I didn’t have the time to set up the lights at points, so I couldn’t have learned much about that (since I was helping set up the tunnel/bedroom), but I did learn that lighting was harder than I had expected. I did not choose lighting because it was easy, no; I chose it because I, being inexperienced in literally every other category, as well, was interested how lighting would work. I believe I have more of an idea of this now, and, even if I didn’t set them up exactly, I do feel as though I did learn something about setting up and working lights/projection. I guess, in the end, I am regretful and disappointed, but am also happy with the outcome, and feel as though I came out just a bit more knowledgeable than before. I hope to apply this knowledge and experience from this production to future endeavors, and, hopefully, will do a better job because of it. I am thankful to have been given this opportunity, and, even if it maybe stressed me out at points, I wouldn’t have traded it, or this class, for any other class or opportunity.
MCKENNA My thoughts on our overall production is that we did what we had said we would try to do and did that well within the time span we had. I think I had gained some more incite on lights, but knew I didn't really gain any experience in placing lights where they need to be because of getting caught up in other places for set and helping set up. It brought our whole crew back, but if we just took some time either before or after setting up, then maybe we as a committee could have gained more experience. Overall I gained more than I had lost, Of course there are things like fully listening, and staying in the moment, and movement that I needed to work on. Not switching from one task to another and end up not finishing the first and leaving it for someone else to do. Finishing what I need to finish before even trying to help someone else. Always having a sense of urgency, as well would help. Not always asking for help and trying to figure it out on my own, now I mean if it was to the point where I just couldn't do a thing and have tried everything, then yes I would. But trying to be responsible and handle problems a smart and fast way. Not trying to figure it out and seem as though I'm not doing anything. Alex and I worked as a team through it all and maybe it didn't turn out the way we wanted it to but we worked hard. We tried our hardest and there was a few communication skills missing, but we could take ideas from each other and use both ideas. Alex was really good at drawing and I more or less just thought about what would look good in my minds eye. It might not have looked like I wanted it to in my head but the end result did not disappoint. I know we got off task and ended up helping set up the bedroom and tunnel, so we really didn't get to do lights but that's ok, there's always a next time. Sound for me was my favorite I did learn more than I had already known and even though I again got off task and didn’t help set up the sound system, I was able to fix the sound. I'm not as happy about the sound though because of the same one being replayed over and over. I had meant to go back to the playlist and do it but it just went passed my mind. For me I was just scatterbrained trying to set everything up and I hate when it happens, everything just gets overwhelming. But in the bedroom I did like the eerie sounds of the playlist from in there. So in all the whole sound process and experience has taught me alot.
FLIPGRID REFLECTIONS FOR ACTING AND TECHNICAL THEATRE Technical Theatre ● ●
Alex: https://flipgrid.com/74d360
McKenna: https://flipgrid.com/dd28e4
Acting ● ●
Alex: https://flipgrid.com/d00015
McKenna: https://flipgrid.com/3b1cda