Monster Mash Design & Production - Lights & Technology

McKenna and IsaiahÂ

First Thoughts:

Beginning Reflections:​ As a Freshman I didn’t really think how much retro we really needed. I really didn’t know much about retro and what we were looking for until they explained it to me.-Isaiah AAAAHHHHH, is what my mind was doing at the very beginning, super nervous and super hesitant of what was to come. I had an idea of where to start but it seemed as though there might have been no end (all an exaggeration of course). But in all honesty I was kind of excited to get out of my comfort zone and explore a whole other side of me. My creative juices were just starting and where that creativity would go? Even I had no clue.

Background research Time: ​We really had a difficult time finding most of the backgrounds like The Creature Of the Black Lagoon, Ghoul, Zombie, Bride Of Frankenstein and Frankenstein.

The others characters were simple loops and slow-downs. Most of the background videos took weeks to find and to edit the time frame.

First Blush Ideas: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/sshstst/monster-mash-lightstech/ This was used for the starting of our committee.

10-12 Lights total Layouts For Lab: -Using candles in and around audities -Possibly use one colored light for the right side of the slab ( when Facing the lab it would be on the right) -Edison Bulb Hanging

(2 lights total) (sidewalk) Experiment Table: -Using one flood light to illuminate Coleson

(1 light total) Pathway: -use lights Melanie has to light up -Maybe use a strip of lights on the railing

(Candles total) Band: -One or two lights on the side (1-2 lights)

(1-2 lights total) Graveyard(Yard): -Use what we don't use of Melanie’s lights to possibly put behind a few stones to add shadows -Have two scattered Floodlights on the side (2 lights) -Use one of the two for wolf-man (Candles)

(2 lights total) (Sidewalk for‌) Creature of the Black Lagoon and Drac: -Possibly one blue colored light on the left on the corner for creature of the black Lagoon -Put red colored light in between (On the right of Creature of the Black Lagoon/ Left of Drac) creature of the black lagoon and Drac for Drac

(1-2 lights total) Driveway/ Witches Lair: -Possibly use fake wood that lights up for under cauldron -Use a green colored light for inside cauldron (1 light) -Two side flood lights(2 lights) -Use candles in and around

(3 lights total)

Things Pulled Type of Bulb/Light: How Many We Have That Can be Used: Flood Lights

-2 Colored Flood lights (Red and Blue)

Bulbs

-9 Bulbs (Cannot use 3 of the bulbs in total because we don’t have enough plugins that would fit the clamps)

Clamps

-2 Big clamps -4 are medium and small -6 Clamp lights total

Strobe Lights

-6 Strobe Lights

Remote Controlled

-4 Remote controlled lights

Types of chords:

How Many:

Plugins

6 Plugins

Drop Chords

-4 Small Sized Drop Chords -4 Medium sized Drop Chords -5 Big Sized Drop Chords -13 Drop Chords total

Portable Outlets

-9 Outlets

Where to place: 18 lights total Lab (3):

-​2 Remote controls in the lab -1 of the big clamp lights could be hanging in a tree where the lab is -Many Candles

Witch (2): -1 Remote controls in the witch’s den on the side towards the middle -1 medium clamp light in front and to the side -Candles used on tables

Sidewalk (2): -(2)Both flood lights for Drac and Creature Blue facing Creature from the right where the witch is (facing the audience) and Red facing Drac on the ground in between Creature and Drac Candy path(2): -Reel of lights used on the concrete -String of small lights on the wood before entering the house Problems with lighting choices: -One major problem was figuring out where to hang lights, since some areas would not have enough lighting from side angles.

•Such as for The Wolf and Ghoul we had to wedge a clamp light into a tree branch -Another major problem was not having a lamp the worked and having to scratch it from our list

-Another problem was making sure that no one was going to trip on the chords -Another problem was trying to fully illuminate the vampire for one or two of the scenes he was a part of.

-Not having the string of lights for the candy path get stepped on and have them secured -A minor problem was one of the bulbs not working and being able to have an extra bulb Examples of Light Design and Performance:

This side view shows the layout of the lagoon (bottom right), not pictured is the coffin (beside the lagoon on the right), the graveyard (behind the lagoon), the witches den (on the far left), and the band (beside/in the graveyard in the back to the left).

This side view shows the partial side of the “scientists lab� (very right) with of course the stairs being lit for a pathway(left). The projection is shown as well(very top left).

Werewolf being able to be lit from the front using floodlights.

The use of lights helped capture the essence of the Ghoul.

The use of lighting was able to capture the horror of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.

Experiments(2): -1 small clamp light in the middle between tables -Tall Lamp light used

Graveyard(6): -6 strobe lights

Band(1): -1 Spinning light Rendering:

Rendering of Mrs. Rice's house and ideas for where to place lights.

Videos used (Visuals for each are shown in the sound/music doc)

Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein (1:45) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_LVJm7nchQM Creature Of The Black Lagoon (1:01) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fnkHRtpTztc Dracula (1:02) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ezF9yrplT2A Ghoul (1:13) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRhEp0T2_HA

Mad Scientist (1:00) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5qkhuIkUIk Skeleton (1:49) https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=XTgFtxHhCQ0 Witch (1:21) https://youtu.be/zgXBEc3lKvg Wolf-Man (1:02) https://youtu.be/IFZFsJhln9U Zombie (1:03) https://youtu.be/o1H7ZYCF5ns Example for the use of the projector

Part of the opening with other pictures that correlate to Monster Mash and/or Halloween

This projection gave an eerie ambience to the scene that was being performed.

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

Reflections: Beginning Reflection: Phew, where to begin. I feel anxious, excited to start working and get involved.

Definitely seems to be a bit laid back as of right now but I'm slowly dipping my feet so I'm ready for a lot of stress.-Kenna Ending Reflection: The overall process was intense and overwhelming. For a first time working and trying to be devoted on lights was difficult because it was the first time I had ever really dealt with doing a show and knowing where and how to put them in a specific area. It was awesome getting to venture out into shadows and playing with the idea of shadows and what colors would look good with each character. I can honestly say I am proud of myself and my partner's work.

One of the first parts of this process was to research which side using light best illuminates a character. We had found that lighting from the front would best suit our cast and how many people we would have standing and moving. Then we searched through the lights we had already and made sure to check and see if we needed to have anymore.

We found 2 colored flood lights bulbs, clamp lights, remote control lights, many drop chords, and also some portable outlets, and plug-ins. The next part was to envision the space and understand what this set up would possibly look like through making a rendering and how to have each character benefit from the

lighting. Then we compile all of the lights, plug-ins, drop chords, and portable outlets and pack them up for the journey to Mrs. Rice's house. Getting it set up was one of the most challenging parts to this process. Before we could get any of the lights out we had to know where the drop chords, plug-ins, and portable outlets were going to go. Having to be creative in how it was set up, since the amount of outlets inside the house was limited.

We had gotten together all of the items for our crew, with the help of our teacher, we were able to put everything in place and thus being able to plug everything in. Now the projection was easier for the packing but actually getting videos together and arranging them in the right order and cramming everything in to be THE show was more than my first expectations. We had to have each person, who had a character, give us a visual they liked for their character and then pair that up with audio they liked as well(will be in the sound folder). For the actual opening we had pictures of Monster Mash in different representations like Frankenstein, etc. and as for some places where there was acting there was just little visuals here and there to not distract the audiences from seeing the performance.

Now for actually getting the screen and projector we brought it along with us. The projector was set up while we were figuring out whether or not we were going to use the screen. We ended up going with a white cloth instead and worked perfectly for the projection of each visual. Overall the experience made it easier to take leadership in order to try and help my partner succeed in this theatre journey. As a last fall production for Halloween it was honestly stressful but also unforgettable‌ in a pretty good way. -Kenna