Most impressive Stage Effects (SpecialFX?)- Page 3

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 12:53pm

There was a lot of blood throughout, which I guess was its own special effects. What I was talking about was (a) an early scene in which a main character drops backwards, effortlessly, off a gym set (on a school playground) and you never hear a thud or anything. (Facing away from the audience.) I know it was probably accomplished with lots of rehearsal and a great mattress, but it was still a great moment. And (b) an extended sequence in which another main character is held underwater in a pool. He probably is able to take a breath during a short blackout, but it was pretty seamless.

 

P.S. My handle is clearly right there. It's not like I said "Lizzie" out loud and someone decided to spell it with a "y." Good lord. People have been doing this for years. Why?!

Updated On: 9/21/15 at 12:53 PM

[EvanK]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 12:59pm

The chalkboard in Matilda isn't a projection? I always thought it was?

[PattyO'Furniture]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 3:33pm

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Original/B-way):

• action during the overture
• backstage perspective w/ the corp de ballet during "Think of Me" bows
• the boat & floating/rising candles on the lake
• chandelier crash (though dated - still exciting when you're there)
• former use of trap door for Phantom in "Masquerade"
• -Raul jumping into the lake

SUNSET BOULEVARD:

• "floating" Joe @ the beginning
• cars during "Car Chase"
• the rising house
• Joe's fall into the pool
• Norma's projection on the scrim @ the end

INTO THE WOODS (Original):

• appearance of Rapunzel's tower

INTO THE WOODS (Revival):

• the wolf in granny's bed (the flexing feet/paws)
• Vanessa's transformation as the witch
• the "wilting" of the witch's staff on the narrator's shoulder
• the witch's disappearance (wig & skin sleeve, too)

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 3:34pm

That pool scene in Let The Right One In was amazing, I loved how they did it especially since it would have been impossible to replicate the way the scene is done in the film. 

Posted: 9/21/15 at 4:51pm

Sorry, Lizzie....it was the damn spell correct on my Iphone! Thanks for the info!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 5:22pm

It made zero sense but I was always impressed by Carrie's hands setting in fire at the end of act 1 of the original production. 

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 5:45pm

EvanK said: "The chalkboard in Matilda isn't a projection? I always thought it was?

 

"

Nope - that would be too obvious! It'd be bad to see a beam of light and also Trunchbull walks right infant of the board as it's happening... and the chalkboard moves forward.  

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 6:02pm

Flying effects in Spiderman

Poppies flying over the audience in Mary Poppins

[FBay]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 6:03pm

American Idiot's video screens

[willep]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 6:47pm

"Peter and the Starcatcher:

• Everything"

This. Simple stage magic at its best.

 

The pool scene in Let the Right One In was great, but I don't understand why everyone thinks he needs to sneak a breathe. When I saw it, the scene lasted...45 seconds? Maybe a minute? That's not an unrealistic amount of time to hold one's breath.

 

Also, count me in those that loved the Matilda chalkboard scene. While watching it I thought it had to be a screen, but it was just too real looking. Really well done. Especially since the only other "magic" we see her do is tipping the cup which, while fun, is a lot less impressive stage magic.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 8:48pm

Nickhutson said: "EvanK said: "The chalkboard in Matilda isn't a projection? I always thought it was?"

Nope - that would be too obvious! It'd be bad to see a beam of light and also Trunchbull walks right infant of the board as it's happening... and the chalkboard moves forward.  "

 

Though, as pointed out, it's not a projection, it could have been accomplished with rear projection, which would have eliminated the problem of actors not being able to walk in front of it or seeing the projection beam.

 

I don't know for sure, but my guess is magnets guiding the chalk from the rear.

[Tag]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 9:01pm

Found this online re: Matilda's chalkboard:

A sheet of plastic is made to look like a chalkboard. Behind it is a screen with letters and a light. Individuals are in a space behind the “chalkboard” with magnets which pair with fake chalk pieces that have metal on the tip. As the people behind the screen move the magnets, the light shines and allows the letters on the screen to bleed through the sheet of plastic.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 2:02am

RE: Let The Right One In

Still holding your breath for 60 seconds is impressive, and to do it on stage. And 8x a week. Probably some stage magic included. 

And why did this show not to go to Broadway?! It's brilliant. And would have been a nice little hit.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 9:29am

In Let The Right One In, there was a tiny air tube on one of the pool ladder steps right by his mouth. But still, he holds his breath for 60 seconds first, which is still impressive.

[bandit964]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 2:36pm

Yes, he did have a breathing tube for the pool scene.

Also, when Eli jumps off the playground set, unfortunately for those of us on house left, we all saw the 2 cast members getting into place to catch her.

[willep]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 5:24pm

Oh, I am not saying it isn't impressive to hold your breath for 60 seconds, just that some people seem to exaggerate how long the scene was. I remember before I saw it people were saying the scene was 3-5 minutes long, so when I went it was a little bit of a let down when the scene last much shorter than that.

[mrgiovanni]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 6:05pm

RE: Wicked, Defying Gravity - does anyone know how high up the actress on the lift goes? I know with the lights and sfx it might look higher than it actually is.

[RaiseYouUp]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 9:37pm

mrgiovanni said: "RE: Wicked, Defying Gravity - does anyone know how high up the actress on the lift goes? I know with the lights and sfx it might look higher than it actually is.

I've heard that she goes about 16 feet. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it is what I have read a few times. But yeah if you are paying attention it's surprising to see how low she actually flies.

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 9/22/15 at 10:00pm

I don't know if anyone saw "If there is I haven't Found it Yet " at the Laura Pels wiht Jake Gyllenhaal but when they flooded the entire stage with about two feet of water that was pretty impressive.

[EvanK]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 1:25am

The only thing that bothers me is how slow the lift is on Broadway compared to any other production. Why is is such a gosh darn slow riser? I think the slightly faster speed is way more fluid and impressive. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 1:59am

EvanK said: "The only thing that bothers me is how slow the lift is on Broadway compared to any other production. Why is is such a gosh darn slow riser? I think the slightly faster speed is way more fluid and impressive."

 

I totally get you. I've seen the show multiple times, and the slow rise bothers me more each time I go. However, for new Wicked-goers (I love taking friends and family members that have never seen it before), just the feat of flight itself is so remarkable that they don't seem to notice how slow it really is. I think it's just for us super familiar Wicked geeks  

[whatacharacter]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 8:08am

I remember being amazed when Houdini appeared in the box seat in the original production of Ragtime.  I also was impressed at the time of the use of the rotating projection screens in Jane Eyre.