Some Projections as scenery look bad on stage. — Page 2

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#26

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 9:42pm

^ Matilda was just the eighth wonder of the world IMO. Visually it was just stunning, and they handled all the visual effects perfectly without overdoing it with projections. I liked Bonnie and Clyde's use of projections as well. I also like when shows use projections for just a couple fitting moments. The Annie revival comes to mind - the newsreel then cityscape projected onto the clothesline at the beginning were amazing.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

#27

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 9:52pm

bwayphreak234, Curious to know what you thought of the projections in the German production of Der Glockner von notredame ( Aka Hunchback of Notredame).

So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*

#28

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 9:55pm

^ It looks a little too projection heavy for my liking, but at least they are vivid, beautiful, and well done projections.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

#29

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 10:02pm

Projections, like any design element, can be executed well or poorly. I have seen terrible productions that absolutely cheapen the feel of a show, and I have seen beautiful, subtle, or immersive projections that elevate the show to another level impossible to achieve without them.

The use of them in BRIEF ENCOUNTER, for example, was breathtaking. Integrating the cinematic with the theatrical in perfectly logical and beautiful ways. I found much of the set-wide projections in BIG FISH to be distracting, but on occasion during the show they were sublime. The projections in JEKYLL AND HYDE we're so laughably cheap they almost made the show better, for being more ridiculous. But they didn't. I have to stress that that was the worst thing I've ever seen.

It varies on a case-by-case basis. Sweeping generalizations are always wrong.

Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

#30

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 10:16pm

Just for the record, no one has said ALL projections look bad. Most on here have said it's a case by case study and just ultimately depends on the show.

So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*

#31

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 10:28pm

"Just for the record, no one has said ALL projections look bad."

Your title certainly sounds like a blanket statement saying that...

#32

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/19/13 at 10:38pm

It does sound like that, and I will probably change the title later to avoid confusion. The title does sound like I am saying ALL of them, but in the rest of my OP, I go on to say that that isn't the case. Thanks for letting me know though :)

So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*

#33

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:11am

I agree that the projections in Wicked were quite effective, and I will add that I also think that Newsies uses projections effectively both to show Jack's sketches (of Katherine and of the boys at the refuge) and in the opening scene going from the NYC skyline to Santa Fe and back to reality to complement Jack's song.

#34

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/20/13 at 2:38am

For me, the best use of projections to date was in the British SUNDAY IN THE PARK revival that played Studio 54. I saw it twice, and thought it was near perfection. They added without pulling attention, which i think was a combination of:
-the convention was established in the 1st scene, giving everyone a chance to get used to it
-they were beautifully done and cleverly integrated
-the lighting worked with them rather than against them

I loved about 90% of the projections in BIG FISH, especially the rather unglamorous ones that simply changed wallpaper and windows... and i saw an early preview. (the escape from the hospital looked cheap, not to mention it was awkwardly integrated with the lyrics.)

And, indeed, it will never come across the same on a recording as in person.

THE WIZARD OF OZ currently on tour uses some nice projections ON a scrim, which i thought were really effective.

It sounds, sadly, like FLASHDANCE has more in common with DIRTY DANCING than being based on a dubious movie of the 1980s - when i saw (god help me) the tour of DD in Boston a few years back, it had the exact same problems - somebody, turn those LED panels DOWN!

On the other hand, i thought 9 TO 5 used LED panels beautifully, incredibly well integrated with the the lighting and the scenery.

#35

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/20/13 at 3:20am

I have to strongly disagree with the projections on Webber's OZ tour. projections can be used to ENHANCE that sequence to great effect, but as designed, it surves no purpose than to a.) be cheap and b.) display a lack of creativity.

Projections are a fantastic tool. They can be used in cases where there is not a lot of space, they can be used to augment, they can be used to create interesting effects and illusions, moods, etc. They are merely a tool. No TOOL is bad. Throughout the history of theatre, people have almost always criticized every new technology in scenic design, lighting design, sound design, etc.. even revolutionary ones that changed design for the better. It is because audiences are always resistant to new things such as that when they are either a purist or when the technology is not yet perfected.

#36

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/20/13 at 9:41pm

Do you happen to know where I can find the video that you are talking about. I love this musical so much and it would be great to see it again!

#37

Projections as scenery look bad on stage.

Posted: 10/20/13 at 10:19pm

Just saw BIG FISH today, so I had been thinking about the projections when I red this post. I agree with the posters above who said the one at the end of the hospital scene really did not work too well. It reminded me of a 1960s TV drama. Some of the other ones were really nice - I don't want to give away any of the surprises - but in some cases they integrated projections with the actors/dancers on stage and I thought that worked really well. But I also felt that they were used to the point of excess in this show. There were just so MANY swirling lights and colors and things morphing into other things and so forth. I found myself thinking longingly of a "real" set with three-dimensional buildings that would slide on and off!

Maggie-the-schnoodle

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