lighting - projecting a string silhouette

Hi, I'm new to this and know virtually ZILCH so I'm hoping to pick some brains! I want to project a strong silhouette about 20 metres or so and I'm wondering what sort of light/projector I would need.. and any other relevant info. I've been searching the internet and haven't found any help yet. Thanks.

Hi SusanW, To help you we would need more information. Does the light have to move (ie. does it have to follow the action onstage, like a followspot, or does it stay still), what are your venue requirements (can you rig the light from above), what your budget is and so on. If you really aren't sure, ring a lighting hire company in your area - www.alia.com.au has a list - and ask them to help you. Most hire companies are happy to help you decide what you need. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

Hello Susan To project a silhuette you need a point source of light and a lens system that can focus a sharp outline. The spotlight does this job and is usually used to project sharp images that are placed in the spotlight at the focus point or gate and these images are called gobos. A projector is also designed to project a sharp focus and can be a slide projector or a video projector. If you want to project a silhuette of an actor or cutout shape, you can use a spotlight, or a floodlight with the reflector removed so they become a linebach projector or a fresnel with the lens removed so it becomes a beam light. The actor or shape is placed between the light source and the surface that the silhuette is to be projected on to. Due to scale of size and to minimise shape distortion, it is preferable to use small gobos or cutouts or small actors. The gobos are normally made from stainless steel for long life or you can make a temporary one from a softdrink can aluminium. If you use a Selecon Pacific profile which uses cool beam technology, you can print your designs on overhead transparency film, these are called Fergo's after Dave Ferguson who developed the idea http://www.fergo.com.au/index.html Let us know what silhuette you want to project so we can be specific with our advice. Don