let the sparks fly?

Thu, 16 Oct 2008, 10:14 pm

Jim C8 posts in thread

A poser to all you teckies out there. Does anybody have an answer to how we can create sparks to occur during a sword fighting sequence? During a sword fight rehersal for our performance for Peter Pan we did have a couple of sparks fly, the effect was "electric" and we would like to reproduce this on cue each show. There must be some elements that could be coated to one sword that would create sparks when struck by another.

Jaguar

Thread (8 posts)

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Jim CThu, 16 Oct 2008, 10:14 pm

Jaguar

stingerFri, 17 Oct 2008, 10:12 am

sparks when struck

I was once in a production of the scottish play in a dimly-lit gothic church. We used claymores made out of 4 cm wide strips of raw steel. They made beaut sparks when bashed together in the darkness. There were a few cases of split webbing and fractured digits though. Ssstinger>>>

LabrugFri, 17 Oct 2008, 11:37 am

Danger Danger Danger

Thank you Stinger for highlighting the Dangers of Stage Fighting.

Sparking Swords is, by my understanding, rather tricky. If you have heavy swords of flint like steel, they will spark, as Stinger mentions, wonderfully. Lighter swords very rarely. Sparking Swords Fights is really only a cinematic illusion and natural sparks are rare.

The problem is that you need to exert a fair amount of effort to generate sparks and that only increases the danger of the sequence, and can often appear somewhat 'staged'. I believe that there are ways to generate sparks including special coatings and using electricity, but the former can be quite costly as well as risky and the later cumbersome and dangerous. Most artificial sparking solutions have an increase in danger cost.

While sparks are eye catching, I would tend to avoid trying to make them. When I design sequences, I try to focus on speed and sound. Clanging Swords is far more interesting and much easier to create.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

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LabrugFri, 17 Oct 2008, 11:49 am

Good Advice

The common piece of advice around the traps is nicely described in this.

"The Sword Fight: man against man, clashing steel with force enough to sever a limb.
And sparks. Lots of sparks. When two swordfighters cross swords, the force of their collision will send up sparks, showing just how powerful, sharp and deadly the crossed swords are.
In reality, it is possible to strike sparks with a sword, but it's very difficult. Generating a spark by hitting another sword (as opposed to something like flint) is all but impossible, and it's all a matter of angle and friction, not of strength or sharpness — in fact, a rough piece of steel is much better at generating sparks than a trued and polished sword.
Sometimes this is used to imply a character has a kind of quasi-magical ability without going too fantastical with the show. "

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

Home Page
Yahoo Blog Page

Finding an Age

LightingGuySat, 18 Oct 2008, 12:54 am

I believe that the common

I believe that the common practice is to use strips of magnesium along the blade. Magnesium is commonly used for fireworks and flares for producing bright white light. Where you would get them or how to use them, I have no idea. Hope I've been of some help.

LogosSat, 18 Oct 2008, 09:27 am

Josh, forgive me for saying

Josh, forgive me for saying so but that is a dangerous practice. Always supposing you could get ribbon magnesium, which is inflammable by the way as well as being poisonous, it could cause serious injury. Please don't attempt this. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

LightingGuySat, 18 Oct 2008, 08:20 pm

It was just an answer

"There must be some elements that could be coated to one sword that would create sparks when struck by another." The question was asked and while some answered with how to use the physics to cause the effect I gave the chemistry method. I don't suggest that the method should be used in amatuer theatre, nor do I deny that it is dangerous. But hey, if you're deliberately trying to get sparks than you're already running the risk of setting something on fire. To get and use magnesium you'd likely need a licenced pyrotechnics specialist on crew and fire extinguishers on hand. Yes, it is poisonous, I'm not suggesting you lick the blade - and the fighters would probably need to wear gloves (but that would also protect their hands from being accidentally nicked). Yes it's dangerous, I would have thought that to be obvious.

TaureanSun, 19 Oct 2008, 07:03 pm

DANGEROUS PRACTICE!

Scrap my post... I had a knee jerk reaction without looking at times and dates... Sorry....

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