Strobelights, Fog Machines and Standards

Mon, 13 July 2009, 01:25 pm

mason_matt6 posts in thread

Does anyone know if any standards to the use of smoke machines and strobelights? Restrictions etc etc??? Thanks, Matt

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mason_mattMon, 13 July 2009, 01:25 pm

Does anyone know if any standards to the use of smoke machines and strobelights? Restrictions etc etc??? Thanks, Matt

stephendeanMon, 13 July 2009, 01:56 pm

I find the best thing is to

I find the best thing is to have warning signs in the foyer and the program. Strobes you have to be careful with. Strobe lighting has been known to induce epileptic seizures. Epileptics who are flicker-sensitive are likely to experience a full seizure if triggered. Flicker rates of 4 flashes/second or less are recommended and all strobes should be synchronised when more than one is used. also make sure your cast is aware of the use of smoke and strobe and be mindful of their health in relantionship to using these devices.

LogosMon, 13 July 2009, 02:39 pm

I do not challenge the

I do not challenge the statement that strobes may cause a seizure in both grand and petit mal sufferers but medically you are more likely to get a seizure fram a faulty UV tube or a computer game. Short bursts of strobe lighting are perfectly safe if kept at reasonable rates. Warnings however should be posted. Most modern smoke machines produce a perfectly safe substance but once again should be used sparingly and notices should be posted. Cracked oil machines are a different matter. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

JoeMcTue, 28 July 2009, 09:00 am

Viewing the 'Bobby Gongs'

Viewing the 'Bobby Gongs' last night, which luckly I had pre recorded on the 'IQ', because we were watching something more interesting on a different chanel. Later Switching over to the recording & fast forwarding to the more interestin bits.

They used an LED backdrop for the show at the Sydney Opera House, which was fine untill they performed the Pardeur from the Don Quixote Ballet. However during some vision close ups of the 'twirlies', the moire patern on the screen created by the led array on the back drop was so bad, I ended up switching over to something else. While the long vision shots didn't cause any any adverse moire strobic effect to me, but the close ups certainly did.

Generaly the TV vision mixer atempts to aviod a lot of prolonged moire paterns filling the screen, so I can only put it down to a lack of 'tech runs, before they show went up?

While I doubt it would have effected the punters at the show, I feel it might of caused a few problems to certain viewers with eflictions - So no 'Ovation' for this one Foxtell!

Which may or not be a good piont in theatre, where we can create moire strobic effects inadvertantly, with the use of set pieces & materials, such as fence rails in front of a scrim - Just a thought!

Walter PlingeTue, 28 July 2009, 03:09 pm

Helpmanns

There's a trend in Australian tv to not rehearse or sometimes even care about this sort of thing - in an environment with more time, rehearsals and creative direction camera angles and positions would be moved and operated to avoid such an effect but as is always the case with the Helpmanns they use whatever gear and venue is available and cheap (or free) to stage the event... usually always within a limited timeframe too. That said, there's been a huge number of cases where it's been proven that SoftLED looks like crap on camera already....! rich

JoeMcWed, 29 July 2009, 01:27 pm

Your right there Richard,

Your right there Richard, about TV presentations here.

Realising the show is a one night stand & they have to utalise whats at hand in the venue. Obviously the led drop, was already set, for the current production at the SOH. They would have got beter vision with just a cyc or tabs. I doubt foxel would be thin on the ground, when it comes to OB experiance with theatr productions. As they are primarily a money machine, geared up for sport & regurgitation constant reruns of of other US networks cast offs. Much the same as all the rest of our TV industry here.

Your correct in the fact they don't give a crap, so long as the subscribers, keep filling up thier thier money machine each month. As they only have under 3 million subscribers, at a base platform rate of about $50/month, one can't expect them to afford better home grown TV productions?

If it was not for the fact I'm considered too old & a complete in valid [as far as theatre goes] with nowt better to do with my time. I would cancel my subscription & just have free to air.

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