I am a high school TV Productions and Drama teacher and I am also working on my doctorate of computer science in emerging media with a concentration in theater technology. I chose this concentration because it only makes sense with what I do. Now I am trying to work on research and a dissertation topic.
I have become fascinated with projection designs while researching the tech theater world. I did not know much about it until recently when I decided to make my theater and studio my laboratory.
Our current show(going up tomorrow!), Scrooge, will be our first try at projection design. I researched a bit and experimented ALOT. We moved every light and have three projectors and screens to work with. Our show has 30 lighting cues and effect and 16 projections. Not bad for a first try...well...I will know how good or bad tomorrow! I am very nervous, I have 5 on tech crew and 60 in the cast...and it's just ME. It has been quite a challenge.
I would like to learn more about projection design and the best ways to use it. I would also like to meet other designers and find out if other teachers are using this technology in the high school setting.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks
Susan
Susan Cardillo
Dan...so glad you like the idea....I will begin working on it after the holidays...going to my doctoral symposium in late January. Hope to learn more about putting the website together properly. That is the idea....the site and the artist would split the fee...but it needs to be reasonable so public schools and community theaters can use the technology. THe site would also give advice about how to best use projections and the different types of equipment that can make it happen. Connecting to blogs like this would also be great. Whether it is a software program like the one Bill suggests here or...the way I had to "ghetto rig" our DVD system...I think many schools find it useful and try using projections.
I will keep you posted...and any suggestions or other ideas you have would be appreciated. I would like to make this project part of my dissertation. My question is: How do we keep the arts in schools using technology?
Dec 18, 2012
Nathan Kelley
I use a pair of projectors linked with a Matrox DualHead2Go to project images and video on the cyc. This is made possible by inexpensive short-throw projectors mounted on the ceiling of our performance space. It is very difficult to find backdrops small enough for our space (16' high x 43' wide) so the video solution is ideal. I use ProPresenter from www.renewedvision.com with the multiscreen module to display the images and video on the cyc. We will never rent another painted backdrop again. You can see pictures of what this looks like in my photos, specifically "Cinderella" and "Little Women the Musical."
Dec 20, 2012
Dan Mellitz
Susan,
The school I work for is such a technology driven school. We are one of the driving forces of a new Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning program. We have task forces all the time talking about integrating technology into the classroom. I use it in so many of my tech classes to teach about tech theater through images and words and sounds. I think technology can be a huge part of teaching in the arts. Our high school next year is starting their 1 to 1 laptop program and I am asking them to have the ability to put things like Google Sketch-up and qlab onto it so I can use it in class and they can do assignments with it. I think the ability for the students to do an assignment at home and then bring it in and see it play out on the big screen would be and will be great for them. I think everything we do in tech theater involves some form of technology, and i don't think it will go away. Even if a show goes full projections, someone still has to rig and build the screen.
Dec 20, 2012