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>Theatrical Scrims > Using Scrims in Non-theater Spaces |
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| Studio Productions Home
>Theatrical Scrims > Using Scrims in Non-theater Spaces |
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Show me how I can Rent a Better Scrim I like what I see, show me how I can Buy a Better Scrim Can I get scrim effects in churches or non-theater spaces? The scrim effect is so interesting that lots of people would like to use a scrim in spaces not set up as theaters. So we field the individual questions, “Can I…..?” The answer is sometimes ‘Yes’ and sometimes ‘No’. Some of the more common questions are answered below….Please be aware that the answers are written with our product Chameleon™ in mind…the issue of whether you can do this with other types of scrim are handled at the end. Scrims traditionally come with grommets and ties on the top, and a “pocket” or fabric sleeve on the bottom for a pole weight. Typically the ties go through the grommets and are tied off to a pipe hanging from the stage ceiling (called a batton). A simple pipe is slid through the bottom pocket to weight the scrim. For Chameleon™ this can be a lightweight pipe of PVC, aluminum, smooth dowel, or other. For sharkstooth, use a heavier pipe. You can also have the scrim finished with fabric sleeves (pockets) on the top and bottom slide dowels or pipes through these to hang. You can think of this as a banner type finishing. That method is far less expensive and time consuming than building a frame and is easier to store. Chameleon™ holds it’s shape so a similar strategy can be used by finishing the fabric with a sleeve/pocket on the left and on the right and using flag stands (or similar) to hold the scrim. You can think of this as a banner turned sideways. Its not recommended to use either of these methods with sharkstooth, because it hourglasses (narrows in the center when weighted) and sags. Unusual ways: Chameleon™ can be razor cut and is lightweight so several really easy ways can be used. You can have a grommet placed in each (reinforced) corner and tie the scrim in place. Velcro dots can suspend a small scrim that is not going to be pulled on. If the span is small you can suspend it with a very heavy fishing line or a cable. The span needs to be under 15 foot for this method. On stages there are two ways to move a scrim: flying or traveling. Flying means you move the scrim up out of view, and traveling means you move the scrim left or right. You can fly or travel with Chameleon™ , but only fly scrim with sharkstooth (of course you can do anything, but sharkstooth, a stretchy fabric has lots of problems with traveling!) Traveling a scrim would in the best cases mean that you have a curtain track for the scrim. Many spaces have one curtain track, the same one the main curtain is hung on. That can sometimes be used. You can also rig a simple rod similar to a shower curtain rod and slide the scrim along it. The key to this approach is a small span for the scrim to move across. The reason you need a small span is that a long pipe needs to be held up in the center. The support would then be in the way for sliding the scrim past it. To read more about rigging solutions: No-fly space rigging solutions. A less traditional solution is to rig a scrim to roll up like a window shade. This is an Oleo Drop rigging. To read more about oleo drop rigging: How to make an Oleo Drop. Can I make things appear & disappear? Can I use the “scrim effect”? The key to making things appear and disappear is lighting--so do read the section below about lighting To read more about how to achieve a scrim effect: What is a scrim effect? To know whether you can make people or objects appear or disappear in your space, consider several aspects:
Read more about lighting scrims to achieve scrim effects. Can I have a scrim printed with church name, logo or image? Chameleon™ scrim is very amenable to printing--and the cost is less than people think. However, be careful to consider before printing how you will use the scrim. Printed scrims can be projected on, but both the printing and the projection can be seen. For more information on printing and the cost of printed scrims... read more about printed scrims. Can I project on this, and with what? Scrims have been used for years as a projection surfaces. You can project colored lights, or images, or silhouettes on the scrim from front or behind. No scrim is as good a projection surface as a projection screen, but scrims are a pretty good surface. Chameleon™ is a better front projection surface than sharkstooth (except silvered sharkstooth, which is made for projection). For simple colored lights all you need is good lights and gels (special colored plastic that changes the color of lights). Gels are inexpensive and available in theatrical supply stores and through Rosco product distributors. You can use a professional projector, or a gobo projector. A gobo projector is a small directional light source that allows you to insert a gobo (cut metal pattern) to project. Gobos can be simple patterns (like stars or leaves or crosses) or complex patterns similar to a black and white photo. Gobo projectors are available in prices as cheap as $60, and gobos can be as cheap as $15. Success of any projection depends on light control, projector strength, and light behind the scrim. You must keep the area behind the scrim dark. You need a strong projector/ gobo light source, and you need to be able to keep the lights over around the audience off. Read more about projection on scrims. Rear projection is possible, but has more complexity and needs more space. Only consider rear projection if you have 12 feet or more behind the scrim. Can the lighting be lights found in a hardware store? You may understand that lights are critical, but wonder if you can use lights you might find that aren’t theatrical or photographer hot lights—maybe something I could find at Home Depot or similar hardware stores? The answer is maybe. We recommend renting professional lights for the best effects. With homemade solutions, you won’t be able to get as good effect, but you may be able to get an effect. Its an excellent question because the lights are the most expensive aspect of using scrims! There are three types of control of the lights you need. 1.) You need to be able to control lights independently. 2.) You need to be able to “focus” lights to get lots of light where you need it. 3.) You need to be able to mask light to keep it away from where you don’t need it. You control lights independently with a light board, which is fairly simple to make Focusing lights is the part that is very difficult for a homemade solution. You need to look for lights that are meant to light something from a distance with bright light. You might call this a spotlight (although in theater a spot is generally not exactly this). This particular type of control is what most homemade solutions fail at…although there are lots of talented folks who rise to the challenge Masking light means blocking it from falling in the wrong places. You can do this with curtains, or small pieces of metal placed on the sides of lights, or even a snoot (simplest homemade form is a coffee can around the light Would all this be true if I was using Sharkstooth instead of the special effect scrim Chameleon™ ? Suspending and flying or drawing the scrim:; Sharkstooth is a very different product than Chameleon™ . Sharkstooth is much heavier than Chameleon™ , and tends to come in large sizes. If you were hanging sharkstooth, you need to hang it from a pipe with a heavier pipe weight on the bottom. Sharkstooth is stretchable, and needs the weight on the bottom to stretch it tight. You can not travel sharkstooth (hang it like a curtain to drag from left to right) because of this need for a weight and stretching. It also hourglasses and needs a heavy seam on the side to prevent it from unraveling Making things appear & disappear: Sharkstooth is more transparent than Chameleon™ . Under non-professional lights, it will be hard to make sharkstooth opaque to hide people or objects behind the scrim. It may be easier to make object appear. The same light control issues as written above apply to make the effect work. Conversely, it will be easier to make Chameleon™ opaque to hide people or object behind the scrim, and harder to make translucent. Chameleon™ is never transparent, it becomes translucent—people or objects behind the scrim will appear diffused—not sharp-- and have a halo effect. Using professional lighting: For both products professional lighting is best. If you try to use a homemade solution you will have more trouble making sharkstooth opaque; and you will have more trouble making Chameleon™ see through. If we didn’t answer your question, call us and ask. We provide these whitepapers to help answer your questions, please feel free to feedback to us or suggest topics. Want to see examples? A church customer shared some pictures of their production with us and gave us permission to share those pictures with you. The pictures shared below show what can be done in a church space, with folks who used lighting carefully. The space used is a church, and so was not designed as a theatrical space. Its not clear whether professional lights were used, or some clever use of readily available non-professional lights was employed. It is clear that the lighting technicians understood how to use lights. Our special thanks to Enon Baptist Church for the photos of their fine production!) 
Like this article? Try Types of Scrim. More detailed examples of projects in work: Show me how I can Rent a Better Scrim Show me how I can Buy a Better Scrim |
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