Illuminating
I have become the costume shop's electrician. One of the joys and burdens of the Crafts artisan position is the varied skill set you acquire. By the nature of the projects that head into the craft shop, you become a jack of all trade. Each challenge demands a new approach or a visitation and revision of a tried and true method. As a result, other people in the costume shop look to the craft shop when a new and unusual costume heads our way.
Our current challenge is attempting to make the Ghost of Christmas Past glow. Not sparkle or shimmer, but to actually emit her own light.
Costumes involving illumination are nothing new. Though they have varying degrees of success. Many a wreath of candles or angel's wings have been internally light with strings of battery operated Christmas lights. And now lights are becoming small, more portable and more intense. LEDs are quickly replacing those tired old bulbs. But even those emit a very distinct, concentrated light. Not quiet the soft aura effect we are after.
Orginally, only Past's crown, with a firefly-esque halo radiating around her, was my only contribution to the project. But as I researched more into LEDs and fiber optic wire, both of my bosses began bouncing around the larger question of illuminating the entire costume.
One of the joys of working at a theatre of this caliber is the amount of resources available. A woven fiber optic mesh fabric, made in France is a feasible option for us. The years of experience in the prop shop and electrical shop are just a quick walk down the stairs. And a call to many a vendor will blossom into a list of other theatre artists eager to throw their two cents at the problem.
I am incredibly excited (and frustrated to the point of ripping out my hair at the technical jargon that rolls so easily off of our electrician lips) to be working on this particular project. Especially since the final vision will be a much truer representation of the Past described in Dicken's novel. I hope she ends up glowing as much as we dream her to.
Our current challenge is attempting to make the Ghost of Christmas Past glow. Not sparkle or shimmer, but to actually emit her own light.
Costumes involving illumination are nothing new. Though they have varying degrees of success. Many a wreath of candles or angel's wings have been internally light with strings of battery operated Christmas lights. And now lights are becoming small, more portable and more intense. LEDs are quickly replacing those tired old bulbs. But even those emit a very distinct, concentrated light. Not quiet the soft aura effect we are after.
Orginally, only Past's crown, with a firefly-esque halo radiating around her, was my only contribution to the project. But as I researched more into LEDs and fiber optic wire, both of my bosses began bouncing around the larger question of illuminating the entire costume.
One of the joys of working at a theatre of this caliber is the amount of resources available. A woven fiber optic mesh fabric, made in France is a feasible option for us. The years of experience in the prop shop and electrical shop are just a quick walk down the stairs. And a call to many a vendor will blossom into a list of other theatre artists eager to throw their two cents at the problem.
I am incredibly excited (and frustrated to the point of ripping out my hair at the technical jargon that rolls so easily off of our electrician lips) to be working on this particular project. Especially since the final vision will be a much truer representation of the Past described in Dicken's novel. I hope she ends up glowing as much as we dream her to.
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