How Do You Create Special Lighting Effects?
It’s a dark, eerie night on the streets of London as the killer stalks his prey. Just as he is about to strike, police searchlights turn night into day and reveal him to his victim. Stage lighting can be as effective as scenery and dialogue in building mood and setting, and special lighting effects are an integral part of creating convincing worlds onstage. Special lighting equipment can generate some of these effects, but there are cost-effective tricks for a theater or crew on a budget. Transparent colored gels slip neatly in front of traditional theater lights, known as parabolic lights or par cans. Reds and yellows create a sunrise; purples and pinks indicate sunset. Use blue in night scenes, especially those set in cemeteries or haunted houses. Adding a fog machine makes a scary situation far more frightening. Filtering red lights through the same fog machine imitates smoke and fire, from a small house fire to the burning of Atlanta. Cut tin sheets into different shapes and slide
