I designed lighting for "These Shining Lives" which is similar in content and design needs. We did it in the round, and needed to make actors hands glow, and some prop jars glow on stage. Due to the close nature of audience members we did not use black lights overstage, as it would also light up the audience members clothing.
The makeup designer used
phosphorescing makeup, and the makeup was "charged" backstage using small black lights. The lead actor's hand were revealed in a blackout, with a move into a dark blue wash so that we could see their faces. Additional characters' hands were not lit, but the actors were lit with small specials, from the chest up. (See Thiessen_1 and Thiessen_2. The one in dark blue makes the makeup appear stronger than it actually was once the blue came in).
The props designer used phosphorescent/fluorescent paint for the paint jars, with a black light built into the work desks, out of sight, that remained on. (See Thiessen_3)
Fluorescent blacklights are an option, but they do need to be on or off, without dimming, which can look odd depending on your cuing. Watch out for teeth glowing (it may not be an issue depending on distance), and clothing glowing. In general, limit other light use.
Using a gel is highly dependent on your fixtures. Most incandescent fixtures though, do not put enough UV light through to make any paint or makeup glow. I researched this as an option, but it did not work for me.
Experimental Photos:
-Thiessen_4 has the regular room fluorescents on, so you can see what the makeup looked like generally in white light, though this isn't an incandescent.
-Thiessen_5 is a mini blacklight with the different glow in the dark materials, fluorescing
-Thiessen_6 is the glow in the dark makeup under Rosco 384, Midnight Blue
-Thiessen_7 is the glow in the dark makeup under Rosco 382, Congo Blue vs. black light charged materials.
I used a DSLR, adjusting exposure, color temperature, and time to take photos that were as close to what it actually looked like as possible, as I was going to use this to show the other designers and director.
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Sydney Thiessen
Fine & Performing Arts Coordinator and Technical Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2017 17:59
From: Stanley Gibbs
Subject: Fluorescent lighting/staging
We are performing "Radium Girls" this fall and I would like to have multiple large watch faces in the background that would appear fluorescent. Some of the characters also need to appear that they have fluorescent [radium] powder sticking to their clothing. I know that some paint colors paired with specific gels glow as though fluorescent and I know that I can purchase fluorescent paints and rent black lights. Any suggestions for how to best pull this off at least expense?
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Stan Gibbs
Parma Western High School (MI)
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