Open Forum

you can put a piece of fabric(medium weight color TBD on your set) then put a light behind the set and performer dim up the light to see a shadow, a light weight fabric or screen material could be used  and then the performer illuminated from the front behind the screen., I would recommend a slide panel behind the fabric to close or open the view

Fun! I have done several different versions of a scrim effect. But mostly shadow work and video projection instead of uplighting an actor behind the screen. One time, I created a small screen using a hula hoop and stretched natural scrim (bought from OnlineFabricStore) across the hoop with grommets and elastic string. We rear projected a world video on it to show their different travel path in Around the World in 80 days. This is the clock in the set photo. Nice thing about that fabric is you can paint it to an extent. For another show,  we did a larger version of this same concept (the moon screen, but instead this time using "Better than Paper" bulletin board paper/fabric, available at Hobby Lobby or amazon. This comes in a variety of colors...and the shadow projection is fantastic because it diffuses your light sources wonderfully, with pretty much no hot spot. And rear projecting video surprisingly looks great on this too, even the black.  

I have used a "frosted" shower curtain liner as a rear projection screen numerous times. 

Great suggestions so far and a lot of creative ideas.  You can also purchase shark tooth scrim by the yard at Rose Brand if that is what you want to use

For rear projection, you can also use unbleached muslin. It's readily available, cheap, and can be found on Amazon in up to 10 foot wide bolts.

I want to thank everyone for your help! There were so many great ideas, and I am sure I'll use many of them in the future. I ended up using a galaxy print cotton fabric, backlit with a tricolor light bar. The silhouette isn't perfect, but it fits what we are going for, and gives the impression of a window into space when not lit. Our set is supposed to look like a broken down space station, held together with duct tape and chewing gum. Mission accomplished! 

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Mia Nokes
Theatre & Speech
East Newton High School
East Newton R-VI Schools
Granby, MO
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