Atmosphere Effects: Wall Illusion

Trader Sam · #1 08-09-2008, 10:58 PM

I couldn't post pictures until I had at least 1 post. Read on . . .

Trader Sam · #2 08-09-2008, 10:59 PM

I'm working on my first REAL Halloween illusion this year, but I'm not sure if it will work. I thought I'd bounce the idea off of everyone here.

The illusion is fairly simple . . .

Guest have to move through a small, dark room (left to right in illustration) mostly lit with a black light and flickering candles. If they stop to look at the portraits, they notice something odd with the back wall: there are a pair of glowing red eyes (me, in costume) staring back at them . . . 7-10 feet BEYOND the wall.

The eyes come closer, and a ghoulish creature clad in black emerges, trying to claw at its victims.

The illusion is that the far wall is not a wall at all, just a large void. The picture frames are anchored into position with strong wire/fishing line (painted flat black). The rest of the walls and ceiling are covered in black fabric. Even the entrances will have a black fabric panels to minimize light leaks from outside.

The empty chamber beyond the "wall" will have to be constructed from black plastic for budget reasons, unless someone can suggest a cheaper alternative. My main concern here is that the plastic may reflect some ambient light. But with the glare from the black light, it may not be noticeable.

I'm also toying with the idea of having a window on the "wall" that I can flash lightning from. A quick flash, and guests' night vision will be ruined if they've already adjusted to the darkness.

Pennywise · #3 08-10-2008, 03:34 AM

Not a bad idea.

TNBrad · #4 08-10-2008, 07:18 AM

Let me say Wow great idea and the welcome Sam.
the art work is so cool and the links are too.
I think maybe styro foam sheets as a frame for the back space and light block and maybe ground cloth from the Home Deport or Big lots would be as cheep as cloth from a discount store. and the ground cloth could also work as a scrim effect.

crazybob · #5 08-10-2008, 02:37 PM

Black plastic does reflect a TON of black light. I'd use black sheets from wal-mart instead. I think the black light would be enough to see that there's no wall there... consider using some sort of scrim or even black spandex, both of which you can see through when it's lit from behind. You could even do a living wall with the spandex!

Trader Sam · #6 08-10-2008, 08:09 PM

I already know that I'm going to have to dim the black light. It's pretty powerful . . . more powerful for the space it'll be used in. I have some fabric that will dim it. I'm also going to have to create light some panels to direct the light where I need/want it to minimize reflection. Here's a rough layout:

I may have to line the large chamber with fabric, and since it has to be on the lawn, I don't know how the grass will affect everything. I also don't know how I'm going to get the plastic walls up in the middle of the lawn. I'll think of something.

I hadn't thought about using sheets. I need a lot of fabric, so the larger, the better. But a queen-size sheet is $15 at Walmart, and I need MUCH more than that. I haven't checked my nearest Joann store yet, so I don't know how much raw fabric will cost. I'll check Walmart's fabric department, too, but I don't think they'll have the quantity that I need. I also have a brand-new Home Depot nearby, so I'm planning a trip there. I'm a pretty good bargain hunter, and I do have some time.

I'll start two days before Halloween so that I can troubleshoot and get the effect just right. I love problem solving on the fly.

TNBrad · #7 08-11-2008, 02:06 PM

Very cool Ideas.
How about one of those 10' x 10' fair / picnic tents (or bigger some car fit a car at Pep Boys)
and now they may be going on sale as summer is ending.
Next is the a Rail Road Salvage near you? or other name maybe. There is one near me and I can get 1", 2", 3", and 8" stryo foam sheets 4' x 8' (Not the pink or blue; the stuff made of little balls) and even blocks for floating boat dock on. and then you could paint them with off colored paint from the Deport Etc.
There is nothing wrong with being CHEEP ummm I mean frugal. ;-'))

Trader Sam · #8 08-11-2008, 05:58 PM

I think I may be able to get away with not lining the plastic with fabric. One of the key designs is that the lighting really does have to be controlled. I can't just stick lights wherever I want, and I do have to direct it away from the faux wall. I'll try it my way first, testing it out on the first night of construction. Then, I can do any additional fixes and shopping the following two days to get it just right.

In the meantime, I'm still bargain hunting on all of the materials that everyone has suggested. I just bought a lightning fx box from Spilsbury.com which will really help. Last year, I made a shutter to fit over the front of my strobe light. To make lightning, I had to pull a string to open the shutter, flashing lightning, and I had to play the audio track from my cheap mp3 player, which has an annoying power-save mode that I kept forgetting about, ruining the timing. All I should have to do now is hit the Play button and the lightning will take care of itself (I'll use a regular light, not a strobe).

pandora · #9 08-11-2008, 06:03 PM

As for cheap black fabric, I would try the clearance racks in Wal-mart. Most years I have found black fabric for $1 a yard. Also I would hit the yard sales and thrift stores, you may store fabric, or more likely, sheets, at a pretty cheap price. I can't wait to see what you do with this. Great concept.

evileyes · #10 08-11-2008, 06:13 PM

black plastic will not reflect alot of light(use it every year) it does reflect some. but with a black light you only get a few spots and they are small.. just make shure you have it pretty well stretched out and not wrinkled

-eric