I've been tasked with building a prop for a web series. Got any crazy ideas?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: poodyp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 01:55:41 am
content: So I'm helping a friend with a web series she'll be shooting next month. There's a scene with a silly lab experiment and a prop described literally as "obviously a colander with wires on it". I could take the easy route and just put some wires and ribbon cables on a colander and call it a day, but where's the fun in that?I was thinking I could put some 7 segment displays counting god knows what, some vacuum tunes that light up eerily, and a bunch of leds that pulse in some kind of sequence. But, I wanted to know if any of you guys could come up with some brilliant ideas.I'll also be loaning a majority of my lab equipment (both electrical and chemical), so that'll be fun.

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 01:57:55 am
content: Can it be an upside down colander with a chin strap and a bunch of coiled wires sticking out the holes and blink LEDs?

author: Anson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 02:08:39 am
content: Quote from: cthree on June 29, 2013, 01:57:55 amKinda been done before but still pretty cool. Maybe a Jacobs ladder on top? Nixie tubes in the front counting up. Some large vacuum tubes pulsing on the sides. A large number or different colored wires going everywhere. Need a lab coat in the background no good mad scientist doesn't have a lab coat. a few old Tek scopes flickering in the back.

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 02:20:20 am
content: Quote from: Anson on June 29, 2013, 02:08:39 amI guess it depends on how much time you want to dedicate and for how long this is going to be in frame.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 02:37:28 am
content: Quote from: Anson on June 29, 2013, 02:08:39 amI really wouldn't want to be the actor wearing a lethal 20,000 volt helmet.Maybe you could build a simulation with some EL wire and an appropriate sound effect.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 02:50:21 am
content: My immediate thought was a bunch of fiber optic strands coming out the top and sides.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 03:18:22 am
content: Mount it on a rotating platform for starters, this sucker has to spin!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 03:20:21 am
content: Mount a speaker in the bottom of it and do this:Get the right camera angle and you don't see the speaker

author: poodyp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 03:37:48 am
content: Yeah, it'll be the whole colander with chin strap deal.I really wish I had an old tek scope, I'd play oscillofun on it out something like that, just haven't found the right one. My rigol with some Lissajous curves will have to do. Maybe I can think of some geek culture thing to sneak in.Unfortunately an unprotected Jacobs ladder is out of the question. I'm not sure I'd even be comfortable with an enclosed one. I just don't want till be responsible for the safety of everyone else on the set.Definitely have to get a second lab coat.I'm thinking maybe I can go to the local electronics surplus store and look around.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 03:40:10 am
content: There's one up in Van Nuys you might find useful.

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 04:33:40 am
content: obviously you need some flashy LEDs. OR a plasma globe:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-Sound-Motion-Plasma-Ball-Disco-Party-Light-Globe-/321010215907?pt=Lamps_US&hash=item4abdb32be3&_uhb=1

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 04:49:05 am
content: Well there's that scene in Ghostbusters where Louis Tulley has been possessed and Egon is testing him.They ask him his name and he says "Vince Clortho, keymaster of Gozer" and the FLIR camera pointed at him has an outline of one of those demon dog things.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 07:17:52 am
content: Have some dry ice fog flying everywhere. Also don't forget to add 60hz hum and chemical spatter

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2013, 08:05:53 am
content: I would talk to your friend more and find out exactly what they need, what it will be used for and why. Also find out info on the character (in the web series) that built this object.You need as much info as possible so you can make something that fits the tone of the show.Also there maybe design restrictions you're not aware of.For example, if it will be illuminated under bright lights during shooting then LED displays may not be visible.There's a horrible story on youtube where Adam Savage (mythbusters) talks about when he was young and how he totally FUBAR'ed a prop he was building for a friend that was making movie. He screw it up so bad he lost of the friend.The story begins at 15:13 (Warning, it's very depressing)http://fora.tv/2009/05/30/MythBuster_Adam_Savages_Colossal_Failures