Author Topic: Ways to keep track of Flying Movements?  (Read 2996 times)

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Srlaupan

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Ways to keep track of Flying Movements?
« on: Apr 13, 2010, 11:59 pm »
Hey everyone! I'm taking on my first ballet as an ASM and in the past two days I've been plunged into it head first. Good thing is I have a background in ballet (danced for many years, still love to) so I have a great hold on how most things work. However, we're doing fly FX, which is something I haven't dealt with before, in traditional theatre, either.

Do you guys have any good tips on how to track flying movements? I would love to have diagrams showing the shape/height of the movements, but they end up as a squiggly mess on an audience view of the stage. And considering we have 4 tracks moving at once (5 in total, but only 4 moving together at any one time) trying to record the all of the "flight patterns" together would be even more confusing.

I'm tracking the sequences of movements in words, but "swoop" and "high right" can mean several different things to different people and they're just big, long run-on sentences by the time I'm done. I'm also using an excel file to track who is on what track, who is operating what track on lift and traveler, who is connecting the performer to the wire, where onstage (or off) that's happening, where the wire is preset prior to that, the "name" of the move (at least what we're referring to it as), the takeoff points for the moves for the performer onstage, and any takeoff marks for the move on the ropes.

Is there anything else I should be tracking that I missed? And does any one have any suggestions or examples of how they've recorded fly movements (diagram or info lists) in the past that could possibly help?

Thanks very much!


Jessie_K

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Re: Ways to keep track of Flying Movements?
« Reply #1 on: Apr 14, 2010, 11:26 am »
I would keep track in three different ways.

First for the operators, with heights, speeds, cues, etc.  I would keep this as simple and factual as possible.  Excel is a good way.  Perhaps when you print it out, leave space for them to make their own notes.

For artistic purposes, I recommend video.  Unlike AEA, dance unions allow you to video rehearsals and performances.  You can then use the video to create diagrams of the flights.  If it is too complicated to track all five at once, create a separate diagram/ list for each track.  If you use diagrams, I recommend creating a page with about 6 boxes to draw in, only draw as much as makes sense in each box, then move to the next one. 

For your cue calling, highlight only what you need to call and keep track of the safety of your performers.

No need to cram all the information into one document.

Does your choreographer or rehearsal director also take notes?  Take a peek at what they are doing.  It might be helpful.