Author Topic: Breaking and reforming a board  (Read 7222 times)

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isabellavayoni

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Breaking and reforming a board
« on: Oct 17, 2018, 08:00 am »
Hi everyone!

I'm working on a show where I've got to make a dream board (board covered with print-out pictures of quotes, travel locations, favourite actors etc.) that has to break every night of our two week run! The actor has to crack it against his knee and it should 'snap' down the middle. I don't have limitations with regards to the material of the dream board - the producer has suggested using velcro for example. I have considered some sort of jigsaw contraption that bends out of shape easily and can be fitted back together, but I am fairly new to stage management and don't know how I would go about it. Any thoughts on how to do this easily and effectively?

Thank you!

Mac Calder

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Re: Breaking and reforming a board
« Reply #1 on: Oct 17, 2018, 06:01 pm »
How much handling does the dream board have prior to being broken - is it hung up somewhere the rest of the time and untouched, or does it need to be handled throughout the show?

Velcro will be hugely obvious to the audience. Every night a great big RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPP will be heard by everyone in the space. Would not suggest.

One option if it needs to be durable would be to make it out of wood, and then use balsa wood biscuits/dowels between the two pieces. Balsa breaks very easily and it will give an authentic "SNAP".

If it is a quick "Rip off the wall, snap in two" and that is all that happens to the board, I would probably use XPS foam coated with mod podge and magnets with a sound effect if needed.

abhibeckert

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Re: Breaking and reforming a board
« Reply #2 on: Dec 09, 2018, 06:39 pm »
Velcro will be hugely obvious to the audience. Every night a great big RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPP will be heard by everyone in the space.
3M sells something similar to Velcro that doesn't use there regular hook and loop system. Instead it has thousands of straight pins that slot into each other.

They sell it in white or black for picture frame hanging, not sure if it's available in tape form.

They come apart silently, and have stronger sheering strength (but weaker pull-apart strength).