Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Flip-up screens?

This is topic Flip-up screens? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by David E. Nedrow (Member # 4981) on 10-02-2015, 09:00 PM:

Has anyone seen a screen that flips out from the bottom toward the audience and then raises to hug the ceiling? This would be to expose a performing stage when there is no fly-loft space.

The masking would presumably have to be integral to the screen frame so that it travels with the screen.

One drawback I can envision is the weight of the screen causing it to sag down in a direction it's not designed to.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 10-03-2015, 08:31 AM:

How would you avoid the screen blocking the lighting bars, house lights, HVAC vents, smoke detectors etc?

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-03-2015, 04:16 PM:

Custom made. Weight is an issue because of where the pivot point is. You could lift speakers and all with lighting attached to the back of the speaker rig. Tonnage.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-07-2015, 09:53 AM:

This is typically done with a permanently installed electric roll up screen that's mounted between light bars. Harkness makes the best ones IMHO. I've installed a few of them, one that was 40' wide. They are very expensive. You could also do a fast fold screen but you'd need some room to store it in.

Mark

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-07-2015, 01:03 PM:

What Mark said. Be sure to get a tab-tensioned screen; otherwise, a standard roll-up screen will eventually sag in the middle. There is an art museum in town that has a very nice electric tab-tensioned Stewart screen that works well.

One potential snag is that you may not be able to get a perf screen in this configuration.

Another potential issue is masking, although that can be faked with curtains if you don't need motorized masking with multiple stops.

Finally, you need to treat roll-up screens very gently. Keep them rolled up when not being used and don't let anyone hang anything (including small children) from the bottom edge, as this may damage the motor (I have seen it happen).

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 12-07-2015, 04:08 PM:

Hang your children from the top. [evil]

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 12-07-2015, 04:56 PM:

Yes you can get a perforated (standard and micro)screen on a rollup.