.jpg)
Chingay prop group anniversary celebration, yet to be completed 97 musical instrument props - The trumpet, pipa & guitar props.
http://www.ssabuddhist.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=26651546284&ref=ts
Photos courtesy of Soka members, click on photo:
HOW TO OPTIMIZING THE VISUAL EFFECTS OF PROPS (EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGY)
James who used to make lion dance and lanterns props in his childhood days, prepared the outlines of the musical instrument props.
Sometimes the whole props got to be redo.
In 1997. We were organised in groups, sometimes we exchanged ideas how to solved certain problems in making the props. Our props group was to prepare the musical props for the performers. It was an exciting challenge to glue the synthetic foams to the bamboo frames nicely.
Translucent synthetic foams were used to stick to the bamboo frames together, by hot glue using glue guns. Between the props and the performers lights bulbs systems were installed inside and the props, and then covered by translucent and colourful clothes. Numerous members had their hands burnt trying to stick the foams together.
Pulling and sticking the foams to the bamboo frames with the correct strength can enhance the visual impact of the props.
With my technical educations background. As I used to work as a welder, welding gates and windows etc and also as a printer in a major newspaper company. My experiences and skills were able to put into good use. I am able to make full use of my skills, which I perfected for practicing setting the printing rollers in Singapore Press Holdings for many years.
I used to practice hours and hours setting, the printing rollers accurately by pulling 2 piece of papers out from 2 printing rollers from both sides, as critical skills were needed to set the rollers accurately for the printing operations. Click View Blog machinery
During the Chingay Parade rehearsals numerous props were brought back with the synthetic foams sagging, as it was not properly pulled to the right amount of strength and glued to the bamboo frames.
It's very difficult to glue it to the frames, lots of fingers were burned, trying to stick and pull the odd shaped synthetic materials tight to the frames and hold on it for some times, until it stick tight to the bamboo frames, with the hot glue on it is a challenge. As the foams take some time to dry and stick to the bamboo frames.
My innovations in double secured the bamboo flames by using the hot glue guns and strings make the props not to run out of shapes and able to carry heavy internal lightings.
To bring out the best possible visual effects impact of the props. When the perfomers dances at night.
When gluing the foams, it need to stretch it tight to the best possible limits, so that to allow the best possible penetrative effects of the lightning systems, inside the props.
The stretching of the foam couldn't be too tight as it will not stick to the frame and could be too loose, if not later it will sagged after some usages.
As time was short, which left one day only to redo the props. I got to muster all my years of skills and experiences rushing from morning, till night to completely redo all the props, cutting, pulling and glued the props back to the correct strength for the grand finale. With the help of other Props group members.
Innovations in prop-making
Because of my skills transferred from the pulling out of papers from the printing rollers, I am able to meet these challenges, to the stretching of the foam to the right tightness, which enhanced the overall appearance and special visual effects of the lightnings. Click here to see more of my innovations.
Lot of satisfactions, they were so impressed & fascinated with the effects of the props, it were displayed in the temple for months after the performance.
The tightness of the foams, the multi-colours & the blinking of the lights inside the props made it a extraordinary sights to view.
Thanks to the co-operations of different individuals to make it a success.
