Making miniature versions of GOBO lighting

Following on from my previous post, it became evident that by shining a LED torch underneath a stencil created a clear and poignant image behind the model. This could easily be hidden from the voyeur to disillusion them to where it is coming from. For the purpose of this experiment I used a torch app on my smartphone. Although effective, If i were to do something similar in my final major or separate future personal project, I would most definitely explore permanent lighting fixtures into the set. On the other hand, having a light which wasn't fixed meant I could control the distance between the light and the stencil, this could create a varied photo shoot of large, small, dark and faded shadows. What I have built is essentially a makeshift GOBO light. At the beginning of the project I actually discussed the possibility of designing GOBO stencils or projected images to be shown on the backdrop of the set. But due to the uncertainty of this being able to happen both myself and set designer decided not to go forward with the idea. It seems ironic that I have gone down this same path again.

For the shadow images, i tried to choose strong symbols that fitted with the scenes they cast over. Some worked such as the simple sail form, whereas others such as the anchor/chandelier didn't. I think the reason being, the shadows outside of the model box helps the audience differentiate between interior and exterior as the image of a window would. 

I also experimented with type as a stencil. This proved quite difficult to cut as the type needed to small to project the shadows well. This was to go along with the letter scene. I also made up a stencil with 'persuasion' within it. This is would help would help create a proposed image for a poster. 

The above two images present another stencil I tried out. It was an extension of the simple ship sail stencil I had already made. I felt like the ship needed some context seeing as the Bath scene had a city line shadow. I had the idea to incorporate the image of the cobb at Lyme Regis. An iconic image for the location as well as a key image for the novel itself (one of the character falls of the steps of the cobb).

My favourite out of the gobo stencils has to be the bath scene. Even though compared to the other stencils, its stencil isn't much of a masterpiece, I think it generally frames the model box really well.