Tips for Projecting onto Fog
Make it Sparkle Video with Price Johnston
Professional Projection Designer
9:23 (runtime)
Director’s Notes
Professional projection designer Price Johnston discusses the effectiveness of projecting onto fog for special effects, using the ghost from 'Hamlet' as an example.
A geyser can generate a lot of fog for projecting onto, which, when confined to a specific space, can produce detailed human forms.
He recommends using fog curtains for wider effects, which can be made using computer fans, though he warns of the need to manage the water component involved.
Price highlights Disney's successful use of water and fog projections, suggesting theater projection designers to think beyond the stage for inspiration.
He explains the technicalities of projecting onto fog, such as the angle of light, projector placement, and the importance of testing with the costume and actor.
The process involves multiple steps, including video sequence creation, background removal, and alignment with the plot arc, but when executed well, it can create effective, brief, and recognizable effects.
About Price Johnston
Price Johnston’s career in design has spanned theatre, dance, and opera in both the U.S. and abroad. With work in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Moscow, Athens (Greece), London, Atlanta, St. Petersburg (Russia), and Denver, he has designed over 180 productions. His credits include: the world premiere of Jomandi Productions’ Lavender Lizards Lilac Landmines: Layla’s Dream by Tony nominated playwright Ntozake Shange (14th Street Playhouse, Atlanta, Ga. and the 2004 National Black Theatre Festival), the Off-Broadway production of Two Rooms (Trilogy Theatre, New York), Guys and Dolls (2000 British Tour), and the world premieres of Huckleberry Finn: The Musical, and A Southern Christmas Carol (Cotton Hall Theatre), written by award-winning playwright/director Rob Lauer. Other design credits include American Buffalo, Oh What a Lovely War, Assassins, The World Goes Round, and Never Enough, choreographed by Shapiro and Smith (Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.), Company, Art, The Complete History of America Abridged (Greenshoe Theatre Company), Swamp Gravy: Down at the Depot “Georgia’s Official Folk Life Play” (Cotton Hall Theatre), Clue: The Musical, The Miracle Worker, Lighting Director for Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, Maine), Sabrina Fair, Hamlet (1990 American College Theatre Festival Nominee), Janis Brenner’s Lost/Found/Lost (Isadora Duncan International Dance Festival – Kransnoyarsk, Russia), The 2008 Jeff Award-Winning Production of 1776 (Chopin Theatre – Chicago), Passiones (Athenaeum Theatre – Chicago), Lighting/Sound/Video supervisor for the international touring dance company David Dorfman Dance: Underground, The Pee-Wee Herman Show (Club Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Moscow Cosmos Theatre/St. Petersburg Music Hall, Russia), and the Chicago premiere of I Sing! (Chicago Playwright Theatre). Price has also served as Production Manager for Live Design International (LDI), the LDI Conference – LDInstitute and Live Design Broadway Training and Masters Classes (Lighting, Concert Sound and Projection Design). His recent work includes the 2015 Drama Desk Award Nominated - Best Projection Design - Donogoo (The Mint Theatre, Off-Broadway - New York), Young Frankenstein The Musical (Union Colony Civic Center Theatre - Greeley, Colo.), the World Premieres of Eh Joe and Beckett’s Women (2015 Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival - Enniskillen, Ireland) and The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway (Stephen Sondheim Theatre - New York). Price holds a M.F.A in Lighting Design from the University of Florida, and a Bachelors Degree in Theatrical Design from Colorado Mesa University. He is a member of USITT and the iDMAA.