Set construction HOW TO

[DaddyfromNaboo]

<div class='quotetop'>(stonky @ Jun 24 2006, 12:17 PM) [snapback]1267206[/snapback]</div>

The only downside to MDF is it's weight - it's incredibly heavy. However, there is no grain or crown to deal with, so it's kinda 50/50.
[/b]

Yeah, I did a set two years ago with MDF boards, 12mm strong, 1,60mx3m in size, lowbudget production, not enough workforce, no forklift, no crane. That really was a pain to move them around.

The advantage was their price and construction speed against classic framework walls.

And regarding details on film, it is correct that it depends on lighting conditions, too, but I assure you that the finer details (i.e. brush strokes, wood grain etc.) definitely get lost in the end. Even worse on TV-shows, b/c the bad res. And of course 16mm.

It is true that 35mm captures a lot of detail in a very well lit set. But still, the film stock lets you get away with a lot of cheating that the human eye doesn´t tolerate.

Totally OT here, but there are going to be a lot of problems when the movie industry switches over to fully digital, since the rule of thumb there is "what you see with the naked eye, you see on film", if it is replayed on HD equipment. I am curious how this will affect production design department budgets.

And in addition, what do you think we will notice once the OT has been transferred to HD ? If they don´t do a lot of digital cleaning, I think we are in for a few things or examples of fine 1970ies craftsmanship

Michael

 

[Darthmagpie]

I like the idea of using a low cost plastic like Styrene as a skin. What about Sintra isn't that even cheeper?

Great point ManfromNaboo, HD effects a lot of stuff. Most notably make up, you can't cake it on. I have a 62" HD and there are a lot of "good looking" people on film with heavy make up hiding acne and flaws.

 

[vistaVision]

<div class='quotetop'>(Darthmagpie @ Jun 24 2006, 08:59 AM) [snapback]1267238[/snapback]</div>

I like the idea of using a low cost plastic like Styrene as a skin. What about Sintra isn't that even cheeper?
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Sintra should work well. In my area, styrene sheet is more readily available, in more thickness varieties.
I am also more familiar with it's working characteristics; very easy to score and snap clean "cuts," easily bonded to itself with MEK, easy to paint, etc.

Sintra is a form of PVC, you can "weld bond" it with PVC cement. I don't know how well it takes paint, but I think it might be more stable over time than sytrene... I'm sure someone with more PVC/Sintra experience can provide better guidance. Might also be more expensive than styrene, that's been my experience.

Marcus

 

[Great_Bizarro]

Sintra is nice stuff, you just have to watch what solvents are in the paint you use on it and don't breathe the dust from it when cutting sanding etc.. I used it for lots of indoor signage and solid pvc for outdoor. Sintra has a tendency to warp when it gets in the hot sun and pull away from what ever it is mounted to. I have been told that if you seal the edges of it it won't have that problem.