Definition and Usage of Cyclorama in Theater and Film
– A cyclorama is a large curtain or wall positioned at the back of the stage, often concave.
– It forms the background of the stage and can encircle or partially enclose it.
– Popularized in 19th-century German theater, cycloramas are still commonly used in theaters worldwide.
– They can be made of unbleached canvas, muslin, filled scrim, or seamless translucent plastic.
– Traditionally, cycloramas are hung flat and stretched on the sides for a smooth surface.
Cycloramas in Photography
– In photography, cycloramas are also used as curving backdrops.
– They are usually white to create the illusion of no background or green for chroma keying.
– Infinity cycloramas are curved smoothly at the bottom to meet the studio floor, creating the illusion of an infinite space.
– Careful lighting and seamless joints enhance the illusion of continuity.
– Cycloramas are versatile tools for creating different looks and effects in photography.
Creating Illusions with Cycloramas in Theater
– Cycloramas are often used to create the illusion of a sky onstage.
– Lighting designers can achieve various looks by adjusting equipment, intensity, color, and patterns.
– Cycloramas can be front lit or backlit using translucent and seamless material.
– Pairing a cyclorama with a sharkstooth scrim backdrop can enhance the illusion of depth.
– Dark or black scrims can absorb extraneous light and create deeper colors on the cyclorama.
Decorative Uses of Cycloramas in Theater
– Occasionally, cycloramas may be painted with decorative or pictorial scenes for specific shows.
– These painted cycloramas are commonly referred to as backdrops.
– Backdrops can enhance the visual storytelling and set the mood of a performance.
– They are versatile and can be used in various theatrical productions.
– Cycloramas provide a canvas for artistic expression and set design in theater.
Related Topics and References
– See also: Cyclorama Building, Boston.
– Cycloramas are closely related to stage lighting and are often used in conjunction with it.
– Striplights are commonly used to illuminate cycloramas.
– Theater drapes and stage curtains are also important elements in stage design.
– References: The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre, edited by Phyllis Hartnoll, 1972. ISBN 0192811029. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclorama_(theater)
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2020) |
In theater and film, a cyclorama (abbreviated cyc in the U.S., Canada, and the UK) is a large curtain or wall, often concave, positioned at the back of the apse. It often encircles or partially encloses the stage to form a background. It was popularized in the German theater of the 19th century and continues in common usage today in theaters throughout the world. It can be made of unbleached canvas (larger versions) or muslin (smaller versions), filled scrim (popularized on Broadway in the 20th century), or seamless translucent plastic (often referred to as "Opera Plastic"). Traditionally it is hung at 0% fullness (flat). When possible, it is stretched on the sides and weighted on the bottom to create a flat and even surface. As seams tend to interrupt the smooth surface of the cyclorama, it is usually constructed from extra-wide material.
In photography, cycloramas or cycs also refer to curving backdrops which are white to create the illusion of no background, or green for chroma keying.
An infinity cyclorama (found particularly in television and in film stills studios) is a cyc which curves smoothly at the bottom to meet the studio floor, so that with careful lighting and the corner-less joint, the illusion that the studio floor continues to infinity can be achieved.
Cycloramas are often used to create the illusion of a sky onstage. By varying the equipment, intensity, color and patterns used, a lighting designer can achieve many varied looks. A cyclorama can be front lit or, if it is constructed of translucent and seamless material, backlit directly or indirectly with the addition of a white "bounce" drop. To achieve the illusion of extra depth, often desirable if one is re-creating a sky, the cyclorama can be paired with a "sharkstooth scrim" backdrop. A dark or black scrim, by absorbing the extraneous light which is commonly reflected off the floor of the stage can further achieve deeper colors on the cyclorama. Cycloramas are also often illuminated during dance concerts to match the mood of a song.
Occasionally, the cyc may be painted with a decorative or pictorial scene to fit a specific show; these are generally referred to as backdrops.
