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  • How do we do flying actors???

    Hey everyone,

    First off - I hope everyone had a great 2012 season.

    Second - our haunt took a trip to Netherworld the last night they were open this year, and we saw they have a couple of flying actors. I also know some of the other big haunts do this as well...my question is - how is this done? Is there a company that sells the necessary rigging/harness/cables? Or do you have to make it yourself? If it is a company, who makes it? If you have to do it yourself; does anyone have some tips/hints/templates?

    Thanks a lot! And here is to a great 2013!

    Colie Stancil

    Deceased Farm - Lexington, SC

  • #2
    Flying Actors

    I'm not sure how the big guys do it, but as a Theatre professional first and a Haunter second, I would HIGHLY recommend you hire a professional rigger who is certified to do any flying of props and especially actors. There are also two major companies that fly people in the US, zfx and flying by foy. I prefer zfx. I think you should give them a call and explain what you are wanting to do and they can point you in the best/safest direction. There is a great potential for injury to your actors/audience as well as for liability. I would really recommend you ask the pros for help on this one.

    randy

    Comment


    • #3
      flying rigs

      Netherworld introduced me to the flying actor rig. I helped install an "I" beam that used a trolley and chain. The actor just hung with a harness and flew from one end to another. At the time, about 6 years ago, this was safe and effective. Since then I have seen actors fly on thick cables stretched from one wall to another. Please don't do that unless you know your cables, and even then, there are better ways. I strung up an actor using a barn door track. Video below. This worked well and inspired other haunters to add it to their haunts. The wire I used was the black aircraft cable. If you use this version, please make sure there is a good daily inspection of the cable and rig.
      I would say that if your funds allow it, go for the I-beam. You can make a quiet trolly that will do what you need.

      FYI: I drew plans to get the wall-walking rig made where the actor walks around the room. I am trying to get Larry at the Darkness make it happen. If he does, the rig, will replace all the above.



      http://youtu.be/LebF7mHDV8k

      Andrew
      RIP

      ~The Imagineer~

      Andrew de Ruiter

      Download part 1 of Andrew's Black Book of ideas for haunts here:
      http://www.epubbud.com/book.php?g=EGQDK8HZ

      Comment


      • #4
        I love this!! I would love more information how you were able to rig this guy up to do this.
        Is this a product I may buy or is it a build?

        Comment


        • #5
          Go "Green", "Organic"!

          Baked beans, tacos.. cleared for take off!
          The illusion of flight may be accomplished as the audience faints, passes out from your fumes, you will seem to be rising up as they fall down.
          Recently Penny Marshall ("Lavern & Shirely") told how when they had her "flying" something came loose and she hit the concrete hard and could not work for several days.
          Like the old saying"People can drown in an inch of water", as applied to falling the same extreme may hold true.
          I personally would be and remain THE MOST impressed if someone was "Flying" and made to seem to be a very LARGE person which would really make them wonder, now wouldn't it?
          hauntedravensgrin.com

          Comment


          • #6
            very cool

            Man that is cool... I might have to steal that idea from you... can you give me more details on the rig and track...

            Thanks

            Geoff

            Originally posted by imagineer View Post
            Netherworld introduced me to the flying actor rig. I helped install an "I" beam that used a trolley and chain. The actor just hung with a harness and flew from one end to another. At the time, about 6 years ago, this was safe and effective. Since then I have seen actors fly on thick cables stretched from one wall to another. Please don't do that unless you know your cables, and even then, there are better ways. I strung up an actor using a barn door track. Video below. This worked well and inspired other haunters to add it to their haunts. The wire I used was the black aircraft cable. If you use this version, please make sure there is a good daily inspection of the cable and rig.
            I would say that if your funds allow it, go for the I-beam. You can make a quiet trolly that will do what you need.

            FYI: I drew plans to get the wall-walking rig made where the actor walks around the room. I am trying to get Larry at the Darkness make it happen. If he does, the rig, will replace all the above.



            http://youtu.be/LebF7mHDV8k

            Andrew

            Comment


            • #7
              Andrew that's an incredible rig!

              Could you post a how-to or a parts list??

              Total hats off to you for it!

              Comment


              • #8
                The wall walker rig

                The wall walker rig is a simple barndoor track. They can be found at most farm supply stores and even some hardware stores. The one in the picture (and video) is 18 feet long. There are mounting brackets that are sold specifically for the track.
                track2.jpg track1.jpg

                I built the uprights out of doubled 2x4s they were 14 tall. I screwed them into the wall and then screwed them into the concrete floor. Lastly I ran supports running across the top, all on the backside of the wall.

                2010-09-20 11.29.58.jpg


                2010-09-20 12.37.27.jpg

                2010-09-07 16.46.38.jpg

                I will post more pictures in next post.
                RIP

                ~The Imagineer~

                Andrew de Ruiter

                Download part 1 of Andrew's Black Book of ideas for haunts here:
                http://www.epubbud.com/book.php?g=EGQDK8HZ

                Comment


                • #9
                  the wall walking rig #2

                  The harness used came from from the same company that made the flying rig for the broadway play Peter Pan. It holds a wire on either side (or both). A simple push of the pin and u are free or connected.

                  2010-10-04 16.21.54.jpg

                  I think the company was called Z rigs (or something similar). The wire used was black air craft cable. I built it all to hold 500 pounds just to be sure.
                  -Instead of using a barndoor, use a small metal rod about 12 inches long. Weld the two wheel brackes to this bar drill a hole through the bar or weld a metal ring to hold the cable.

                  The track is not too expensive. the don't look like they support much, but if you have a barn, you know those suckers can hold up a lot of weight. The wire is not a bad expense either. The harness put us back about $5,000. But it was worth it for safety.

                  Hope that helps.
                  If any other haunters are interested in the more advanced track rig and willing to make one, send me an email.

                  Andrew
                  Attached Files
                  RIP

                  ~The Imagineer~

                  Andrew de Ruiter

                  Download part 1 of Andrew's Black Book of ideas for haunts here:
                  http://www.epubbud.com/book.php?g=EGQDK8HZ

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    harness?

                    please tell me you hit the 0 button too many times on the harness price
                    Joe Phillips
                    The Shallow Grave
                    Winter Haven FL
                    http://www.theshallowgrave.com/

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      That is awesome!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Joe P View Post
                        please tell me you hit the 0 button too many times on the harness price
                        LMAO!!! I thought the SAME thing !!!
                        O'Shawn McClendon
                        Creative Chair -- Operator: Cayce-West Columbia Hall of Horrors

                        One mans junk is another mans kick-ass new prop...

                        http://www.hallofhorrors.com

                        http://twitter.com/hallofhorrors

                        http://cwchallofhorrors.blogspot.com

                        http://www.youtube.com/hallofhorrors

                        http://www.myspace.com/cwcjc_hallofhorrors

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Try looking at zip lines suppliers. You can get the harness at a fraction of the price.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            harness is expensive

                            The harness we bought was expensive and I wish there was an accidental "0" added. We got the harness anyway. Better safe and all that...
                            I will say that from the same company, you can order a harness with only one hook-up instead of two. We never used the left side anyway. We figured on moving the illusion to a new location in the haunt so there might be a chance we needed it. Still, if you can find a harness cheep, get it.

                            Please remember to use caution with this. 2 years after I left the Hex House, there was supposed to be daily inspections and a replacement of the wire each season. Well, there was not and the wire snapped. The actor fell and was injured. So, use the right wire (ours held 400 pounds) and inspect it daily. Replace every season.
                            RIP

                            ~The Imagineer~

                            Andrew de Ruiter

                            Download part 1 of Andrew's Black Book of ideas for haunts here:
                            http://www.epubbud.com/book.php?g=EGQDK8HZ

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wire weight limits

                              Hey guys, thought I'd chime in again here. Couple of VERY general rules about ANYTHING flying - at least in the theatre biz. If it falls and won't kill you, use a safety factor of 5x. If it falls and it can kill you, use a safety factor of 10x. In other words, a 30# curtain should be hung by something with a working load limit of at least 150#, and a piece of scenery, or a person should be rigged with something 10x. Like a 200# piece of scenery should be rigged with something with a working load limit of 2000#. You cannot be too safe when you are flying someone or something. And, every rigger I know will only use equipment marked and made in the USA. Some of the stuff from China is much less expensive, but they don't trust the real WLL's of it, since there is less oversight in the manufacturing and testing processes. I don't mean to be a pest, but in my business, this is one of the most dangerous aspects of what we do, so I thought I'd share some of what I know.

                              BTW - that barn door rig looks super cool!

                              Randy

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