OT: Rear projection screen/projectors

smhontz wrote on 5/20/2013, 6:39 PM
Does anybody have recommendations/experience about portable rear-projection screens and projectors? I'm working with an actor on a one-man show that we'd like to incorporate video (edited with Vegas, of course!) projected behind him.

I've used regular video projectors and front-projection screens, but I don't know if you need something special either screen-wise or projector-wise if you are doing rear projection.

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/20/2013, 8:45 PM
A rear one needs to flip the image so it will appear properly. Can't help on screens though. At work we have an old tarp (originally was ~1/2 the size of a full gymnasium) cut to ~ 20x10. It's hung from the ceiling and it just so happens you can use a rear projection projector on it.
Woodenmike wrote on 5/21/2013, 11:02 AM
the company AVForSale on EBay usually has a selection of used projection screens available, although I just checked and they don't have any right now. Read their condition reports VERY carefully as well as the descriptions before committing to buy...I have come to trust their descriptions and condition reports, but it is easy to gloss over a detail. The large screens they carry are from trade show rental companies and they usually have a selection of rear screens to choose from (again, not at this time). I have used silk panels in a medium weight hung on a pipe edge to edge for performances and it projects rear or front with equally good results. The panels will move a bit as actors/dancers move about the space, but I find that to be a plus, adding a bit of 3D motion to the projection. If you are doing this for theatre, your lighting needs to be shuttered off the screen surface by a couple of feet or else the images will get washed out by the lighting. you will also need a significant amount of space behind your projection surface to place the projector un less you have a very short throw lens with strong keystone adjustments. Once you get into this, you will find that it can be addictive to use video with performance!