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SFX: Size Doesn't Matter
Peter Wood, owner of Shazam Magic, was included in the feature story of DramaBiz magazine's April, 2008 edition. In an article concerning special effects design in small theater spaces, Peter shares some examples from his theatrical endeavors where size constraints had to be overcome to achieve the desired effect. Many times utilizing his background of magical principles, Peter enjoys the challenges of designing special effects for film and stage.
“It wasn't difficult to think of effects I've created in cramped spaces,” Peter said, “because the majority of venues I've worked have been on the small side, especially in college with a 13-foot ceiling.”
In the article, writer Allan T. Duffin notes:
“While small performance spaces require creativity and improvisation on the part of the SFX designer, sometimes a stage can be too large. During a production that featured Dr. Seuss musical numbers, 'I decided that many scenes would put a black art environment to good use,' says Wood, 'but our budget wasn’t big enough to bathe the entire stage in ultraviolet light.' His solution was a black art 'window,' approximately eight feet square, which was cut into the set upstage center. Behind this archway was a black curtain; the entire frame was lined with fluorescent ultraviolet lights on the upstage side.
“But even in this comparatively generous space, Wood was faced with space restrictions: 'When the script called for the Lorax to fly away, we built a large rolling rig and covered it in black cloth, which was invisible to the audience. In this case, the width of the stage was a limitation.' ”
Magician Peter Wood holds a technical theatre degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with an emphasis on lighting and scenic design. For his full theatrical resume and portfolio, visit PeterWoodProductions.com
In addition to his freelance work, Peter is a professional magician in the Maryland area, and together with his brother Matt Wood make up Shazam Magic. Entertaining at corporate events, fairs, and birthday parties since 1994, the Wood brothers offer a unique blend of magic and comedy.