Using a rear projection system will be best.....shorter throw and the video information will be behind the actors. I don't do this type of work so I can't really suggest a make and model.

Good luck.

not to sure on size....but big enough....maybe...20 - 25ft wide (16:9)...rear projection impossible due to location of screen. And most likely will be renting because 2 projectors are needed

jeremiah

also...the screens are on the side of the stage, so stage action has no interference with the screen.

if there is (a lot) stage lighting - you will need 7000lm to 10,000lm+ projectors ..

if completely controlled lighting - you can get away with as little as 5000lm for 20ft and 7000lm for 25 for a very good image ..

5000lm projectors are common and dual stacking these might be most cost effective ..

christie, Barco , Digital Projection would be the main brands to look for in this size in DLP .. I prefer Digital Projection and Barco .. both will have lens for this throw for almost all their models in the staging lines .. and these projectors are easy to rent - see staging companies.

You can rent a WATCHOUT system (it is PC based and designed for this type of thing) to play all your clips or play them off a PC, though I prefer a hardware solution as more robust... Ideally a QuVis system for playback - or an 'alcorn mcbride' HD unit .. both can play clips called up over serial control (real easy to set up) or be run by a show controller ..

or just use 2 (or more) PCs and a component switcher to switch between them (cue up clips on each on a local monitor and use video out component (ati card) to play to switcher... you dont need anything more than Media Player Classic to do this (works perfect and easy to set up - you can even set up playlists in advance) ..

Use a Video DA ... and get the projectors up high shooting down towards the screen (if at all possable (even if you have to adjust some keystone)) or at least straight on ..


contact me if you need more info - i set up these all the time on about the same size to much much larger screens ..

I rented a 5k Sony VPL-FX51 projector this past weekend for a commercial. We were projecting in a outdoor parking lot, with parking lot lights, lighting for a car (10k HMI), people and the image was being projected on a rough tan wall. The image still looked pretty good. I think the unit sells for 8-10K. The rental fee seems to vary. In Hawaii one vendor wanted $1500 for a day. But luckily I was able to find someone who was willing to give me a student rate, and he only charged $350 for the night. But I am sure that is well below what he usually charges.

Gabe

Sony VPL-FX51 is a low end old model LCD projector --- tolerable maybe for computer screen projection at a meeting or trade show ..


but true - it is cheap ..

B JM -

Any suggestions on where to rent? I looked at the QuVis stuff and it looks like what I need. More specifically the QuBit DS. How much do you think the QuBit DS and two HD projectors would run a night for rental. Would actually have to be a permanent setup for about 2 months.

thanks
Jeremiah

I do not know where you are located - so hard to say where to rent .. though companies like AVW are all over the USA and Canada .

the QuVis - you should contact them where to rent, they might do so - ive only bought them ...
I do a lot of encoding for them though - if you need some done.

2 months rental -- ouch ... you will get usually 4 weeks for 3 weeks of rental, for two months you will have to negotiate .... you would be tying up inventory for 8 weeks that they can not rent at a higher amount ... AND using a lot of lamp life - which you will have to pay for i bet (which can run to many 1000's $ right there for lamps) ..

because of the length of time - you will have to par down your requirements somewhat in on a budget .. as going with single chip HO DLP (5000lm each) or lower cost 3 chip DLP (5000lm also) instead of big DP Lighting type staging projectors ..

B JM,
To be honest, I don't know too much about projectors. The church (where all this will take place) I attend already has three projectors for three screens, they're ok projectors, abotu $20,000 each, however, this current project i'm shooting will be in HDV. My only conern is that the videos will be projected with good quality and properly in the 16:9 format. The production we just finished contained some of my video work and it looked fuzzy on the screens and the computer we used couldn't handle the 23.97 frame rate for some reason. I understand that the size of the screen has some effect.
Anyway, just not sure if the current projectors will project decent images of my HDV footage or if i should continue looking into these other projection system which i know nothing of.
P.S. - i'm located in fayetteville, nc :o)

thanks for your help
jeremiah

Tons of info at the AVS Forum. They are primarily oriented towards home theater, but they have an entire section oriented towards "low cost" (under $3,000) projectors.

Here's the link:

AVS Projector Forum

well many projectors still have 4:3 panels .... you either use only part of the panel or use a anamorphic adapter ..

If it is "fuzzy" looking - i wonder if the projectors are properly set up - or they may be older technology LCD perhaps (or even crt?) .. Though this is not an uncommon complaint. What model are they ? (note - this can even be due to the screen being used).

as for the computer not handling the 23.97 frame rate - in which type of compression were you using ?

Raleigh, NC is not far from you (I will not make any 'cape fear' comments about fayetteville) - you may be able to get a dealer to do a demo of a system to compare ..

haha...thanks for holding back on those 'cape fear' comments :o)

The 23.97 footage was pulled off a dvd made in dvda2 using the dvd architect 24p setting in vegas

What would you recommend as far as a 16:9 screen. What certain things should I look for?

I'll have to get back to you on the model of the current projectors.

Thanks so much for your help. It's really nice talking with someone who knows what they're talking about. I promise I won't bother you for much longer.

Jeremiah

just a high quality good screen - on the AVS forums they are gungho on stewart grayhawk screens, though in the film industry, we dont like them as they do a number to the contrast and a slight color change (they are good screens though, more a high end home screen)

any good screen from stewart, harkness or MSI will do you well --- (i.e - those are the ones used for jumbo large screen (primarily only harkness and MSI) high end image projection) ..

the gain and surface treatment depends entirely on the room (lighting) and angle of view (and projector type) ..

stewart is a seamless screen, the other two are seamed - for front screen projection, it is not as critical which is used as the seams they do are invisible unless you were REALLY close to the screen ...

B JM

I found out that the projectors we use are EIKI LCX 70 projectors. Says it can handle 1080i, but the appear to be LCD. Guess I'll have to make some compromises.

jeremiah