ABSTRACT
Mechanical effects are designed and built into physical scenery. Squibs or bullet hits, fire, smoke, steam, breakaway and crumbling scenery walls, all types of explosions, water, rigging for tanks or pools for underwater work, rain, snow, wind, electronics, mold making for retractable weaponry and breakaways, moving set pieces, i.e., centrifuges and gimbals, use of air cannons, rigging for accidents, crashes, near misses, flying rigs, and vehicles are basic items on a mechanical effects to-do-list. The coordination of draftsmen, construction foremen, and effects foremen is where an art director’s participation can be an asset. More complicated sets requiring involved mechanical effects attention should always be at the top of an art director’s scenery-to-design-and-build lists, next to other more involved, challenging scenery demanding a longer timeline for completion.
