Eiffel Tower lit using Proteus Hybrid for Bastille Day celebration

An interview of the men behind the lighting design of the Eiffel Tower during Bastille Day.
Every year on July 14, France is adorned in its most beautiful colors to celebrate the Republic and to a lesser extent to commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789. Of course, the Eiffel Tower forms a magnificent backdrop for a grand fireworks display.

Tightest zoom and beam reducer games depending on the shooting levels to sculpt the light of the Proteus. © CQLP

The task of the lighting designer is to ensure that the Eiffel Tower, located at the heart of the pyrotechnics, remains visible across Paris and does not get lost in the fiery display. Projecting light in daylight-type conditions is not that easy, as you might expect. Yannick Duc and Maxime Raffin of Expert Event, led by Emmanuel “Manu” Pouget, reveal their secrets and above all their thoughts behind this memorable occasion.

(from left to right) Yannick Duc, Emmanuel Pouget and Maxime Raffin. A great understanding which gradually led Yannick, Manu and Maxime to work together on this project.

The Show


SLU : Maxime, how did you come to work on this project with Yannick?

Maxime Raffin : It’s thanks to Manu, the manager at Expert Events. We had already worked together on the lighting of the Eiffel Tower in 2011. At that time, this was one of my first major projects but I had already been able to come up with a few ideas and one thing led to another, we were again chosen in 2019 and then again in 2021. We are starting to be a little more experienced and Yannick is the director of photography.

The 79 Proteus Hybrid Elation installed on the Trocadéro side.

Following our experience in 2019, we chose to specify 188 Elation Proteus Hybrid IP65 luminaires (fitted with a Philips MSD Platinum 21R 470W lamp) to project maximum light effects without having to protect them. We could have used other projectors protected by transparent coverings but at the risk of creating a double reflection and artefacts on the beam. In addition, this very powerful projector was available in large quantities.

SLU : So your choice was a trade-off between power and quantity?

Maxime Raffin : Yes, because previously we had installed 69 devices on the ground, but there was a lack of luminous intensity. Today there are 158 on the ground : 79 on the Trocadéro side and 79 on the École Militaire side. But in total, 188 Elation Proteus Hybrid IP65 projectors were deployed for this project.

In total, 188 Elation Proteus Hybrid IP 65 projectors will have been deployed for this project.

The difficulty with this project is that, although the fixture may be very powerful, the proximity means that we lose surface reflection. There are ways to improve this point by moving the fixtures back, but we are limited by the public on one side and the shadows cast from the lampposts located on a bridge on the other side. Furthermore, the fireworks are very imposing and the Tower tends to disappear as night turns to day and the beams struggle to impose themselves.


Different tilt settings to cover the entire surface of the tower.


The Eiffel Tower illuminated precisely to the top. © CQLP

SLU : How did you coordinate with the David Proteau team from Ruggieri, who were in charge of the fireworks?

Maxime Raffin : The fireworks are timecoded and therefore we also had to be in sync. David gives the instruction to Yannick Duc who follows it to the millimeter. We could switch to manual for fun, but it wouldn’t really matter.

Our show has a lot of effects. Yannick detailed all the titles of the soundtrack to mark the different rhythms or atmospheres like the bells on the song “Aerodynamic” by Daft Punk or on “Think” by Aretha Franklin, which we illustrated in green after having debated on the best color to represent freedom.

In the end, David Proteau, the designer for the fireworks, decided on green. Conversely, there are times when the light becomes more discreet and simple so as not to steal the show.

SLU : How did the creative phase go?

Maxime Raffin : We only learned two weeks ago that we had been chosen for this project. Normally, we have more time to prepare and with the CQLP Awards taking place simultaneously in addition to other sites we were working on, it was really a lot, hence the dark circles under my eyes today (laughs). So we worked together with Yannick who has a console at home and I have to say that he did it. He’s a very good one; he has magic fingers.


The Proteus hybrid with their beam, spot and wash functions meet all of Maxime and Yannick’s lighting needs. © CQLP

The align function  on grandMA2 allow Yannick to simulate video effects on the Eiffel Tower. ©CQLP


SLU : What visualization software did you work on?

Maxime Raffin : We work with Wysiwyg. Yannick prepares reference points and then we tap on the tower, at precise points and in tight bundles, to install our show. For this project, we installed a control point at the foot of the Eiffel Tower on either side and a third at the Trocadéro. A triangle fiber optic network connects consoles and projectors located on the ground, first and second floors. This network is redundant in the event that one of the sides is interrupted.

Wysiwyg 3D of the show


Emmanuel « Manu » Pouget : We have a global system, that is to say optical fiber, which is distributed from the Trocadéro to the end of the Champ-de-Mars and which returns to complete redundancy. That is to say that all the stations, all the places where there is a console, amps, nodes for light, intercoms, benefit from a fiber box.

Emmanuel Pouget debriefs with Simon Chartier, the sound manager.

Looping makes it possible. For example, if one of the fiber segments was torn off by a truck or if one of the fiber boxes were to have a problem, the signal keeps flowing.

The consoles are also redundant so if you lose one, the other takes over and they communicate together to the NPU using the MA-Net protocol. Finally, all the projectors are controlled in Artnet and connected to the nodes in standard DMX.


SLU : Was this choice of fiber due to the distance involved?

Manu : Yes. Today, with such a distance, there is not really a choice even if we did do otherwise 15 years ago with the problems that it caused. This is almost plug-and-play with a little upstream configuration. Once we connect to the network, we send the profiles to all the workstations and it works instantly.
The big advantage of fiber is that it can carry all the signals over a single cable. We can then control the amplifiers, send Dante for sound, MA Net for light, we have a dedicated port for HF Bolero intercoms, with one antenna per floor of the Eiffel Tower, one further down and one at the Trocadero.


Maxime Raffin very attentive in front of his console while waiting for the start of the show which will be punctuated by a wave of explosions above his Algeco.

SLU : It must be nice to light up such a monument, it’s one of the emblems of Paris.

Maxime Raffin : We are still just as passionate and attentive, whether it is for the Eiffel Tower or for another building. But it is true that the Tower is different because it is not made up of solid surfaces. The arches create shadows and from the helicopter views you can watch the beams pass through; it’s visually interesting.

Yannick has managed to achieve quite interesting effects, sometimes with the impression that it is moving or falling apart. We’ve even been praised for the quality of the video effects (laughs). There is obviously no video projection but Yannick loves to be extremely precise and so it can give that feeling.
In addition, with the grandMA, “Align” function, which allows you to perform color gradients and alignments of gobos without having to encode the projectors one by one, it is perfectly mastered.


The powerful beams of the Elation Proteus Hybrid, equipped with a Philips MSD Platinum 21R 470 W lamp cover the entire surface of the Eiffel Tower.

SLU : How did the rehearsals go?

Maxime Raffin : There were three days of encoding in Wysiwyg and then we worked 3 nights on site. In addition, the winner of the CQLP Awards, Alexandre Marcadé, had the honor to help design the last title. He was given a base and the instruction “have fun”.
For the finale, the light is not necessarily the most visible but for him it was a great experience and he was like a kid. It’s also a way for us to promote new

(From left to right) Maxime Raffin, Yannick Duc, Emmanuel Pouget, Quentin Douriez, César Féraud and Alexandre Marcadé the winner of the CQLP competition who will have the honor of signing the last title of the show.

SLU : There are also 12 projectors on each side on the first floor and two rows of six fixtures on the second.

Maxime Raffin : These projectors are intended to illuminate the public in beams, to create effects and to illuminate the Eiffel Tower in color. The peculiarity this year is that the fireworks are in front of the fixtures, whereas usually it is the other way around. We therefore raised them a little by installing them on an enormous 20-meter arch, the bridges of which are held by heavy bases.

One of the two lines of 12 Proteus Hybrids on the first floor …

… and 2 x 6 machines on the second floor.


A great show and a great atmosphere within the team. We may know it by heart and see it again and again but the Eiffel Tower never ceases to amaze us, especially when it is adorned with multiple colored dots for Daft Punk, waves on the song “3SEX” by Indochine and Christine and the Queen, or projects her beams in perfect rhythm on “Blinding Lights” by The Weekend.
By the way, speaking of being in perfect rhythm, you have surely noticed that the fireworks also mark the timing. We salute the perfect mastery of David Proteau and his team and cannot wait for next year!

Original French version of interview can be viewed here.


The Eiffel Tower with pretty projections and powerful beams that rival the explosions of fireworks.

Team List

Light & Sound

VANDEWALLE Lionel : Driver
TRIPON Thomas : Light Technician
ROGER Nicolas : Light Technician
BOCHE Patrice : Light Technician
CHAUVIN Quentin : Light Technician
CHARTIER Simon : Head of Sound
GONZALEZ Ronan : Assistant Son
TAIEB Sydney : Sound Assistant
FABUREL Juliette : Light Technician
TRIPON Thomas : Light Technician
BOCHE Patrice : Light Technician
MARTIN Rémi : Light Technician
CHAUVIERE Louis : Light Technician
ROGER Nicolas : Light Technician
BLANCO Matthieu : Light Technician
FIGUEIREDO Jeremy : Light Technician
DEVAUD Fabien : Technicien lumière
GARENNE Martin : Assistant Light Technician
MORGAN Sébastien : Assistant Light Technician
MANKOURI Soyann : Assistant Light Technician

Ruggieri Team Fireworks

PROTEAU David : Artistic Director
GABILAN Jérôme : Technical Director
MARTIEL Florian : Chef de tir

Et voir le Banc d’essais du Proteus Hybrid dans SLU


Fire plan

 

Robe launches CUETE

Robe CUETE

CUETE is the latest moving head spot light fixture from Robe is a perfect compact, high-quality solution for small-to-medium productions, performance spaces or installations.

Robe wants to address some of the demands coming from the lighting professionals with the Cuete.
It’s features, includes a fast pan and tilt movement to match with all genres of electronic music, for highlighting the creative work of DJs and enhancing club environments.

The Cuete, also offers a CMY colour mixing system and an 4,200-lumen output of white light according to the manufacturer.
To achieve this output Cuete utilises Robe’s patented TE 120W White LED Engine which is at the core of the Transferable Engine technology.

The Cuete‘s16-degree fixed beam lens has remote control focus and can be swapped to the optional 24-degree lenses for shorter throw and low ceiling scenarios. Within its small frame, the Cuete is action-packed with Robe innovation.

This includes a CPulse flicker-free management system for setups using HD and UHD cameras, important for live streams / broadcasts; the L3 Low Light Linearity dimming software for super-smooth fades to black and the AirLOC (Less Optical Cleaning) technology which keeps the optical elements in good conditions over long time periods.

Vidéo de Présentation


CUETE Product Video from ROBE lighting on Vimeo.


The fixture’s effects package includes a Colour Wheel with 13 dichroic filters; a Gobo Wheel with 9 fully indexable, rotating, replaceable gobos; a Static Gobo Wheel with 10 fixed gobos including four beam reducers: there is an 8-facet bi-directional rotating prism and a 5-degree frost filter to assist with producing fabulous, smooth even washes.

Robe Cuete color wheel

Robe Cuete fixed gobos

Robe Cuete rotating gobos

With this excellent combination of speed, features, and very small footprint, Robe’s Cuete is also a perfect spot light partner to the just-released LEDBeam 350.


For more info about Robe lighting and their products line, you can visit www.robe.cz and more about Robe Transferable Engine

 

Adam Hall supports Ben Böhmer Livestream

Fynn Kliemann, a famous German YouTuber/musician/jack-of-all-trades is everywhere on YouTube, on TV and since this year also on Netflix.
Together with the no less busy musician & podcaster (“Fest & Flauschig”) Olli Schulz, Kliemann renovated Gunter Gabriel’s old houseboat and lets viewers take part in the project in the streaming provider’s own documentary series.
Already here, Adam Hall supplied sound reinforcement technology from LD Systems for the integrated music studio.

Now the Kliemannsland – the name of the creative and event space in Lower Saxony – has landed another web hit: a livestream with DJ Ben Böhmer (producer and DJ, deep house, progressive house) with 15,000 live viewers – and again a lot of material from Adam Hall was implemented.
Last year, DJ Ben Böhmer played his exclusive sunrise set in a hot air balloon over Turkey, which caused a worldwide sensation. The setting from Kliemannsland was not less innovative, because while Böhmer was DJing, Fynn Kliemann and his team built the “stage” around the DJ. With them: lots of event technology from Cameo, LD Systems, Gravity and Defender.

A total of 14 Cameo ZENIT P100 DTW Outdoor LED PAR spotlights, two ZENIT W600 Outdoor Washlights, three AURO SPOT 300 moving heads as well as two Cameo F4 D Fresnel spotlights with daylight LEDs and a compact F1 T Tungsten spotlight were used for the live stream.

Cameo fog machines also provided a mystic touch to the atmosphere. Since the Kliemannsland is an extensive adventure playground and not a classic event location, cables had to be laid as safely as possible via Defender cable crossovers – and also withstand an errant excavator delivering beer to everyone on the location.

Two LD Systems MAUI 44 G2 column PA systems provided the sound reinforcement for the live act, while two ICOA 12 A active coaxial loudspeakers were used for DJ monitoring in the self-built pulpit.

Whether spotlights, loudspeakers or microphones (LD Systems U508 HHD 2 dual wireless microphone system) – what was not fixed on the floor, on rigs or otherwise, stood on various Gravity tripods.


The complete set “Ben Böhmer Live @ Kliemannsland”


Further information:

kliemannsland.de
ld-systems.com
cameolight.com

adamhall.com
blog.adamhall.com
event.tech

 

Powersoft appoints Akira Mochimaru

Powersoft has confirmed the appointment of Akira Mochimaru to serve as its new global marketing director, effective immediately. His duties in this role will be to connect dots between customers, technology, products, communication, and distribution through strategic business planning and guiding implementation.

Based in the US, he will also coordinate with Powersoft’s operations in New Jersey to help growing the company’s presence in the install market through his knowledge and network of contacts.

Mochimaru has made his move to Powersoft permanent after serving as a consultant for three months. He comes with an outstanding pedigree and track record extending over 38 years in the pro audio industry, including working as general manager for Bose Professional.

“My personal mission is to connect customer experience and products through the use of advanced technology with unique value,” said Mochimaru. “I have already experienced situations where customer problem-driven ideas met a company’s technology driven ideas.
Powersoft has the capability and foundation to convert technologies to solve customers’ problems and improve their experience, so I look forward to working closely with staff across the divisions to develop a plan and execute it with excellence.”

“When I first visited Powersoft’s HQ, I was immediately impressed by their capabilities in testing and the way they ensured product quality remained high throughout the design and manufacturing process. Their combination of innovative thinking and technical excellence made the decision to join Powersoft an easy one, and the trusting relationship I was able to establish straight away with Powersoft’s senior management was very reassuring.”

The new Board featuring Akira Mochimaru standing between Carlo Lastrucci Powersoft’s Chairman on his right and the CEO and CFO Luca Lastrucci.

“We are proud and delighted to have Akira Mochimaru joining our team” said Luca Lastrucci, CEO at Powersoft. “His appointment represents an important step in the process of implementing Powersoft’s strategy of strengthening its presence in the installation sector, especially in specific vertical applications. Akira’s experience will be essential to help us to encompass the current and future needs of the market, by focusing on objectives and defining the products of the future, which will make Powersoft able to maintain a leading role in professional audio.”

Luca Giorgi, Powersoft sales director, added: “Powersoft has been successfully interacting with partners and clients since the beginning; actively listening to their points of view on everything from product design to customer service. Having Akira on board allows us to improve the customer experiences even more, ensuring we always meet their needs and move quickly to solve their common problems.”

More information on the Powersoft website

 

A futuristic Odyssey for Robert Juliat Dalis 860 at Scottish Ballet

Scottish Ballet has recently taken possession of a second consignment of Robert Juliat Dalis 860 cyclorama lights bringing its total inventory to twenty-six. The award-winning Dalis 860 fixtures were supplied quickly and efficiently by Adlib’s Glasgow branch to provide Scottish Ballet with a versatile tool that can adapt to many environments and design requirements.

©Andy-Ross

The upgrading of Scottish Ballet’s lighting systems began with a focus on cyclorama fixtures. “Cyc lighting is a fairly constant requirement at Scottish Ballet, and we don’t anticipate models to change dramatically. We wanted an LED replacement for our existing fixtures that looked the part as well as doing a great job,” explains Scottish Ballet’s Technical Director, Matt Strachan.
“I have been looking at Robert Juliat’s Dalis at trade shows for several years but never had a chance to use them in anger and discover what they are capable of. Then we hired them for our world premiere of Christopher Hampson’s The Snow Queen for the winter season 2019/2020, lit by Paul Pyant, and our experience was enough to convince us to buy them.

“All it took was a quick phone call to Barclay Dakers at Adlib and the process was put into action. We have known Adlib for many years and always receive good service from them.” Robert Juliat is distributed exclusively in the UK by Ambersphere Solutions (www.ambersphere.co.uk) whose Ian Green supported Adlib and the Scottish Ballet in this project.

Les Dalis 860 de Robert Juliat entrent dans une autre dimension sur le tournage du court-métrage Odyssey au Scottish Ballet. ©Andy-Ross

Scottish Ballet’s curved cyclorama is 15m wide with a 6m deflection and 7.5m high. “That’s a big swathe of cloth to light but we were able to position the Dalis units just 1.5m behind the cloth and they belted straight up and covered it beautifully. I remember thinking ‘that is superb! We need to start buying these!’”
The RJ Dalis 860 cyclorama lights were purchased in two batches in early and mid 2020 to fit budget availability, and each unit was supplied with Quick Rig fittings and a flight case set up with link cables, DMX, etc as a complete package. “We can just wheel them out individually as they are, where and when we want them,” says Strachan.

“The low profile and slim dimensions mean they are so neat you can squeeze them into very tight environments, and they don’t need a great throw distance either. They are silent and give out very little heat which is much safer for the dancers. The Quickrig system is very sleek! It’s very well thought through and straightforward in how it can be deployed.”

©Andy-Ross

The additional Dalis 860 fixtures gave Strachan and his team the opportunity to ‘futureproof’ the Ballet’s full scale shows, which will start with The Nutcracker during the winter season tour 2021/22, and will be followed by The Scandal at Mayerling, Coppelia, and a revival of The Snow Queen in 2022/23.

“Next year the Dalis will hardly be in their cases!” says Strachan. “Not only can we now populate the top and bottom of cyc entirely with Dalis for maximum coverage in a traditional setting, but we also have the flexibility of the kind that arose when we filmed Odyssey.”

Odyssey is a new work choreographed by Scottish Ballet Soloist, Nicholas Shoesmith. Directed by Ciaran Lyons, it was a high-octane short dance film that took viewers on a journey through a gaming landscape inhabited by otherworldly beings, where the real and virtual collide.

Filmed during lockdown in a 20m2 x 8m high pop-up performance space in Scottish Ballet’s production area, Odyssey’s futuristic design proved an unconventional setting for Dalis 860. Strachan rigged 26 Dalis units vertically on the set truss, in full view of the cameras, where they became an integral part of the structure within the virtual area. “Our initial assumption was that we would have to cover them with frost and conceal the units,” explains Strachan.
“but the Dalis is so beautifully crafted they are pleasing to look at, even when they are switched off, so the TV Lighting Director asked for the covers to be removed as he wanted to see the lights themselves. We ended up making a feature of them on the structure for the camera looks and the TV team just loved them, happily replacing the lighting they brought with them. It was great to use Dalis in a completely different way from what we actually purchased them for.”

© Andy Ross

Scottish Ballet’s house MA2 lighting programmer, Kieran Kenning was excited to discover the potential Dalis offered when creating a series of designs to run up and down the face of the fixtures, making full use of their range of colours and programmability, to enhance the space-age ‘holodeck’ effect and create transition scenes as actors ‘transferred’ from one environment to the next.

“Kieran loves the Dalis for the flexibility that they give him. He came up with the designs for the effects for Odyssey and there is a lot more he can do there going forward,” says Strachan. “He can quickly create states to show a film company or a designer as they give him so much scope. We now have a tool that can adapt to most environments and requirements, and, being Robert Juliat, we would expect them to last at least 10 years.

“We’ve only just started to use Dalis – as time goes on we will develop our understanding and how much more usage we can have of them. Initially, I honestly cannot fault them in any shape or form.”

More information about Dalis 860 and all Robert Juliat products can be found on www.robertjuliat.fr and for:

– Scottish Ballet: www.scottishballet.co.uk
– Adlib: www.adlib.co.uk
– Ambersphere Solutions: www.ambersphere.co.uk

Robe T2 Profiles Specified for Zodiac the Musical

Zodiac The Musical is a brand-new musical produced by Peet Nieuwenhuijsen, directed by William Spaaij and staged at the Koepelgevangenis, a former prison in Breda, The Netherlands, which provides a spectacular backdrop to this compelling and entertaining piece set in 2031 … focussed on a number of human, political and environmental issues.

© Louise Stickland

Lighting designer Marc Heinz was among a talented team working under the technical production umbrella of Unlimited Productions – also based in Breda – helping to deliver this captivating new work.
He and technical production manager Michiel van der Zijde – representing Unlimited Productions together with Jeffrey Kranen and Luc Huisman – also designed the set, and Marc specified 32 of Robe’s recently launched new T2 Profile fixture for the project, together with 50 x Robe Spiider LED wash beams and assorted other lighting fixtures.
Marc and his assistant designer Jordy Veenstra, Michiel and the entire production team were delighted to be back working on a show after a long break due to the pandemic, and particularly in such a special space.

The prison was designed by Johan Fredrik Metzelaar and opened in 1886 based on a panopticon design, whereby the activities of four stories of cells could be observed by a minimal contingent of guards stationed in the centre. The Koepelgevangenis complex was designated a national monument in 2001 and housed a women’s prison until 2013 before closing completely two years later. Since 2018, it has been temporarily used as an event space, waiting for a new owner and a renovation plan.

© Louise Stickland

Peet Nieuwenhuijsen needed a circular venue for his concept to work – which included spectacular projections onto a domed ceiling – and had initially staged an exploratory show in 2019 at the Planetarium Amsterdam.
The venue was already selected before the pandemic intervened. Pre-production started in August 2020, with the original plan to start the setup / get-in on the 15th of February 2021. Covid-19, despite its massive disruption worldwide, only delayed this overall plan by 6 weeks as the get in started on the 1st of April.
And … it presented some fundamental challenges for the production team, primarily an unknown weight loading for the domed roof, and for lighting in particular, it brought some unexpected gifts, like the glass brick ‘shower tower’ which became a permanent internally lit set feature and vital part of the narrative.

© Louise Stickland

A glass-floored basement – installed in 1999 as a recreation area – was another brainteaser with no weight loading data. Special spreader arrangements had to be made to ensure seating tribunes and the four ovular stepped ramps that intersected the space and divided it into quadrants were installed without putting weight on the glass area.

The storyline – stage play by Dick van den Heuvel with dramaturgy by Pieter van de Waterbeemd – evoked surveillance society with constant Orwellian monitoring. Thirty-eight LED screens dotted around the upper levels are a metaphor for big data recording and crunching, with over 70 drones – provided by Dronisos from France – joining the cast as a reminder that shady, anonymous governmental institutions shrouded in secrecy and subversion are in control. The faceless technicians running these operations are sealed behind closed doors in the shower tower.

With original plans unavailable and no records existing in the municipality, a full 3D laser scan survey of the building was completed – needed for the UV-mapping of the projections – was followed by a painstaking rope access examination of the roof construction conducted by the Unlimited Productions team to ascertain the roof weight loading capacities … which were judged to be ‘extremely little’.
They received the go-ahead to remove around 1000kg of old house lighting and associated steel detritus from the roof which freed up just enough capacity to rig a very small top centre circular truss at the top – which is rigged with the 12 x Robe Spiiders. These are bright enough to reach the stage 30 metres below for a general layer of wash lighting, and light enough to be safe!

© Louise Stickland

The only other flown element is an ‘eye’ set piece which flies in and out. It was also necessary to remove the old house lighting to get a clear path for the 7 x 20K projectors rigged in seven prison cells on level four, spaced out around the 52.5-metre roof circumference.

Everything else had to be ground or side supported

After much mind mapping, Michiel, Marc and Ruud de Deugd (head rigger and production structural engineer) produced the elegant 8 x curved leg spider-like ground support structure design which connects to a 15-metre diameter circular truss in the middle positioned 12 metres above the central performance. This provides close lighting positions for the main performance space which is 14 metres in diameter complete with a double revolve stage.
Being a prison, Koepelgevangenis has only one small entrance / exit and that’s not even enough to reverse an artic, so all the production kit had to be unloaded outside and hand-carried inside. This was a painstaking and longwinded process, but compared to normal, the build schedule was relaxed and fluid, as to some extent it had to relate to how the general Dutch pandemic response and the restrictions were developing.

Once the rigging and set were solid, Marc and Jordy began properly assessing the lighting needs having joined the project towards the end of 2020. Working in the round is always galvanising, getting any side light is a constant battle, and everything must look uniform from 360 degrees of spectator seating, so the Robe Spiiders on the spider structure are critical for top light coverage.

Robe T2 Profiles

The stage stays bare aside from a few props throughout the entire performance, putting huge emphasis on the cast and lighting to get the energy ramped up and the strong emotional impact of the piece across.

Front light was another enigma as it needed to be rigged around the cell tiers, and after a test revealed that the fourth floor was the optimum position, Marc auditioned several moving lights for this part including the Robe T2s, which were still a prototype at this time … but he chose it as his preferred profile to throw high-quality light the long distance from there to centre stage.
Robe’s distributor Controllux then pulled out all the stops to ensure that lighting supplier Events Light, also close to Breda, received the fixtures in time for the get in!

Twenty T2s are fixed to the steel beams around the main interior wall, each individually attached to the building by rope access riggers.
A rope sits next to each light so it can be lowered for service. The other 12 x T2 Profiles are on the top circle of the spider ground support, positioned for closer front lighting.

“The output and colour mixing were perfect,” related Marc, “together with the weight (36.9kg).” He also likes the frost effects together with the overall quality and finesse of the fixture. The cast are tightly choreographed by Stanley Burleson so elements like CRI and colour mixing are important to bring out the detail in the costumes without overpowering them with light.

Marc’s lighting is intricate and complex; he layers colour variants judiciously and meticulously on top of one another to evoke the mood and accentuate the emotion and intensity of the scenes and the seriousness of the messages. This treatment encourages intense concentration from viewers, so changes in the hue or shade have massive impact.
There’s plenty of long slow fades and some beautifully tight and precise shuttering throughout to highlight the cast onstage on the ramps and around some other parts of the building.

© Louise Stickland

Marc was also very excited to be using new technology. “There’s always that ground-breaking buzz when using something new, and while there’s a bit of risk as well, Robe is a brand that I know I can also absolutely rely on, so all of this underlined my decision to go with T2.” In fact, he has already specified T2 Profiles onto another musical show that he will be lighting later in the year!

Twenty-two of the Spiiders are on the spider (ground support) structure. These and the T2s also on there are accessed via a person lift as it is fully loaded with lights, so no climbing is possible. Access for getting the lift in position was also a consideration when positioning the seating and staging. Sixteen Spiiders are attached to the balcony around the third level of cells, used for washing the venue’s dome and supporting the projections, with the final 12 on the top circular truss right up on the roof.

All 92 moving lights – including all the T2 Profiles and Spiiders – are working in conjunction with a Follow Me automated followspot system which is at the heart of the design, and this ensures that all the main characters in this very busy and fast-paced show always have the right lights trained on them, even when they are rotating on the revolve rings, which is essential for helping to unravel the convoluted plot.
In terms of style, Marc describes his lighting as an experimental blend of cinematic and operatic! All the show’s lighting is being supplied by Events Light, who were among the first in Europe to receive the T2 Profile.

© Louise Stickland

Lighting control is via a Road Hog Full Boar console programmed by Jasper Nijholt. Projectors and media servers were programmed by Ruben Boogaard, and since the show premiered on 5th July, both lights and video are being operated by Pascal Schutijser. It is a mix of timecode for the large production numbers, but mostly manually operated lighting cues according to visual line-of-sight.
Audio is designed by Jeroen ten Brinke. The video design is by Arjen Klerkx and content created by Anouk Steenbakkers and Joost Gulien.

For more info about Robe lighting and their range of products you can visit www.robe.cz

 

The latest Claypaky products for 2021 on a virtual stand

In this period of the current health crisis, which is still disrupting the international trade shows, Claypaky has come out with a virtual trade show stand full of new products.
Take an hour of your time to delve into the nooks and crannies of this site, where you’ll find videos of product presentations and tutorials, photos and product features.


After registering for your badge, you can enter the Claypaky virtual stand.

The 2021 lineup includes an exciting Mini Xtylos HPE, an all-weather Xtylos Aqua, an interchangeable Arolla Profile and Spot with a 470 W LED engine, a 3-layer LED effects batten, a base with limitless pan rotation for static fixtures, a precision LED PAR from ADB for the theater, and more.


Mini Xtylos HPE

Following up on the Xtylos, Claypaky is now offering its laser source technology in two new luminaires: the spectacular Mini Xtylos HPE for all types of venues and the Xtylos Aqua, which is IP66-rated to withstand outdoor weather conditions.

The Mini-Xtylos.

The Mini Xtylos HPE is more compact, much lighter (9 kg) and more energy efficient (90 VA at 230 Volts) than the Xtylos, with its 20 W source consisting of three diodes emitting in Red, Green and Blue, the mixing of which allows the creation of a full range of colors through additive synthesis. Its exclusive TURBO system allows it to emit a beam with saturated and deep colors, with unparalleled energy and a linear CTO.

This Mini Xtylos does not incorporate gobos but, in order to create spectacular aerial effects, it includes a 1°–4° zoom, continuous pan rotation combined with 270° tilt, two rotating prisms and an interchangeable frost. Its intensity can reach 24 million candelas at an angle of 1°.


Xtylos Aqua

Similar in every way to the original Xtylos, the IP66-rated Xtylos Aqua offers marine-grade protection against the elements and is equipped with a fan to eliminate condensation from the output lens, for consistent performance. It can therefore be used in any conditions, indoors or outdoors.

Xtylos Aqua, IP66.


Arolla Profile MP | Arolla Spot MP

In the Arolla range, following up on the HP (High Power) series equipped with a 1200 W LED source, Claypaky launches the MP (Medium Power) series in Spot and Profile versions with a 470 W white LED engine and a luminous flux of up to 22,000 lm, all in a very compact and light format (25 kg).
The distinctive feature of this series is the eSWAP concept, i.e. the interchangeability of the framing module and a gobo module to switch from Profile to Spot or vice versa. The electronics recognize which module is installed and configure it automatically without user intervention in the control menu.

Arolla Profile MP.

Claypaky, has equipped the Arolla Profile MP fixture with a 6°–50° zoom, a linear CMY+CTO color mixing system combined with a seven-color wheel that includes an 88+ CRI enhancement filter. The source has a native color temperature of 6000 K.

In terms of effects, the Arolla Profile MP comes with a framing module, a wheel with seven rotating gobos that, thanks to the exclusive “Go-Bright” technology, do not waste light or change color when inserted into the beam.

The fixture also includes an animation wheel and a 4-facet rotating prism. For beam control, there is an iris, a variable frost, and a 24-bit dimmer with four dimming curves. To cool the LED engine, five fan speed modes are available: 1200 – 800 – 600 – Silent – Theater.


Tambora Batten

The Tambora Batten LED fixture offers advanced pixel mapping capabilities and a three-layer operation option. With this feature, the operator can choose to use three levels of effects simultaneously, such as background color, internal sequence, and mapped video content from an external source – switching between all layers quickly and easily to create complex effects quickly.

Tambora Batten

With the Tambora Batten, you can also obtain two different visual effects by choosing between two output lens options, the round lens being more suitable for graphic effects, and the square lens for aerial effects with its uniform, defined beam. The two lens options are interchangeable.

Tambora Batten with round lenses.

Tambora Batten with square lenses.


The 16 Osram 40 W RGBW LEDs are independently controllable in terms of color, intensity and strobe frequency. Multiple units can be arranged in a row or matrix while maintaining an equal distance between the LED sources, whether they are side by side or in a cluster.

Tambora Batten features a 4°–50° linear zoom with automatic retraction/repositioning in the absence of a DMX signal, a 24-bit dimmer with five response curves, a motorized tilt with a range of over 220°, color temperature correction from 2500 K to 8000 K, beam edge softening control for uniform washes, an anti-halo accessory, and four operating modes.


Panify

Panify

Claypaky introduces an innovative and useful tool for when you need to move a static fixture in a panning motion or in continuous rotation. Panify is IP66-rated and works in any position.

Fixtures without motorized pan such as the Tambora Batten or the Mini-B PARLED Aqua from Claypaky come to mind, but Panify can be adapted to most of the static fixtures of other brands on the market, as long as their weight does not exceed 30 kg.
When the load is less than 20 kg, Panify can rotate at up to 50 rpm. Its maximum speed of rotation becomes 22 rpm for loads exceeding 20 kg.

The Panify has two power connectors: one input for itself and one for the fixture that it holds. Thanks to its crossbar design, power and DMX data are routed to the fixture without risk to the cables during continuous rotation. PANIFY draws about 150 W, requires only a few DMX channels to operate and can receive wireless DMX. Panify is not limited to lighting fixtures; it can be used to transform scenery, signs, displays and more.


ADB Actoris ParLed

Designed to meet the growing demand for small, quiet and efficient fixtures, the ADB Actoris ParLed weighs only 6 kilograms and is 306 mm long. The first fixture in a specialized theater line, this product features an RGBWW LED source, which produces warm color temperatures with a CRI >90, perfect for matching any skin tone or scenery on stage, as well as offering natural pastel colors. The white range is adjustable from 2500 K to 6500 K.

ADB Actoris PARLED.

The use of a special warm-white LED does not diminish the light output: Actoris ParLed is able to deliver a flux of 3,400 lumens. It provides extremely quiet operation, thanks to the use of special axial fans, and features a motorized zoom that can be varied from 4° to 53°, a 24-bit electronic dimmer with five response curves, four operating modes, and optional shutters and a frost filter holder.


CloudIO

CloudIO

CloudIO is a cloud-based IoT device that provides service technicians with full diagnostics of most Claypaky units and enables firmware updates.
As of version 1.4.1.2, CloudIO can also read settings from all RDM-enabled devices, regardless of brand.


Mini-B, Midi-B, Mini-B Parled Aqua in WW (Warm White) versions

Claypaky has added a Warm White RGBW LED version to its Mini-B series, featuring a warm color temperature of 3200 K. The Mini-B WW, Midi-B WW, Mini-B ParLed Aqua WW feature the same power as the original models. They produce warm tones to properly render the skin tones of performers on stage.

Mini-B and Midi-B.


Get access to the Claypaky virtual lounge here

 

Meyer Constellation and Spacemap Go Boosts Studio 9

Studio 9 at Porches Inn in North Adams, Massachusetts invites superlatives but otherwise defies categorization. A fully sustainable and architecturally striking structure, it was originally conceived as a dining and event venue.

However, with installation of Meyer Sound Constellation® active acoustics in 2019, it was transformed into an intimate live performance and recording space. With the addition of the Spacemap® Go spatial sound design and live mixing tool earlier this year, Studio 9 has fully evolved into a one-of-a-kind laboratory for musical innovation.

FreshGrass Foundation founder and president, Chris Wadsworth.

The principal partner in Studio 9 venture is FreshGrass Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to preserving, supporting and creating innovative grassroots music. Studio 9 is already proving a valuable adjunct to the FreshGrass Festivals — staged at nearby MASS MoCA since 2011 and now also in Bentonville, Arkansas — in developing and promoting new generations of roots music artists.

“There is a shared vision and a shared ecosystem between Studio 9 and FreshGrass,” says the foundation’s founder and president, Chris Wadsworth. “Our objective is to turn Studio 9 into a beacon of creativity and innovation. One of the wonderful things about this building is that, with Constellation, you can tune the room to the composition, so it is more like an art installation than a concert venue.”

Studio 9 Curator but also creative and technical head, Dave Dennison.

Another pivotal player at Studio 9 is Dave Dennison, a long-time Meyer Sound associate whose new title as Curator encompasses a broad swath of creative and technical roles, from artist development through studio engineering. Dennison was originally brought in to supervise 2019 recordings by the Kronos Quartet, but was convinced to stay on in a permanent role.

“Studio 9 is a great place to record,” emphasizes Dennison, “because it offers more freedom for musicians. With Constellation, they are not tied to a recording session where they need headphones. It is much more like a free-form rehearsal space.”

The MPS-488HP smart power and the D-Mitri digital audio platform of Studio 9, both needed to run Constellation.

The recent addition of Spacemap Go took Studio 9’s potential up yet another notch. “Spacemap Go is an extremely powerful tool,” says Dennison. “In a live setting it offers the engineer the ability to fly things around the venue. You are not tied to two speakers in a stereo field, or even a typical surround mix.

Here, you are completely immersed in close to fifty speakers, all individually addressable, so you can fly an instrument or voice anywhere. All the trajectories can be saved in sync with the music, so you have a beautifully spatialized mix that can be replayed here, or even at other venues equipped with Spacemap Go.”

Both Constellation and Spacemap Go use the same complement of 37 full range, self-powered loudspeakers (MM-4XP™ and UP-4slim™) and 10 MM-10XP™ miniature subwoofers. Constellation also utilizes 16 miniature cardioid microphones for ambient sensing and a D-Mitri® digital audio platform to host the patented VRAS acoustical algorithm.

Spacemap Go is driven by three GALAXY™ 816 processors. Constellation and Spacemap Go can be used separately or simultaneously, with spatial sound trajectories overlaid on flexible acoustical environments. The creative audio capabilities also can be used to augment Studio 9’s Vive Enterprise Arena VR system.
The Studio 9 control room is centered around an Avid S6 mixing console with monitoring via three Meyer Sound Acheron Designer loudspeakers and an X 400C™ compact cinema subwoofer.

The remarkable integration of the various Meyer speaker references necessary for both Constellation and Spacemap Go in the conical wooden ceiling of the room.

Parsons Audio Managing Partner Roger Talkov.

System integrator for the project was Parsons Audio (Wellesley Hills, MA) under the direction of Managing Partner Roger Talkov, with Matt Dailey serving as project manager for the Spacemap Go upgrade.

“The Constellation installation was challenging because of the precision tolerances required, which was complicated by the conical roof shape and ceiling system,” notes Talkov. “That made microphone and speaker positioning extremely difficult in the 3D space.
The payoff in attention to detail was quick commissioning and a fantastic textbook outcome. The musicians that played in Studio 9 when it first opened raved about how easy and comfortable it was for them to perform.”

The Porches Inn was built by the Wadsworth family and it is located adjacent to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Studio 9 operates as a partnership of MASS MoCA, Dave Dennison, FreshGrass Foundation and THE OFFICE performing arts + film.


More information on:

– The Meyer Sound website
– The Studio 9 Porches website
– The Parsons Audio website

 

Robe MegaPointes for American Idol

Lighting designer Tom Sutherland of DX7 Design specified 326 x Robe MegaPointes as part of the lighting rig for the 2021 season of American Idol, for which the live shows and final were produced by Freemantle Media and recorded on Stage 36 of CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Tom was delighted to join the live show creative team for the first time, although he’s worked on the audition stages of the competition before. Award-winning director Phil Heyes approached Tom to bring his fresh modernist style to the bigger picture and he came in with a rock ‘n’ roll-style design carefully balanced for television.

© Hunter Selby + Jasmine Lesane

He worked alongside some serious talent including creative director and co-executive producer Brian Burke – with whom Tom also collaborates on pop phenomenon Westlife – and set designer Florian Wieder, plus a trove of other smart and creative individuals with unique production skills including art director Steve Morden.

Season 4 of the show on ABC was the first time American Idol has been run without an audience – due to pandemic restrictions – although 50 x Covid-tested members of the public were allowed in for each live show broadcast, seated in club-style booths which add a touch of ‘classic ambiance’ to the aesthetic.

Robe MegaPointe

The video-based set was fully automated on 37 x moving points and hugely dynamic. The architecture of the space could be dramatically shifted at the touch of a button, and Tom’s main challenge was to accentuate the overall feeling of space and make the studio look as big, impressive and rock star-like as possible!
The lighting rig was designed at maximum width, expanding into the roof and right out to each side – above what would normally be the audience – with transformed the venue’s visuality.

The MegaPointes, all supplied by Felix Lighting together with around 1300 other fixtures, were rigged in eight large trussing pods forming a ceiling above the performance area. Then there were two rows of MegaPointes all around the perimeter (back and sides) of the upstage LED screen in a ‘goal post’ configuration.

Sixteen MegaPointes per side were positioned behind the left and right band risers onstage, with a final row of these workhorse moving lights running along the front truss. To make the ‘global’ design work, the pods and horizontal trusses above them had to be millimeter-perfectly aligned as well as positioned specific to one another so the critical key lights rigged above could reach the presenter, performer, and judges’ positions below whatever the format of screens and lighting, unhindered by metalwork or other obstacles.

© Hunter Selby + Jasmine Lesane

“It was a bit like piecing together a giant jigsaw!” stated Tom, “and all credit to Frank Dawson from Kish Rigging and Jesse Sugimoto from SGPS Showrig who coordinated all the production rigging and automation elements.” Automation was programmed by Daniel Sturman, and all the motion and lighting cues worked in unison.

The substantial upstage LED screen split horizontally and vertically into four segments and flew up into the roof, so more lighting was needed during these moves to fill the voids, especially out to the sides. Behind the back screens was a massive cross-shaped wall of light. The MegaPointes in the pods were used to ‘wrap’ the room in a layer of stunning lighting, cross-referencing with the fixtures around the screen and on the deck.

Tom enjoyed the many challenges of lighting this forever changing space including always keeping focus on the artists, even though they were surrounded by a vast amount of technology and a succession of visual WOW moments.
The versatility of the MegaPointes, the big video set presence and the automation combined unleashed an ultimately adaptable environment ensuring each of the approximately 170 songs and performances – across the run of live shows – looked completely different.

© Hunter Selby + Jasmine Lesane

While the MegaPointe was a valued “workhorse” fixture for this production offering a near-infinite range of looks, Tom is the first to credit his programmers Joe Holdman and Nate Files for their skills in crafting the array of intricate and colorful looks.

“In scenarios like this, it is essential to have multiple lights and a core fixture that is a good spot, wash and beam in equal measure,” he summed up. Six Robe BMFL Spots on six RoboSpot systems were also utilized, three for back spots, three for fill spots and one positioned at FOH for low-level spotting when the ceiling pods were in / down.
grandMA2 was the lighting control platform. Tom’s FOH included associate designer Hunter Selby and media server programmer Scott Chmielewski. The gaffer was AJ Taylor and the best boy Danny Vincent, both working closely with lighting techs Dom Adamé and Brian Karol.

Nicole Barnes was the account handler at Felix Lighting. She enthused, “This was the first year Felix Lighting has been involved with the American Idol Production. Tom’s designs presented us with exciting opportunities to grow and ride along with someone who we admire and respect.
“Tom’s collaboration with production designer Florian Weider has produced some next-level stuff. Rigging, automation, camera work and video content choreographed with lighting were all executed flawlessly by the onsite production and design teams. I was excited to tune in each week to see what happened next!”

© Hunter Selby + Jasmine Lesane

Working with Tom has been “a highlight” of Nicole’s career so far. “In addition to his obvious talent, he is one of the most gracious, humble, and delightful people I’ve had the pleasure to know.” She confirmed.
Nicole further explains that being a part of this season has been vital to all at Felix, helping pave a way for the industry’s return to a post-pandemic world that is getting people back to work, keeping others safe, and contributing to the overall health of the economy, “all of which have been top priority for us personally and professionally.”

American Idol’s live show production / broadcast period ran from March to May and was extremely well received. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, with Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as judges. the executive producers were Trish Kinane and Megan Wolflick … and the 2021 winner was Chayce Beckham.

For more info about Robe lighting and their products line, you can visit www.robe.cz

 

Ayrton Perseo Beam IP 65, an endless variety of effects

Ayrton presents Perseo Beam, an IP65-rated, beam moving-head fixture with an LED source. Its ultra-tight beam can be zoomed down to 2° and it boasts a 21:1 zoom ratio. It is featured here in a video made at Aquatique Show, a spectacular ballet of beams dancing in the rain.

It offers a vast selection of gobos – totaling 48, between static and rotating gobos on two wheels – including 28 glass gobos for high-definition image projection and 20 metal gobos specially designed to sculpt aerial beams. These gobos can be multiplied using four rotating prisms, which can be combined to produce a multitude of volumetric mid-air effects. A multi-layer RGB/CMY gobo creates dynamic multi-color effects.


Ayrton – Perseo Beam – Presentation from Ayrton on Vimeo.


An animation wheel, with continuous rotation in either direction, and two frost filters round out the effects package of the fixture. Continuous rotation on the pan axis expands the possibilities for creating complex effects.

Les gobos verre rotatifs.

Les gobos fixes, verre et métal.


Roue chromatique multiposition.

The color section of Perseo Beam includes a CMY color mixing system, a linear progressive CTO filter, and an instant-access, multi-position color wheel that includes four filters for color temperature correction, plus 13 supplementary color filters arranged in two concentric circles (patent pending).

Terminated by a 168 mm output lens, the optical system uses 13 lenses, providing a zoom range of 2° to 42°.
A brand new, ultra-compact 450 W, 6800 K white LED engine, specially developed for long-throw applications, delivers a luminous flux of 18,000 lumens.

We are starting to get a clearer understanding of the Ayrton product portfolio, which they are restructuring in order to limit the number of references. The stage lighting catalog is organized into four power categories:

– Category 3 : 200/300 W
– Category 5 : 400/500W
– Category 7 : 600/700 W
– Category 9 : 1000 W

Each category will use two names, one for classic fixtures, and another for waterproof fixtures. With the exception of the creative fixtures already established in the catalog, such as the MagicPanel, DreamPanel, MagicDot and NandoBeam multi-source washes, there will eventually be a maximum of eight product designations, each with a suffix indicating its type: Beam or LT, Profile and Wash.

– “Beam” for effect fixtures with an ultra-tight beam, down to 2°.
– “LT” for high-powered, long-throw stage lighting fixtures.
– “Profile” indicates models with a framing module.
– “Wash” indicates models with a Fresnel lens.

Perseo is the first product to adopt this approach. This IP65 category 5 fixture with a 450 W source is now available in Profile and Beam versions.

Ayrton Perseo Beam

More information on the Ayrton website

 

Ayrton Karif-LT celebrates J’Ouvert at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre

Broadcast on 26 April as part of BBC4’s Lights Up season, J’Ouvert is the second in Sonia Friedman Productions’ RE:EMERGE season. Set amid the colourful backdrop of London’s historic Notting Hill carnival, it is the story of two best friends battling to preserve tradition in a society where women’s bodies are frequently under threat.

Ayrton Karif LT

J’Ouvert was first produced at Theatre503, before transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre, where it was filmed for the BBC prior to its West End run. Lighting designer, Simisola Majekodunmi, chose two Ayrton Karif-LT fixtures as major workhorses in her design.
“The play takes place from dawn until dusk and has moments of realism and surrealism throughout, so I needed a fixture that could deliver a representation of the colour and vibe of Carnival as well as the sombreness and isolation of the spiritual moments,” she says. “We also had a massive flying piece to contend with over the central revolve which blocks several conventional lighting positions.”
Majekodunmi hung one Karif upstage and one downstage of the central structure to combat the difficult angles. “The upstage Karif was the real workhorse as it was in the best position to encapsulate the whole of the circular stage and was used very prominently during the dream sequences. The downstage unit was invaluable for face light during the poignant moments and for highlighting the actors downstage.”


As the mood changes between the excitement of Carnival and the weight of its spiritual and cultural importance, there are moments of crisis for one of the characters when the spirit of Carnival appears: “It’s at this point the Karifs did the most work,” says Majekodunmi, “drawing down into rich, deep colours and heavy back light.

They enabled me to keep the mood sunny and light, yet have room to go to the dark spaces when we needed them. “For ‘normal’ times of the day I kept them at a really low level to add warmth and substance to the sunny day, and richness to the characters’ skin tones.”

“Karif is a really fantastic fixture,” concludes Majekodunmi. “It’s very fast and responsive and did all that I planned for it to do. To go straight from a very small theatre to filming in a larger venue was a radical change.
I had to embrace the fact filming is very different from stage: everything needed to be brighter and the Karifs were a godsend in this respect because they gave us a lot more scope in intensity, and gave us somewhere to go.”

Lighting programmer, Tamykha Patterson was impressed with the speed of Karif: “They are super easy to use and control and really fast! There are so many things you can do with them and we have only just touched the surface.”

J’Ouvert opens for a 3-week run at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre on 16 June until 3 July 2021. The Karif-LT fixtures were supplied by Ayrton’s exclusive UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions.


Read the full story here and more information on Karif-LT and all Ayrton’s LED lighting fixtures can be found at www.ayrton.eu

 

Teatro Nacional de São João accesses Robert Juliat Dalis technology

The prestigious Teatro Nacional de São João (TNSJ) in Oporto, Portugal has increased its inventory of Robert Juliat Dalis Access 863 cyclorama lighting with the addition of a further 20 units after a comprehensive tender process which saw the Dalis Access fixtures hold their winning position against a number of alternative options.

Robert Juliat Dalis Access 863 proves a versatile and valuable addition for cyclorama and footlight applications at Oporto’s Teatro Nacional de São João. © João Tuna, official TNSJ production photographer.

The purchase brings TNSJ’s total complement of Dalis Access 863 units to 34. This is more than sufficient to cover the theatre’s 12m x 9m cyclorama cloth and back wall from floor- and grid-mounted positions, plus fill in as ‘ribalta’ lighting when required.

“Dalis Access is a very versatile tool which can be used as both cyclorama and footlight,” explains TNSJ’s Lighting Department Coordinator, Filipe Pinheiro. “This is a real advantage for multi-purpose theatres with an eclectic programme of shows, conferences, debates and dance, and at a price that makes it accessible to all budgets.”

Dalis Access 863

The Dalis Access 863 were supplied by NAN AudioVisuals, Robert Juliat’s exclusive distributor for Portugal and the project supplier for TNSJ. The fixtures were chosen by TNSJ’s tender jury – Lighting Department Coordinator Filipe Pinheiro, Stage Director Emanuel Pina, and Stage Director Assistant Filipe Silva – following several demo sessions with similar products organised by NAN AudioVisuals.
“The lighting team was unanimous in its decision that Dalis was by far the best product,” says NAN’s Jorge Santos.

“Our decision was based on the dimensions, brightness and colour mixing of Dalis Access,” explains Pinheiro, “all of which are key features for our type of application.” Teatro Nacional de São João runs a varied programme of theatre, dance and music, so flexibility in its lighting products is vital, and with just 460 seats, the low profile and fanless cooling of the Dalis units are especially valuable assets.

Dalis Access 863 is a 150W LED fixture designed to give first access to RJ’s award-winning Dalis technology. It offers a four-colour mixing system (red, green, royal blue and warm white 2200K) and 24 patented asymmetrical micro-reflectors which deliver powerful, smooth coverage with a variety of pastel and saturated colours.

© João Tuna, official TNSJ production photographer

Inspired by the Dalis 862 Footlight, Dalis Access 863 combines the same technological advantages as original Dalis 860 cyclight with body shape of Dalis Footlight. Its low profile and aesthetically-pleasing finish enables it to merge into its surroundings almost unnoticed.

“Our new Dalis Access units have blended in seamlessly with our existing Dalis fixtures and really elevate the quality of the final result in any of our lighting designs,” says Pinheiro. “Our technicians are very happy with them, and with the service we have received from NAN. The team there consistently takes great care of us.”

TNSJ has been an advocate of Robert Juliat products for more than 20 years, with an array of RJ dimmers, profiles, PCs, Fresnels, fluorescents and followspots in its lighting inventory. “We can truly say it’s our brand of choice,” confirms Pinheiro. “We are currently testing the Sully module for our SX profiles with a view to converting all our tungsten profile range into LED fixtures.”
TNSJ Administrative Council comprises Pedro Sobrado, Sandra Martins and Susana Marques.

Robert Juliat Waiting for Godot

For more information about Dalis Access 863 and all Robert Juliat products, you can visit www.robertjuliat.fr

NAN Portugal can be contacted at: [email protected] and www.nan.pt

For Teatro Nacional de São João, visit their website

Finland’s biggest music competition picks MDG haze

Finland’s biggest music competition, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (New Music Contest), is an annual event in which Finland’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest is selected in a live broadcast by Finnish television viewers and an international UMK jury.

MDG’s theONE and ATMe generators provide the perfect canvas for Pekka Martti’s UMK21 lighting design which showcased each of the 2021 contestants with their own unique look. © Miika Varila

This year’s Finals on 20 February marked the show’s 10th anniversary. The evening was broadcast live in four languages from Mediapolis TV studios in Tampere and televised on Yle TV1 to an audience of 1.7 million viewers, breaking all records.
Lighting designer, Pekka Martti of Aku’s Factory, turned to MDG haze generators to breathe life into his beautiful lighting design, using its pure white haze to show off a range of stunning visuals that created a different look and mood for each of the seven contestants.

MDG ATMe

MDG theONE dual

With the help of MDG’s Finnish distributor, MSONIC Oy, Martti selected an MDG ATMe haze generator and an MDG theONE dual haze and fog generator for this important, spectacular event.
“I wanted a haze machine that I knew would make the beams of light look good on camera,” explains Martti, “and, for TV shows, MDG – which I have been using since 2006 – is a must.
I love the haze quality I get from them in television and live shows. The haze is white so does not discolour the light beams, or make them appear brownish like some other machines do.”

Martti positioned theONE atmospheric (dual fog and haze) generator, set in haze mode, on stage behind the upstage curtain, and placed the ATMe haze machine in the auditorium (there was no live audience due to Covid restrictions).

© Miika Varila

“This way we were able to show the beams to best advantage across the whole venue,” he says. “I think the biggest advantage of MDG haze is the quality: not only is it white, it produces an even haze with no big clouds so we could have a smooth canvas to work on.”

Because the UMK21 Finals was a live broadcast, Martti also needed to be totally confident of the reliability of the haze generators. “I’ve worked on festivals for 15 years, and I always want MDG,” he states. “I’ve had 15-year old MDG MAX5000 fog machines and those are still rocking! So I would say that MDG is most reliable machine available – and yes I would use them again!”

© Miika Varila

The UMK Final was hosted by Antti Tuisku, Finland’s biggest pop star, and the winners were Blind Channel, with their song Dark Side, who went on to represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in May.


© Miika Varila

theONE and the ATMe generators were supplied to Aku’s Factory by MDG’s Finnish distributor, MSONIC Oy.

For more information on MDG and their products, you can visit www.mdgfog.com

 

Anolis Shows Nottingham Castle in New Light

The UK’s landmark Nottingham Castle reopens in June following a £30 million refurbishment which started in 2018. Part of the new look is a stylish Anolis exterior LED lighting scheme illuminating all four sides of the building, comprising 17 x Anolis Divine 160 fixtures which was designed by Ian Forrow of IJF Lighting and commissioned by On Event Production from Castle Donnington.

Photo Louise Stickland

Electrical installation and fixtures were supplied by Amptron Electrical Services Ltd who were the appointed electrical contractor for the whole project which included the external lighting. The original fortified castle dates to Medieval times but that structure was largely demolished by the mid-17th century, with a mansion built on the site in the 1670s by the first and second Dukes of Newcastle.
This was burnt down by rioters in 1831 and rebuilt in the 1870s to house an art gallery and museum which remains today. It occupies a commanding position at the top of a 40-metre-high bluff known as ‘Castle Rock’ and has stunning panoramic views across the south of the city below.

Photo Louise Stickland

On Event Production is the technical supplier for the local council’s city hall building, Nottingham Council House, and was asked to consult on renewing the Castle lighting by Richard Hamblin, who has co-ordinated and run the Nottingham Castle renovation project for the City Council.
On Event’s own project manager Alex Tweedie explained that the brief from Richard was to replace the old metal halide lighting scheme with something that was brighter, more energy-efficient, better quality and that would be infinitely more flexible when the Castle was in use for assorted public and private events.

Anolis was successful in being selected as the lighting provider, so Alex consulted Simon Gooding from Anolis, who both conducted a site visit which was challenging as the entire building was shrouded in scaffolding at the time due to the restoration works! However, they were still able to get a good enough idea of the scope and requirements, and this resulted in the specification of the Divine 160s.

Photo Louise Stickland

The fixtures were selected for their size, quality of output, coverage, colour mixing – the RGBW light engine of the Divine 160s ensures a great spectrum of colours, from the richest saturates to the most delicate pastels – and reliability. Also, they fitted in the budget and have a five-year warranty. They are installed in new lighting positions, some similar in location to the previous lights around the four facades of the building.

The zoning capabilities of the Divines were perfect for what the Castle wanted in terms of adaptability for special events and functions … it means that the building can be instantly transformed into alternative colours or colour schemes as the units can be run in four separate zones if needed.

Photo Louise Stickland

Each Divine is fitted with a cowl to reduce light spill into the sky and surrounding area. Everyone liked the possibility of the Castle being transformed to support different events and occasions.
Clever positioning was needed to maximise the coverage offered by the 17 x Divine 160s which are all in close range to the building. They cover its substantial dimensions smoothly and evenly, and once illuminated it stands out like a beacon on the hill from many miles away!

Custom optics were needed for some Divine units to ensure the best coverage, especially those on the north side façade where the fixtures lighting the main wall are positioned on the roof of a lower section of the building.

Anolis was “very obliging” in making this happen commented Alex, adding that the Czech Republic-based manufacturer was generally “fantastic” to work with “and prepared to invest in the project just as much as we all were”. The Divine 160s are controlled via a Pharos TPC and EXT, and the system has a custom touch screen for users within the castle that can also be remotely accessed by the team at On Events without attending site.

Photo Lindsay Cave

For additional flexibility, the Castle lights are running via Art-Net and can be connected to an external controller e.g., one that might be controlling a concert or an event show lighting system, allowing them to be synched.
They can also be aligned with the nearby Council House’s lighting scheme for special events like New Year’s Eve and the city’s annual Light Night. The default nightly setting for the lights is a slightly warm white, a bit of a tungsten touch that blends seamlessly with and beautifully complements the yellow sandstone of the walls.

For more info about Anolis or Robe Lighting you can visit www.anolis.com or www.robe.cz

 

Elation IP line lights Château de Chambord for a musical TV show

On the French television show La chanson de l’année (The Song of the Year) on station TF1, the French public get to choose their favorite French song of the past year.
Produced by DMLS TV and one of the television highlights of the year in France, this year’s show featured a breathtaking château backdrop with stunning lighting effects from Elation IP-rated luminaires.

For this year’s show, aired live on June 5th, the magnificent Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, a French Renaissance palace of the highest quality, provided a spectacular backdrop for lighting designer Frédéric Dorieux to showcase the competing acts.

Dorieux had at his disposal 148 Proteus Hybrid arc-source moving heads and 140 Arena Zoom Q7 IP Par lights, both luminaires from Elation’s extensive outdoor-rated IP65 line.
The award-winning Proteus Hybrid, with a 21R 470W lamp, is not only powerful and compact, it is loaded with features and is multi-functional with spot, beam or wash capability.
Dorieux used them to stunning effect from ground positions, as well as from across the front parapet of the château.

The Arena Zoom Q7 IPs, outdoor rated PAR fixtures with 30W RGBW LEDs and 7° to 40° motorized zoom, uplit the Château and highlighted the surrounding gardens. Dushow TV supplied all of the lighting and audio for the show. Elation French distribution is by Best Audio & Lighting.


More information on the Elation website