LightShark, Equipson’s range of multiprotocol control products for the entertainment industry, are being given their own brand identity to reflect their growing popularity and the impact they are making on the entertaiment industry Since launching in 2017, LightShark has changed the lighting landscape by delivering intermediate level products that are not limited by their features. With LightShark, hardware and software control of up to eight DMX universes and 4,000+ DMX channels is completely integrated via smartphones and tablets, while full compatibility with other manufacturer’s equipment is assured because the products work with industry-standard DMX and Artnet lighting protocols, as well…
Author: Jacob Waite
Lighting Designer, Tristan Szylobryt of Light&Day, recently lit a show broadcast on French TV by singer and musician Tony Chasseur, who brought a diverse line-up of special guests, some unique collaborations, and his own distinctive blend of Latin and Caribbean jazz-funk to the Alhambra Theatre in Paris. Working for Zycopolis Productions, Szylobryt multiplexed as LD, lighting programmer and DoP for the show which also had to get in and out of the venue the same day, so time was tight, and the pressure was on as he chose to work with MA Lighting grandMA3 hardware and software for lighting control.…
The team behind A Light Walk – which will take place from 20 to 24 September – reveal details of the fundraising mission in support of The ALD’s Lumière Scheme and technical entertainment charity, Backup, and how the sector can get involved. A Light Walk will see CHAUVET Professional’s Sam Bowden and ALD Lumière working group Chair, Charlotte Burton, walk from The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford Upon Avon to the National Theatre on London’s Southbank, a total distance of over 101 miles which will be completed in just five days. Members of the ALD’s executive committee and other members…
Lighting, audio and rigging at Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was delivered and co-ordinated by leading Netherlands rental specialist, Ampco Flashlight. For lighting control, the firm supplied 14 MA Lighting grandMA3 light consoles and 32 active grandMA3 processing units (PUs) used by Lighting Designer, Henk-Jan van Beek of Light-H-Art and his team Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) and AVROTROS, ESC 2021 saw another superlative production which was directed for the broadcast by Marnix Kaart and Daniel Jelinek. Henk-Jan created a spectacular design that enabled each of the 39…
Integrated Systems Events Managing Director, Mike Blackman marked the opening of ISE Live & Online this morning with a presentation at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via in front of an illustrious gathering of representatives from government, local executive boards and agencies, ISE’s owners and the media. The opening of ISE’s first show in Barcelona represents a significant milestone in the development of Integrated Systems Europe, and a personal and professional triumph for Blackman, who launched the event 17 years ago with a staff of three. Along with representatives of the Fira, ISE co-owner AVIXA and ISE exhibitors, Blackman made…
LightShark, Equipson’s lighting and media control hardware product range, has undergone a significant upgrade resulting in a much more powerful FX engine and clear refinements to its user interface. The new engine allows lighting technicians to create and synchronize effects on multiple parameters and apply different types of curves during each step of the effect. It is also now possible to position fixtures on a grid so that the engine can easily find them and apply effects at the right point in relation to these fixtures. The upgrade to LightShark’s FX engine required a major re-working of the product’s original…
Utrecht-based Ampco Flashlight supplied a large number of Ayrton Huracán-X, Karif-LT and MiniPanel-FX LED fixtures for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest at the Rotterdam Ahoy Arena, at the request of ESC Head of Lighting, Henk-Jan van Beek of Light-H-art. With some 39 countries and 55 scenes to create and programme different looks for, van Beek needed fixtures that would give him a lot of variety, and used the ‘trilogy’ of Ayrton fixtures for three different purposes. “Huracán-X is our workhorse,” said van Beek. “We chose it because it gave us all the power, possibilities and creativity in one fixture and…
Live opera returned to the San Francisco Bay area with a series of COVID-19 guidance compliant outdoor performances by the San Francisco Opera of The Barber of Seville with a series of IP-rated Elation Professional lighting fixtures on the rig. With COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings in place, the opera company secured the Marin Center Drive-in in San Rafael, where opera fans gathered in their cars to watch the Rossini classic. The 90-minute adaptation by director Matthew Ozawa, which finds singers returning to the opera house after a pandemic to bring opera back to life, ran from April 23 to…
DRPG received a royal visit from His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex on 27 May 2021 to understand how the agency has coped with COVID-19 and continued its contribution towards sustainability. The Earl of Wessex visited DRPG’s studios in Worcestershire to commend the team on its rapid and continued response in upholding the highest standards of health and safety amid the pandemic. During the visit, His Royal Highness toured the dedicated COVID testing centre and spoke with many of the team about how the pandemic had affected the business. With a 60% drop in sales he was keen to…
Miley Cyrus recently performed between NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Tournament Final Four games, aired on the CBS network, in a tribute to frontline workers and their continued service and sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lighting Designer, Otis Howard called on over 500 lighting fixtures supplied by 4Wall Entertainment in a design that used modern technology to create a dazzling ‘70s style-show. Included in this mix were close to 200 CHAUVET Professional COLORado 2 Solo fixtures. The par style wash units, which are fitted with three 40 W RGBW LEDs, were positioned directly behind Miley Cyrus along with 44 LED…
Backstage Academy joined forces with Brompton Technology to deliver an online masterclass to over 50 students on the importance of LED processing for video walls within live events and virtual production. “Brompton LED processing solutions have been making regular appearances at Backstage Academy and Production Park for some time now,” said Backstage Academy Industry Partnerships Director, Miles Marsden. “For a company to remain at the cutting edge of such a fast-moving sector is super impressive, so to give our students the opportunity to be included on that journey was a no brainer.” The training consisted of a short company overview delivered…
Families from across Georgia watched in awe in May as a spectacular firework display and 180-strong drone show by Verge Aero lit up the sky to mark Armed Forces Day. The annual ‘Thunder Over Evans’ event returned in 2021, following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, offering an opportunity for the community to come together to honour members of the armed forces. Event producers were keen to go the extra mile and supplement their traditional firework display with drones, ramping up the visual spectacle using Verge Aero’s control capabilities. The result was a choreographed vision of colourful and dynamic firework explosions…
In December 2020, Claypaky launched Shine a Light a song dedicated to the entertainment industry along with a limited merchandise collection with all proceeds donated to live events and entertainment industry-backed charities, Behind the Scenes, #handforahand and Fondazione Cesvi. By the end of May 2021, Claypaky will donate 100% of the revenues raised from the initiatives as well as a €9,000 contribution. “Claypaky is grateful to all the colleagues, customers, lighting designers and friends who contributed so actively to the fundraising campaign by sharing the message on social media and by purchasing the Shine a Light merchandising collection,” a press statement reads. “Without this huge support…
The team at Schallmeister artfully balanced the classic features of Schwarzkaue Herten, an event space that was once part of the now closed Schägel & Eisen colliery, with a contemporary lighting design to create a memorable livestream event for a tech-drive industrial client. “It was absolutely essential that the set for the livestream retain the historic architecture of the building,” said Tim Jansen, owner of Schallmeister. “Special features, such as the baskets on the hall ceiling, give the room an interesting texture. Our task was to integrate a modern and professional television studio into an old industrial location.” Helping Jansen and…
Broadcast live from Ahoy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the 65th Eurovision Song Contest celebrates diverse musical talent from around the continent. Considered the biggest music contest in Europe, organisers handpicked Shure Axient Digital Wireless System to help ensure audio quality throughout all performances for singers, musicians, and viewers to enjoy at home. With more than 40 artists on stage and an estimated audience of nearly 200 million viewers across Europe, the 2021 Eurovision edition needed a wireless system that could meet every contestant’s demands. Developed with input from top audio professionals, Axient Digital delivers outstanding signal quality that performs in…
Festival Republic has confirmed that a three-day, 10,000 capacity, camping only festival will take place this June as part of the second phase of the UK government’s scientific Events Research Programme. In the true spirit of rock, the ‘Download Pilot’ will take place on 18-20 June 2021 on the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, the home of rock and metal since 1980. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 1 June for the longstanding loyal existing Download Festival 2022 ticket holders, before general on sale on Thursday 3 June. The full line-up will be announced Friday 28 May. The very first…
Collaborative Creations (CC) has opened the doors to its centrally located, London studio space and is available to companies and individual members of the events and event technology industries. With COVID-19 restrictions now coming to an end, booking is no longer essential though for specific product viewings is advisable and the office team is ready and waiting to take your calls. Less than a minute’s walk from London Waterloo the CC Studio is a multipurpose environment available for use by the events and event technology industries. With café-style facilities alongside a fully stocked bar, the Studio is the perfect gathering…
John Penn and his wife Heather – who scooped the Outstanding Contribution accolade at TPi Awards 2018 – founded SSE back in 1976. From a first gig in a school theatre in Merseyside, the couple went on to build up the largest PA hire sales and systems integration business in the UK. With retirement in mind, John, Heather and the rest of the SSE Audio Group board successfully negotiated the acquisition of the business by Solotech in 2018. With the future of the business secured, Heather was the first to retire last December (2020). Now John has decided that the…
