Back To The Future: The Musical, Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard’s popular musical is taking London’s West End by storm, bringing the adventures, thrills and spills of Marty McFly, Doc Brown and a classic DeLorean car to life as they tumble between time zones onstage at the Adelphi Theatre, delighting audiences and critics alike with a spectacular hi-energy production, and a string of foot-tapping hits in a show produced by Colin Ingram and his team and directed by John Rando. Award-winning lighting designer Tim Lutkin and lighting consultant Hugh Vanstone worked closely together and specified a zactrack SMART automated follow…
Author: Jacob Waite
disguise has acquired broadcast data and content visualisation solutions platform, Polygon Labs. With 20-years of experience in powering large and complex live shows and concert tours, disguise broke new ground two years ago when it released its Extended Reality (xR) technology platform, removing many key challenges faced by broadcasters today. disguise xR, together with LED screens, graphics engines such as Unreal Engine, camera tracking, combines augmented and mixed reality elements to deliver spectacular, photorealistic virtual graphics during live broadcasts. This workflow has elevated the virtual production quality and capacity of broadcasters such as Turner Broadcast, Eurosport, ITV Sport, CCTV China,…
LEA Professional has entered into a partnership with Audio Geer to strengthen the company’s presence and growing customer base in Southern California and Southern Nevada. California-based Audio Geer is an independent manufacturer’s representative firm that brings more than 28 years of experience to the Pro Audio space. From sales and support to system integration to live event production, Audio Geer represents many of the best names in the business. “From a technology standpoint, amplifiers have changed dramatically over the last few years yet several legacy amplifier companies have struggled to make a reliable transition to these new technologies,” said Alan…
Graeme Kelly is the latest recruit to Mark Roberts Motion Control (MRMC)’s – a Nikon company – Broadcast division as its new Head of Broadcast Products. With over a decade of experience at Grass Valley, Kelly has been at the cutting edge of the industry-wide transition from SDI to IP. He joined in 2011 as Principal Engineer in the Routing Group, contributing architecture, hardware and FPGA designs to GV’s highly successful Sirius Routing range. He led the team within GV working on both SDI and IP interfaced multiviewers helping the MV-8 Series become a cornerstone of GV’s Live Production Business…
Follow-Me has enlisted SeeSound S.L. with marketing and sales distribution of the Follow-Me systems for the Spanish market. The two companies first came in contact when Isaías (Sasi) García, Product Manager for lighting, video and rigging, at SeeSound was searching for the right auto tracking solution for a customers project. Follow-Me’s Zoë Castle realised the opportunity that working with SeeSound might bring to Follow-Me: “we are excited to be partnering with SeeSound especially recognising their extensive knowledge, capabilities and product range, which is perfectly enhanced by the addition of Follow-Me tracking solutions”. Established in 2004 by Director General, Nacho Alberdi,…
Gloshine Technology annually provides LED solutions for the Spring Festival Gala in celebration of Chinese New Year, this year was no different, with the LED specialist providing 600m² of Gloshine Technology Zebra series 2.6mm LED displays for the gala, which was broadcast on television by China Media Group on 1 February 2022. The Spring Festival Opera Gala uses situational and film-based narrative techniques to string together programs, with famous opera artists and representatives of opera troupes in China gathering on the stage of the Spring Festival Opera Gala. Singing for Chinese feast and showing the new style of the pear…
What was the initial goal in the research, creation and development of the PANTHER system? “PANTHER comes out of our ongoing discussions with the industry, looking at how productions are changing and importantly, what the users need out of modern audio systems.” Has the pandemic affected the R&D process? “The R&D and production teams have performed nothing short of a miracle in bringing this product to market in what has been a rapidly changing world. Of course, most of our rental customers and users have had their work dramatically impacted by the pandemic, possibly one of the few small benefits…
What was your goal with the development of KV2 Audio ESM312? “Our goal in bringing the ESM 312 monitor to market was multi levelled. Firstly, clients already using our VHD point source concert systems were struggling to find a large format high SPL stage monitoring solution that delivered the same audio quality to the musicians and stage as their audiences were experiencing. Secondly, we saw an opening – in light of the shift to in-ear monitoring – to produce a high definition three-way stage monitor that would achieve absolute vocal clarity, true full range performance and real instrument separation, even…
What was the initial goal in the research, creation and development of the Epson PU2200U range of high lumen laser projectors? “Within the video projectors product segment, customers have made it clear that they want laser projection, smaller, more versatile products, interchangeable lenses, a strong warranty and pre/post-sales support, as well as frictionless trade across different regions. Epson’s new PU2200U range embodies all these attributes and aligns with our strategy around miniaturisation and sustainability, whereby smaller products represent a smaller environmental footprint and lower CO2 emissions for the end-user.” How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the R&D process? “Epson planned to…
What was the inspiration for the creation of Sharpy X Frame? “We relished the opportunity to create an advanced hybrid luminaire featuring a new, powerful 550W discharge lamp. With Sharpy X Frame, we increased the output of preexisting models, made the beam more uniform and we added a professional framing system. This makes the Sharpy X Frame a unit boasting the best features of our Sharpy line while seamlessly integrating all the best features of a typical spotlight in a lightweight, compact lighting fixture.” How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the research and development process? “Although we were impacted heavily…
Taking place over three days at the Pima County Fairgrounds, Gem and Jam Festival featured a diverse line-up from an international roster of artists like Lotus, Lab Group and Hallucinogen, situated in a peaceful setting that included campsites and rendered art displays. Part of the renowned Tucson Gem Mineral and Fossil Showcase, the festival also mesmerised with some glittering displays of gemstone artwork. Reinforcing this theme its stages had names like Emerald, Onyx and Quartz. One would expect stages bearing such monikers to be bursting with colour, and this festival didn’t disappoint, thanks to the inspired work of Cody Lisle, who designed the sets…
Sound Technology, exclusive distributor of Martin Professional in the UK, has appointed Avril Cook as Technical Sales Support in its professional lighting division. Cook comes to Sound Technology with over 14 years of experience as a Lighting Technician within theatre, touring and live events most recently as Deputy Head of Lighting at The Old Vic, and previously as Deputy Head of Lighting at Hampstead Theatre. Avril’s CV also includes a spell as Lighting Technician at the ENO, and freelance, design and education work within the lighting industry. Cook will be providing product advice and demonstrations of Martin fixtures to rental…
Looking back over the past two years – specifically in early 2020 – it’s incredible to see how quickly companies have adapted to the changing nature of the world and against all odds were still able to keep working within the live entertainment sphere. One such company is SLX. Having formally been taken independent, the company moved into its new headquarters in January 2020 before the world came to a screeching halt. However, in the face of adversity, the Bristol-based firm has managed to regroup, rebrand and reintroduce the live entertainment industry to its full 360° offering – from design…
CuePoints is a brand-new software for creatives developed by TPi Breakthrough Talent Award winner, Morgan Evans and Matt Peel. Having been championed by several industry practitioners, including TPi Award winners, Tim Routledge, James Scott and Ed Warren, the software can be used to plan, timecode and programme projects as well as share timings and communicate ideas with others on the production team. CuePoints was born through Morgan Evans’ personal working frustration with not having tailor-made software to help him break down music tracks when planning lighting designs. Evans wanted to create something that made it simple to share ideas and…
Having delivered four annual live shows from 2016 to 2019 and several online events throughout 2020 and 2021, Production Futures is now set to go ON TOUR with their world-leading experts and partners, opening even more opportunities to engage with young people. The newly launched Production Futures website will also offer an ONLINE platform to promote opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop careers in production across all aspects of live events, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film. Production Futures CEO, Hannah Eakins said: “All being well, the first Production Futures ON TOUR Spring events will…
With a greater focus on global staffing shortages than ever before post-lockdown, sector-specific good news stories like the acquisition of young talent have never been more welcomed. One such example is Pro Audio Systems’ latest recruit and Huddersfield New College Music Technology graduate, Jack Robson, who landed a role as Trainee Hire Technician to help deal with an ever-increasing workload in the company’s busy Bradford warehouse. Having lent his audio skills to several charity events for the likes of Candlelighters (Children’s Hospital), Prostate Cancer UK, and Cancer UK, as well as being a keen musician in his spare time, Robson will…
KB Event has revealed the appointment of Richard Burnett as the company’s new Managing Director. Burnett will help shape KB Event’s strategic direction and deliver its future growth with CEO, Stuart McPherson. During Burnett’s 37-year career in logistics, he has worked for several well-known businesses including TDG, Wincanton, Hays and Samworth Brothers, looking after some of the most prestigious high street names such as Heinz, GSK, Tesco and Adidas. His most recent prior appointment was that of Chief Executive at the Road Haulage Association (RHA). During his seven-year tenure he transformed the organisation, working tirelessly for the logistics industry, growing…
American singer-songwriter, Eric Church set out on his The Gather Again Tour with the intention of uniting fans and celebrating the return of live music touring, following the release of his Heart & Soul album. For this latest tour, Church no longer had to worry about designated mic positions during the show, thanks to BlackTrax. The Gather Again Tour shows took place in arena-sized venues, the stage was set up in an intimate, in-the-round style where the audience surrounds the performer from all sides. The design brief mandated that 64 automated Robe BMFL follow spots simultaneously tracked the eight different targets; eight…
