Mikki Kunttu utilised a wide range of Robe fixtures - the new all-powerful ColorSpot 2500E AT, the workhorse ColorSpot and ColorWash 1200E ATs, the new ColorSpot 700E ATs and ColorWash 250E ATs.
The deal with Robe was instigated by Eurovision 2007's technical production manager Ola Melzig, working for lighting and video suppliers/technical co-ordinators Spectra Stage & Event Technologies from Stockholm.
Melzig also used Robe moving lights for the 2005 event in Kiev, Ukraine. This proved such a positive success, that he was keen to repeat the experience when he and Spectra won the contract to technically produce the 2007 ESC.
"Robe lights are just so reliable that we had to have them again," states Melzig, who cut the deal with Robe's international sales manager Harry von den Stemmen. The fixtures were supplied direct from the Robe factory in the Czech Republic, complete with new bulbs from Phillips, with whom Robe worked very closely. This ensured that all fixtures had similar colour temperatures.
Melzig adds, "The support and the attitude from Robe is absolutely spot on - just what's needed to make part of a good ESC team, which has to be really tight and work to an intense schedule."
Kunttu's operating team of five were all running GrandMA consoles. They were Pekka Martti, Michael Sylvest, Jutta Makinen, Antti Rehtijarvi and Mikko Linnavouri.
Chief moving light technician was UK-based Dik Welland. He found he had plenty of time on his hands as the Robes ran virtually trouble-free throughout the whole programming, pre-production and show period.
• A FogScreen Projection screen stood centre stage with Lordi when the two opened the Eurovision 2007 Finals in live broadcast to viewers across Europe. The show opened to atmospheric effects projected onto the FogScreen projection screen, followed by a visual narrative of northern Finland before returning to the live broadcast with Lordi onstage, playing their winning song from Eurovision 2006, Hard Rock Hallelujah.
"The Eurovision Song Contest is the world's longest running song competition. The production of this live television broadcast to over 200 million viewers requires state-of-the-art lighting and video. That is why we are extremely honoured that FogScreen projection screen was chosen for the opening act, playing significant role in the whole show," says Mika Koivula, CEO of FogScreen.
(Jim Evans)
