GLP JDC1s envelop the Forum for MTV awards
- Details
Within the vast creative stage set, designed by Stufish’s Ric Lipson, GLP fixtures had a major role to play, with 194 of their new JDC1 hybrid strobes being deployed by 22 Degrees’ LD Bob Barnhart, and supplied by PRG. These had a huge presence across the set - distributed among the overhead canopies, the two layers of outer rings, in the back of the arena (as eye candy in camera backgrounds) and on the overhead main stage area.
The designer was first exposed to GLP’s versatile new strobe at LDI last year. With GLP Inc president, Mark Ravenhill, he discussed the possibility of hitching the yoke of GLP’s X4 Bar batten onto the new JDC1. “Mark came back to me the next day and indicated that the engineers thought it was possible,” he reports. “And when he told me earlier this summer that the unit was shipping, I thought this would be a good show to try them out on.”
The JDC1’s were augmented by other fixtures from the GLP catalogue, including 12 of the X4 Bar 10’s and 42 x X4 Bar 20s, as well as eight GLP X4 atoms and 50 x GT-1 hybrids.
Barnhart’s mission had been to encompass the entire room in lighting. “The goal was to change the Forum into an environment people had not seen before when coming to the Forum,” he said. “From a lighting standpoint, LED tape was the theme, with literally over 12,000 feet of LED RGBW tape, requiring more than a 400A 3-phase supply to power it.” From a scenic perspective this included five stages, all merged into one giant platform, with P!NK using every stage in the building for her performance.
Bob Barnhart was highly complimentary about the JDC1’s attributes. “To my knowledge it is the only fixture that has a tilt capability, which is a great feature. It allows you to focus the attention of the fixture on certain areas just for a moment. It would also be a cool feature on an upstage wall or on the floor and use the movement as hypnotic undulation.”
Alongside him at the desk was long-time associate (and lighting director) Travis Hagenbuch, the two men having collaborated on the MTV event since 2015. Other key members of the crew, including programmers Pete Radice (PRG) and Patrick Boozer, who were also credited as lighting directors.
Summing up, Bob Barnhart stated, “Production had wanted an environment and a performance space the encompassed the entire arena, and I think that vision was fully delivered!”
(Jim Evans)
