Following on from the success of previous years, the DI UK Light Jockey Contest 2000 - sponsored by Clay Paky and Pulsar - has attracted a large number of contestants and is now underway. Pulsar has organised a number of seminars for contestants at all levels. The preliminary heats - first introduced last year and aimed at Light Jockeys new to the Clay Paky and Pulsar range of products - have proved popular. During the month of March these took place at Pulsar's headquarters in Cambridge, making use of its recently refitted showroom. The three highest scoring contestants will go through to the main heats which will be hosted at the famous Limelight club in London.
Northern Light will be showing its latest touchscreen programmable SM desk at this year's ABTT show in London (April 5-6). This desk is similar in type to those now in use at the Royal Opera House. As sole UK distributor for Austrian Company Lighting Innovation, Northern light will also be exhibiting the Motoryoke, a lightweight remote control yoke giving pan tilt and iris control and with an adaptor for a scroller for use with the Strand SL, Source Four or other spotlights.
As a repertory theatre, in theory Sadler's Wells could play host to a different company each week, so to make chief electrician Martin Hunt's life a little easier, he's installed 36 of Wybron's new CXI (Colour X Infinity) Colour Fusion colour changers. Offering an extensive palette, the CXIs enable Sadler's Wells to call up virtually every colour of the spectrum. Each scroller uses just two gel strings made up of graduated frames of cyan, yellow and magenta to make the commonly used gel colours from Rosco, Lee and GAM, plus a host of shades in between. For Hunt, this means that the gel strings don't have to be changed for each different production. The first production at Sadler's Wells to benefit was Dick Whittington, which was lit by Andy Bridge who is also using Wybron equipment on the UK production of Fosse.
Dial Sound & Lighting has just announced the launch of ShowMagic 128, the latest addition to the ShowMagic range of lighting and sound controllers for the PC. To coincide with the launch, both Dial and distributors Cerebrum ran a series of workshops to introduce the new 128 to a wider audience. In essence, the latest release is an entry-level version of the flagship 512 channel version. The software enables you to control literally all the technical aspects of any performance or presentation that uses sound, lighting and special effects equipment from a single PC. It uses a 'Virtual Desk' - the software equivalent of a lighting control desk, sound playback and mixing desk all rolled into one. With the new version, the virtual desk enables control of up to 128 DMX512 channels and six stereo audio channels and comes with upgrade versions which feature RS232 control and a seven-day auto-sch
ARRI and Strand are among the first companies to take space at Showlight 2001. To date, 15 of the lighting industry's most famous names are taking advantage of the opportunity to be a part of the event which allows lighting designers, manufacturers and suppliers to meet and discuss ideas. The current list of sponsors includes ADB, ARRI, Avolites, Cirro Lite, DedoLight, DHA Lighting, ETC Europe, High End Systems/Flying Pig, Howard Eaton Lighting, Lee Filters, Northern Light, Optikinetics, Philips, Strand and White Light. Taking place every four years, Showlight is organised by lighting professionals for lighting professionals and allows attendees the opportunity to mix with some of the top names in theatre, film, television and architectural and themed lighting design.
MAD Lighting is to launch two new products. The new Axis 250MR is a single-arm moving head effect: everything you expect from a moving head unit is fitted as standard including E size indexable rotating gobos, trapezoid dichroic colours, a shutter and selectable Fresnel lens. The ITM 250 is available in scanner, star effect and colour changer versions. All fixtures have E sized gobos, rotating on the Scan 250R version, a separate shutter, trapezoid dichroic colours and digital address system.
Richard Belliveau, who for many years was the driving force behind High End Systems’ R&D efforts, has finalised an exclusive agreement as an external consultant to the Austin, Texas-based automated lighting manufacturer. Belliveau left High End in 1998 and has spent the last year and a half developing new ideas. This agreement formalises Belliveau’s new role and allows him to focus on innovative ideas. Pictured are High End Systems chairman Lowell Fowler, consultant Richard Belliveau and CEO Frank Gordon.
Christie Lites has announced the opening of Christie Lites Dallas (CLD). The company's new operation will be headed up by Kevin Leckey (operations) and Alan Niebur (sales). The 16,000sq.ft facility, located minutes from downtown Dallas, will support the Christie Lites multi-office network, which already covers Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and Orlando, serving both the regional and touring markets. The company can be contacted at 4801 Reading Street, Dallas, TX 75247. T: +1 (214) 352 5252, F: +1 (214) 357 5757.
Stagetec has recently completed the supply and the installation of the performance lighting control systems, sound reinforcement and communication systems for two new music performance spaces and a sound recording studio at the new Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford. The project involved the redevelopment of parts of Dartford Grammar School, including the existing school hall, old gymnasium and old school library. The new spaces were integrated into the existing buildings and incorporate new foyer and administration areas. Theatre consultants Carr & Angier designed all aspects of the stage technical equipment. Full story in April L&SI.
Status Quo is to be the subject of a major documentary by BBC TV. The band will perform a live concert, recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire between 25-28 March, which will be included in the TV special. LD Pat Marks plundered his design from the band's tour at the end of last year. He will use the house Par system and the 12 Clay Paky Golden Scan HPEs the Empire possesses, plus Mac 500s, Mini-Mags, ColourMags and ETC Source Fours all supplied by LSD. Marks will also use an Avolites Sapphire for the moving lights, and put the conventionals on an Avolites Pearl. The band will play a 40-minute set in front of a live audience, which, sadly, is destined to be cut to just a two-minute insert for the documentary.
Zero 88 Lighting welcomes the return of Claire House to run the recently-expanded marketing department. She returns to Zero 88 following a short ‘sabbatical’ at a PR and Marketing agency, where she provided marketing consultancy and services to companies in the Telecomms, Data Networking and Internet Industries.
AC Lighting has appointed Paul Biggerstaff to its growing UK sales force. Paul has been with the company for three years and was previously, managing the UK Goods Out department of the company's warehouse facility in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Paul will be reporting directly to AC’s recently-promoted sales manager, Kevin Coker.
Rosco has appointed Andreas dessloch as its new development manager for German-speaking and former Eastern-bloc countries. Previously sales manager with Lightpower in Germany, Dessloch brings extensive experience of Rosco and ETC products, and of the German marketplace. Before working with Lightpower, Dessloch was also one of the organisers of the Frankfurt MusikMesse exhibition.Other recent changes at Rosco include the appointments of Kirsty Third to the UK sales team and Zoe Castle, previously scenic product specialist, taking overall responsibility for Rosco’s sales in France and Benelux, while continuing her specialist role in scenic products.
Lighting Unlimited has appointed industry veteran Mick ‘Jaggie’ Scullion as sales director, following his six years as sales and operations director with Spot Co. Scullion will be responsible for the company’s new business development programme, as well as account handling and management. At the same time, Lighting Unlimited has appointed two new project managers - Tony Fagan and Theo Cox - both also ex-Spot Co employees.
Multiform Technology Group has announced the availability of the Elip-Scan from Meteor Lighting. The Elip-Scan is a low-cost DMX-controlled pan and tilt mirror attachment for ellipsoidal spotlights. The mounting plate fits on standard 6.25" colour frame holders. Motors employ 16-bit stepping, with real-time speed-sensitive tracking for continually variable speed. In addition, the independent pan and tilt speed settings allow for flexible variations in design.
Pulsar has announced that the Lighting Technology Group has been appointed a new Clay Paky and Pulsar reseller. Following the amalgamation of existing resellers, Cerebrum Lighting and Sound Electronics, becoming part of the Lighting Technology Group, natural progression has led to this appointment. LTG's sales and marketing director Garry Nelsson told PLASA Publishing: "Lighting Technology is moving into the next exciting period of its evolution and we are thrilled that a closer working relationship with Pulsar has been developed. The two companies are industry thoroughbreds that will learn, gain and profit from one another."
Lighting designer Ken Billington has recently used the award-winning Selecon Pacific on his latest Broadway triumph - Noel Coward's Waiting in the Wings. Billington used the 90 degree Pacifics on the show, and commented: "As well as everyone else working on the show, I was blown away by the Pacific's performance." Popular for its cost-effective, safe and reliable qualities, the Selecon Pacific recently won the Entech 2000 Innovation in Lighting award in Sydney, Australia, and is gracing venues all over the world including City Recital Hall, Sydney; The Promenade Shopping Centre, Singapore (architectural version) and in the UK, the Blackpool Grand Theatre.
Colin Jones, one time director of Chameleon Lighting Ltd, and freelance lighting designer, has announced plans to launch a web design service, called rather originally 'Colin Jones Design', particularly aimed at entertainment-based business on the web. Jones has 26 years' experience in lighting rental and design and plans to "focus his design talents on website design". The new service is launched on April 1st.
Several heats have now taken place in the technical studios at Melton Mowbray College. So far 10 students have come forward to battle it out and win a place in the Finals. Heats will continue through April, May and June. Tony Anagnostopplos, a student from the Performing Arts Degree Course at De Montfort University, commented: "I soon picked up the capabilities of the Masterpiece 218 and was quickly applying theatre techniques of fading between scenes. I particularly like the colours variants of the Stagecolor 300, they create real atmosphere."The finals have been arranged to take place on Monday July 17th at 7.30pm. Professionals from the industry are currently being approached to form a panel of judges who will decide upon a winner - the student who most creatively uses a range of Pulsar Intelligent luminaires to light a piece of theatre.
Selecon UK Ltd has added Stage Electrics to its UK dealer network. Stage Electrics has branches in Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter, Plymouth and the NEC in Birmingham, plus sister companies, Theatre Vision, Cardiff and Theatre Direct in Cambridge. It also recently announced the establishment of a London office at the premises of DHA Lighting. The appointment of Stage Electrics means that Selecon now has over 25 dealers across the UK.
When Bluetones tour LD Mark 'Video' was looking for a way to colour change the white belisha beacons that were a feature of the set for the group's performance at Shepherds Bush Empire, he turned to tour lighting supplier Brian Leitch of Art of Darkness for an answer. He, in turn, called in Tony Kingsley of Ambient Lighting to demonstrate the AVR Colourmaster. Following the demo, AOD subsequently purchased a number of CM50 heads for the tour which were then mounted to the globes projecting upwards from the base with the 40 degree lamp providing full coverage. The fact that the AVR central colour changer motor control accepts DMX meant that programming into the show was easy. A new 150W discharge lamp version has just been released and the higher light output compared with the MR16 units increases the range of potential applications for the AVR system.
Zero 88 Lighting has appointed Graham Eales as sales and marketing manager. He joins from Selecon New Zealand, where he has been instrumental in raising its profile and performance throughout Europe. Eales has over ten years’ experience in the production and theatrical environments and having run a hire company in South Africa and been responsible for Selecon NZ’s sales in the Pacific Rim, Europe and North America. His takes on his new role in May.
The London Hippodrome has recently installed a new Pulsar control system. The state-of-the-art console features four new Masterpiece 216s and is capable of controlling the vast 1,500 channel Clay Paky and generic lighting rig. Each Masterpiece has a specific section of the lighting linked to it making programming extremely logical and structured. A MIDI keyboard and MIDI enabled PC communicate with the Masterpieces to synchronise powerful lightshows that can be programmed and recalled instantly for any occasion. The rig houses seven huge motorised satellites, each with six moving petal arms. The control of these has been integrated into the new system via five Masterpiece Replay Units. The complex articulation of the moving rig is accessed through a Touch Screen PC, that commands and mimics the massive structure.
Strand Lighting's new 300 Series consoles, combining Pentium-class processing and the essential featureset of the flagship 500 Series, is set to make its UK debut at the ABTT Show in London (5-6 April). Modules may be arranged in any order or pattern and may be detached up to 100 metres apart. Interconnection between modules is via Strand S Buss communication system over Cat 5 cable, with RJ 45 connectors for simple low cost connectivity. Starting with the 24/48 and 48/96 memory manual desks, the series progresses through the 125 and 250 channel memory systems, designed to meet the needs of small to medium facilities. Completing the 300 Series consoles is a family of four Showcontrollers. An extension of the powerful 510 Showcontroller, the new 310s offer full support for MIDI, ASCII and SMPTE show control.
