Lighting

AC Lighting Inc appoints Trey Merrill

Details: 14 March 2016

Trey Merrill has joined the sales team at AC Lighting Inc. Originally from Baton Rouge/New Orleans, Merrill has been involved in the music and film industries for a number of years, both on and off stage. Having attended Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans, where he studied Drama, Communications and English, he eventually graduated from the Seattle Art Institute, with a degree in Music Business & Video Production. He worked as a music critic, band manager, production and stage manager, high steel climber, guitar and drum technician and set carpenter before forming his own production company, Gator Bait Productions. He recently became an associate producer of the Motion Picture ‘The Midnight Hour’ and is currently producing the debut album for a young Louisiana artist 'Benjy Davis' featuring Grammy Award Winners Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Lucinda Wil

Blasor joins Lightpower sales management team

Details: 14 March 2016

Carl Pierre Blasor has joined the sales management team as head of international key accounts at Lightpower, the Paderborn-based distributor of professional lighting equipment. Blasor has majored in Linguistics and Cultural Studies and has completed vocational training as an export merchant. Born and raised in Italy, he has also lived in Puerto Rico and the United States, and now resides with his family in Germany. He speaks four languages and has a good working knowledge of a fifth.

MA Lighting International, a subsidiary of Lightpower, was founded in order to coordinate and carry out its international sales and marketing activities and Blasor, as key account manager, will be a significant contribution to the international team. His main aims will be to consolidate existing international customer relations and maintain and coordinate the more than 30 worldwide exclusive representative

Paul Twist Dies

Details: 14 March 2016

Paul Twist, a figure well known to many in the industry, died recently in the United States. Paul had been working as a freelancer for Colin Hammond at Meteor Lighting in Huntsville, Alabama. His earlier career had seen him working in sales at Chappels (sheet music), Selmer (musical instruments) and Cadburys-Schweppes. He then spent four years in the late seventies with OPTI where he was the company’s first ever export sales director, before he moved on to Meteor Lighting.

His funeral is planned to take place in the UK on Friday 22 February. We’ll advise of further details as they become available.

(Ruth Rossington)

Lancelyn and White Light Appointed Skyhigh Stockists

Details: 14 March 2016

Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and White Light Electrics have recently been appointed as distributors of the Skyhigh range of pyrotechnics and firing systems. Both companies have taken in a broad range of the pyrotechnic stocks.

Skyhigh's product development manager Tom Owen was pleased with the development. "Our strategy is to develop a worldwide distribution network for our products and two such key companies are a serious boost for us." Lancelyn's David Wilkins added: "Pyrotechnic equipment for general theatrical use is an area where there has been little effective choice in the marketplace. Choice and competition will stimulate development and this, alongside increasing demands for safety, will drive the market forward."

(Ruth Rossington)

TMB Teams up with Roadogz.com

Details: 14 March 2016

TMB has recently established a new relationship with Roadogz.com, a website aimed at people on the road in the entertainment industry. Roadogz.com will be selling TMB products including cable, connectors and touring expendables, in addition to its range of workbags, gloves, pouches, mini-fixtures and testing equipment.

Roadogz.com is filled with industry-related articles ranging from technical to travel subjects. It also features databases packed with info for restaurants, businesses, resumés and classifieds. There is a also a ‘production office’ loaded with tools for everyday use such as currency converters, calculators, airline seating charts and more. And, last but not least, the site provides the ultimate diversion, online games.

Roadogz.com owner and creator Jesper Luth began his relationship with TMB when he worked as an operations manager for Bandit UK. "Ro

Paul Twist

Details: 14 March 2016

Following our news item last week concerning the death of Paul Twist, we now have details of the funeral arrangements. The funeral will be held at midday on Friday February 22nd and Paul will be buried after a funeral mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Henfield, Sussex.

New Year, New Projects for Furneaux Stewart

Details: 14 March 2016

Designer and communicator Furneaux Stewart has entered the New Year with a healthy portfolio of work and several new account wins. The company, led by co-founder Laurie Stewart, is already working on several new high-profile projects this year, including an introductory exhibition for Syon House, Cardiff Castle's interpretation strategy and projects for the National Trust at White Horse Hill, Studland Bay and Lawrence of Arabia's home, Clouds Hill. The company is also the exhibition design consultancy for the new Acropolis Museum working with international architect Bernard Tschumi.

Within the automotive sector there are also some key projects ahead with the team, headed up by John Furneaux, looking forward to working with Skoda to create its stand for the Birmingham International Motor Show, in addition to major projects with Citroen and Bentley Motors. Ray Hole, architectural directo

Fourth Phase in a Piece of History

Details: 14 March 2016

The Poll Winners Concert for the first ever BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards took place last week at Ocean, Hackney’s latest music venue. As the lights went down, the stars - including Johnny Depp and Damon Albarn - came out in force to present the Awards, which celebrate the diversity of music throughout the world.

The event, which featured short sets from the Poll Winners, was also being filmed for broadcast on BBC Knowledge, and crew chief Nick Moran needed to augment the venue’s existing lighting to create a rig which would create maximum impact when televised. This led him to contact Fourth Phase. "It wasn’t until just before the event that we knew exactly what the brief would be," explained Moran. To meet this brief, Fourth Phase supplied 10 High End Studio Colors and 12 Studio Spots, eight bars of four Par 36 ACLs and a Lycian 1.2k HMI followspot.

The

Vari-Lite Fixes it for Bob the Builder

Details: 14 March 2016

Since his TV debut in 1999, Bob the Builder has become a household name and has recently announced his very own 65-date arena tour and Vari-Lite Europe will be there to help him ‘fix it’!

The lighting designer is none other than Patrick Woodroffe, who will work alongside programmer Dave Hill and operator Mark ‘Sparky’ Risk. The Vari-Lite supplied rig includes 22 VL2Cs, 8 VL6C spot luminaires, 38 VL5, 12 VL5 Arc wash luminaires, all controlled from a Virtuoso console. Conventional equipment will consist of 108 Par 64s, 17 Bambino Fresnels c/w colour changers, six Starklite 1200W HMI followspots. The tour sets off in Sheffield, then moves to Nottingham, London Arena, Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow. It will then travel to Wembley Arena and then finally to Birmingham.

(Ruth Rossington)

Rental Management Systems introduces RMS22

Details: 14 March 2016

New features of the latest version of the rental management software package include a whole set of new clear icons, built-in support for backup and restore of data and reports, saving of the last used sort-order and sorted column in all List-tabs and Finder-windows, a new facility for multiple contacts per company, default country and telephone settings and much more.

For a full run-down of all the latest features from RMS22, visit the company website at the address below.

(Lee Baldock)

Behind the Scenes

Details: 14 March 2016

BBC Television is to broadcast five programmes this week which will feature interviews and behind the scenes footage from various West End shows. A Week in the West End will be broadcast daily at 3.30pm on BBC2.

(Ruth Rossington)

Full Monty and Taboo Chose White Light

Details: 14 March 2016

White Light and The Moving Light Company have been chosen as the lighting suppliers to two new musical productions in London, one - The Full Monty - the West End production of an established New York hit, the other - Taboo - a new show in a new West End venue.

The Full Monty, a stage adaptation of the hit British film, has been playing to enormous popular acclaim in New York - and is now making the journey back to the UK, where it will play at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Lighting designer Howell Binkley will re-create his New York design, making use of an automated lighting rig of six Martin MAC 2000s, 12 MAC 500s and 38 High End Studio Colors controlled from a WholeHog 2 console. The rig also features around 325 ETC Source Fours, 55 of which are fitted with Wybron colour scrollers, and Orion and L&E Ministrip floodlight units, 80 StarStrobes, police beacons, Robe

Entech 2002 & Award Winners

Details: 14 March 2016

The organisers of Entech, the leading entertainment technology exhibition for the Australasian market have reported increased attendance for last week’s three-day show. Darling Harbor proved a popular destination for Entech, with greater interstate attendance (up 8%) and more local visitors. International visits were static, with decreases from destinations other than Singapore (up 10%) and New Zealand (up 5%). Audited actual attendance was up, a record 5,143 trade attended, in addition to 1,272 exhibitor personnel.

The Entech Awards dinner once again sold out, held again at the Metro in George Street. A complete list of winners is attached. Voting was done on the trade show floor, for the first time, in addition to votes garnered from all those who nominated products and people. The Award for Best Lighting Product at the show went to AVR for the Arc Screen; Best Audio Product at

Laser Studio Launches new Colour DPSS laser

Details: 14 March 2016

Laser Studio - part of the i-Vision Group - has launched the latest addition to its new I-scan Performer range of DPSS (Diode Pumped Solid State) lasers. Following recent breakthroughs in diode technology, Laser Studio has produced the UK’s first commercially available Colour DPSS laser for under £20,000.

Laser Studio’s new 1W colour unit currently offers eight modulated colour outputs. The aim is to develop the system into a 256 fully modulated colour system in the future. This product, say Laser Studio, heralds a major change in laser technology and is an important step forward in replacing older, inefficient equipment that required complex cooling and hefty electrical supplies.

The ‘Beam in a Box’ concept - and specifically this product - has been designed with the conference, exhibition and club markets in mind, although it will also be suitable for theat

Stage Light Design start the year in Style

Details: 14 March 2016

South London-based creative exhibition lighting specialists Stage Light Design started the year busily, lighting two stands at the BETT education/technology show in the Grand Hall at Olympia. It’s the seventh year that the company has been involved with clients at BETT. This year both Intel and RM benefited from their lighting schemes.

Intel’s stand was straightforward for SLD, who lit a stage area and lectern used for presentations with Par 56 lanterns, controlled by a Pulsar Rock Desk and dimmers. The RM stand was more complex: as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of software and hardware to the educational market, RM wanted their stand to have plenty of impact. The stand design was totally new and included two demonstration theatres that were continuously in use. Lighting was designed by SLD’s Alastair Crooks, who lit the theatres with Par 56 and Par 36 lante

Australia Skyworks 2002

Details: 14 March 2016

Laser Magic won the prestigious contract for the 2002 Skyworks laser show on the 26 January 2002. The laser team arrived one week before the event to install and programme the show to a custom soundtrack. Very large distances where involved with this event and to this end Laser Magic used (for the first time) the new Coherent Corona diode YAG laser, which has an output in excess of 80W. This was sited at Perth’s famous Bell Tower and is one of the largest entertainment laser systems in the marketplace.

Several other lasers were also used, including Emerald 40W Nd YAG lasers and some smaller 10W CW YAG lasers. Laser Magic even had a laser system bolted on to a fast motorboat, which created special effects as it travelled across the bay shooting beams in to the night sky. In total, five laser systems were used on this show all controlled via the latest Pangolin 2000 software and ea

Vari-Lite Shines at Winter Olympics

Details: 14 March 2016

From the opening ceremonies until the last medal is awarded, Vari-Lite Inc will play a prominent role in lighting the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. More than 1,200 Vari*Lite luminaires are being used to light events within and surrounding the Olympic Games, including the nightly concerts following the medals presentations at the medals plaza.

Rusty Brutsché, chairman and CEO of Vari-Lite, said: "Just as the athletes have spent years training for the competition, organizers have shown the same dedication in preparing for the way the games and events are presented. We were up here exactly a year ago for a trial run on the opening ceremonies, so it has been a painstaking process to make sure the proper equipment is in place and being used. Vari-Lite is extremely proud to be an integral part in the way these events are presented worldwide."

A lighting package th

PSL Invests in Catalyst

Details: 14 March 2016

PSL is the first video projection rental company in the UK and US to invest in High End Systems' new Catalyst image manipulation system, which turns ordinary video projectors into artistic tools. Winner of five technical awards in 2001-2002, Catalyst offers users a unique new tool that integrates the video and lighting industries.

At the heart of the system is the Catalyst Media Server (video processing computer and video/DMX interface). This provides an unlimited range of real-time image processing capabilities. Designers can load their own still or moving images or select from an extensive library of stock files. They can then scale, rotate, zoom, edit, morph, colour mix or overlay to create the desired effect. Images can be projected anywhere in three-dimensional space using Catalyst's unique orbital movement system. The head provides 250 degrees by 360 degrees of movement and can b

Vari-Lite Open Day

Details: 14 March 2016

Many of the top names in the lighting industry watched as the new Vari-Lite VL1000 ellipsoidal reflector spotlight was put through its paces in collaboration with the Vari-Lite Series 2000 products at a recent open day hosted by Vari-Lite. The demonstration took place on Thursday, 7 February at The Manhattan Center Studios Grand Ballroom in New York. "The VL1000 continues the Vari-Lite tradition of providing the most reliable and innovative lighting systems available on the market," Bob Schacherl, Vari-Lite vice president of sales and marketing, told those in attendance.

Attendees, which included some of the top lighting professionals on Broadway, were treated to an exhibition showcasing the VL1000 ERS. Also on display, were the VL2202 spot luminaire, the VL2402 wash luminaire and the VL2416 wash luminaire.

(Ruth Rossington)

Mike Fisher New Head of Lighting for SPS

Details: 14 March 2016

Show Presentation Services has appointed Mike Fisher as its head of lighting, following Stephen Prince's return to lighting design on a freelance basis.

Mike Fisher joined SPS in 1999 as Prince's right-hand man and over the last two years the duo have established SPS as a major player in the conference lighting market. He told us: "Everyone at SPS was unhappy to see Stephen Prince leave, but his ideas, drive and vision have given us a great platform. Now it’s my job to let our established clients know how the SPS lighting department can help them whilst maintaining the highest standards."

Mike Fisher was previously sales and marketing director of Cerebrum Lighting and was part of the team that established the brands of Celco and Powerdrive in the eighties and nineties. More recently he had returned to freelance lighting design whilst continuing marketing strategy with

CSE with OPTI DMX Club Strobeflowers

Details: 14 March 2016

One of the most enduring effects in the club scene is the Strobeflower from Luton-based lighting specialists, OPTI. When it was first launched, it proved an instant hit with promoters because it combined laser-like effects without the cost and complexity associated with true lasers. As a result, it has become one of the all-time classic effects for concerts, clubs and events all over the world.

Now it’s received an important updating which puts it right back into the forefront of dance music theatre. OPTI has introduced a DMX to Analogue converter box that can be used with its Club Strobeflower, Terrastrobe or the Shutter/Dimming option of the K Range projectors to allow easier control from a central lighting desk. Taking advantage of this development, UK lighting hire company Colour Sound Experiment (CSE) based in Park Royal, London, have converted their entire hire stock of OP

Incubus Rocks Europe

Details: 14 March 2016

Incubus are currently enjoying a sold out world tour, coinciding with the runaway success of third album, Morning View.

The lighting designer for the tour is Joe Paradise, who took the bold step of choosing an all-Martin MAC moving light rig - there’s not a generic light in sight! So far, 16 MAC 600s, four 500s, eight 300s, ten 250s and four 2000s have been Paradise’s tools, arranged between two trusses and the floor, operated by Paradise using a WholeHog II console.

In the supply seat are the US and UK operations of Bandit Lites, who are providing lighting for the whole tour, which kicked off on September 14th and also takes in Japan and Australia before returning to play three months’ worth of arenas in the US. Paradise is a hands-on LD and currently it’s just him and Bandit US crew-member Geddy Kordyjaka in the lighting department, although the system was

The Who at Watford Coliseum

Details: 14 March 2016

I half expected there to be fleets of Parka clad spotty youths on spangled scooters outside the venue. The billing alone was enough to evoke a mid sixties revival - the Who? Watford Town Hall? Surely not?

L&SI does not take lightly the privilege to exclusively witness this unique event, many thanks to Bill Curbishley (manager), Mick Double (production manager) and Tom Kenny (lighting designer) for their kindness.

In essence this was one of two warm-up venues for the Who’s brief residency at the Albert Hall - but of course, it was also so much more than that. How often do less than a thousand punters get the chance to see a band of this stature in such intimate surroundings? Feeling like the David Attenborough of R’n’R, I recognised instantly the natural habitat of this wildest of beasts, a seminal rock band in a provincial shoebox.

Mick Double joined the band as

grandMA makes UK theatre debut

Details: 14 March 2016

MA Lighting’s grandMA control system made a big impact with lighting designer Chris Jaeger at the PLASA Show last September. Jaeger, a lighting designer with 20 years’ experience, was impressed enough by what he saw to follow up the demo with a more extensive evaluation of the desk at UK distributor AC Lighting Ltd’s new demonstration suite in High Wycombe.

From there, AC offered to loan a desk to Jaeger for a forthcoming production of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch, Essex. The production, directed by Matt Devitt, with set design by Dinah England, was set to run through seven weeks in December and January. Jaeger, along with the Queens Theatre’s house technician Dave Starmer, who handled the programming of the show, were full of praise for the system, with particular emphasis on the system’s programming facilities. "It&rsqu

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