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Lighting

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The ARRI Group have announced their relocation to a new, state-of-the-art waterside HQ, next to the Grand Union Canal in Uxbridge, Middlesex. The Group is made up of ARRI (GB), responsible for the sales and service of cameras and lighting products, while ARRI Media and ARRI Lighting Rental both service productions with the rental of camera, grip and lighting equipment.

The long-awaited relocation and purchase of the property has been necessitated by steady and consistent growth over the last 19 years, and can be seen as an endorsement of the group’s confidence in the UK film and television industry. The philosophy behind the new building’s design is to offer filmmakers and technicians the ultimate facilities for preparing, testing and planning their projects.

The new four-acre Highbridge HQ site will consist of three buildings totalling 75,000sq.ft, containing warehousin

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Jonathan Hilton has been appointed as the product manager to head up the new Intralux division of the Light Projects Group. With many years experience in the lighting specification market, he will specialize in promoting this key range of products from one of Australia’s leading lighting companies.

Charlie Wadsworth, commercial director at Light Projects commented: "With a raft of diverse and impressive ranges, we need an adept and skilled manager to promote them. Jonathan joins us with a lot of experience and knowledge of the specification market." Hilton will be handling the 'Kove' range of fluorescent fittings; the 'Flare Wall Washer' range; the 'Slite' range for close proximity illumination; the 'Cog' range of exterior luminaires and Xenflex, the long-life xenon strip system.

(Ruth Rossington)

Doughty - Banner - from 6 June 2025

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Hundreds of thousands of Catholic worshipers from over 150 countries gathered in July for the 17th World Youth Day celebrations. Organized by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day began in the mid-1980s when Pope John Paul II invited youth from around the world to gather in prayer for peace and reconciliation.

Christie Lites of Canada supplied an abundance of MACs for the two-week celebration, including a huge Papal Mass held at Downsview Lands on July 28th. The Papal Mass attracted a crowd of some 800,000 and was broadcast live to a worldwide television audience of millions. Over 300 Martin fixtures were used on the main stage where the Papal Mass was held, all supplied through Martin Professional's Canadian distributor Erikson Pro/Martin Canada.

The lighting designer for the event was Kelly Jones, a long-time user of Martin lighting. "The lighting was designed to not overwhelm,

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PLASA Media has been contacted by Owen Radmore of the Rage Ensemble, a dance and theatre company. Radmore asks: "I hope that you can help us to track down a Zero 88 XLS for use by the Rage Ensemble . . . We have selected this product because of its separate colour scroller control. We have contacted Zero 88, but they have sold their last two models. The XLS now seems to be becoming quite scarce but we hope that someone will have one somewhere!"

Has any one got a Zero 88 XLS, ex-demo, ex-hire, etc that they can donate to the Rage Ensemble - a performing arts company for young people who are or who are in danger of becoming socially excluded. Members of the ensemble work with professionals on theatre and film productions; between now and Christmas, the company will be working on three pub theatre productions, so the desk will get plenty of use by the 12 students. Nine out of la

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Lightfactor Sales supplied lighting designer Paul O'Brien from Rainmaker with a variety of lighting fixtures to realise his design for the controversial Kylie Minogue 'Fever' installation at Madame Tussauds, London. Fever depicts the Pop Princess on all fours, dressed in a revealing red silk mini-dress and thigh-length black lace-up boots, with her famous derrière thrust provocatively skyward.

O'Brien and Lightfactor originally collaborated on designing, supplying and installing an overhead lighting rig in this temporary exhibition space in Tussauds for the 'Feel The Goal' world cup project. This also involved video playback, surround sound, floor tremblers and 39 fibre optic light heads sunk into the floor. The idea with the initial lighting install was to be able to change the look and feel of the space instantly, simply by varying the colours and textures of the lighting. Lighting

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Light Relief, the charity that supports lighting designers with personal difficulties, raised both its profile and plenty of money at this year's PLASA, while adding a different flavour with an R 'n' R Area, offering weary visitors and exhibitors upper body and foot massages.

"Thanks to the generosity of the sponsor companies, including DHA Lighting, ETC, Forester Health, Harmer PR, Martin Professional, PLASA, Stage Electrics, Strand Lighting, Vari-Lite Europe and WWG, the R 'n' R Area was a great success, raising in excess of £1,500," said Tony Gottelier, co-founder of Light Relief. "This was a first for both PLASA and Light Relief, and there was no way of predicting response, so we were delighted to be so busy on the Sunday that we had a queuing system! Thanks to its success, there are plans to make this a permanent amenity for the show."

Also at this year's P

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Selecon and Rosco will be hosting a joint ‘Hands-On Day’ at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Mallet Street, London, WC1 on 31 October 2002. The event, running from 11.00-15.30, will provide visitors with a chance to use and get to know the latest products from the two companies in a suitable theatre setting. These products include, from Selecon, the Pacific 80v, Pacific MSR with dowser, the Pacific range with Rosco’s ImagePro, the Arena Theatre fresnel and PC and the Finelite II image projector. From Rosco will be the ImagePro with a selection of iPro slides, the 1700 fog machine, the Vortex dual gobo rotator, a selection of the company’s 60 new gobo designs and, finally, Rosco Supergel and E-colour+ filters, including 24 additional colours.

Those interested in attending the event should register their interest with Selecon’s Mike Goldberg at the e-mai

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Worms - Germany’s oldest city - was the setting recently for a major performance of one of Europe’s most well-known crime thrillers, the Nibelungen tragedy. Performed outdoors in front of the impressive backdrop of Worms cathedral, the show starred Mario Adorf and was directed by Dieter Wedel. The story about murder, revenge and betrayal is inspired by the myth of the Nibelungen. Moritz Rinke, one of the most important theatre writers of this age, has provided the actual text for the city of Worms.

Lighting and control equipment for the event was supplied by Lightpower, who provided Clay Paky fixtures including 37 Stage Color 1200, 26 Stage Zoom 1200 and four Stage Profile Plus SV fixtures - the latter being Clay Paky’s sophisticated new moving body beam-shaper. Clay Paky’s projectors are well suited to theatrical presentations, due to their high quality optics

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Following the successful launch of its illuminated colour changing columns and cubes at the recent Retail Interiors & IDW2 exhibition, Rare Basics Ltd, in conjunction with AVR Colourmaster, is now to supply the hospitality, leisure and hotel industries. Manufactured in unbreakable, translucent polyethylene, the illuminated columns are extremely versatile, as each independently controlled stand-alone unit utilizes a single light source, which can be set at one colour or can morph through a sequence of colour changes. Alternatively, the cubes and columns can be capped with table tops in acrylic or metal.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Flying Pig Systems announces the first ‘Release’ version of its v1.0 software for the Wholehog III control system after completing its final round of beta testing. This is the first version of software for the state-of-the-art control system that has been given the coveted "show-safe status" by Flying Pig Systems. To reach this point it has gone through extensive testing, both within the company and with the many users who are involved in beta testing the product.

"This is an important landmark for us," said Richard Mead, Flying Pig product manager. "Above all else our customers require their control system to be reliable, and so that has been our absolute priority. But this is really just the beginning. Now that we have established this stable foundation, we will be moving forward rapidly with new versions and new features."

The beta version

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Randy Mayer has recently been promoted to the position of regional account manager for Western US and Western Canada for automated lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc. Mayer joined HES in August 2000 as inside sales rep for the West Coast, and was based in the Austin, Texas headquarters. He moved to the Los Angeles office in December 2001. HES also announce that Autumn Brokaw has recently taken on the title of inside sales rep for the Western US and Western Canada. She joined HES in January as the assistant to John Wiseman, VP of worldwide sales.

Says Wiseman: "These two well deserved promotions follow Mike Hanson's promotion (HES/FPS LA technical support manager) last month to round out the sales and support of our valued resellers and end users on the West Coast of the Americas. The Los Angeles office has never been in a better position to provide the 24/7 service and sup

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On Friday we received news that Playlight Hire Ltd - the Manchester-based lighting and sound operation - has been placed in administration. This is the latest in a string of high-profile companies to hit problems, joining a list which includes both Futurist Ltd and Lighting Technology Group.

The company, which operates out of headquarters in Manchester, was first established in 1976 by Mike McMullan to provide products and services to the entertainment and presentation industries. Over the years, it had spread its operations across the hire, installation and sale of lighting, audio and drapes, and also involved itself in television commercial production. Paul Stanley and Stephen Conn of Begbies Traynor have been appointed joint administrators of the company, and have indicated in a letter to creditors that the company will be allowed to continue to trade, whilst they look to sell it as

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Bandit Lites Inc has appointment of two new salespeople to its Nashville, Tennessee operations. Jack Huntoon joins the Bandit Staff as senior sales consultant and Jonathan Pounds takes over the role of inside sales representative. Both come with a background in the industry and re-affirm Bandit’s commitment to the sales and fixed installations market.

Jack Huntoon returns to Bandit after several years in the electrical equipment market. Jack was a Bandit from 1983-1986 when he toured with Alabama and a then small upstart band from Georgia called R.E.M. He left Bandit to pursue his degree in economics, which he attained from the University of Memphis. Huntoon says of Bandit: "It’s great to be back with a company as dedicated to its people and its craft as Bandit is, I am really excited to be here."

Jonathan Pounds joins the Bandit team as the inside sales repres

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Flying Pig Systems' Wholehog III control system was there to help performer John Otway celebrate his return to the music scene after 25 years. Playing a sell-out gig at the world-famous London Palladium theatre, his new single went straight in at number 9 in the UK charts. The Wholehog III was also celebrating the ‘Release’ status of its V1.0 software after completing its final round of beta testing. This is the first version of software for the state-of-the-art control system that has been given the coveted "show-safe" status by Flying Pig Systems.

"This is an important landmark for us," says product manager Richard Mead. "Above all else, our customers require their control system to be reliable, and so that has been our absolute priority. But this is really just the beginning. Now that we have established this stable foundation, we will be moving

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AC Lighting's Special Projects division recently developed a unique illuminated LED floor solution, for a prestigious new corporate headquarters in Central London. The contract was awarded to AC Lighting because they were the only lighting specialist approached, capable of delivering a complete solution that met the entire design criteria supplied by Lighting consultants, Indigo Light Planning.

The design brief required that colour changing effects be applied to three specific areas. The solution consisted of a projection screen, a large glass tank feature, and embedded illuminated floor strips, all of which feature prominently in the building's foyer. Indigo's Paul Traynor comments that "cold cathode was employed for the surround of the projection screen and within the glass tank, but finding a solution to provide colour changing floor strips proved to be the obstacle for every c

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Alistair Smyth has been promoted to sales manager for Central Europe at the London office of automated lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc. David Catterall, managing director of High End Systems Europe, commented: "I am delighted that Alistair has successfully made the transition from technical support to sales. He brings a wealth of knowledge and existing customer relationships to his new position and this represents a very sound base for growth for him and the company in the future."

(Lee Baldock)

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The Architectural Lighting Masterclasses 2003, taking place on 20 & 21 February 2003 at John Jay College, NYC, is being produced by lighting designer Sonny Sonnenfeld in association with Architectural Lighting and Architecture magazines, with Paul Gregory and Jonathan Speirs as creative consultants. The New York Chapter of the Institute of Architects will co-sponsor the event and all those attending both sessions will receive 16 Continuing Education Unit credits.

The two-day event is designed to train architects, interior designers, lighting designers, electrical engineers, owners and anyone else interested in the creative use of light to enhance their projects and make the best use of lighting to enhance their designs. Participants will spend two very full days discussing creative architectural lighting designs and how to achieve them, with a faculty including some of th

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Swedish lighting CAD software makers, Capture, have released the latest version of their CAD and visualization software, 3.0.4. The latest developments to the package include improved moving light performance; the ability to export the fixture list to a text file; improved patching by drag and drop from simulator views (using the selection order for automatic sequence patching); support for the E:Cue lighting control system; refined color mixing and focusing of moving lights; shutter simulation in moving lights; new arch, blackbox and proscenium object wizards, and the inclusion of MAC 2000, HES Studio Beam and LSD truss to the library.

The latest release builds on Capture 3.0.3, which was released last month and introduced gobo and color wheels in moving lights, support for HogPC (as of build 164) and support for patch information from Pronto 3.0.

(Lee Baldock)

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In response to feedback from the industry that the PLASA show, at 25 years old, was in need of re-energizing, exciting new plans for the exhibition were unveiled to both exhibitors and press at PLASA 2002.

We took time out with Matthew Griffiths, managing director of show-owners the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) and Nicola Rowland, acting show director for organizer Clarion Events, to hear about the plans and their implementation. Matthew Griffiths expands on the background to the decision: "The PLASA show is the leading entertainment, communication and presentation technology show in the world. To maintain this position, the Association realises that the show needs to be a pioneer in adapting to industry change. It also needs to ensure that the visitor experience is kept vibrant, fresh and business-focused.

"After ongoing discussions and regular feedb

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Neutrik UK Ltd, the specialist in entertainment industry connector technology, has undergone a major management restructure during 2002. The new management team, with over 40 years of cumulative pro audio experience, is spearheaded by company director Cheryl Walker, technical sales and marketing director Bob Davies and production director Chris Arnold. Their aims and objectives will be to refocus the company on customer-specific product development, and high quality service and sales support.

Plans are underway to construct a new purpose-built production and sales facility in a green field site in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The land has been purchased and completion of the new factory is anticipated in mid-summer 2003. Moving the manufacturing plant and the 110 employees from the existing site just three miles away should be complete by the autumn.

The design of the new facility is i

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Laser Grafix and DPL Production Lighting have designed and installed an architectural lighting scheme for Brighton’s derelict West Pier to coincide with the Brighton Comedy Festival. The two-week installation is causing a massive amount of local interest, fuelling further enthusiasm among locals for its planned re-development by St Modwen Properties Ltd. The illumination’s sponsors are Paramount Comedy Channel, and every day for two weeks between 6-12pm the pier’s elegant but rotting architecture comes to life in electric blue. DPL were contracted by Laser Grafix, in turn working for a conceptual design team from Amber Media.

Laser Grafix's Paul Green and DPL’s Darren Parker designed the scheme, working closely with structural engineer John Orrel, who advises the West Pier Trust on the state of the structure. Equipment could only be rigged in very specific place

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In line with the increasing use of video projection in theatrical productions, together with the development of products such as High End’s Catalyst, DHA has put its vast knowledge and experience behind a new company - Scene Change.

Officially launched at this year’s PLASA, Scene Change has been a year in development: housed in a purpose-built studio at Waterloo Road in London, the company will employ state-of-the-art technology in the creation of digital video content specifically for projection.

Scene Change’s aim will be to unite two market sectors - entertainment technology and video projection. The company’s advantage will be its ability to draw on industry-specific knowledge to create original digital video content. Conventional video libraries offer images in a rectangular format suitable for broadcast, but most lighting designers are used to working w

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The National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthen offers visitors a view of botany through the years. L&SI looks at the AV installation.

The National Botanic Gardens, officially opened in 2000, was a hugely ambitious project and the first of its kind for nearly 200 years. The Gardens are set in the Middleton Estate - 586 acres of landscaped park set against the stunning Welsh landscape. It has varied topography, a variety of water features offering diverse aquatic habitats, a range of microclimates, rich wildlife, established woodland and, amazingly in the present day, is virtually free from pollution.

Response to the project has been highly positive - during the first year, the Garden attracted over 250,000 visitors. It boasts the largest glasshouse in Europe, designed by architects Norman Foster and Partners to mirror the contours of the surrounding hills. The Theatre Botanica, a

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Andy Ciddor profiles the New Zealand-based lighting manufacturer . . .

If you were setting out to establish an innovative luminaire company, it is unlikely that you would choose to site it in a country with only a handful of professional theatres, and strategically located over 10,000 kilometres from its major markets. Yet that is precisely the situation in New Zealand, the base from which Selecon has launched its international success. It has turned what ought to have been disadvantages in its location into major strengths.

Selecon luminaires can be found in places as disparate as the Opera Bastille in Paris, the Royal Tyrell Museum in Alberta, Canada, Boston Catholic Television, the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, the Sydney Opera House and Santa Monica High School in California. The broad range of products it produces, includes families of fresnels, PC spots, fixed, zoom and condenso

  1. Roman Amphitheatre
  2. ELP purchases film and TV assets of Playlight Hire
  3. Bright Lighting Changes Name to Pixeon
  4. Selecon at Finnish National Theatre
  5. James Thomas’ Pixelrange is ECA approved
  6. Entec lights the National Television Awards
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