Lighting

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14 March 2016

In an exciting twist on 2012's R28 competition, the use of consoles WILL be allowed, due to popular demand among previous entrants. Of course, employment of the software's Cue List and Camera Path features is perfectly acceptable and encouraged - Members are simply challenged to create a two-minute video of a stunning wysiwyg design and upload it to the CAST Software Facebook page for appraisal, initially by CAST's hand-picked judging panel, and then by the public who can vote for their favourite video via Facebook.

CAST

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14 March 2016

The awards ceremony was presented by the Whatsonstage.com theatre news website at a lavish concert on Sunday night. The Whatsonstage.com Awards is the only major prize-giving celebration for theatre voted on by the theatre-going public. The Best Lighting Designer Award is sponsored by leading entertainment lighting supplier White Light.

Henderson secured the prize for his work on Sweeney Todd, which opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then transferred to London's Adelphi Theatre. Henderson's was not the only award presented to the show, which also won prizes for its leading performers (Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton), its director (Jonathan Kent), and for the show itself, which was named Best Musical Revival.

Henderson's fellow nominees in the category were Humphre

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14 March 2016

The MAC III Wash features a unique internal barndoor system (shutters) that enables designers to shape projection onto stages, performers, scenery, scrims, or any set element with great precision.

The MAC III Wash houses a 1:4 fully linear zoom that requires no lens changes plus the MAC III Wash maintains near full efficiency throughout the entire zoom range with no visible beam jump when zooming from tight to wide and no drop in lumens output.

At over 50,000 lumens

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14 March 2016

Heading up the action were plenty of electronic legends like The Chemical Brothers, M.I.A, Fedde Le Grand, Mark Ronson, Hot Chip, The Faders, Kimbra and many more.

Lighting equipment, together with lighting production designs for the event's three main stage areas, was supplied by Clifton Productions, one of Australia's highest profile rental operations ... and the one with the largest stock of Robe fixtures.

Stage One was based around M.I.A.'s spec and featured 22 Robe ColorSpot 2500E ATs, eight ColorWash 2500E ATs and 18 Robin 600 Beams. The set centrepiece was an extensive upstage video wall.

The second stage was custom designed to accommodate the Chemical Brot

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14 March 2016

The LB-100's were supplied by production company, Supporting Role, who specialise in the broadcast rental sector, after being impressed by a system demo organised by SGM Germany's co-MD Thorsten Sattler.

Florian Wieder has taken a highly creative approach with the lighting - hanging the LB-100's as a curtain, split into separate sections, and as 'bridges' across the studio (one of which serves as the portal bridge to the stage).

These are fed by moving images from three Coolux Pandoras Box media servers.

Each of the 1500 strings measures 0.85m and contains sev

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14 March 2016

The new Chroma-Q Studio Force Phosphor has been developed specifically for use in film, TV and broadcast studio environments. Utilising innovative LED technologies, the units provide an equivalent soft edge output to a fluorescent fixture - up to 7,000 lumens. There's a choice of standard daylight white (5,600K), variable white (3,200 - 5,600K) and new tungsten white (3,200K) colour temperature versions, with the variable version offering fine-tuning of the green and magenta tints and frequency for camera.

Other features include an extremely smooth uniform wash, extra soft beam, theatrical grade dimming, laboratory calibration to match Black Body Locus, a manual c

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14 March 2016

ECI Cultuurfabriek is a converted former chemical factory which was abandoned in the 1970s. After many years of discussion about the building's future, it was decided to refurbish it - replacing its missing roof and rebuilding the walls - and turn it into a space for the whole community to use. Incoming technical manager Maarten Janssen invested in 30 ETC Source Four Lustr+ and 22 ETC Selador Desire Lustr+ LED luminaires for its 244 seat theatre space, taking advantage of extra funding available for environmentally sustainable projects.

Janssen explains why he chose the ETC fixtures: "I saw the LED demonstrations on ETC's YouTube video library. The fixtures have incredibly smooth fades, which I've never

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14 March 2016

"We were extremely pleased to see three of the manufacturers we represent receive these Awards," states CEO Lionel Garraud. "Robert Juliat, Chromlech and Darklight are prime examples of the innovative, well informed industry leaders we chose to deal with. We see this as confirmation that we made the right choices in the products we offer and could not have asked for more from our first exhibition as a new company."

Alterlite was established to provide the French architainment and retail markets with alternative lighting products of the highest quality. Its team has expanded rapidly over the firs

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14 March 2016

Squib has worked with the Band - whose lively mix of rocky electro pop has fed their hyperactive career trajectory - since 2010. They are a hard-working live act. Squib's first gig for them was at London's Heaven venue, mid-way through the cycle for their first studio album Tourist History, which segued almost immediately into Beacon.

He is a relative newcomer to using Robe fixtures, and it was the latest Robin series that caught his eye and encouraged him to look further at what the brand had to offer.

This was the first full production leg of the Beacon

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14 March 2016

"David was diagnosed with cancer 15 months ago and met the challenge of his illness with the same blend of determination and optimism that was his hallmark in business. Since stepping down as managing director of Stage Electrics he has devoted time to ensuring a secure future for his company and its employees," says the company. "His majority ownership passes to his family, however David has made sure Stage Electrics is in safe hands with strong management in place led by managing director Dan Aldridge and chairman Trevor Smallwood."

David founded Stage Electrics in Exeter in 1979 and built the company into the nationwide multi-discipline organisation it is today. Leading the company as managing direct

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14 March 2016

Lighting designer Sooner Routhier specified 44 Legend 412 fixtures placed in custom-made wood carts behind the singer and symmetrically on the left and right side of the stage. "We needed to make sure that the floor package we used was easily configurable to accommodate the many different stage sizes," Routhier said.

"It needed to expand and contract based on the various widths. Luckily, the lighting company - Special Event Services - had some custom-built carts that they modified in order to pack lots of lights into small spaces." These props allowed the tour to set up a floor package and tear it down in record time for festival and opening act situations. "

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14 March 2016

In a further indication that this year's show will be the best yet, organisers report a 30% increase in visitor registrations. New exhibitors joining the show this year include Autograph Sales, HD Pro Audio, Pearce Hire and Unusual Rigging, among others. A full list of exhibitors and details of the Professional Development Programme can be found on the PLASA Focus website.

Another exciting new development is the first ever PLASA Riggers' Forum for the North, which will take place on Tuesday 30 April. Building on the success of the PLASA Riggers' Forum in London in September, t

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14 March 2016

VH-1 and the NFL joined forces to celebrate the Super Bowl with Train headlining The Best Super Bowl Concert Ever on Friday night. CMT and the NFL partnered the following evening on a Crossroads special starring superstar country band Rascal Flatts and iconic rock band Journey. Both concerts were held at The Sugar Mill in New Orleans, which seats 4,000-5,000 fans.

Atomic Lighting of Lititz, Pennsylvania provided a pair of grandMA2 light with grandMA2 fader wing for the concert series. PEDG was the production design team collaborating. Bob Pederson was acting lighting designer on the broadcast truck.

The grandMA2 light was selected by programmer

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14 March 2016

Lighting designer Peter Barnes - dubbed the UK's 'guru of pop lighting' - specified 14 Sharpys rigged on the back truss on drop-bars and ten on the stairways, all mimicking the shapes of the LED screens on stage. A further ten Sharpys were positioned on a flown box truss just in front of the FOH position.

"The Sharpys were the only fixture I knew would give strong defined beams powerful enough to be visible against the intensity of the LED screen that made up the pyramid shaped fascia to the set and the backdrop," says Barnes. "They were also small enough to be placed on the stairs without being a hazard to the dancers."

HSL supplied the Clay Paky Sharpys and the tour was project managed for HSL by Mike Oates.

"The Clay Paky Sharpy is a real wor

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14 March 2016

Raj Kapoor worked closely with Little Big Town to design a stunning set that did the word justice. The design features the remains of a theatre, with tattered legs and borders hanging across the mid stage.

While the name of the tour and album inspired the set design, lighting designer Chris Shrom worked with production manager Chris Diener on the production details during Rascal Flatts' Changed tour that they wanted to bring to Little Big Town's show.

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14 March 2016

On 15 December 2012, the 17th Joyous Celebration DVD was recorded at Rhema Church in Johannesburg.

This respected project was made possible with the help of a technical team comprising of different companies.

ATTV provided and managed all the visual graphics and final DVD editing while sound, staging and six Clay Paky Sharpies were supplied by Sound Headquarters. The lighting rig and screens was supplied by EPH Productions. The entire show attended by 5000 audience was recorded on HD cameras; supplied by Malaphati. Wizardry Group was briefed to supply a lighting system that needed to look good on any camera from any angle and to keep the set alive.

It was also Wizardry Groups' responsibility to integrate all the video imag

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14 March 2016

Apollo president, Joel Nichols states, "Both companies have enjoyed a mutual partnership for years. I am looking forward to working with PRG and being able to service their client needs."

Milad Khouli, Sr. international account executive commented, "PRG is a well-established company dedicated to providing high quality, high resolution gobos using the latest technology. This venture provides Apollo with the opportunity to solidify their presence in the European market."

Kevin Blair, head of PRG Technical Services said, "The introduction of Apollo products into the UK and EU markets will offer our clients an extended range of designs coupled with our continued

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14 March 2016

With over 3m international album sales and a Eurovision Song Contest win under their belt, Secret Garden have been touring relentlessly for over 15 years, covering a huge portion of the globe.

The first time Trond tried a Vista he was immediately drawn to its powerful, simple operating system, which he found to be extremely intuitive. Since then, he has become a keen Vista user, specifying a range of Vista products across his busy schedule of tours and productions.

Trond chose the new, flagship Vista L5 console to control lighting and media on this tour knowing that the software's simple, powerful and visual interface would provide him with the flexible, reliable and consistent contr

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14 March 2016

Ruisheng has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu and with nearly 70 employees has set course for becoming a leading supplier of international professional lighting and audio systems in China.

Michael Münz, general manager of GLPs Asia Office in Hong Kong, said, "Since we started GLP Asia two years ago we have really been able to grow our business all across Asia. Our products are now used on stage with some of the most famous artists in the Peak Tower, right here in Hong Kong."

Munz will work closely with the staff at Ruisheng to ensure the highest level of customer service and support, adding "Together with Ruisheng, I look forward to building the GLP brand to great success."

CEO of GLP GmbH, Udo

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14 March 2016

The show - also broadcast in several movie theatres around Hong Kong and Taiwan - was the final date on their 2012 Summer Dive tour and was performed in-the-round.

The epic set lasted four hours and contained 26 pumped-up numbers. The lighting design had to keep pace with all the action onstage and so Hirotaka Kojima needed plenty of flexibility and multiple options in his lighting rig, which was supplied by Tokyo based rental company, M-Tech Style.

M-Tech Style's Yo-Ichi Ashikawa recommended the Robe fixtures to him as the best choices to promote the cheerful, up-beat summer party vibes embraced by Momoiro

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14 March 2016

Working in all areas of technical production - corporates, live events, rock 'n' roll touring - and as well supplying lighting, sound and video to these productions - Musiklagret (The Music Warehouse) is also a successful music store.

There are now over 30 Robe moving lights in the company's hire stock, the latest being Robin 600 LEDWashes, which were purchased last year.

The first investment in Robe was eight years ago - Wash 250 XTs - which are still in active service today. These were followed by ColorSpot 575E ATs and then ColorSpot 700E ATs, all purchased through Robe's Swedish distributor, Bellalite.

Says Werner, "Our Robes have been totally reliable and we are very happy with them. The price is good and we receive exce

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14 March 2016

Says RML, "Due to the fact that RML have remained a moving light specialist for almost 30 years, we have continued to remain at the forefront of moving light technology and the purchase of this latest product for our already extensive inventory is no exception.

"The MMX WashBeam uses internal motorized barndoors for creating unique shapes and chases. The module consists of four individually controllable blades and is rotatable by 180°."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The conferences were centred around two of the Cirque du Soleil's most successful shows: Kà and O. Lafortune got right down to the roots of the creative process through thorough artistic and philological analysis. He explored the contents of each show and the message every scene was intended to conjure up, before moving on to the search for inspiring graphic effects and colours which leads as a conc

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14 March 2016

The winner of the Become a Star- Young Lighting Designer Contest 2013 will also be invited to spend a day with the Martin Professional family at Prolight + Sound, getting an up-close look at the latest in Martin innovation and making all-important contact with employees, lighting designers, customers and other lighting professionals.

But that's not all! On the evening of 11 April, the winner will be Martin's special guest at an exclusive Martin Professional VIP party at Frankfurt's premiere live music venue, Gibson Club, Germany's most innov