France - Ayrton has introduced Karif-LT, its ultra-compact 300W LED beam-spot, and the first in Ayrton’s new line of LT (Long Throw) products dedicated to long-range applications. Karif-LT is equipped with a 168mm frontal lens offering a zoom ratio of 17:1 and a 2.8°- 47° zoom range, the narrowness of which is unprecedented and unmatched in an LED fixture, says the company. A new high-efficiency, low-etendue, compact LED module delivers an ultra-intense beam which, calibrated at 8500K, can generate powerful metallic white light and deep, vivid colours. Karif-LT has an overall output of 13,000 lumens at a colour temperature of 7500K, and a centre-beam luminous intensity of 3,500,000 candelas. Billed as ‘a creative wizard’, Karif-LT’s rich feature set includes a CMY colour mixing system, a patent pending multi-position CTO wheel with seven different c
USA - Glenn Becker, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA)’s first president, passed away on 19 June aged 70. “Glenn’s vision was about bringing the industry together to make it a better industry”, says ESTA. “He thought that competitors could come together and share ideas and solutions to make business easier and more successful for everyone. Because of that vision and Glenn’s hard work, the Theatrical Dealers Association (TDA) was born.” Becker organised its founding meeting in 1987 and served as the first president from 1987 to 1991. In 1994, when the decision was made to form ESTA, the TDA board turned to Becker to chair the committee that rewrote the bylaws and set up the new organisational structure. The board would continue to turn to him over the years to take on special projects. He became involved in theatre in high
USA - Among the buildings devastated by the hurricane Harvey in 2017 was First Baptist Humble, in Humble, Texas, which had 18-inches of water in its sanctuary. Determined to rebuild its campus, the 111-year old house of worship gave itself a new name, United City Church, and remade its sanctuary interior, adding an advanced AVL system installed by Stark Raving Solutions that featured Chauvet Professional LED fixtures. The new 1,200-seat church was scheduled to host services for the first time on Easter Sunday, 2020, but fate intervened once again in the form of the coronavirus. With the lockdown in effect, the church couldn’t reopen on schedule and had to limit itself to online streamed services. Almost two months later, however, with restrictions on public gatherings eased, the church was able to welcome limited groups of worshippers to its new sanctuary, following social
UAE - The new Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai unites three lighting brands from Cooper Lighting Solutions - Zero 88 for entertainment-style control, iLight for architectural-style control and Ephesus LED sports lights. The interior lighting and control systems together with all associated infrastructure were delivered as a turnkey solution during last year by Eaton Lighting Systems - now known as Cooper Lighting Solutions (CLS). These aspects of this flagship project were managed by Peter Coles (business manager), supported by Martin Piper (iLight International training & support manager), Jon Hole (Zero 88 product manager) and Cooper Lighting Solution’s two EMEA project teams - one based in the UK, the other in Dubai, who together oversaw the process from design to final delivery in close collaboration with UAE-based lighting installation contractor, BMTC. The v
South Korea - Festival of Lights, an entertainment lighting company founded in 2013, has added 70 Claypaky Sharpy Plus fixtures to its inventory. The firm designs and operates lights for numerous concerts, festivals and television programmes. As the K-pop phenomenon has gone global, Festival of Lights has also done overseas tours for Korean musical artists. Its comprehensive services range from rentals to design, installation, operation and maintenance. The company has particular expertise in show operations, and its young operators are known for their creative lighting designs. The Sharpy Plus has two independent operating modes. In beam mode, it offers enhanced aerial effects and an extraordinary power output (over 300,000 lux at 10m distance). In spot mode, the light is diffused in a more even way, which means visual effects can be projected with excellent uniformi
Ukraine - The coronavirus pandemic didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for the 2020 final of singing competition The Voice Ukraine, which was broadcast live from the Kiev studios of TV channel 1+1, produced by Volodymyr Zavaduyk, directed by Tri.Direction and lit by Eugene Kostyra, also working closely with DOP Sergey Petrov. To create an original and spectacular lighting design for this socially distanced television event, Eugene utilised Robe MegaPointes and Spikies as a key part of his lighting rig which were supplied, along with all the other lighting equipment, by Ukraine’s largest rental and production company, Alight. It was the tenth season for the popular show and Eugene has been involved with the lighting since the fifth series (as well as two series of the ‘Junior’ edition). Tri.Direction - directors creative team of the show developed t
USA - Soon after the Covid-19 lockdown went into effect, Events United owner Tim Messina and his team began transforming Studio Lab (their shared space production facility) into a livestream studio to produce events. They weren’t exactly sure where this effort would take them; they just wanted to keep busy and find a way to continue paying their team. Turns out they did much more than that. In the weeks following the initial lockdown, Studio Lab has gone on to fill a variety of important roles in the community, including that of a fundraising tool. A variety of charitable groups have raised much-needed money during the pandemic by holding online benefit auctions at the Studio Lab facility in Derry, NH. The latest of these is the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, which raised $105,000 in June through an auction livestreamed and produced by the Events United team at
USA - The recent Rock of Ages revival at New World Stages in New York City was a resounding success, just as it was in its 2008 Off-Broadway debut at the same theatre prior to its successful six-year Broadway run. The show opened last June and after originally being scheduled to close in September was extended for an open-ended run, eventually shutting down when Broadway went dark in March. Lighting designer Jason Lyons has been lighting the musical since that storied 2008 New York debut. “Back then it was a bit of an experiment,” he says. “We didn’t really know what we had and it exploded from there. It’s one of those rare shows that people can go back to over and over again and still have a really good time. I think that’s part of its success. You find new moments to enjoy every time.” Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical that tells the story
USA - Altman Lighting has appointed Matthew Klasmeier as product development support engineer. Klasmeier was previously employed as a field service technician for Vincent Lighting Systems, specialising in the installation and verification of new entertainment and architectural lighting systems. Working within the new Altman headquarters in Denver, Colorado, he will be responsible for overseeing current and future product development, as well as in-house warranty service, support and repair. “We are very excited to have Matthew joining our team as he will serve as an integral part of the launch and support of many new Altman technologies,” says Pete Borchetta, vice president Altman Lighting product innovation. “His expertise within the lighting industry is undeniable and he will be a valuable asset in the development and customer service behind our entertainment
Belgium - Robbe Verburgh wants more EDM DJs to start streaming. So much so, that he’s created VR Stream, a complete mobile streaming solution in a van that allows DJs to do a show and get it up and running online from anywhere, even their own back yards. To promote his new service, Verburgh created a streaming marathon in his backyard, or more precisely the warehouse of the company he works for, DV Sound. To draw attention to the event, which took place 17-18 May, he lined up Gianni Foquaert (aka DJ Flavour Drop), known for his own pioneering radio concept, as host of the event. Then, to ensure that his 21-hour (over two days) stream was energised by wave after wave of supercharged looks, Verburgh retained the services of Cedric Duré. The teenage owner of Outdream, Duré obliged, creating an intense outpouring of pixel mapped movement and colour that never seemed t
UK - Stage Electrics has been awarded the key contract to supply and install three new Zero 88 Chilli By-Pass Dimmers, ETC Element 2 Desk and new DMX infrastructure around the stage and FOH for the Shaftesbury Theatre in Dawlish. This is the first step for the Devon theatre in moving from a traditional tungsten rig towards a more energy efficient LED solution. Replacing the old dimmers with the new Zero 88 Chilli bypass dimmers offers the ability to swap between dimming or hot power, whilst the 10 new DMX points around the stage and front of house allows for increased flexibility for future productions.
Denmark - At the end of 2019, after three years constantly on the road, Danish lighting, video and set designer Peter Fisker wanted to spend a bit more time at home. Fortuitously, a part-time teaching post became available at EUC Nord in Frederikshavn, who needed a tutor for the lighting module of their well-known and respected Event Technicians course. The college administration asked if he was interested in applying, and he jumped at the chance as this would enable him to stay home part of the year whilst also retaining the flexibility of touring and lighting shows via his design company, HeCameToEat. The vocational Event Technicians course allows rental and event production companies, music, and theatre venues, etc. to take on trainee technicians who work at their companies and learn the theoretical, practical and creative skills needed to master the craft over a f
Italy - The facade of Palazzo Madama in Rome has been lit up in the colours of the Italian flag from18 March until the end of the COVID-19 medical emergency. Audio-Luci-Store, an online division of the company Il Microfono, took care of the lighting set-up. Sabino Coppolecchia, owner of Il Microfono, said: “At the end of 2019, Audio-Luci-Store received a request from the technical staff of the Italian Senate. Our task was to provide a lighting system for the imposing facade of Palazzo Madama, in order to illuminate the building on very special occasions, like the International Day for the elimination of violence against women or Telethon. “Basic requirements were for a quick and simple installation, so that the internal staff of the Senate could be able to interact with the fixtures in complete autonomy, without need of technical support.” According to the
UK - The damage across the UK culture, media, sports and digital sectors caused by the coronavirus outbreak has been laid bare in a government survey published this week. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released the results of its Business Survey, showing the impact of coronavirus on organisations across the four sectors. The survey received 3,936 responses submitted between 23 April and 22 May. Headline findings reveal the devastating impact of the pandemic on businesses, with more than a third (1,646) of respondents reporting their revenue has decreased by 100% year-on-year, whilst just 97 have seen an increase during the period. In terms of how long businesses can continue to operate viably, the majority (1,156) of respondents selected ‘up to six months’, whilst 1,102 indicated that they could stay afloat beyond six month
USA - Production company Toucan Productions has started to livestream weekly DJ sets from its facility in Oklahoma City using a festival-worthy setup that includes nearly 100% Elation lighting gear. Dubbed Secret Shop and hosted on Twitch TV, the livestream broadcasts feature multiple 45-minute DJ sets and run every Wednesday from 8:00 pm to midnight Central Daylight Time in the U.S. Arvol Dingess and Parker Shore, both of Toucan, have been instrumental in getting the Secret Shop livestreams up and running, an idea that emerged from Covid-era downtime. “Sometime in May, Arvol, our video lead at Toucan, hit me up with the idea to do a streaming show from the Toucan shop and I jumped on it,” said Shore, an Oklahoma City native who has been a lighting specialist at Toucan for the past five years. “We did some cocktail napkin sketches of the rig, built it an
UK - This summer, Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s opera double bill has been transformed from the physical to the digital stage, with the creative team and artists from across the School bringing the productions to life from their homes using digital technology. It is now available to stream for free until Wednesday 1 July 2020. A 20th-century reimagining of one of the earliest English operas Dido and Aeneas - Purcell’s tragic love story featuring the famous aria Dido’s Lament - is contrasted with Respighi’s La bella dormente nel bosco, a witty take on the Sleeping Beauty story. The School’s production would have been the UK premiere of Respighi’s rarely performed work. All students, staff and guest artists have been working from wherever they have been living during the lockdown, across at least 14 countries and four con
South Africa - Rental and technical production company Blond Productions invested in its first Astera products - Titan Tubes and AX3 Lightdrops - for the first series of reality dating show Love Island France. This was filmed earlier in the year at a luxury villa on the Lothian wine estate in Elgin Valley, on the banks of the Palmiet River about an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Paris-based director of photography (Florian Sinopoli works worldwide on various TV shows and series, and last year also lit Celebrity Love Island in South Africa for producers ITV Studios. He initially specified the Asteras, although Blond Productions’ owner Christiaan Ballot was already considering making an investment in the brand after numerous recommendations, “It was really just a question of awaiting the right moment,” he explained. The Asteras were supplied by Joha
The Netherlands - Production company Spectrum AV has created a blank canvas studio in its warehouse that it is renting out to promotors who wish to host virtual dance festivals during the coronavirus lockdown. Featuring an impressive lighting rig, comprised of 68 ADJ fixtures, it allows the atmosphere of a high-energy DJ set to be captured and live-streamed for fans to watch in the safety of their own homes. Established for over 15 years, Spectrum AV is a full-service lighting, video, audio and effects rental and production company based in the village of Udenhout, which is located between Tilburg and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands. Although the company supplies a wide range of clients spanning across the entertainment and business worlds, it has developed a particular niche in the EDM festival market. With a business model designed to make life as easy as possi
Austria - Starnacht (Star Night) is one of the more popular televised live music programmes in German-speaking countries. Broadcast from Austria since 2000, the programme has several editions and is known for its diverse mix of national and international artists who perform amid a festival-like atmosphere against majestic backdrops like the Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna or the spectacular peaks of the Alps. Austrian-based full-service event technology supplier Droneberger Showtechnik specialises in television productions and has been lighting Starnacht shows since 2005/2006. The company, which operates from the town of Klagenfurt, sought a flexible luminaire to enhance the Starnacht stage in colour and effect and last summer purchased Elation Professional Paladin multi-effect lights to use on Starnacht am Wörthersee, Starnacht aus der Wa
USA - Like much else in bluegrass country, there is a tranquil beauty to Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. With its gently curved inlayed stone outer walls, multi-level windowed surfaces, and soaring main tower, the 433-bed medical centre on the outskirts of this picturesque town, projects a sense of serenity and calmness. It is a sense that has reassured Kentuckians through good times and bad since 1877, when the hospital was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. In 2020, this modern medical facility came to the aid of its community in another crisis by serving at the centre of the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This June, Saint Josephs showed its gratitude to the hospital’s health care heroes and its support for families that have been impacted by the virus with two successive week-long lighting displays created by Studio46 Media, usin
Europe - ETC has promoted Konstantinos Vonofakidis to regional sales manager. In his new role, Vonofakidis will oversee the sales activities in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Egypt. He will manage sales arrangements for key accounts in these regions and work in cooperation with the company’s distributors and dealers. Vonofakidis previously worked as a field project coordinator for High End Systems in the Southern European, African, Middle Eastern and Indian territories. He began his career as a service engineer working with High End Systems for 10 years before going on to manage significant lighting projects such as the National Theatre of Greece, Bahrain National Theatre and Onassis Cultural Centre. Darren Beckley, sales manager - ETC Ltd, comments: “Vonofakidis is a valuable member of the sales team who has built a great rapport with the dealers and customer
UK - sunDial quad, the PLASA Gold award-winning mains LED dimmer from Artistic Licence, is now available in a custom installation enclosure. Manufactured by Future Automation, the high-quality coated steel enclosures are available in six different sizes, with the largest containing 10 DIN rails and accommodating up to 18 sunDial units. The enclosures feature integral cable management, dedicated earthing and neutral bars and a fully removable front cover. Future Automation are also happy to offer pre-wired panels and module wiring services . sunDial quad offers a professional DMX512/RDM (or optionally Xicato wireless) controlled solution, with advanced safety features. There are four channels each providing 250W (or up to 500W per pair) - more than ample for LED, but also suitable for crossover markets that might have legacy incandescent technology. The product
USA - Chauvet Professional’s Maverick Silens 2 Profile will never be noticed because of its sound. The 100-percent convection cooled LED PCB fixture is virtually silent, attracting no attention to itself in studios for live stream broadcasts, recital halls, theatres or other applications where absolute quietness is essential, says the company. This 560W profile unit includes features like CMY+CTO colour mixing with CRI, R9, CQS, and TLCI all between 91 and 97 (depending on the colour temperature mixed), four-blade framing shutter system with rotation, a colour wheel, animation wheel, a 10:1 zoom, prism, two frosts, static and rotating gobo wheels, and 16-bit dimming with selectable red shift. “We are especially proud of this fixture,” comments Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “All of what we’ve learned through our work with professional LED fixtures over the
South America - Ayrton has appointed Wholestage as its new exclusive distributor for Colombia, Panama and the Caribbean Islands. Wholestage, has offices in the USA, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Chile and Spain (Madrid). The company was established in 1998 in Venezuala before relocating to Miami in 2006, and specialises in the distribution of video, audio, rigging, lighting and control. “The Ayrton product portfolio is balanced and well thought out, which allows you to cover and meet all the needs of the market,” comments Luis Duque, Wholestage’s CEO. “It combines excellence in quality, sophisticated design and LED technology with a unique, advanced development in the engineering, at a reasonable price for the market. This translates into a unique, accessible, quality product which is a great investment for our clients.” He continues: “The Ay
