Dan Omerod is the live video director. Show director is Tim Byrne, the set has been designed by Iain Whitehouse from Production North and production manager is Sarah Hollis. The tour is being project managed for XL by Jo Beirne and Phil Mercer, and is one of a number of shows they are working on this spring for Leeds-based Production North in conjunction with Blink TV.
Phil Mercer adds, "As screen supplier for the recent ITV series it's been a good challenge for XL to adapt the system for touring whilst still maintaining the overall scale, variety and quality of the original TV studio based design."
Similar to the TV show, X-Factor Live is fast-paced and involves lots of cues and quick cutting. The stage features three upstage screens constructed from Barco I-Lite 10 LED panels. The central screen also splits in the middle and tracks to create an opening for stage entrances.
Ormerod has three of XL's Sony D50 cameras at his disposal, two on track and dolly in the pit and the third at FOH with a 70mm long throw lens, and he mixes using a GV Kayak mixer/switcher.
A major aesthetic challenge is to maintain the hectic pace on screen for two hours with an interval in-between the show's two halves, and also to give each artist their own individual look and video structure.
Joining Ormerod on the XL crew are engineer Jeroen "Myway" Marain, Oli Derynck (LED tech), Al Wright (LED camera operator) and Ed Moore (crew chief & projection/camera operator). Gareth Morgan from Over The Top Rigging is looking after the tracking system for the centre screen. Other suppliers involved include Wigwam (audio), Pyrojunkies (pyro), Stardes (trucking), Trathens (buses) and Home cooking (catering).
(Jim Evans)
