ISTANBUL, Turkey – Istanbul-based event engineering company Phantom has supplied a team of Clay Paky Alpha, A.Leda, and Sharpy fixtures to light the 2013 Mediterranean Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Eighteen months of preparation culminated in the June 20 Opening Ceremony of the 17th Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey. LD Jean-François Bonnement from Paris-based visual arts company Concept K specified more than 400 Clay Paky fixtures in his design.
More details from Clay Paky (www.claypaky.it):
“We chose Clay Paky fixtures because they are the only ones that can provide a balanced range of high powered luminaires such as the Alpha 1500 range,” says Bonnement. “We needed to cover maximum space with the minimum number of luminaires. The Alpha Range responds well to this expectation. We used the wonderful Alpha Profiles for big zooms, image projection and shapes. As for the Sharpy, these are the only luminaires in their category that can deliver this kind of effect close to the audience and the stage. They are incredibly small and discrete, which allows us to rig them close to the audience.”
Bonnement used 80 Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 1500s around the Field of Play for audience lighting and special effects. There were 60 Alpha Wash 1500s rigged between the Alpha Spot HPE 1500 to light the audience, scenic movement and the cast of dancers and performers while 30 Alpha Profile 1500s – 20 of which were on the roof – delivered special lighting effects. The other 10 were positioned on a central truss to light scenic elements.
Bonnement also specified 110 Sharpys, rigged on the roof and truss to create strong architectural beam effects that interacted to the music. He chose 24 Alpha Spot HPE 700s for decorative gobos and architectural lighting; 24 Alpha Wash 700s for the musicians’ stage; 36 A.leda Wash K5s on the audience access to create the depth of field necessary for the broadcast cameras; and 24 A.leda Wash K10s for the main stage.
Technical manager for Phantom, Sedat Gündüz, comments: “As one of the Turkey’s leading suppliers of event and entertainment technology we are proud to be able to supply such a huge amount of Clay Paky fixtures for such a prestigious event. Our long-term relationship with Clay Paky has enabled us to invest in Alpha Spot HPE 1500s and Sharpys. The excellent optics, long throw, outstanding color, and smooth washes of the Alpha 1500 range ensured we could deliver some fascinating looks for the event. The Sharpys’ very fast speed and solid beam gave us the background contrast we needed for video and broadcast. We didn’t have to replace one fixture during the 20 days of set-up, programming and rehearsals. This was an amazing performance in 40 (C) degree heat in Mersin.”
Phantom is investing in more Clay Paky luminaires to satisfy forthcoming contracts, including an additional 110 Sharpys, 80 Alpha Spot HPE 1500s, and 80 Alpha Wash 1500s. The purchases will make Phantom the biggest supplier of Clay Paky in the region.
The 2013 Mediterranean games saw the participation of 6,000 athletes from 24 countries and entertained 25,000 spectators.
For a video view, go to http://youtu.be/9-Y0ozK_LOs
