UK – Edinburgh based event company 21CC Group Ltd delivered the technical management, production, lighting and fireworks for the ‘Hello World’ moment at Friday night’s V&A launch in Dundee.
More details from 21CC Group (https://21ccgroup.com):
Geoff Crow, Director says “We were absolutely delighted to be part of such an incredible launch event, and for so many different aspects of our business to be involved. This was one of Scotland’s biggest events this year. We were engaged by DF Concerts & Events and we worked closely with their production team to create the ‘Hello World’ moment alongside Dundee based creative agency Biome Collective, who provided the overall vision for the design. Our on-site technical team, including JMP Productions (lighting designer of the Queensferry Crossing launch event) designed and set up all the special effects and lighting for the big occasion and we also handled the technical services for Éclair Fifi’s set following the Hello World moment. Additionally, our fireworks and pyrotechnic teams were onsite having designed punctuation moments to accompany the overall creative design throughout the finale.”
The event was televised live by the BBC and was managed by DF Concerts & Events, who were engaged direct by the V&A. Geoff Crow, Director says “We have worked with DF Concerts & Events previously on other events, including T in the Park. This was a superb opportunity for us to showcase all areas of our events business; 21CC Productions, 21CC Events, 21CC Pyrotechnics and 21CC Fireworks.”
The 21CC team were on site from five days prior to the live event, with full event testing and rehearsals running through two nights. The event was a huge success, with over 10,000 people in attendance along with the audience of the BBC’s live coverage.
The artistic requirements for the various looks were the vision of the Dundee based creative agency Biome; these looks needed to be turned into a lighting design. This brought some challenges for the team as many of the artistic requirements of the brief leant towards projection rather than lighting, therefore it was imperative to use the right fixtures for such a range of effects as well as specifying fixtures that would maximize impact on such a complex building surface.
Jon Pugh, Project Manager says “Working with the creative agency who provided the vision, we transformed each look individually; creating full renders on Capture, which were then shared with the wider creative team, our client, and the end client; the V&A. Following sign off of these looks, we proceeded to program the show”.
Using 30 BMFL wash beams that have specific usability; including internal shutters that allowed the creation of geometric shapes and accurate boundaries, we programmed the lighting to echo the architecture of the building and work in harmony with the building’s design. Each look was pre-programmed before reaching site, and allowance was made for any adjustments to the design on site. During this process the musical track that would trigger each look was being composed, and once this was complete the two were merged, midi triggers created and the resulting show finalized and programmed.
John Rogers, Lighting Designer & Programmer says “Working with an Avolites Tiger Touch II gave us so much more control of the geometric shapes across the building. All of the looks required much more than a positional focus; they all required a shutter blade focus. The looks were more intricate in the context of the show than in isolation due to the execution of the cues via MIDI – it became a game of trying to hide the strings whilst delivering a seamless show, all whilst managing expectations with the creative agency and educating them in the ability of the desk and fixtures themselves. There were a few eureka moments and inspirations happening when we got to site and one of these was the ‘Hello World’ represented in Morse Code as part of the set. Overall, it was a unique approach to designing a show, and despite the challenges, it brought me great joy to light such a spectacular building.”
Nick Barrass, Chief Firer said “the fireworks and pyro effects were designed to align with the geometry of the building, compliment the lighting design and work within the restrictions on the site; all whilst delivering impactful punctuation moments that blended with the overall design.”
Photo Credit: Technical Production & Lighting by 21CC Events. Fireworks and FX by 21CC Fireworks. Photo by PK Perspective.
