DUBAI, UAE — Video Applications, Inc. (VAI) recently supported two projects in Dubai, the first marking the launch of a skyscraper and harbor complex and the second the debut of a new built-from-scratch community.
BRISTOL, U.K. — Dik Welland, who saw a need in the market to repair, rather than just replace, faulty lighting gear, has opened a lighting repair facility and dubbed it “The Lighting Hospital.”
TORONTO — Sounds Distribution Inc. announced that it has added Phil Hall to the company’s sales force in Western Canada. Hall will focus his attention on Sound’s dealers across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
DUBAI, U.A.E. — Prolyte announced that Neumann & Mueller Dubai will distribute its complete line of products, including trussing, staging and Prolyft hoists, in the United Arab Emirates. Prolyte also announced that it would be closing its Prolyte Middle East (PME) office.
JOHANNESBURG — Gearhouse South Africa supplied lighting, video, staging and power for the 2009 Coca Cola Zero festival at Riversands Farm and the Lourensford Wine Estate in Cape Town. The events gave the Media and Lighting divisions a chance to use the Green Hippo Hippotizer HD digital media server for the first time. It was specified by Gearhouse director Tim Dunn.
JOHANNESBURG — A concert staged for South African singer/songwriter Juanita du Plessis at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City used Robe DigitalSpots to project images onto a screen just upstage from an 18-piece band, using onboard keystoning to avoid shadows by beaming the images above the musicians’ heads.
LAS VEGAS — Christie introduced two projectors at the NAB conference, the Christie LX400, a XGA 4000 ANSI lumens projector, and the Christie LW650, a WXGA, single-lamp 3LCD projector.
SECAUCUS, NJ — In a development befitting Earth Day, the Garden State and its own company’s name, theatrical fabrics supplier Rose Brand planted a communal garden at its headquarters. It occupies about 360 square feet on the west side of the building and includes flowers, herbs and vegetables. Rose Brand volunteers will care for the garden and reap the fruits of their labor later this year.
LONDON — Indie rocker Paul Weller took the O2 Arena stage recently with tracks from his new album, 22 Dreams in a one-off performance, and Justine Catterall produced and served up the video visuals for the 12-song set using a MiTrix LED screen, Catalyst control, two camera systems, projection and PPU provided, along with crew, by XL Video.
LONDON — The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die world tour, the band’s first tour where they’ve been persuaded to use video, also includes 32 i-Pix BB4 LED fixtures in the visual mix dreamed up by lighting and visuals designer Andy Hurst.
NEW YORK —April 24 is drawing near — the first combined Behind the Scenes and Light Relief By Design Day. It will be a day where LDs on both sides of the Atlantic are donating their royalties to the two charities. The event’s organizers are applauding the LDs and others who have stepped up, including those responsible for 40 international shows.
AUSTIN, TX – Le Maitre, the manufacturer of Pyroflash and ProStage pyrotechnics, smoke machines, hazers and special effects, has named John McDowell as director of North American operations.