Nocturne Productions opted to include Medialon Manager for the Eagles’ Long Road Out of Eden world tour, and Medialon programming specialist Automation 4 Ltd. joined the production team to assist in programming the show control system — while allowing for band members to improvize.
NEW YORK — An open-to-the-public atrium may not be as lighting-friendly as a fully equipped theatre, but that didn’t stop Tinc Design & Productions from lighting and staging Wait for Green, a collaboration of ETHEL, a string ensemble, and dance choreographed by Annie-B Parson, in the Winter Garden atrium at World Financial Center.
MONTE CARLO — The set for the World Music Awards, staged at the Sporting Club hall and broadcast worldwide, got visual support with Dreampanels, the modular tile system from Ayrton, supplied by Targetti Group and AMG International.
Years ago I was doing a corporate show with some friendly clients who produce multi million dollar events. Over a few drinks I got to know one of the executive producers pretty well. I asked him how his firm got in with these big drug companies he did events for. He explained the process he has to go through to make a presentation to get the gig. After wowing me with details he let me know that his company had spent 40k just in the presentation. I gasped and told him I could not imagine spending that much of my own money just for a chance at getting the gig. His reply was simple. “It takes money to make money.”
TROY, NY —The new Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is using a pair of Robert Juliat Topaze followspots for its venues.
NEW YORK—A new edition of a lighting protocol that started with DMX 512 is now available. ANSI E1.11 – 2008, Entertainment Technology – USITT DMX512-A, Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories, can now be purchased from The ESTA Foundation.
NEW YORK—It was an ogre of a job, but Scharff Weisberg handily embraced video and lighting support for Shrek the Musical on Broadway. The show is a production of DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions Ltd.
BIRMINGHAM, U.K. — XL Events supplied five large LED screens, cameras, PPU, a Catalyst digital media server and crew for the Live Action Arena at the 2009 Autosports exhibition, staged at the National Exhibition Centre. The center screen was made from 75 square meters of Lighthouse R16 LED panels and was flanked by two 30 square meter Lighthouse R7 screens.
WASHINGTON, DC — There’s nothing like witnessing an American presidential inauguration in person — unless you’re one of more than one million other persons trying to catch a glimpse of the event. But mobile and modular LED screens helped at least some of those crowding the nation’s capital to see Barack Obama become the 44th U.S. president.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA — ARRI announced that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will recognize Erwin Melzner, Volker Schumacher and Timo Müller with an AMPAS award for the development of the ARRIMAX 18/12 HMI on Feb. 7.
VAN NUYS, CA — Litepanels, Inc. has moved from its previous location in North Hollywood to a larger facility here that includes warehouse and shipping areas, with room for separate product development, assembly and repair departments.
MIDDLETON, WI —Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. (ETC) has named Harvey Sweet as the company’s technical product manager in research and development. “Harvey Sweet is an authority in the stagecraft field,” said Fred Foster, ETC CEO. “And I also happen to be privileged to have known him for 33 years — since I aced his course in theater technology at the University of Wisconsin.”