SERIATE, Italy – Valerio Leccese, director of photography for Rai 3's late night program, Parla Con Me (Talk To Me), calls the show "a weave of different genres, including television, theatre, live show, talk show, and even cinema." He opted for Clay Paky gear to light Maurizio Marchitelli's eclectic, four-part set design. Leccese credited the lighting – 14 Alpha Profile 1200s, 22 Alpha Spot HPE 575s, 22 Alpha Wash Halo 1000s and 6 CP Color MHs – for their combination of saturated colors, fine optics, versatility, reliability and long-lasting lamps.
The set within the compact Rai/De Paolis studio has four distinct areas – one for interviews conducted by Serena Dandini, one for live performances, one for comic intervals, and one for tributes to the cinema.
"The scenery and lighting were designed in synergy, in order to reflect this variety of styles and combine them," Leccese said, who includes lighting effects "all around the guest sofa" and audience to help "establish a conversational mood."
The versatility of the rig, he added, helps him change the look of the live performance space to reflect the variety of musicians who perform there. "I try to exploit the whole potential of the lights fully," he added. "Often, not more than 60-70 percent of the possibilities are used.
"I also try to recreate a perfectly symmetrical multipurpose layout when arranging the lighting equipment so that I am as free as possible to step in and make changes while things are running," he added.
The show, directed by Igor Skofic, has been on the air since 2004.
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