"The audience paid money to come hear music that they like. The artist knew what they were thinking about when they wrote it. If you can capture that visually, you win," explains lighting director Martin Thomas in the moments before Fantasia Barrino hits the stage.
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Every year, lighting manufacturers reveal their latest model of a fixture to go along with other competitor's models in that range. In order to make their product stand out among the other brands, there has to be something new and unique that the fixture can do. Clay Paky has indeed taken the next step in developing the most advanced effects on any large hard edge fixture I have seen.
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A Canadian creative and performing arts company, Ex Machina, spearheaded by director/actor/playwright/scenic artist Robert Lepage, is fusing high tech and high art for New York Metropolitan Opera's re-imagining of Richard Wagner's 19th Century four-part opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen, or The Ring. The production is using an innovative stage design, infrared interactive software and 3-D projection technology to update The Met's previous production of the controversial composer's masterwork – the more traditional Ring production by Otto Schenk and Günther Schneider-Siemssen, which ran for more than 20 years.
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As another year closes, I have lined up a birthday party at a stadium, followed by a tour with an old client of mine. Kid Rock is turning 40 and wants to throw a party with one set and light configuration, then go on tour with another one. I have designed every tour he has done since 1999 with the exception of a six-week run he went on last year. I agreed to actually go on tour with this show and make everything look stellar again. I believe this artist is among the most gifted performers in the world, working a crowd like few can. So after a long hiatus of actually touring with a band as an LD, I have agreed to go back on the road.
Read More »Japan’s twin disasters – the earthquake-driven tsunami and the damage to several of the nuclear reactors that provide most of the country’s electrical power – will have long-term impact on Japan’s ability to manufacture and deliver key components for an enormous range of products, including lighting and projection systems. Scores of Japanese firms, from component makers to electronics firms and automakers, were forced to keep plants shuttered, and damage to infrastructure including power, roads, rails and ports will take months to repair. It’s likely that damage to the global manufacturing and supply chain will disrupt many industries for months to come.
Read More »Most of today's television game shows utilize a large amount of automated lighting. This trend started many years ago with innovative looks on shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Now it is standard to see lights moving and changing state as contestants play for amazing prizes. Looking at this, I came to the realization that working as an automated lighting programmer is actually a lot like being a contestant on one of these game shows. The tasks required to win big are often very similar to those used daily when programming automated lights for a variety of production types.
Read More »“Are you OK?” This had to be the most posted question of the day on social media sites March 11 when the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami rocked Japan. Everyone checked on everyone who might remotely be in the vicinity of the Disaster Zone. Sandy Espinoza, a member of the PLSN-affiliated social network site, ProAudioSpace.com, made it her mission to track down and post the status of crews touring in or traveling to Japan. The list was shared with ProLightingSpace.com, which relieved those looking out for friends’ safety on the road. The industry is one big family, all looking out for each other…
Read More »PETALUMA, CA – Panamax/Furman named John Benz director of marketing. Benz has served Panamax/Furman for more than six years in the marketing department. He will be responsible for marketing activities for the Panamax and Furman brands, as well as the company's BlueBOLT cloud-based power and energy management platform.
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FE Belimlight recently rigged the huge Minsk Arena (home rink of ice hockey stars HC Dinamo) with moving heads from PR Lighting to enable an audience of 12,000 people to experience the full dynamic of Swedish pop music duo Roxette. The atmosphere produced by a combination of 38 powerful XL1500 Wash and 46 XL1500 Spot lights were further enhanced by audience blinders and haze machines. All lighting was under the control of a Wholehog III desk.
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UK – Philips Entertainment Lighting has promoted Amber Tomlin to the position of key account manager for the UK, effective immediately. For the past five years Tomlin has been the company's demonstration and training manager for Philips Strand Lighting's range of Palette consoles.
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Christie's L2K1000 10,000-lumen HD digital projector is designed for medium to large venues, including government facilities, houses of worship and higher education multi-purpose rooms and auditoriums. The Christie L2K1500 targets the rental staging market with 15,000 lumens and HD+ resolution. Both feature Christie 4DColor technology, which is designed to expand the color gamut and to provide higher contrast ratios and true-to-life colors and skin tones.
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