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A Tale of Two Walls

The lobby wall, fed by Coolux's Pandoras Box

A Tale of Two Walls

I’m gonna build a wall. And it’ll be the best wall you’ve ever seen. And someone else is going to pay for it. Honest. My wall is going to make everyone realize that video is king and all those other disciplines are weak. Lights, Bah. You can’t make a wall out of lights. Although I did see a spry, young group of eager kids once make a wall of Source Fours into a pixel-mapped wall-esque display and actually put pictures of Fred Foster (CEO of ETC Theatrical) up, and it wasn’t half bad. And then there’s Rammstein.

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Astera Pixel Tubes in traveling case, which can also be used for recharging the wireless tubes.

Astera Pixel Tubes

Astera has been in the wireless LED luminaire market for some time now, with their flagship AX line of lights leading the market in terms of reliability, ease of deployment and use and cost effectiveness. Today, we’re looking at the Astera AX1 Pixel Tube, a linear cylinder of LED lights.

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Robe Spikie

Robe Spikie

Robe, the well-known lighting manufacturer based in the Czech Republic, continues to deliver innovative products. They certainly followed through again this time with the LED WashBeam. Yes, I said it, LED Beam fixture! Has LED finally reached the capacity to fully replace discharge lamps? Not quite, but we are getting closer.

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Author Brad Schiller chats with LD Trevor Ahlstrand at LDI. Photo by Debi Moen

The Most Important Tool

Automated lighting consoles are filled with a multitude of exciting and powerful features. They all help programmers to create amazing and complex light shows with relative ease. Some features will be used with every show, while others are rarely used. There is one tool, though, that is essential to the success of nearly every production. I am talking about palettes/presets. This amazing tool really becomes the basis for lighting programming construction and longevity.

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LD Paul Dexter promotes his new book at PLSN’s LDI booth. Photos: Debi Moen

Lighting By the Book; Ed Warren’s Coffee Break; LDs Give Back; Quick Cues

Author and LD Paul Dexter made an LDI appearance to autograph Concert Lighting: The Art and Business of Entertainment Lighting 4th Edition, co-written with James Moody. Dexter says the previous editions are text books on college campuses, and this edition provides even more valuable tips that future lighting designers may need, notably diverse accounts by some of our industry’s most renowned designers.

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Illustration by Andy Au

Degrees of Production

Will a theater degree help you to avoid a hard knocks life?

As a proud recipient of a bachelor of fine arts in theater from University of Nevada Las Vegas, I often ask myself if all of the time, money and effort spent obtaining that piece of paper was worth the hardship. Has my ability to differentiate Half C.T. Blue from 708 Cool Lavender ever been a deciding factor in my employment? My education is listed on my résumé, but has an employer or client ever thought to confirm my accreditations?

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Sarah McLachlan

Creative Backstage Builds Looks for Sarah McLachlan with Chauvet Fixtures

SCOTTSDALE, AZ –  At a Nov. 5 appearance at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Sarah McLachlan performed on a stage that was considerably smaller than those on her arena tours. But lighting designer John Garberson and his team at Creative Backstage supported her performance with a lightshow that was as lush and textured as her signature sound. Working with his programmer/first assistant Matthew Berg and second assistant Rita Assi, Garberson used 10 Maverick MK2 Spots and 24 Rogue R2 Wash fixtures from Chauvet Professional.

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ETCP logo

New Online Training to be Offered by ETC

MIDDLETON, WI – Electronic Theatre Control (ETC) is launching four new ETCP Recognized Courses that can be taken to provide points towards the continuing education requirement for ETCP renewals. Each class takes about an hour to complete and one credit will be issued per course. “We’re excited to offer a new set of resources to our growing number of customers,” says ETC class creator, David Fox.

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Philippe Vitali

Analog Way appoints Philippe Vitali as Marketing and Communications Director

PARIS,– Analog Way, an innovation-driven designer and manufacturer that specializes in computer and video signal processing and distribution, is pleased to announce the appointment of Philippe Vitali as Marketing & Communications Director. Effective November, 2016, Philippe Vitali has been named Analog Way’s Marketing & Communications Director. He will succeed Franck Facon who left the company at the end of October to pursue new opportunities. Philippe Vitali will be based in Analog Way’s headquarters near Paris, France.

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Pierce the Veil

Elation LED Lighting Reliability for Pierce the Veil “Made To Destroy” Tour

LOS ANGELES – Lighting Designer Jeff Maker (All Time Low, The Dresden Dolls) turned to an Elation LED lighting package for American rock band Pierce the Veil’s recent “Made to Destroy” tour, his second year with the band, and was delighted with the results. “Elation continues to impress me and many of my LD colleagues, which is no surprise,” he said. “We were on tour for 7 weeks (32 shows total) and I didn’t have one issue with any of the units.”

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Kara Kudzma

Westview Productions Expands Project Management Team with Hiring of Kara Kudzma

DENVER, COLORADO –Westview Productions is pleased to announce the addition of Kara Kudzma as Project Manager for the lighting division. “We are very pleased to enhance our projects team with Kara’s skills. She brings a wealth of industry knowledge and will help our museum and exhibit customers with her extensive projects background,” Eric Bloom, President of Westview Productions said of her arrival. She is a great fit for our team, and brings a lot of jobsite experience with her.”

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The Bataclan, before the attacks

Sting Performs as Bataclan Reopens, One Year After Attacks

PARIS — On Nov. 13, 2015, gunmen stormed the Bataclan as an Eagles of Death Metal concert was underway. Part of a coordinated terrorist attack on the city that left 130 dead, 90 were killed at the venue. On Nov. 12, 2016, the venue reopened, featuring a concert by Sting. Proceeds from the Sting concert, which sold out in 30 minutes, went to charities helping victims’ families and survivors.

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