International News

PARIS — French singer Raphael recently played several gigs across France beneath an Andi Watson-designed MAC rig that included Martin Professional’s new 1500 watt MAC III Profile. Arpège Son Lumière, which purchased 14 of the new generation MAC fixtures via Martin France, supplied the fresh-from-the-factory gear for the tour.

SERIATE, Italy — Clay Paky named Pio Nahum, a 20-year veteran in the show lighting business, as its  new commercial and marketing director. The appointment also represents a homecoming of sorts for Nahum, who got his first industry job at Clay Paky. Nahum is pictured here on the left, with Pasquale Quadri, Clay Paky president, on the right.

GRAHAMSTOWN, South Africa — Johannesburg-based Sound Stylists supplied Robe moving lights for LD Andre Rossouw from SABC’s Air Time for his design at the Highway Africa Digital Journalism Awards. The 2008 event was staged at the Guy Butler Theatre on the campus of Rhodes University, and was also broadcast live on SABC International.

BEIJING — A series of 11 large circular screens displaying rear-projected imagery and one 30-by-6 meter Element Labs Stealth LED screen were used to introduce the new Montblanc watch collection at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, with content synchronized by eight Hippotizer HD V3s.

LONDON — LD Mark Kenyon wanted some new effects for the final installment of the BBC’s latest Strictly Come Dancing series, and thought it fitting to try Robe DigitalSpot 7000DTs. They made the cut, and Kenyon went on to use the new gear for the Christmas Special edition as well, shown here.

SAO PAULO, Brazil — The edifices of the buildings in Brazil’s capital were animated by Christie projectors during the city’s Luzes de Sao Paulo (Lights of Sao Paulo) from Dec. 12-28, turning the landmarks into big screens for HD multimedia images of urban and Christmas themes.

LONDON — Lighting designer/director Ali Bale, who has used Avolites consoles for the last 15 years, specified an Avolites Pearl Expert console to control lighting for the Kings of Leon’s Only By The Night tour.

LAS VEGAS — ZZYZX, Inc. appointed LightDesign.at as its ESP Vision distributor for Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic. LightDesign.at will also be responsible for training and support in the region.

LONDON — White Light has updated some venerable London venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Opera House and the Guildhall School, with Ethernet network infrastructures, adding versatility and ease of use. At the Royal Albert Hall, for example, DMX distribution to the dimmer room and lighting trusses has make life easier for the Hall’s staff and for visiting companies. Pictured here, from left: Richard Thomas (RAH), Roger Hennigan (WL), Nick Ware (ROH), Robin Barton (ROH) and Ollie Jeffery (RAH).

JOHANNESBURG — Gearhouse South Africa’s Tim Dunn had the goal of avoiding the same old thing for the City of Johannesburg’s New Year’s Eve event, and with a little help from Mother Nature, his wish was answered by the bucketfull.

LONDON — With a life-sized giraffe and elephant to contend with, AV supplier XL Events said the CBeeBies Live Treasure Hunt arena tour has been anything but child’s play. "This is the 4th year that I have been involved in this project and every year brings a new set of challenges,” said XL Events' Rich Rowley.