The elaborate set designed by Riccardo Bocchini consists of a double stage, connected with a wide central gangway on which the competing artists move. All around this is the orchestra, whereas the jury and VIP guests are inside six 'windows' on several levels. The audience is seated on stands at the end of the studio and in two ranks of balconies. There is a total of 400 seats, which makes it one of the largest RAI production studios in Rome.
The Clay Paky effect lights include Alpha Profile 1200s, Alpha Spot HPE 1200s and Alpha Wash 575s. Their arrangement was designed by the director of photography Marco Lucarelli to maximize the impact on the scene. The Alpha Spot HPE 1200s, installed above the balconies, create the effects on the stage, while the washlights are mainly used to light the audience indirectly.
Marco Lucarelli comments: "We exploited the full potential of the Alpha Profiles. We used them to sculpt the light and highlight limited portions of the scene, which would have been impossible with any other kind of light. The result was that we were able to create an extremely colourful patchwork of images - even illuminating parts that would normally have been in the shadows - and create a bright oval studio perimeter with strong impact."
(Jim Evans)
