Digital Content NewFronts was a week-long showcase of digital and video creations
USA - The future was on full display in Manhattan early this May during Digital Content NewFronts, a week-long showcase for media buyers of the latest digital and video creations from the leading names in entertainment, news and information technology.
A must-see venue for the executives who descended on New York for the event was Pier 26, where Oath, a division of Verizon that reaches over one billion people worldwide through its digital media brands, introduced an exciting array of new content.
Hosted by Jamie Foxx, Oath Digital Content NewFronts offered guests a smorgasbord of live entertainment options to go along with the chance to preview upcoming productions from brands like Yahoo and Huffington Post.
Taking place on two main stages, along with a half dozen smaller satellite units, the evening event featured performances by stars like DJ Irie, Broadway dancers, bucket drummers and other artists. Adding to the magical atmosphere on the pier was a lighting design created by Barrett Hall that featured Chauvet Professional Maverick and Nexus fixtures, supplied by WorldStage.
“This project came about for me through First, a global creative agency that produced the event,” says Hall, owner of Magic Hour East. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with First in the past, so I was excited about this opportunity to help create a large-scale immersive and illuminated environment. Having everything from musical acts to theatrical style performances filling an entire pier over the Hudson made it quite unique.”
At the heart of Hall’s lighting design was the Maverick MK Pyxis, which features a 60W RGBW centre beam, surrounded by a ring of nine 15W RGBW LEDs. Hall outlined the base of the event’s two-story DJ booth with 25 of the moving beam/wash fixtures.
Setting a glittering tone throughout the venue and underscoring the significance of the event were the 32 Maverick MK2 Wash fixtures that were positioned on the truss towers that lined both sides of the 1,000’ long pier.
Hall also used 30 Nexus 4x4 LED panels to create a dynamic backdrop on one of the performance stages. Hanging the panels in a checkerboard pattern, he had them do double duty as static scenic elements and blinders.
Atmospherics for the event rig were provided by 10 Vesuvio II RGBA+UV foggers. Hall used fog from these units to accent key moments during DJ and theatrical performances.
(Jim Evans)

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