The Voice van Vlaanderen routinely generates a lot of buzz (photo: Picturesk)
Belgium - Among the earliest and most successful shows in the famous global reality TV franchise, The Voice van Vlaanderen (The Voice of Flanders) routinely generates a lot of buzz in coffee shops and on social media throughout the country. It has also served as a springboard for many of the nation’s most celebrated singers.
Supporting the VTM network programme with colourful and dynamic visuals is an Arf & Yes lighting design that this year features over 300 Chauvet Professional fixtures, supplied by Phlippo Productions. “We have been designing for The Voice for some time,” says lighting programmer and operator Jonas Weyn, who works on the show with a whole team of lighting and set designers. “The design is always about balance, making it visually appealing for the live and TV audiences.”
Playing a key role in helping the Arf & Yes team achieve a multifaceted design are the 12 Maverick MK2 Profiles and close to 300 ÉPIX Strip linear fixtures in the rig. The versatile Maverick units do double duty, serving as key lights for the contestants and coaches, while also adding dramatic impact to performances as back lights.
“I like that the Maverick’s framing system is really accurate,” says Weyn. “It’s compact, so we can place it discreetly in more positions, and it’s also very fast, which is good for creating punchy effects. Plus, since it is very quiet, it’s well suited for a TV studio.”
Included among the ÉPIX Strip fixtures in the rig are ÉPIX Strip IP, ÉPIX Strip Tour, and ÉPIX Strip Tour 50 units. The IP fixtures are used to create double pixel visuals behind the coaches, while the Tour fixtures are used to match various scenic features of the set.
Working in conjunction with the video setup by Bavo Loccufier and Dries Mees, the lighting presents an inviting and upbeat image that fits the spirit of The Voice. “Everyone made great contributions to this project,” says Weyn. “Our lighting director Marco Pauwels really pushed the edges this year. We had full control over lighting, followspots and video at the console. He used a wing full of master, contrast, colour faders for hands-on adjustments and did an excellent job. The Voice is a show with a very big live aspect that includes the band, the coaches and contestants. It’s all live and pure - sometimes very big and powerful, but at others small and intimate. Our goal was to create the best possible atmosphere for all those moods.”
(Jim Evans)

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