Leading entertainment lamp supplier MGC has added David Cartwright to its expanding international sales department. Cartwright brings with him over 16 years experience in the entertainment lighting industry, with a full and varied background from hire, design & production to sales & marketing, most recently as group marketing manager of the Lighting Technology Group. One of his first priorities will be to bring on board and develop new products and services to complement the existing range of lamps.
MGC managing director James Greig commented: "We are pleased to welcome Dave on board. His knowledge of lighting products and marketing will help us to consolidate and expand our position in the entertainment lighting sector."
MGC Lamps is a world leading specialist entertainment lighting dealer with a holding stock of over 750,000 lamps, sourced from all major European and American manufacturers. The international sales team currently supply lamps to over 80 countries.
(Ruth Rossington)
Automated lighting and control products from High End Systems Inc and Flying Pig Systems will now be available from one source in Germany. Arcus GmbH, based in Paderborn, previously offered only the Wholehog line of consoles, but as a result of a recent agreement, it will now handle the complete line of HES/FPS products.
"We have established a very efficient, high quality and customer-oriented working relationship with Arcus over the past three years from which German users of Flying Pig products can benefit," says Claas Ernst, High End's sales manager for Central Europe. LMP Lichttechnik will remain a dealer of High End Systems products in Germany, and the award winning Catalyst System will be distributed through both existing and new sales channels.
The official announcement came during the current Frankfurt show. To mark the new partnership, the two companies offered visitors to their stand a custom-designed energy drink, dubbed the ‘Synergy Drink’.
(Ruth Rossington)
Stagetec (UK) Ltd has completed a contract to design, supply and install a complete sound and lighting system for the new Chafford Hundred school campus in Grays. The split-level building is imaginatively designed by Nicholas Hare Architects, with a central lift and an impressive atrium. Built for the future, it combines the principles of energy saving with a flexible space for learning and recreation.
In the building’s central section are the halls, drama studio, dining areas, sports hall, public library and specialist facilities geared towards art, technology, music and science. The primary and secondary wings extend either side of these shared spaces, each with its own secure entrance. Stagetec’s design brief was to provide a simple-to-use system that offered the latest technology and was suitable for school productions and additionally, for when the space is used by the local community.
The versatile performance space features a hall with an end-on stage. A sound proof screen can be pulled across the stage front, allowing the stage-side space to be used as a drama studio, while the hall itself can be utilized simultaneously for other activities. Two separate systems are therefore installed - that can be combined when required. Stagetec designed and installed a lighting system with an internally wired lighting grid above the stage/drama studio area, and with lighting bars along the length of the main hall. Power for these comes via 60 channels of the new LSC iPRO digital dimmers, mounted on the wall of the drama studio.
The two control systems are dri
In response to feedback from end users, High End Systems has released a new, fully modular 2:1 zoom optic system for the x.Spot, along with a new faceted ‘flat field’ reflector. This version of x.Spot will be marketed as x.Spot HO (High Output).
Additional output is primarily achieved through the larger aperture (higher ‘f stop’) and greater efficiency of the 2:1 zoom lens system, while increased colour temperature and improved beam uniformity are a result of the faceted reflector. As a result, designers can now specify 4:1 zoom fixtures for shorter throw, wide projection applications and 2:1 zoom fixtures for longer throw or beamage applications where output is king and ultra wide zoom range is not critical.
High End will of course continue to offer x.Spot with 4:1 zoom optics: the 4:1 zoom unit will also now include the faceted ‘flat field’ reflector, thus incorporating the higher colour temperature and flattened field benefits of this technology. All the components may be retrofitted to original x.Spots and High End is currently running a special x.Spot Owner Loyalty Programme through authorized High End dealers. Shipment of x.Spot HO begins in May.
(Ruth Rossington)
Over the past two years DHA's dealer base has flourished throughout Europe furthering the company's success. Madrid-based company O.K. Sumistros has now joined the DHA network and becomes the first Spanish stockist to complement the long-standing distribution of Rosco Iberica.
O.K. Sumistros stocks a range of DHA equipment, including all standard and custom gobos, plus moving effects, the DHA Gecko and Chameleon. Having first come into contact with O.K. Sumistros at MusikMesse 2000 in Frankfurt, DHA appointed the company at Madrid's Scenotech exhibition in February this year. As established users of DHA's equipment, O.K. Sumistros has extensive knowledge and experience of DHA's range. Nigel Sadler, sales manager for DHA, told us: "The partnership between our two companies will mean that theatrical and architectural customers, existing and future, will be able to obtain all the products they require from a single source."
(Ruth Rossington)
Stardraw.com has recently appointed Kevin Harrison to the position of Symbols Manager. Harrison has many years experience in the audio and AV industry, including several years of involvement with Stardraw.com, so his appointment represents the formalization of his role within the Stardraw organization.
Stardraw’s Symbols Manager is the prime point of contact for any manufacturer who wishes to participate in the symbols libraries, and for end users asking for library additions through the free ‘Symbols-By-Request’ service. In this role Harrison heads up the team responsible for symbols generation and enforces the qualitative standards to which all symbols must adhere.
(Ruth Rossington)
The executive committee of the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), the professional body representing lighting designers in all fields and countries, has appointed two of the Association's members, Robert Ornbo and Richard Pilbrow, as joint presidents.
The role of president involves advising the executive committee on how to achieve the ALD's principal goals, which are to further the art of lighting design for the theatre, live entertainment and associated industries, and to raise the profile of lighting designers. The committee wanted working lighting designers who were widely respected and who had contributed to the industry's development in the relatively short history of lighting design.
Rick Fisher, chairman of the ALD, commented: "We are lucky to have so many original members still actively involved in the industry and we wanted to honour two of them. We couldn't have made a better choice than Robert and Richard, whose careers have spanned the globe and the wide ranging aspects of performance lighting. As they were both instrumental in creating and raising the profile of lighting design throughout their illustrious careers, I know they'll contribute to the continual development of the ALD and we are sure to profit from having two of our most distinguished and respected lighting designers as presidents."
Having begun his career with England, our England at the Princes Theatre (now The Shaftesbury Theatre) in 1962, Robert Ornbo has spent the past 40 years as a lighting designer and theatre consultant, involved with every type of production in almos
When London's Royal Opera House decided that it needed automated lighting equipment to form the heart of the permanent lighting rig in the newly-refurbished theatre in 1999, it turned to White Light and The Moving Light Company, which supplied them firstly with City Theatrical Autoyokes and then with custom automated Robert Juliat PCs created by The Moving Light Company. The ROH turned to White Light and The Moving Company again to provide specialist service and support, appointing The Moving Light Company to support the entire automated rig with servicing and emergency call-out services. White Light and its service and support division The Service Company also provides the Opera House with ongoing support of their lighting control systems.
Now the Opera House is expanding its automated rig further - and once again White Light and The Moving Light Company have been their suppliers of choice, thanks to their close working relationship with the Opera House's staff and the regular discussions that take place about new products appearing on the market. The new lights selected by the Opera House this time are two fully automated 4k Arri HMI fresnels, and a further three automated 5k tungsten Arri Junior fresnels to add to the nine such units supplied by White Light last year.
Both units involved custom work by The Moving Light Company. The 4k units consist of Arri theatre compact HMI fresnels fitted in Licht Technik MB Studio moving yokes, with Licht Technik Dark Vader dimmer shutters and Mag Max colour scrollers. The units each feature custom designed truss hanging platform
Vari-Lite Europe has taken delivery of their first VL1000 ellipsoidal reflector spotlight units and as soon as they arrived, they went straight back out again! 12 of the units will be used at the Roundhouse, Camden where the RSC is returning for the first time in 30 years to perform three of Shakespeare’s late plays, A Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and Pericles, which will run in repertory at the Roundhouse until transferring to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in August. Lighting designers for the shows are Hugh Vanstone for A Winter’s Tale, Tina McHugh for The Tempest and Jean Kalman for Pericles.
With its debut at LDI last year, the ground-breaking new VL1000 luminaire has made the professional automated luminaire affordable. The VL1000 is available for less than a conventional ERS with most of its popular accessories. And the tungsten versions of the VL1000 ERS are almost half the price of other automated luminaires on the market, according to Vari-Lite.
Vari-Lite’s European sales manager, Simon Roose commented: "The response to the VL1000 has been overwhelming and we are absolutely delighted that they have been chosen for this exciting new RSC Production."
(Lee Baldock)
Brian Konechny, president of Showtime Lighting Inc, has announced the addition of Marc Raymond and Phil Bernard as two new strategic partners into Showtime. Marc Raymond is the founder and former CEO of Westsun International Inc: under his leadership the company grew from a small lighting shop based in Winnipeg to become one of North America’s largest technical production companies. With World Class capabilities in audio, lighting, scenic construction and automation, Raymond built a team that set new standards of quality and performance for clients as diverse as Disney, Microsoft, N’Sync and The Staples Center.
Phil Bernard is an industry veteran, having begun his career over 25 years ago as a pioneer in the Vancouver film industry. In the early 80s Bernard was based in Toronto as the Canadian sales manager for Strand Lighting. In 1985 he founded Westsun Vancouver and grew the company to become a dominant player in the local market before moving on to become president of Westsun International. Bernard spearheaded the expansion of the company into the Seattle and Las Vegas Markets.
Established in 1987, Showtime began by renting lighting systems to touring bands. In the last five years the company has experienced exceptional growth, to become one of Western Canada's leading lighting companies offering full service in sales, rentals and production support. Showtime’s clients include IBM, MCI, Mitsubishi, Bayer, Amway and General Motors.
(Lee Baldock)
PAI have recently completed an installation at Reading University's Students Union Bar. The project was for a complete sound and lighting system, which used Mackie Fussion for the main dance floor and a combination of Martin Professional and Abstract fixtures for the effects lighting.
To run the sound system, PAI’s Martin Draisey selected to use the new Mackie Industrial DX8/10e digital audio mixer. "I was invited to Mackie’s showrooms in Wickford by Andy Austin-Brown for a seminar on the DX8/10e. The presentation was fronted by Costa Lakoumentas (the man behind the development of the mixer) and I was genuinely enthused by what I learned. The unit is highly flexible. At Reading University, for instance, we have used it as a digital processor and loudspeaker management system. I used 9 of its 10 outputs, for main, left and right (Fussion), six circuits for the peripheral loudspeakers (Monitor 8s and 5s), and a single one for the PL80s in the toilets and washrooms. The software and operation made a refreshing change: within a short amount of time I had the DX10 configured and the venue delays and EQs all set up."
PAI’s decision to go with a Fussion system was based on the need for a set-up that could handle anything the students could throw at it. "We had to ‘fly’ the Fussion 3000 cabinets, continues Draisey, "as there was no place for us to stack the system. We hung the cabinets either side of the stage using brackets and assemblies built and designed in our fabrication shop. The 1800s/sa sub bass units were housed under
A mock TV game show is rocking out with High End Systems products. A VH1 pilot series, "Never Mind the Buzzcocks," is flying high a rig of 6 x.Spot, 7 Technobeam and 8 Studio Beam automated luminaires, run by a Wholehog II console. The equipment was specified by LD Chuck Noble of New York City Lites, with gear provided by Pegasus Productions. Programmer Steven Garner describes the show as "a fake game show with celebrity guests (Coolio, Sebastian Bach and more) competing as they trash music videos. The moving lights double up during bumpers, they 'flash and trash' with the smashing rock and roll, then convert to great backlight and scenic projection."
The x.Spots are "especially useful," Garner says. "They are backlighting a cyc from about 15 feet away and are right up against the back wall, so the zoom is a tremendous help. The Studio Beam strobe is really great for the bumpers; they create instant mosh pit feel." The equipment was specified by LD Chuck Noble of New York City Lites, with gear provided by Pegasus Productions.
(Lee Baldock)
SF Marketing Inc. is pleased to announce that they have been appointed official Canadian distributor for the Coemar line. In recent years, the Italian company has earned a reputation as an industry leader, and by joining forces with SF Marketing Inc, a reputable Canadian distribution company, Coemar aims to provide quality products to the growing Canadian market.
"Coemar’s growth in the international market is no coincidence; this manufacturing giant has developed quality products that have met the needs of the consumer. We are proud to be in partnership with Coemar, who have always signified quality and innovation," stated Jean-Louis Blanchard, VP of sales for SF Marketing Inc.
(Lee Baldock)
Swiss manufacturer ETR Lighting has introduced the Terra 12 - a 12 x 10 digital dimmer, a lightweight unit designed for optimum ease of use and reliability. The Terra 12 operates on virtually any load, and operating characteristics can be set for every channel individually. Its electronically controlled ventilator ensures a safe and continuous operation even under maximum load. The dimmer features an optional differential current breaker and comes in a 19" 3U rack-mountable case or a portable table-top version. A wide selection of connectors makes the Terra 12 dimmer ready for use in virtually any environment.
(Lee Baldock)
A series of fund-raising concerts in Los Angeles was staged Feb. 26 by the Recording Artists Coalition to raise awareness of artists' rights. High End Systems automated lighting was there highlighting the music and the famous faces. The concerts were held in four different venues, all on that Tuesday night. LSD/Fourth Phase of Newbury Park, Calif., provided the gear for the Forum show, under the guidance of Robert Roth from its Atlanta office."It was an all High End Systems rig and the show was executed flawlessly," says Roth. More than 120 HES products were specified by the event's overall LD Nick Sholem, including Studio Color(R) 575 and Studio Spot(R) 575 automated luminaires, run on two Wholehog(R) II consoles. Don Henley and The Eagles headlined the $175 ticket, with Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, John Fogerty, and Billy Joel (for which LD Steve Cohen added his input) filling the bill. The RAC is trying to draw awareness to unfair artist contracts according to California labor laws, which currently make it difficult for the artists to compete in the open marketplace.
(Lee Baldock)
Leading pro entertainment industry lighting sales specialist TMB has appointed two new European distributors for its new PowerPAR fixture. In Germany, Seigen-based Trendco will be handling sales for the TMB PowerPAR, and in France and Belgium, Sonoss will be leading the way. Both deals were confirmed at the SIEL show in Paris.
In announcing the distributorships, TMB is underlining its confidence in a buoyant European market. In fact, with the popularity of the PowerPAR taking off, it was essential to expand the European network quickly. Both companies also distribute Wybron, whose Eclipse II dimming shutter was on display mounted on a PowerPAR at SIEL. The Eclipse II is a perfect device for the PowerPAR, turning it into a dimmable fixture and opening further applications for the unit. The PowerPAR continues to grow in popularity for a variety of applications. The fixtures have recently been installed by Lighting Technology at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. In the US, LSD Fourth Phase used over 200 for a massive car launch, and PowerPARs have also been specified for car launches in Germany and Sweden. PowerPARs - in conjunction with the Eclipse II - have also been specified through Westsun Show Systems for the 2nd US National Tour of Mamma Mia.
(Ruth Rossington)
The new Artistic Licence discussion forum is now up and running. In addition to offering technical support for the company’s product range, the company is actively promoting an open discussion of the technical standards issues facing the industry. So if you have a view or need more information on ACN, DMX512-A, RDM or Art-Net, the Artistic Licence Forum is the place to visit.
(Ruth Rossington)
SGM has launched a new range of professional moving head fixtures. The new Giotto Spot 400, Wash 400 and Profile 400 are professional moving head fixtures designed for use in high profile entertainment applications including concerts, theatres and television studios. All three fixtures are compact and lightweight and have a range of features including 400W hot re-strike MSR lamp, 9°-24° motorized zoom, electronic ballast (90-245V).
(Ruth Rossington)
As part of a continued effort to increase the wide-scale availability of its automated lighting systems, Vari-Lite Inc has announced the establishment of a Dealer Network, which will carry a full line of Vari*Lite products for sale or rental. The names of the eight companies that comprise the initial Northeast Sales Network were made public yesterday.
"Each member of this dealership network has a solid reputation among lighting professionals and has established itself as a leader within the industry," said Bob Schacherl, Vari-Lite's vice-president of sales and marketing. "Vari-Lite will continue to explore opportunities to add to its Dealer Network where and when it makes sense financially and strategically."
The Northeast Dealer Network includes Barbizon - New York (sales), High Output - Boston, (sales and rental), Parlights - Frederick, MD (sales and rental), PRG/Fourth Phase - North Bergen, NJ (sales and rental), Starlite Productions - Cherry Hill, NJ (sales and rental), TMB - Englewood, NJ (sales), Vincent Lighting Systems - Cleveland, Ohio (sales and rental) and VLPS New York - New York (rental).
In addition to carrying Vari-Lite's Series 2000(tm) products, these dealers will carry the new Vari*Lite VL1000 ellipsoidal reflector spotlight. Other regional Dealer Networks will be announced as they become finalized.
(Lee Baldock)
LCA - Lights, Camera, Action Ltd are supplying Strand Lighting, MovieMaster ballasts, Mole Richardson lighting, Avenger grip equipment and Rosco filters to Salon Films in Thailand for the latest Jackie Chan movie, HighBinders. Currently filming in Thailand, the film will also be shot in Hong Kong and Prague and stars Jackie Chan, Lee Evans, Jonathon Rhys Davies, Christy Chung and Anthony Wong.
Nick Shapley, managing director of LCA commented: "It was a huge challenge to supply Salon Films with the vast amount of lights and lighting grip in such a short space of time. However, I am happy to say we fulfilled the client’s request despite the challenges of pulling in so many products from so many suppliers." The DOP for the film is Arthur Wong, chairperson of HKSC - the Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers.
(Ruth Rossington)
Digital Projection International has released the Lightning 25sx projector. At 14000 ANSI lumens and SXGA resolution, the Lightning 25sx is one the world’s brightest projectors. It is complemented by a palette of more than 1 billion colours, absolute greyscale tracking and luminance uniformity greater than 90%. It is suited to a wide range of applications and the on-screen results are engaging video, HDTV and computer imagery with an inherent ‘Film Look’ appeal.
(Ruth Rossington)
Fourth Phase is accustomed to working in strange and interesting locations, but using an open-top double-decker bus as a drive-by projection platform is a first! Contracted by Simon Garrett, managing director of event organisation specialist Pandemonium, Fourth Phase London was asked to project the Audi logo onto the exterior walls of the Audi showrooms on Piccadilly to mark a press launch. The projection, seen by thousands, took place between 6-9pm on the evening of Friday, 22 February.
The search for the ideal projection platform was initially narrowed down to a particular room at The Ritz, which stands opposite the Audi showroom, but unfortunately it was unavailable. In a moment of inspiration, the Fourth Phase team noticed an almost suitably positioned Big Bus Company bus stop! Fourth Phase hired a bus for the evening, which was parked at the bus stop quite legally for the duration of the project. From the top of the bus, Fourth Phase used a Pani BP6 projector fitted with a slide of the Audi logo (made by DHA Lighting), to project the white on black linked rings of the Audi logo onto the front of the showroom. As the bus stop was approximately 4m off centre in relation to the Audi showroom, the slide was pre-distorted to compensate.
"As far as we are aware," remarked Alan Thomson, managing director of Fourth Phase, London "this is the first time that a double-decker bus has been used as a projection platform! But it just illustrates how the London team is able to overcome awkward circumstances to realise a client's brief."
(Ruth Rossington)
ANC Sports Enterprises of Purchase, New York, has completed the installation of Lighthouse video banners at four major US sports stadiums, along with the latest version of its proprietary FasciaSoft 2001 control software. It takes the total of Lighthouse video banner installations by ANC Sports to over 4,300 linear feet.
The installations are also the first of their kind to employ 24-channel input video switchers, allowing wipe and fade transitions between displays, rather than simple cuts. Lighthouse LVP25 (25mm pixel pitch) LED video panels make up the video banners at each of the stadiums.
ANC installed 924 linear feet of Lighthouse LED signage in Philips Arena in Atlanta, which is home to the NBA’s Hawks and the NHL’s Thrashers. The system became operational at the start of the 2001-2002 NHL season. 340 linear feet (two locations of 170-feet) of Lighthouse LED signage in the Tampa Bay Ice Palace began operating on October 5, 2001 during the Lightning’s 2001-2002 NHL season opener. The Ice Palace is the first ANC client venue where video and audio messages are combined through the LED system.
Through a multi-year agreement with Comcast-Spectacor, ANC Sports installed 962 linear feet of Lighthouse LED signage in the First Union Center, home to the NBA Eastern Conference Champion 76ers, the NHL’s Flyers and the NLL’s Wings. The system, which became operational at the start of the Flyers’ 2001-2002 NHL season, wraps around the entire inner ring of the mezzanine level of the arena. At the Pyramid, where the NBA’s Grizzlies rec
When Channel 5 asked its lighting director, Martin Foster, to design the lighting for Channel 5's new-look 5 News, ETC's Source Four profiles were high on his list for key lights. Originally designed for theatre lighting, the Source Four has become a regular feature of lighting rigs worldwide and is currently in use in most of London's West End Shows. Perhaps less well-known is that the Source Four is now becoming a common feature in many television studios in the UK.
Having worked for 5 News since the start, Foster has had Source Fours in his lighting rig all along, but this is the first time he has used them as key lights. Previously, they have been back lighting the set and used to project the Channel 5 logo. For the revamped rig, Foster specified a total of eight Source Fours - four of which are used as key lights on the news presenter and for the guest positions. The rest are back lights as before. "I use the Source Fours as key lights because they produce a flat field without striations and shadows," explained Foster - literally presenting the news reader's face in the best light possible.
Presenter Kirsty Young acknowledges Foster role: "He’s taken 10 years off my face - he must be the best LD in the business." As well as being Channel 5's lighting director, Foster also enjoys the privilege of being Young’s personal lighting director. When she took a two-year break to work for ITV News, he set up the lighting for that studio as well.
In addition to the Source Four profiles, Foster is now also using two 750W Source Four PARNels as