White Light Sales, the exclusive UK distributor for the acclaimed Robert Juliat range: the Marius 1.2K HMI followspots. The Marius will be on show for the first time on the White Light stand - F4, just inside the main door - at PLASA 2001, which runs from September 9th-12th at Earls Court, London. The Marius is also a nominee for the Product of the Year Award at the show.
The Marius will be accompanied on the stand by other members of the popular Robert Juliat family, already finding use on many shows in the West End of London as well as the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican Concert Hall and at the BBC. White Light Sales will also be using PLASA 2001 to show other products from their extensive sales stock, including the highly versatile Unique variable haze machine and ever-popular Tiny-Fogger miniature for machine from Look Solutions and smoke machines from The Smoke Factory, both ranges available exclusively from White Light in the UK.
£3 million-worth of sales in the last year suggest that people are discovering that White Light is more than just a hire company. White Light Sales’ projects include the ongoing upgrades to both the Royal Albert Hall (which the company is supplying with ETC Sensor dimmers and Unison control stations) and the Barbican Concert Hall (which has purchased more than 70 Robert Juliat profile spot, sixty ETC Source Pars, six City Theatrical Autoyokes and High End automated fixtures), as well as equipment upgrades at RADA’s Vanburgh Theatre (which has purchased a selection of new lanterns from Strand Lighting) and the Guildhall School
In preparation for the process of obtaining official charitable status, Light Relief, the industry fund that supports lighting designers in times of crisis or personal tragedy, has chosen a board of trustees which includes some of the profession’s best-known names. Additionally, Richard Pilbrow, doyen of theatre lighting design and author of the seminal work on the art, has agreed to be Honorary Chairman.
Rick Fisher, ALD Chairman and joint founder with Tony Gottelier of Light Relief, explains: "We desperately wanted Richard to have a role, but as a non-UK resident that would have proved difficult in view of the requirements of the regulations governing charities. Consequently, we’re delighted that he has agreed to accept the position, as we know that his involvement and wise counsel will prove invaluable."
Although born in England and having worked here for many years, Pilbrow departed these shores for Connecticut and the bright lights of Broadway some time ago. As he says: "I told Tony that I was honoured to be asked - provided they don’t mind me being an absentee landlord! Light Relief is a great idea of which they should be proud."
The board of trustees itself reads like a roll of the most respected figures in the profession in the UK and the industry at large: lighting designers David Hersey, Andrew Bridge, Rick Fisher and Patrick Woodroffe, together with Matthew Griffiths, managing director of PLASA, John Simpson, chairman and CEO of lighting rental specialist White Light, Lesley Harmer, a leading public relations consultant
Cork-based lighting, technical design and production specialists LDPS has further expanded its team with the addition of two new project consultants - Joe Stockdale and Michael Hurley. Their specialist areas are stage technologies and mixed/multi-media respectively. Stockdale and Hurley join LDPS founder Grant Collie and will be based in the company’s new premises in central Cork. The appointments will strengthen LDPS’s position as a market leader in the field of creating practical technical solutions based on hands-on experience.
Stockdale’s role will include venue technical design, specialising in stage systems, site installation supervision, special projects, client liaison, training and recruitment. His diverse background includes the teaching of theatre studies, set design and construction and event production. For the last nine years, he worked as technical stage Manager at Cork Opera House, a demanding multi-purpose venue. Stockdale is also a master boat builder and a master of lateral thinking!
Michael Hurley will be LDPS’s multi-media project consultant, and his work on venue technical design, specification and installations will include the exacting areas of sound/AV systems and acoustics. His previous experience includes working as chief electrician at the Cork Opera House and running his own successful AV business. Hurley has extensive experience in the fast-moving worlds of computer graphics, video editing and projection systems, making him ideal to oversee this aspect of LDPS.
Collie comments, "I’m delighted that Joe an
Zero 88 chose the PLASA Show to present three Dealer of the Year Awards. Winner of the Independent Dealer of the Year Award was Stagecraft Ltd of Salisbury, while High Wycombe-based AC Lighting Ltd picked up the UK dealer of the Year Award. The International Dealer of the Year Award was presented to California-based AC Lighting Inc, and our picture shows Zero 88's Graham Eales (centre) presenting the Award to CEO Bob Gordon (left) and Mike Falconer of AC Lighting Inc.
Martin Professional will launch a new version of its successful MAC 2000 Profile at PLASA 2001. The new version, the MAC 2000 Performance, is a 1200W profile framing spot featuring a four-blade framing system for precise stage lighting and gobo animation wheel for extraordinary theatrical effects, the ideal illumination framing tool for theaters and special effect applications. Useful for accurate illumination coverage of stage props, scenery or any object, the precision adjusting, fully automated beam framing system transforms the elliptical beam into a multitude of different shapes. Fine adjustment of the shape is within millimeters thus eliminating any excess back light and perfect for stage shows of all types.
Also new to the MAC 2000 Performance is a gobo animation wheel useful for special theatrical effects such as fire, sky and water imaging. The entire wheel can be swiveled for flexible positional control. Like the successful MAC 2000 Profile, the MAC 2000 Performance incorporates an extraordinary 10-lens optical system that produces an extremely bright and sharp beam with high definition contrast and consistent beam field characteristics. The MAC 2000 Performance houses a CMY color-mixing system that offers a nearly unlimited variety of color choices plus an innovative color temperature correction system for effective CTC flexibility, making it possible to gradually and smoothly increase or decrease color temperature.
Other features include a gobo wheel with five indexable rotating gobos, additional effects wheel with rotating beamshaper and 3-facet prism, and
On the first day of the PLASA Show at London’s Earls Court yesterday, TMB announced the opening of TMB Beijing. TMB CEO Colin Waters stated: "With customers involved in projects throughout China, local coordination has become essential. This office will add another level of support to our international vendors and customers, with a focus on the growing Chinese market. TMB’s ability to assimilate the best equipment from around the world is a real benefit here."
Cherry Huang, a Beijing resident who has worked with TMB on a freelance basis for several years, has assumed the role of TMB Beijing office manager. Waters commented: "The opening of TMB Beijing is the culmination of 10 years’ work in this region. This is an exciting moment. We expect great things from our new location, especially with someone as talented as Cherry Huang heading it up."
Depeche Mode have followed their successful album Exciter with a world tour that sees them playing 80 dates around the globe. Lighting designer is Paul Normandale who has masterminded an extraordinary light show that incorporates Martin MAC 2000s and giant video projections by artist Anton Corbijn. Using 19 MAC 2000s, Normandale and his collaborators have created a unique lighting design, with a cleverly-constructed interplay of light, film and Depeche Mode's own unique brand of electronica. Normandale took full advantage of the MAC 2000's hard-edged beams to create a strong visual look that mirrored the moods of the evening's varied repertoire. At times the band was given an almost graphical quality by a silhouetting backlight of MAC 2000 beams. Crew Chief Mike Hosp noted: "The MAC 2000 is a very positive step in the technology of moving lights. It has the brightness that LDs want with the ease of service that road guys need." North American production is by Upstaging and European production is by Lite Alternative.
Meanwhile, ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler has hit the road again, this time in support of his second solo album Sailing To Philadelphia. The tour is his first North American venture in more than a decade. For the 'Sailing' tour, Knopfler wanted to move away from the 'Star Trek' lighting, as he called it, of the Dire Straits days, and towards a more intimate setting. 23 Martin MAC 500s were selected to tour with Knopfler and provide a friendly atmosphere for a varied repertoire that included both new tunes and old Dire Straits numbers. LD Davi
There are a number of attractions of the High End stand at PLASA 2001, including the x.Spot with new framing shutters and Lithomotion features, and the Catalyst periscopic moving head projection system, which has been displaying real-time moving video projections from the stand. Our uppermost picture shows PLASA Media photographer Chris Toulmin photographing the Catalyst-projected image of himself on the rear wall of the stand.
Another eye-catching feature of the High End exhibit this year is the tiny C-16 colour changer for retail and display applications. Our second picture shows the effect of these MR16-equipped units on a mannequin display. These look set to sell by the truckload.
LeMark had a press meeting yesterday to announce the launch of its new catalogue. The company invited people to join it for a champagne launch to mark the occasion. The long awaited new catalogue shows the diversity of products available from Le Mark which was originally established in 1983 to supply the consumable demands for self adhesive products used within the TV, film and theatre industries. Since those early days the company has grown to the point where it now offers a cross section of inter-related products designed for use in many areas of the industry. The company also used the occasion to announce its recent strategic alliance with Scapa Tapes plc one of the world’s largest adhesive tape manufacturers, supported by 22 production and distribution sites across the globe.
Following negotiations with the founding owners of Swedish gobo manufacturer Beacon, Martin has purchased 25% of the share capital of the company with an option to purchase an additional 15%. Martin’s capital investment in the company is intended to ensure Beacon’s aggressive growth strategy, while guaranteeing future influence on the company’s development. Beacon will continue to operate as a fully independent company. Its three owners will continue to head the company while Martin makes its influence felt through the Board of Directors.
Following Martin’s introduction of the MAC 2000, Beacon became Martin’s most important gobo supplier. The company employs some 20 people and expects a turnover of app. SEK 25 million for the financial period covering September 2001 to August 2002.
The 56 products nominated for this year’s PLASA Awards for Product Excellence are currently available for visitors to view on the Top Deck of Earls Court, in the Lighting&Sound International-sponsored New Technology Gallery (pictured). The Gallery allows a one-stop view of all the latest product innovations in the categories of Lighitng, Sound, Stage Engineering and Audio-Visual. Judging for the Awards will take place during the show, by a panel of experts from each respective field. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at 9.30 on Wednesday morning, at which time PLASA will also present the money raised from the Awards entries to a number of charities.
To view the complete list of products entered for the PLASA Awards for product Excellence, visit the web address below:
The doors have opened at Earls Court for Day 1 of the 24th PLASA Show, and the first visitors are now filling the show floor, where over 370 exhibitors are displaying their latest innovations to the industry. Over 400 products are making their first appearance at a PLASA Show, with the cream of the crop entered into the PLASA Awards for Product Excellence, and displayed in the New Technology Gallery on the Top Deck of Earls Court, which is this year sponsored by Lighting&Sound International magazine.
Throughout today, and for the duration of the show, the team from PLASA Media will be bringing you all the latest news and pictures from the show floor. To follow events as they unfold at PLASA 2001, visit our dedicated news section at the address below:
First published in 1976 and well established as the classic practical lighting guide, The Stage Lighting Handbook marks 25 years with the publication of a sixth edition.
Since the publication of the first edition, there have, of course, been revolutionary changes in stage lighting technology - all quickly embraced by the regular new editions of the book.This latest edition naturally embraces all the latest technology, but also continues to discuss the basic principles - event to the extent of advising how to use one single spotlight if that is all that is available. It also includes up-to-date information on new equipment and discusses its impact on working methods.
While continuing to provide an introduction to readers with no previous lighting experience, the scope of the book has been widened to include more advanced aspects of lighting design and technology. Consequently, the number of pages has doubled between the first and sixth editions. The book was officially launched at the recent Showlight event in Edinburgh, an appropriate backdrop since the author was educated at the city’s George Heriot School and later at Edinburgh University where, despite four years’ study, he failed to graduate in science because, fired by the early Edinburgh Festivals, he developed a passion for theatre.
Although this book normally costs £15.99, you can buy it through PLASA’s technical book service for £13.99. Call Sheila Bartholomew on +44 1323 418400, or order online at
Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (GTG) has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of Rosco Entertainment Technology, a subsidiary of Rosco Laboratories (Rosco) of Stamford CT, a privately held corporation. Rosco Entertainment Technology is a manufacturer of entertainment lighting equipment and controls, including the Intelligent Power System (IPS) line of theatrical dimming equipment, and the family of Horizon lighting controls. GTG plans to operate the business under the name Entertainment Technology, reverting to a name familiar to the theatrical lighting industry. Larry Powers, president and chief executive officer of Genlyte Thomas, commented: "We are pleased with the potential for this acquisition to enhance our commercial lighting products package. We intend to focus Entertainment Technology (ET) on providing innovative products into the educational, hospitality, theatrical, and theme park markets. Although the expected sales during 2002 will be less than $5 million, there is potential for the ET product package to increase our market penetration and product offering into existing GTG markets. The technically innovative and leading edge IPS dimming products of ET have a place not only in the theatrical and entertainment markets, but also in architectural markets where we are already successful."
Rosco is entering into an agreement with GTG to represent select ET products. Stan Miller, president of Rosco Laboratories, commented: "We will benefit in several ways with this melding of GTG’s manufacturing strengths and ET’s products. We, too, are v
Pulsar has announced some new additions to the ChromaRange family of LED technology lighting fixtures. To complement the existing ChromaLight, ChromaDome and ChromaZone, these new items will allow further flexibility for the use of LED fixtures and provide a comprehensive solution for architectural and entertainment lighting design projects. The entire range will make their exhibition debut at this year’s PLASA and promise to be the highlight of the show.
ChromaBank contains 12 ChromaHearts packaged together in one linear lighting source featuring a total of 960 LEDs. It has a built in ChromaZone to power and control the unit, offering numerous internal effects and chases that can operate in stand-alone mode or with an external DMX/PMX controller. ChromaBanks are idea for TV, Theatre, Stage and Club applications providing incredible illumination and flexibility from a LED based fixture.
ChromaStrip is a linear light source housed in either clear (20 degree) or prismatic (90 degree) 5.5cm diameter polycarbonate tube that is available in 900, 600 and 300 millimetre lengths. Each tube features red, green and blue LEDs allowing infinite colour mixing possibilities. This waterproof product has been designed to highlight architectural features such as windows, doorways, coving or building structures outlines.
ChromaFlush is a sister product to the existing ChromaLight, offering all the same exciting features. Housed in a flush enclosure makes this product perfect for both ceiling and panel mounting when directional adjustment of the light beam is not required.
Chrom
PLASA is now just two days away and it looks like this year’s event will be the best ever. PLASA is where you get to find out what over 400 of the industry’s leading players have been doing in the past few months. It’s got to be better than leafing through hundreds of product brochures or trawling the internet for information. Aside from the exhibition, there are plenty of things to catch the eye, including the DJ Competition on the Sunday, the newly-introduced iDJ Talk Zone offering advice to DJs, a comprehensive seminar and workshop programme, the PLASA Awards for Product Excellence, the various Feature Areas, and the many events, press launches and on-stand receptions organized by exhibitors. If you still haven’t registered for the event, don’t worry, you can register on the day. All you need to do is turn up at Earls Court 1 and register on the door. See you there.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival, sponsored by FilmFour, ran from 12-26 August, 2001. To promote the Festival, FilmFour devised a projection of iconic film images and stars onto the rocks beneath Edinburgh Castle. To facilitate the project, leading lighting distributor Fourth Phase London was commissioned by Alan Ramsey at Fisher Productions to ensure the images would be clearly visible along Edinburgh's Princes Street. The high profile exercise presented huge challenges from the outset - projecting images from 125m onto a rocky surface, as opposed to a screen, meant that Fourth Phase technicians had to think carefully about the equipment they would use to complete the brief to its full potential. The rock's rough surface absorbed rather than reflected projected light, requiring pre-distorted imagery combined with a powerful 12,000W Pani projector. Additionally, Fourth Phase London specified a BP12 HMI projector, a highly powerful piece of equipment ideal for projection onto objects that are not standard projection surfaces.
Working closely with Wyatt Enever at DHA Lighting, Fourth Phase London was able to manipulate the digital artwork and output the images onto heat-resistant slides suitable for such projection. Plus, regular contact with Film Four enabled Fourth Phase technicians to use their experience to ensure the best possible end result. Having developed and prepared a number of slides with some of the most striking images from a number of box-office hit films and some of the biggest names in film including Sean Connery, Billy Connolly, Ewan McGregor and
at PLASA 2001 with exciting new developments in full spectrum digital lighting technology:
C-Splash, the newest fixture in the C-Series line of full spectrum digital lighting products. C-Splash brings beautiful coloured light and colour-changing effects to underwater locations such as fountains and landscape ponds. Fully enclosed in a switch-free brass housing, C-Splash is easily programmed through Color Kinetics’ new external, handheld Zapi controller, and is powered by the brand-new sMOPS power supply.
iColor Cove LT is the newest cove light fixture in the popular iColor Series of digital lighting products. iColor Cove LT significantly extends the types of applications in which digital cove lighting is used. Specifically designed for installations requiring lower intensity light output and a lower cost, iColor Cove LT offers all the intelligent control capabilities and benefits of Color Kinetics’ patented, digital LED-based Chromacore technology.
iColor Fresco, the world’s first digital cove light for indoor/outdoor installations. iColor Fresco provides dynamic coluor-changing lighting effects via Color Kinetics’ patented LED-based Chromacore intelligent lighting technology. iColor Fresco is housed in stylishly rugged aluminum, and is available in 4ft, 2ft and 1ft lengths.
iPlayer 2, the next generation of Color Kinetics’ compact iPlayer show storage and playback device. iPlayer 2 offers eight times the original show storage capacity and multi-show storage. Users may easily select one of eight custom light shows at the push of a butto
On Saturday 1 September, Nintendo hosted its 2001 Conference & Exhibition at the Methodist Church Hall Westminster in London, utilizing the main church hall and a further eight rooms. The church was transformed into a main conference hall, two central gaming areas, break-off gaming areas and press/Q&A rooms. Stage Electrics was contracted to design the event's lighting using WYSIWYG visualization software and the new HOG PC from Flying Pig Systems. Stage Electrics’ production team also provided lighting, rigging and mains distribution. PSL provided the five Barco projection system with Concise’s powerful Stealth graphics system for the main hall. Rigging was supported by Outback Rigging.
Creative director Andy McDonald of Cake Media explained that the event had been staged to reveal the launch of the new Nintendo Game Cube and to communicate sales and marketing results. The enormous task of creating atmospheres was down to set designer Patrick Donohue with scenery by Scena. Stage Electrics' lighting designer David Stewart utilised 42 Martin Professional MAC moving lights including 12 MAC 2000s, 12 MAC 300s, 84 generics including 60 Source Four Pars, a Wholehog II for the main conference and an Avolites Pearl for the gaming areas. The main hall had a basic box truss to provide rigging points for the large projection screen and Nintendo sign. The Organ was part of the backdrop and was uplit with six MAC 600s and 11 Raylight Pars, and front lit with four MAC 500s from the truss. Optikinetics GoboPro projectors provided extra branding with custom glass gobos by Pr
Smoke Factory of Hannover, Germany, has earned a worldwide reputation as a manufacturer of professional fog-generators. The list of Smoke Factory innovations introduced over the years includes: 0-10 V control of output and output volume; DMX control of output and output volume; XLR standard connection for fog-generators; Radio remote control; Direct output volume control through lighting desk fader; Continual fogging and electronic temperature control.
The Tour-Hazer, being launched at the PLASA Show, is an addition to this Professional Touring Range. The DMX-controlled Tour-Hazer creates a fine haze instead of big clouds of fog. By filling the air with a perfect ‘designer mist’, the Tour-Hazer creates an ideal environment for beams and moving light shows. Unlike many other hazers, the Tour-Hazer does not need a compressor. It is small, easy to handle and to carry, comes with a flightcase (from Amtpown Cases, Hamburg) and fits in every trailer’s packing list, due to its 19" size. The noise of the unit is very low, and the output can be controlled from very fine low output haze to almost fog-machine-like output (which can be helpful in situations where the room is bigger than expected, the air conditioning stronger or too many doors open). The input required is 230V/1.600W only, a 110V version (1.500W) is also available.
The Smoke Factory can be found on stand H7.
Members of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s technical teams in Stratford-upon-Avon will go on strike on 15 September in protest over planned redundancies. Almost 90% of 200 members of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) have agreed to the action. BECTU had previously attempted to negotiate on behalf of its members, but without success. BECTU assistant general secretary Gerry Morrissey said performances would be affected from 15 September because of the walkout by lighting staff, stage crews, wardrobe employees and technical workers.
A production of Julius Caesar is listed for that night in the midst of a season which includes performances of Twelfth Night and Hamlet. BECTU has also said that industrial action will continue after 15 September. The union says about two-thirds of technical staff at the company could lose their jobs if plans to abandon the fixed Shakespeare season at Stratford-upon-Avon go ahead. Chris Foy, managing director of the RSC, is reported by the BBC as saying: "Industrial action by BECTU members in Stratford is extremely regrettable. "Our priority is not to disappoint audiences and to continue performing in Stratford. If shows are affected, we will tell ticketholders as soon as possible." Foy said voluntary redundancy had meant it had been able to reduce the number of people affected by cuts by more than half. "We want the RSC to remain fresh and relevant to a new generation of theatre-goers," he said. The RSC plans to concentrate on its Stratford base and on tou
PLASA 2001 will see the official release of LightJockey 2.0, an upgraded version of Martin’s popular Windows- based lighting controller. LightJockey 2 incorporates a host of useful upgrades including a new PCI card for increased PC interface capabilities (also USB and PCMCIA interface options.
Windows 2000 compatible, other new features include a Solid Beam Virtual Visualizer, a high quality visualization simulator capable of creating realistic, solid, 3D beams. Visually accurate and easy to understand, the simulator allows you to create virtual visualizations off-site. For more flexible music capabilities, LightJockey 2.0 interfaces with Winamp to play a multitude of digital audio files including MP3. LightJockey 2.0 includes audio CD ROM capability as well. It also supports SMPTE and MIDI timecode with suitable interface. And a new show-saver backup feature ensures that shows won’t be lost.
Martin can be found on Stand E54/E56
In its West End debut, Selecon's unique 80volt Pacific is being used to show Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins in the best possible light in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. After an initial run at the National Theatre, the show, lit by top lighting designer, David Hersey, has transferred to the much larger stage at Drury Lane. With an output equivalent to a 2.5kW light, the Pacific provides the effect of sunlight streaming through the four large windows of the professor's study.
Bryan Raven, general manager of White Light who supplied all the lighting for the show, explains. "The phone call came half way through the focus period of the West End transfer of the acclaimed National Theatre production of My Fair Lady. It was lighting designer David Hersey: did White Light have anything brighter than a 750W Source Four available? Hersey was focusing the 'opening curtain' toplight window gobos for the show: four lanterns fitted with DHA's new YoYo+ indexing gobo yoyo and glass window gobos. On cue, the yoyos are used to slide gobos with a curtain edge profile across the glass window gobo, creating the effect of curtains being opened. With the lighting rig for the Drury Lane version of the show consisting largely of 750W Source Fours, the effect somehow just wasn't cutting through. But the requirements were slightly more complicated than just a brighter lantern: any replacement also had to offer a cool gate in order to protect the yoyo and gobos from heat damage."
White Light arra
New from Selecon at PLASA this year is the mechanical dowser accessory, which completes the Pacific MSR light system. The dowser continues the modular design philosophy of the Pacific: it is a separate accessory that simply drops into the Pacific lamphouse, onto which can be mounted any of the Pacific lens systems. Using graduated optical filters, the dowser provides a visually even fade from full output to blackout. Control is via DMX. The daylight colour temperature (5600K) and high efficiency of the 575W MSR lamp combine to deliver a high output, high impact beam. The Pacific heat management system ensures even energy distribution at the gate allowing for the use of dichroic glass patterns. Hot restrike, standard MSR and MSD lamps can be used with the Pacific. Power supplies include a universal electronic power supply and 220 - 240v magnetic ballasts for architectural applications. The dowser is also suitable for use with Pacific CDM luminaires.
Also new from Selecon is the HiPort, a recessed high output pattern, framing and colour projector. Responding to the demand for a high output projector that is fully recessed within the ceiling cavity, Ardiis, the architectural lighting division of Selecon, has developed the HiPort range, a unique new tool for creative lighting at an affordable cost. The HiPort is the ideal tool for pattern projection or where accurate beam control is required for either long throws and higher ambient light conditions or when a strong architectural lighting statement is desired.Using the 70 or 150W CDM/CMH lamp the HiPort meets the demand for p