The contract went to LM following a demonstration of its StratoSphere system in Reading. The location for the launch was the British Airways London Eye, and the concept was to light up the London Eye which would become the ‘O’ part of the logo and a 20m x 20m water screen was used as the projection medium for the ‘2’. The 300 VIP guests were treated to a ride on the London Eye, from where they viewed the show. Stephen Harvey said: "We undertook this show knowing that the logistics where going to be hard. We also had to compete with the elements, the technicians having to cope with two days of extreme weather which finally abated on the night."
The North Side of the River Thames directly opposite the London Eye was where the launch of the show took place. Capital Radio DJ Dr Fox started the countdown and was joined by the boy band Blue who pressed the button to launch the show. A 5W YAG laser beam was then fired across the river to the hub of the London Eye; the waterscreen was in the centre of the Thames (River Closure obtained) and a Barco R12 video projector was used to project the two parts of the logo onto the waterscreen.
The StratoSphere was used as a 360° projection tool for video and intelligent lighting and was situated to the left of the London Eye on a barge in the River Thames. A 40W Nd YAG laser was positioned under the London Eye, throwing beams up into the sky and across the river. 64 VL5Arc washlights were also placed beneath, lighting the Eye in blue. Four Sky Art Searchlights were positioned on the north and four on the south sides of the river. A stunning pyrotechnics display was produced using the latest digital firing system and was synchronized to the show music.
In addition, LM supplied a live camera shoot with an OB truck and a whole host of other ‘live’ elements. The flight centre at the London Eye was used as a VIP venue and demonstration area, again this was kitted out with lighting and Plasma screens together with full edit systems. Live camera work was beamed to the flight centre via a microwave link so that the guests could see instant video replays. To follow this up, LM also had a video crew for live video transmission to all the Plasma screens. Stephen Harvey concluded: "This was one of the biggest re-branding events of 2002 and we were proud to be a part of it, LM Productions seem to thrive on water-based events and are looking forward to out next StratoSphere contract in sunnier climes."
(Lee Baldock)
