UK - Ford of Britain hired design and communications company Imagination to produce six themed exhibition stands at Mela 2003. Mela, a culture and lifestyle show celebrating all aspects of life enjoyed by Asian Communities, took place at Wembley Exhibition Centre from 10-12 October with over 30,000 visitors attending. The event was divided into seven main areas relating to Asian culture: Lifestyle, Health & Beauty, Fashion, Weddings, Food, Business & Entertainment. Imagination created six exhibition stands heavily influenced by each subject zone. Each exhibition stand showed a relevant Ford vehicle, which was designed and decorated with an Asian theme. One car even had a bespoke oversized 'bindi' designed by leading bindi designer Manjeet Bedi (founder of Jazzy Bindi) attached to the front of the car bonnet.
Ford was one of the main sponsors of Mela 2003 and the all-encompassing theme for the stands were 'Find out more about Ford'. Mark Cameron, diversity marketing manager said of the project: "As the event itself is a celebration of lifestyle, Ford's presence had to be high in entertainment value - tonally we wanted it to be amusing, confident and smart. We really wanted to create stands which were removed from the traditional corporate appearance of motorshows."
Peter Goodrick-Clarke one of the Imagination lead designers on the project added: "We wanted each stand to be expressive but also genuine. We researched many areas of Asian culture, contacting various designers before we started working on the stands. We looked into traditional colours a
UK - PCM has just completed the refurbishment of stage equipment at the Princess Hall in Aldershot, Wiltshire. T technical manager Kevin Andrew's request to PCM was to replace the theatre's ageing hemp and winch system with a new, quick-and-easy lifting solution that would allow the venue's busy technical team to capitalize on tight turnaround times.
The theatre stages all types of production, including classical to contemporary live music, theatrical productions, dance, musicals, cabaret, panto and comedy. Their busy schedule often sees four or five different shows going through in a week, all with different lighting and production requirements. PCM's projects manager Tony Griffiths spotted an opportunity to recommend the company's new Unibar - winner of the PLASA 2003 Award for Product Design Excellence in the Stage Engineering category.
The Unibar is ideal for this style of venue, offering a cost-effective alternative to electric Pilewind hoists. Designed around BS7905 part 1 and the Technical Standards For Places Of Entertainment, the Unibar has been designed with a safety ratio of 8 to 1 at a maximum loading of 400kg. Completely contained within its own support bracket, the Unibar allows a chain hoist to electrically drive a clew plate horizontally along a guide track. Attached to the clew plate can be up to 10 suspension cables. The cables pass around guide pulleys and lower to a suspension bar, truss or lighting bar. Kevin Andrew soon realized that the compact and flexible nature of the Unibar would fit perfectly onto the Princess Hall's 60mm tubular gri
UK - Milos Structural Systems' versatile X-Stage platform range has recently been enhanced with the introduction of a new Quick-Leg mechanism. The lightweight low-profile aluminium S2 deck system features a special leg receiver that enables either telescopic supports or standard 48.3mm scaffold tube legs to be quickly secured to the platform. A simple cam-lever locking mechanism enables legs to be securely fixed and easily removed from the standard S2 platform. The introduction of the new feature enables users to create low-cost fixed height platforms or risers using the standard 48.3mm material.
The X-Stage S2 platform is produced in 2m x 1m decks using a custom low-profile aluminium extrusion with a 22mm plywood surface. The deck, which is rated at 750kg per sq.m, weighs only 25kg and is just 100mm deep when stored making it extremely efficient for transportation, storage and set-up.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - When television star Neil Morrissey was challenged to help a worthy cause for an upcoming ITV series With A Little Help from My Friends, pro audio distributor SCV London and staging and trussing specialist LiteStructures were among the companies he called on to help him complete the task. The voice behind Bob the Builder chose to help children's charity 'Kids Company' renovate a derelict community centre and wanted it to have a stage, so that kids could follow in his footsteps.
Morrissey called SCV London's marketing director, Steve McDonald, and asked him for a Fostex VF-160 Digital Multitracker for free. Steve was more than happy to give the Men Behaving Badly star the equipment to assist the charity, which works with deprived children. The Fostex VF-160 will be used to teach youngsters the elements of sound recording.
Morrissey also put in a call to LiteStructures' managing director Adrian Brooks to provide a stage for the centre. While Brooks was surprised to receive the call from Morrissey, he was only too pleased to help. To make the most of the space, the 6 x 4m stage needed to be demountable, so LiteStructures supplied LiteDeck staging, complete with handrails and steps, as it can be stored easily when not in use. AstraLite was fixed in place on the ceiling to form the lighting grid and, with Triple E's Unirail fitted, it also formed the support for the wool serge house curtains from J&C Joel Ltd. LiteStructures also provided on-site staff for the two-day installation. Morrissey was thrilled with the finished result, saying: "You'v
UK - MJK Productions staged a spectacular production for the Mastercard MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Awards 2003 at London's Royal Albert Hall on 25 September. The awards were dominated by 50 Cent, who picked up the honours for Best Hip Hop Act, Best Album and Best Single, while Justin Timberlake won Best R&B Act and Big Brovaz scored Best Newcomer.
Featuring many of the production team from the Mastercard BRIT awards, the MOBOs was directed for television by Julia Knowles and produced by Sharon Ali. MJK, for the eighth year since the event's début, were in charge of the live production and a team that included Britannia Row (audience sound), 021 (broadcast sound), VLPS (lighting), XL Video (video), Outback (rigging), Steel Monkey (set) and Eat Your Hearts Out (catering).
The show featured MJK's trademark five-minute changeovers between live performances, a substantial lighting rig covering both stage and audience, an EV X-Line line array PA with left and right hangs and two side hangs for the 270° wide audience, and a letterbox-format LED video backdrop to the stage.
Outback Rigging's specialist team was brought in by MJK Productions to rig the sound and lighting systems. Outback's crew, under crew chief Dave Morrel, teamed up with the Royal Albert Hall's in-house riggers to fly the VLPS lighting system, designed by LD Al Gurdon, an Electro-Voice X-Line PA system from Britannia Row Productions, and a stage set created by Bristol-based Steel Monkey. The rig consisted of two circular lighting trusses over the audience and house lighting trusses covering the st
UK - Rola-Trac installed the ground protection required around the motor circuit at this year's Goodwood Revival festival, to ensure the site was not damaged by the vehicles and crowds. The Goodwood Revival runs for three days in September each year, celebrating the racing venue's active years of 1948-66, by re-enacting the races that once occurred there. This year 94,000 racing fans visited the event.
Each year owners of vehicles from the pre-1966 period descend on Goodwood to display their treasures for the first two days, when visitors can take a good look at the cars. For the owners there is also the business of winning, after two days of qualifying and warming up, the third and final day of the event offered some surprisingly competitive races around the circuit.
This year event was blessed with fine weather, which meant the ground remained very dry and the Rola-Trac ground protection installation was relatively simple. Under the direction of Rola-Trac's Guy Wightman teams began on site two weeks prior to the opening of the races to install a helicopter-landing pad used by visitors to the event. The paddock area, which acted as the area for touring cars was then covered three days before the event with Supa-Trac, a fully portable medium duty roadway system.
Rola-Trac also installed 2m wide pathways across the site, ensuring three days of heavy foot traffic did not erode the ground, which may have been all important as to add to the ambience of the event, many visitors dress in pre-1966 attire. Other areas covered by Rola-Trac included the disabled access
Europe - ADlite Productions and sister company Adlib Audio from Liverpool have supplied the sound, lighting and set to the current Fun Lovin' Criminals European tour. LD Stuart Gray has been working with the band for the last 14 months, during which time they have used ADLite and Adlib to supply all their technical production requirements. Fun Lovin' Criminals have been gigging constantly since last summer, but for their own tour they approached Gray for lighting design. As their name suggests, the band are renowned for their enjoyment of life and music and came up with the idea of having a real onstage bar as a set piece.
Gray developed three onstage scenic bars with fully working optics and drink mixing facilities. He utilized existing set elements from the ADlite warehouse, and created others with the help of Scenex from the Midlands, who made the bar fronts and mirrors. Theme Traders sourced the two back-cloths - a New York skyline, and a tropical sunset with the third 'I Love New York' backdrop coming from Fun Lovin Criminals' stock. Gray made the whole set as adaptable as possible so it could be shrunk or expanded, according to stage size. ADlite purchased 12 new High End Studio Beam PCs for the tour, in addition to using its new Martin MAC 550s, and its existing Studio Spot 250s and Mac 500s. The rig itself is primarily a moving light rig, configured on two trusses offering maximum versatility, with Studio Beams and Macs on the back truss attached to graduated pipe-beams. Stuart then added colour changer units to illuminate the set.
On the ground are up-en
South Africa - A full lighting rig and ground support front-of-house truss system was supplied by M.J. Lighting to Rapid Blue, for South Africa's first series of The Weakest Link, which was shot at the Gallagher Estate auditorium during August 2003. M.J. Lighting's brief was to recreate the distinct visual feel of the original BBC programme.
The company's Francois van der Merwe oversaw the installation and reprogramming of the show on a dummy rig set up in the M.J. Lighting premises a week before the load-in to the Gallagher studio. A variety of fixtures was used on set, including six High End Systems Studio Colors, 13 High End Studio Spots, 11 Martin MAC 2000s, 11 custom-made Zip Strips, 2k Fresnel units, 5k softlights and eight 1k spots or 'Pups'. ETC Source Fours were used as key lights on each contestant, as well as on the quizmaster, Fiona Coyne. M.J.'s back-up Wholehog 2 was also supplied as a back-up facility to the studio.
The production required a front-of-house lighting position in a location where no fly bars or rigging points were available. As a solution, M.J. Lighting provided a 6m high by 15m wide free-standing structure, consisting of Thomas S-Type truss legs and Thomas A-Type truss cross braces. This structure played a critical part in the production as it provided the base for all the front light for the show.
Crew boss Theo Rood and rigger Dudley James ensured that van der Merwe had maximum programming time by orchestrating an efficient set-up of the lighting system and structure. Technical director Mike Jones commented: "The pre-product
UK - News came in last night that a stage collapse left up to 20 people injured prior to a sing-along performance of The Sound of Music at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre. The BBC news website reports that the temporary part of the stage covering the orchestra pit gave way when audience members were invited onto to the stage for a fancy dress competition. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the cause of the collapse has been launched today.
The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham is an Edwardian Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,347. The theatre presents a variety of productions from pre- and post-West End productions to touring shows, opera, ballet, musicals and concerts.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Expectations were high at the PLASA show that a detailed presentation concerning this vital set of Regulations would be delivered by representatives of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). However, policy makers from the HSE announced that the promised third draft of the Regulations, with its accompanying Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance material, would be delayed further - with the consultation period now scheduled for December 2003 through to April 2004.
Those who attended the seminar on the last day of the show were hoping to get an opportunity to discuss the application of the new Regulations and how their impact would affect the entertainment industry, but all that was on offer was a run-through of the existing proposed Regulations published in the last draft, which may or may not have some bearing on the final set of Regulations.
The delayed consultation period is squeezing the time allowed by the European Commission for the implementation of the Working at Heights Directive, which demands the UK implement the new Regulations by July 2004. The timeline suggests that if there is a substantial response to the consultation and the new Regulations are placed on the statute books by July, there is no guarantee that the suggestions, comments and concerns of this industry will have had enough time to be considered fully.
However, Ron Bonner, PLASA's Health & Safety consultant, is keen to ensure that PLASA members have the chance to review the latest draft of the Regulations, ACOP and guidance material collectively. If the consultation mate
UK - Drapes and rigging specialist, Blackout was appointed by G2 Productions to help create a cinematic environment at the BMW Group's Oxford Plant, for exclusive preview screenings of the remake of The Italian Job. The screenings were attended by BMW personnel, including a fleet of Mini Coopers, just prior to the film's UK premiere on 12 September.Blackout's Chris Brain collaborated with G2's managing director, Andrew Owls to design and build a giant free-standing truss structure, which was clad in black wool-serge drape, excluded all light and contained the 1,000 capacity auditorium.
Blackout's team suspended the drape onto the truss and rigged the giant 60f x 25 ft screen supplied by Bell Theatre Services. Andrew Owles explained: "It was great working with Blackout - the team handled the project professionally from start to finish with great attention to detail. With a typically "can-do" approach, they met a tight deadline and contributed to the event's huge success."
The new movie draws inspiration from its legendary 1969 namesake that follows the thrills and spills of a bunch of jewel thieves - rated as one of the all time best British movies. The new Mini is set to steal the show just as its counterpart vehicles did in the original via a series of action packed car chases and jaw-dropping stunts. Three Minis appear in the film - a Chilli Red Mini Cooper S, a Pepper White Mini Cooper and an Indi Blue Mini Cooper, and the BMW Group provided producers Paramount with a total of 32 Minis for filming. Supporting the Mini Coopers in the
Russia - The Kremlin in Moscow has ordered 35 BGV-C1 chain hoists in the 500kg weight class from German manufacturer ChainMaster. The lifts are equipped with a position encoder and a ChainMaster control system comprising three switch servers combined with two operation desks. Parallel redundancy is assured by the presence of an additional manual controller, also from ChainMaster. The Kremlin order was placed by the Arlecchino Business Center in Moscow and the installation of the high-tech system is scheduled for the beginning of October.
For nine years, ChainMaster has been developing and manufacturing stage chain hoists and chain hoist controllers. The firm's current range covers chain hoists for weights ranging from 125kg to 12 tons. ChainMaster's most successful product worldwide is the VarioLift (which includes models for loads ranging from 125kg to 6,300kg) which was introduced in 1998. At the recent PLASA Show, the company launched its latest software for the control of stage equipment. The new software not only offers additional functions, but is also even more user-friendly than before.
(Ruth Rossington)
Norway - The Norwegian Theater in Oslo has taken delivery of a Visual Act Analog wagon system. The system includes two modular drive units which can power wagons of over 2000kg. The drive units are easily bolted to different constructions and will be used by the theatre both to move sets in repertory and automate scenic elements. The first use of the system will be a 9m revolve for the new musical Frendelaus by Øystein Wiik.
The system uses a dependable analogue radio system which is certified for the transportation of people. Servo-motors guarantee constant speed, independent of load, so that the motion of dancers on the Frendelaus revolve will not affect the movement of the floor.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Following unprecedented interest during PLASA 2003 in Kinesys' Elevation 1+ variable speed chain hoist control system, and its special commendation at the PLASA Awards, Kinesys is delighted to announce that Lodestar conversion kits are now available for both the large body and small body sizes of CM Lodestar.
These conversion kits allow standard CM Lodestars to be run as full variable speed hoists while still allowing the hoists to be controlled, fixed speed, from a standard motor controller. The conversion kit upgrades all the wiring within the Lodestar and includes a new 24V transformer and a high-resolution encoder. A circuit board accommodates all the contactor and brake switching components; provision for circuitry to control silent DC brakes is also included ensuring a simple and cost-effective upgrade path. The conversion kit leaves the hoist fitted with a multi-way Harting type connector that allows it to be plugged directly into an Elevation 1+ variable speed hoist controller. Also provided with the kit is a Ceeform adaptor cable that allows the hoist to be run, fixed speed, from a standard Lodestar controller.
Conversions can be performed either by Kinesys or by the end-user; a comprehensive instruction manual is supplied with each kit. A fully functioning prototype of a converted CM Prostar hoist was on display at PLASA and is now in the final stages of production engineering. An official release of the Prostar conversion can be expected within the next few weeks.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
Americas - Holland America's MS Oosterdam, the second of five planned Vista Class ships, joined her sister ship MS Zuiderdam on the high seas with a maiden voyage on 10 July 2003. Her first outing was a Viking and Czars themed cruise, highlighting major ports from London to Oslo. Her first transatlantic crossing will be from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale in November 2003, after which she will begin sailing to Caribbean and Panama Canal destinations.
With a capacity for just 1848 passengers, Oosterdam has the highest passenger-to-space ratio of all Holland America ships giving a greater sense of intimacy yet maintaining the same elegance Holland America is known for. A unique feature of the ship is the exterior glass elevators with sea views that carry passengers to any of the 11 decks.
Nautilus Entertainment Design (NED) designed the systems in the entertainment facilities, which include a multi-level main show theatre and a cabaret-style show lounge. The show lounge, dubbed the Vista Lounge, has two seating areas, with space for 504 on the main floor and 234 in the balcony area. The lounge encompasses 16,000sqft, using three decks, plus a four-deck fly tower for scenery.
The Vista Lounge services three different productions, one of which was produced by Broadway legend Tommy Tune. Tune's team included lighting designer Natasha Katz and scenic designer John Arnone, who worked with HAL director of entertainment Bill Prince to mount the spectacular. To facilitate the high caliber on-board entertainment, NED designed fully computer controlled sys
UK - Columbus McKinnon displayed more new products at this year's PLASA exhibition than ever before. Recent optional upgrades to the ever-popular Lodestar electric chain hoist were being displayed for the first time. These include a double brake, which is available as either factory-fitted on new units or as a retrofit kit for existing owners. A direct control Lodestar, which has proven extremely popular since its launch earlier this year will also be available for inspection.
A CM manufactured variable speed Lodestar hoist, dubbed the Varistar will also be making its worldwide debut. This will be shown alongside a sample of the company's new BGV-C1 specification Lodestar hoist.
"Although Lodestars with these features are already available they are conversions of standard units made by end-users or our distributors" comments Adrian Forbes-Black, CM's regional manager for Europe. "Now we are enabling these same people to purchase the exact specification they need from CM, rather than having to go to the expense and hassle of modifying the standard hoist themselves."
CM has also announced that its 236kg s.w.l. Prostar hoist will be upgraded to 250kg s.w.l. later this year.
Probably the most radical product introduced was also the simplest: CM showed 500kg, 1000kg and 2000kg s.w.l. versions of its new Hurricane inverted manual chain hoist. Forbes-Black explains: "At the moment in the entertainment industry, if people have a simple lifting problem, like conference work for example, then they either have to use the relatively expensive an
UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was appointed by London based production house, GSP to help realize the set for the launch of Canon's new EOS 300D 6.3 mega pixel digital SLR camera. The event was staged at Sketch, the exclusive, mega-chic London creation of Mourad Mazous (of Momo) and Michelin chef Pierre Gagnai.
Blackout¹s project manager Kevin Monks collaborated with GSP's Jules Stevenson from the outset to design and build a blacked-out freestanding studio, where over 50 EOS 300Ds took centre stage. Suspended on tracks, they were deployed remotely to capture real-time effect images of the guests Matrix style.
The freestanding truss structure measured 10m x 8m, and was initially constructed to GSP's exacting specifications at Blackout's headquarters, before being rigged on site by the Blackout team. Dressed in black serge drape, the box totally excluded any light, creating a moody tunnel-like environment for the fleet of EOS 300Ds to capture the moment.
Sketch's glamorous, ultra-contemporary interior (designed by Noe Douchafour Lawrence) was the perfect backdrop for the new digital camera's spectacular launch. The event was attended by over 450 press and a host of celebrity guests who danced the night away to a live set from soul diva Mica Paris.
In addition GSP commissioned Blackout to design another photographic studio for an intimate lunch party hosted by Canon for key clientele. Staged on the luxurious Woods River Cruises' Silver Sturgeon, Blackout designed and supplied another freestanding truss structure, which draped in thick whi
>Award for Design Excellence
>Stage Technologies
>Visual Creator
Visual Creator brings sophisticated control of motion-through-time out of the realm of specialist applications and makes it available to all. The advantages of theatrical automation are clear. At the push of a button, a modern power flying system can move a substantial load from A to B with pinpoint accuracy time after time. But what about the movement along the way between A and B? To date, most flying systems have been unable to handle the sophisticated motion profiles through time that designers and directors imagine in their shows.
Visual Creator addresses this need: gauzes drifting in a breeze, an automated bouncing ball, an acrobat flying in 3D around the auditorium - all these effects and more can now be drawn as imagined and executed seamlessly with Stage Technologies' standard automation systems.
Fully integrated with Stage Technologies' core OMCI platform technology, Visual Creator allows 1D, 2D and 3D motion profiles to be executed, either in time or mapped against the movement of an independently controlled master axis. The award-winning Pathway technology that created the spectacular flying effects seen at the Millennium Dome and The Witches of Eastwick has been extended and enhanced in Visual Creator, combining ease-of-use with a new level of capability in entertainment motion control.
>Three products were highlighted by Hall Stage. First up was the new BGV70 band hoist, a fully programmable, variable speed, load-sensing hoist designed for a variety of lifting purposes, including people flying. The band hoists don't have a clutch, so there are no components to wear out. Also on display was the new 2-channel infra red assistive listening system from Williams Sound, the TX925, as well as the innovative Hold-On clips, designed to hang and fix material without the need for eyelets. Very nice.
>Aside from the Unibar, new for Slingco this year is the Unibar hoist, a cost-effective system developed in tandem with PCM, which allows easily controlled raising and lowering for general lifting purposes. The company has also had a busy year with its popular Cablenet 'virtual floors'. Sales engineer Matt Dykins said they were working on more installations and more applications of the system than ever before.
>There were two new products from Tomcat: Swing Wing Trussing, winner of a 2003 Eddy award, is an old idea given a new make-over. Still 30" by 30", this trussing is purpose-designed to take a whole variety of modern automated lights 'permanently' mounted within (or at least for the duration of your touring production). Also from Tomcat comes Dek, a re-designed extrusion to improve on the existing stage deck system from sister company Brilliant Stages. The extrusion includes an M10 nut rail to allow the fitting of a host of accessories, not least handrails and steps.
>Formed as a result of a buy-out of the Penn lighting and trussing business from Penn Fabrication, Metalworx is the European manufacturer of the original Penn trussing. The company featured coloured Par cans on the stand in addition to triangular, box and circular truss. The company also offers a complete custom manufacturing service.
UK - Two of the UK's most respected supply companies have announced a merger which will create a major new event structural and rigging company in the UK.
Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd and Star Rigging & Technical Services Ltd have joined forces to create Star Events Group Limited. The new company will offer clients a wide range of services, including equipment hire, installation and consultancy, within the field of music, broadcast and corporate, sporting and public events. The principals of the new company are Mark Armstrong, Roger Barrett, Phil Broad and Maddy Sheals - all of whom will be shareholder/directors with Pete Rayel as an additional shareholder.
The Group will have five divisions - Star Mobile (mobile, trailer-based stages); Star VerTech (stages and temporary structures); Star Design (creative design & visualization, structural analysis); Star Ice (temporary ice rinks) and Star Rigging (rigging solutions). There will also be three new appointments to the Board - Pete Holdich, director of Star VerTech, Jane Russen, director of Star Mobile and Roland Moss, financial director.
Director, Maddy Sheals, told PLASA Media: "After 27 years of Star Hire and five of Star Rigging, this is a very exciting development for all our people. It is one of those obvious 'right under your nose' things that made absolute sense the minute the idea was born. We look forward to great success, building on solid foundations and past achievements." To accommodate the merger, the Group is close to completing the expansion of its premises, adding 17,500sq.ft of build
>Award for Design Excellence
>PCM/Slingco
>Unibar
The Unibar system allows (a joint development between PCM and Slingco) for the quick and easy raising and lowering of suspension or lighting bars for scenery and lighting equipment with a motor-driven unit. The system has been designed to be installed onto any style of fixing or structure and will prove a cost-effective alternative to the more sophisticated power-assisted winch sets.
Initially available in 250 or 500kg models with single or two-speed options, the entire Unibar unit is self-contained, with the motor positioned on the end of the track. Single- or three-phase power options are offered, and other highlights include its simple, logical 'plug and play' operation.
Although initially designed for five suspension cables, thanks to flexibility in its design approach, the Unibar can be amended to support any number of suspension cables and any length of suspension bar with ultimate top and bottom limits contained within the unit's controls. Unibar allows the units to be positioned side by side with the suspension bars at 200mm centres - a real must in theatres. The Unibar control panel can either be fixed to the wall or operated by hand-held remote.
>Award for Technical Innovation
>Total Fabrications
>new wave
A small truss with a 6" x 6" cross section, new wave is an alternative to traditional aluminium truss and differs dramatically in several ways. Innovative construction methods allow the use of new materials, including carbon fibre and acrylic. The carbon fibre, in additi