RWS Invests in Kinesys for Melodifestivalen
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The company is run by John McDonough, universally known as JonnyMac. All eight of the new motors were supplied to the country’s high profile 2018 Melodifestivalen tour, together with four of RWS’s existing Liftket motors running with Kinesys Elevation 1+ drives, a Kinesys Mentor 4 controller - offering SIL3 safety over Ethernet - at the hub of the system and one of RWS’s flexible Kinesys Vector control platforms.
This gruelling six-week event, known for its high production values, visited six cities to select the Swedish song and entrant for the annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
Sweden is one of the most successful competing Eurovision nations with a total of six victories, the most recent in 2015.
Melodifestivalen 2018’s production was managed by Tobias Åberg and Cecilia Zollitsch. A stunning set based around impressive structural and LED elements was designed by Victor Bratström bringing a sculptural feel to the stage. A vibrant lighting scheme was created by Fredrik Jönsson, and the event, broadcast live each week on Swedish national television, was directed by Robin Hofwander and Fredrik Bäcklund.
The eight Kinesys Apex motors – operated by Petter Rimfors – were used to provide a series of flown props for different competitors - anything from a pyro truss flying in to a lighting pod positioned above the stage to change the shape of the performance area, all of which brought a different visual dynamic to that specific song.
The props and flying required would change week to week, depending on which songs made it through to the next round and which competitors were voted off. These gags would also change right up to the last minute during the rehearsal period ahead of each weekly broadcast as artists reviewed their performance footage onscreen, and Kinesys provided an ultimately flexible solution.
The three Liftkets with Elevation 1+’s were used to fly a central ‘transmitter’ prop, a section of pre-rigged trussing loaded with lights that flew in and out, and interacted with the contestants while their intro videos played. To accommodate this, Fredrik split his front lighting trusses into left and right sections.
The 2018 Melodifestivalen was won by Benjamin Ingrosso with the song Dance You Off, and he will represent Sweden at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal, in May.
(Jim Evans)
