Belgium - For nearly a century, Van Marcke, the Belgian family business and international wholesaler of industry-leading brands for sanitary, heating, and renewable energy solutions, has been providing products and services that offer sustainable comfort to its customers.
Earlier this year, it unveiled an entirely digital showroom at its Van Marcke Lab in Antwerp. Despite its compact size of just 80 m², this concept and experience store uses Leyard Europe VEM-series screen walls to empower visitors to create their personalised bathroom. The LED displays, provided and installed by Ocular, a technology company specialising in immersive and interactive installations, enables visitors to digitally assemble their dream bathroom, visualise it in life-size scale, and bring it to life in 3D within their own bathroom space with the guidance of an interior consultant.
Charlotte Packet, merchandising manager at Van Marcke, notes that today’s customers are accustomed to incorporating digital elements into their shopping experiences, even for significant purchases like kitchens, properties, and cars. “The growing demand for personalisation among our customers prompted Van Marcke to embark on a unique and innovative project aimed at making the online purchase of technically complex products, such as bathrooms, more comfortable and tailored to individual needs,” she says.
To bring the concept to life, Van Marcke collaborated with Ocular, leveraging their positive prior experience of working together on a technically demanding project for the Batibouw 2020
USA - All of it Now (AOIN), a virtual art department and in-camera VFX integration solutions provider, never shies away from pushing the boundaries of creativity. Coachella 2023 proved to be the perfect canvas for their latest artistic endeavour, which involved crafting augmented reality (AR) experiences to captivate one of the most demanding audiences on the festival circuit.
AOIN turned to Stage Precision’s SP software, a powerful data and control management software they had used before, but now hoped to deploy on a much grander scale.
As the sun rose on Coachella 2023, AOIN faced several challenges. The project brief included enhancing the main stage livestream broadcast to create a new augmented reality platform for artists including Gorillaz, Bad Bunny and Blackpink.
As a central component of Coachella's 2023 marketing campaign, Coachella introduced the "mirage effect", an interstitial element that combined real-world objects with digital elements, a task undertaken within Unreal Engine's real-time compositing pipeline. To achieve this, AOIN collaborated closely with Nexus, and stYpe's team to develop a custom compositing solution.
"The Coachella project was challenging because we had to manage a large amount of content as well as send out a large amount of data to trigger specific events and effects,” recalls Berto Mora, CTO at AOIN. “This difficulty was compounded by the fact that we were working with multiple teams, which created logistical programming challenges."
Amidst the challenges, SP by Stage Precision emerged as th
UK - TV, broadcast and event lighting rental specialists, Version 2 Lights has announced a management realignment to support its continued growth.
Day-to-day operational responsibilities will be assumed by technical manager Sam Crook, warehouse manager Darren Gale, general manager Emma Gale and rental manager Joe Marter. This will form the Version 2 senior management team, who will take on ownership of daily operations at V2 HQ.
Crook and Marter have been well-known industry figures, and long-term trusted collaborators for nearly two decades both at Version 2 and the previous blueprints Aurora Lighting and London Light. The company also reports that Emma Gale has recently accepted the responsibilities of company secretary.
Founder, Nick Edwards will return to a key account role, project managing and supporting LDs, producers and production managers who will draw upon his experience. Edwards will work in tangent with Marter’s rental team comprising of Simon Perrott, Ollie Perry and recent recruit Stamatula Malfas.
Edwards will continue to lead the strategic vision for the company, which continues to benefit from the long-term support of its main shareholders Nick Edwards and Nigel Wray, both of whom have made significant capital investments in the company by way of share capital and directors’ loans.
An enthused Edwards comments: “Our commitment is to the UK TV, broadcast and event market. I’m a firm believer in David Hieatt’s coined phrase “Do One Thing Well. It's Enough”. Having built the company into a market leader in
Germany - intoPIX and Lawo have announced that .edge users can now benefit from the intoPIX TICO-XS codec to encode and decode JPEG XS-compressed streams.
As the media industry increasingly leverages the benefits of IP-based remote and distributed production workflows, the challenge it faces is pushing a relentlessly growing amount of data through a fibre optic pipe with a fixed bandwidth while preserving broadcast-grade quality.
Support for the lossless JPEG XS compression technology in HD, 3G and UHD video-format resolutions will allow users of Lawo’s .edge Hyper-Density SDI/IP Conversion and Routing Platform to encode, process and decode compressed SMPTE ST2110-22 IP streams.
Lawo’s aim is to provide broadcasters with the ability to leverage compressed streams as and when required in order to accelerate high-quality distributed content creation. JPEG XS support for .edge is a licensable option that relies on Lawo’s edge-computing and software-licensable infrastructure strategy. The ability to encode and decode JPEG XS right at the IP network’s edge means that uncompressed streams no longer need to travel to a processor somewhere on the (increasingly vast) SMPTE ST2110-based IP network, and on to their destination, thus saving bandwidth. The .jpegxs option for .edge was officially launched at IBC 2023.
JPEG XS delivers broadcast-grade compression ratios of up to 30:1. This makes it ideal for WAN-based IP networks where bandwidth is typically limited, while the number of camera feeds and video streams keeps rising. JPEG XS (ISO/IEC 21
UK - Stage Sound Services, who offer full production and equipment services from their 50,000 sq.ft HQ in Cardiff, were recently tasked to support Freshwater UK, a marketing and events agency, with the technical realisation of this year's Unite the Union Policy Conference in Brighton.
The Policy Conference is the main decision-making body of the union, held every two years and made up of around 700 lay members from Unite's 19 sectors and 10 regions and equality structures.
One of the visual highlights of the conference was a 24m wide AV Stumpfl Vario projection screen.
“A key requirement for this year’s conference was a large 'super wide screen', to provide a flexible format for conference images, screen relays and presentations, as well as to achieve a modern fresh look,” explains Stage Sound Services director Phil Hurley.
The Vario frame concept follows a modular system approach, to make it extremely easy to adapt a projection screen's size. Robust plug-in elements are used in addition to extension elements, so that the frame can be scaled to the exact dimensions required by a particular project.
A slightly shorter build time for this year’s conference was easily compensated for, due to the Vario screen system’s great ease of use: “For the previous conference we had used a traditional truss system with a wrap-around front surface. I estimate that the Vario screen, which was fifty percent bigger than the one we previously used, took only half the time to rig and fly.”
Eight Panasonic RZ21K projectors were used to dis
Singapore - As the largest content creator and national media network in Singapore, Mediacorp operates a suite of TV channels, radio stations, and multiple digital platforms.
Year after year, Mediacorp assumes the role of the central hub for the country's biggest celebration of content and talent in the local entertainment industry. This year's event, the 28th edition of Star Awards, was themed Beyond | Celebrations, and was reimagined as a star-studded concert. It featured a line-up of Singapore's finest talents and regional superstars, joining forces for a night of glamour, excitement, and celebrations.
Oceanus Media Global (OMG) worked with Mediacorp to create the opening segment and after credit scene for the award ceremony using their Futurealistic Studio, with a high-tech LED volume powered by Brompton Technology LED processing.
Founded in 2020, OMG is a creative media tech company that represents a new multidisciplinary intersection point in the industry. It comprises six partner companies: Resolute, AP Media, Anomalyst Studio, AP Academy, Scion Technik, and Grayback Esports, all of which are experts in their respective fields. These companies have joined forces with the primary objective of leading the way in the utilisation of immersive media, virtual production, and creative tech in the media industry of South-East Asia.
The LED setup at OMG’s Futurealistic Studio includes a 4K curved LED screen comprising broadcast standard P2.6 LED panels from ShowHo, measuring 11 metres long by six metres deep and four metres high. The screen is
UK - JL-Group, technical production partner to the television, film, live events and exhibition industries, has appointed Eddie Dias in a newly created role as head of department (film & drama) to support the growth of its commercial offering to DOP’s, television, film & drama production companies, studios and beyond.
Well-known in the world of film and television drama for over 30 years, Eddie has helped shape the sector’s visual landscape with his innovative and pioneering spirit.
Dias’ influence has left an indelible mark on some of the most beloved dramas and films, including titles such as Casino Royale and The Bodyguard. His career has seen him work as in senior roles for the likes of VFG, AFM, Panalux, Cinelease, Lightnlight and Prolight Direct.
In his new role, Dias will be instrumental in supporting JL-Group in nurturing new and existing client relationships to help ensure their creativity is never limited by technology.
Jack Linaker, JL-Group MD, says: “As a business we’ve expanded rapidly in the last three years and the growth we have specifically seen in our film and drama delivery means we now need to bring onboard an experienced and dedicated resource to head up our commercial activity in this area. Eddie’s vast experience, unyielding passion and boundless energy firmly placed him as our number one choice.”
Dias added: “I am really excited to be given this opportunity to begin working with JL-Group and partner with our industry’s rich heritage of existing and new generations of DOP
UK - University of the Arts London (UAL) has signed the first deal to install Sony’s new Crystal LED, Verona displays, to create a state-of-the-art, research-grade virtual production stage.
In June 2023, University of the Arts London (UAL) announced the development of a specialist Virtual Production (VP) research volume - via its Fashion Textiles and Technology Institute (FTTI) - to create capacity for innovative, trans-disciplinary practice-led research in VP/XR textiles and dress.
To support this new facility, UAL went looking to outfit a space with a robust yet cutting-edge, future proof display solution. Research and university requirements pointed them towards display solutions that would provide value over an extended lifespan while delivering the highest possible colour accuracy and detail.
UAL worked with Lux Machina, specialists in display technology, to test all major brands and were impressed with the brightness of Sony’s Crystal LED technology and the Deep Black Anti-Reflective Surface Technology from Verona. This new technology delivers both deep black image expression and low-reflection performance that greatly reduces the contrast loss caused by light from adjacent LED panels and studio lighting equipment.
The University will also benefit from Sony’s Virtual Production Tool Set, a software-based solution that allows users to design the picture they need for virtual production and serve their creative projects. Researchers will be able to pre-visualise scenes and creative concepts using Virtual Venice for Unreal Engine to
UK - Green Hippo’s London-based manufacturing operation is reporting high demand for its range of Hippotizer Media Servers and is ramping up production to meet orders.
The team says the first quarter of 2023 saw a huge rise in sales across all Hippotizer models, including the flagship Tierra+ MK2 and high performance Boreal+ MK2. Most orders are coming in from the rental and staging sectors of the industry.
The recent launch of the Hippotizer v4.8 software update, which packed in a host of new and upgraded features designed to power-up real-time media manipulation, playback and mapping, drove sales.
Major enhancements of the new software included Show Manager, facilitating complete control of multiple productions and installations at once and an upgraded Timeline feature and the Shape tool which introduced Dockable Windows, aiding customisable workspace management and enhancing 3D project visibility. Built-in integrations were also upgraded, with a notable addition being the NDI update to version 5.5, which includes game changing features to its media over IP protocol, allowing for more creative freedom connecting any device with any location.
Zep Mouris, Hippotizer product architect at tvONE says: “The Hippotizer team consistently works hard to implement more and more world-class features in each update and 4.8 is something we’re very proud of. We know Hippotizer users are powering some of the most exciting projects on the planet right now, and 4.8 is feeding into them all. We’re thrilled that the new version has been so warmly welcom
The Netherlands - Nestled in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighbourhood lies the Noorderkerk Church, a remarkable 17th-century Protestant church renowned for its architectural beauty and design. Over the past year, this church’s usually neutral atmosphere has been transformed into a mesmerising 360-degree world of colours. With the help of 38 Digital Projection projectors, it now tells the story of how Rembrandt van Rijn’s paintings inspired Vincent van Gogh’s greatest works.
Vincent meets Rembrandt: The Untold Story, which opened in 2022, will be captivating visitors until 2027 with this audiovisual spectacle. By seamlessly combining visuals with a compelling audio narration of van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo, the exhibition reveals the influence Rembrandt had on van Gogh's artistic journey.
The idea to create an immersive experience of how Rembrandt played an important role in Vincent’s artistic process was envisioned by Hennie Jaspers & Marcel Vos. Taking the lead for this project, Bart van Bokhoven, owner and creative director of Pronorm, Dutch audiovisual integrator, wholeheartedly embraced the initiative. “We started with a concept around six years ago,” states van Bokhoven. “We were going through the diaries of van Gogh and the letters to his brother Theo, where he explained how he really admired Rembrandt’s work, what light and colours the artist was using and his way of painting. This inspired the storytelling.”
To create a fully encompassing experience, Pronorm chose the Noorderkerk Church for the venue, as both
Europe - Blue-i Group, known for their work on live events and theatrical productions like Disney’s Aladdin - El Musical in Madrid, Tina Turner - das Musical in Stuttgart and the Les Misérables European tour, has recently invested in five Pixera four RS media servers.
The investment follows a long-term growth strategy, that included last year’s opening of a new office and warehouse facility in Belgium to enable the Blue-i Group to expand their services in mainland Europe.
Ethan Forde, Blue-i Group’s European sales director, comments, “Our whole team is excited to begin our journey with AV Stumpfl’s Pixera system. We chose the powerful RS servers to give us the maximum performance, which we know our clients will want to fully utilise on their projects. We're seeing more demand for high bandwidth networking, real time rendering and high bit-depth colour. We needed a server that could deliver this along with a feature set that will deliver for years to come.”
Pixera’s executive director Harry Gladow adds: “Blue-i has such a stellar reputation when it comes to delivering high-end productions, that many international AV professionals will take note. Pixera is not just a great choice for fixed installations and virtual production setups, it has a lot to offer to theatrical productions and the live event world in general.”
European sales director Ethan Forde adds: “Our clients give very positive feedback about the feature set and interface. We've also been blown away by the exceptional support.”
The Netherlands - Solid State Logic is set to launch the Tempest Control App at IBC 2023 (stand 8.B81). Delivering full control of the System T production platform from a software application, Tempest Control App presents the next step in virtualised control solutions for live-to-air broadcast audio, says SSL.
Delivering full control of all mix, routing, monitoring, setup and automation functions, including the entire suite of next-gen immersive production tools, Solid State Logic’s new Tempest Control App (TCA) brings to the market ‘an unprecedented level of production flexibility and operational adaptability for broadcasters of all sizes’.
TCA is a robust and highly scalable control solution for key broadcast audio applications including remote production, newsroom production, backup scenarios or anywhere a physical control surface is not required. TCA utilises the same easy-to-use graphical user interface as found across the entire System T range, providing operators with a familiar experience no matter what System T control interface they are using.
TCA allows broadcasters to deploy ultra-lightweight, high power flypack systems, consisting of only a 1U TE1 Tempest DSP Engine, PC or laptop running the TCA software, and I/O, providing up to 256 paths of on-site low-latency audio processing.
If a remote workflow is required, a TCA system can be controlled remotely from a studio location via another control interface.
TCA seamlessly integrates with automated newsroom production platforms, including EVS, Grass Valley, Ross, Sony
UK - Built around the theme of ‘Frame Your Control, Bringing Immersion Into Frame’, ChamSys’ exhibit at PLASA Show 2023 engaged enthusiastic crowds of attendees with innovative products and ideas designed to help them take their creative visions to new heights.
Visitors got an up close and personal look at products like the MagicQ MQ500M Stadium, a standout console that seemed to be everywhere at Glastonbury earlier this year and is currently making waves touring with the likes of Ed Warren for Mumford & Sons, and Will Thomas on Bonobo’s Fragments Tour.
Also garnering attention was the ChamSys MagicQ Compact series, including the new MagicQ Compact Connect, a lightweight USB control surface that connects to a PC or Mac to deliver robust and flexible control of lighting, media, and LEDs. Visitors were universally impressed with this product, which is small enough to travel inside hand luggage, yet can send up to 64 universes of ArtNet and sACN directly from its onboard network port without the need for additional licenses or dongles. This compact powerhouse is packed with features, including via eight rotary encoders and live show control through 10 playback faders featuring Flash, as well as Go and Select buttons.
ChamSys’ impact at the show was not limited to exiting new products, the company sponsored a series of well-attended education sessions that covered a wide range of topics including Timecode & Audio Timeline, Group Based Programming, and Execute Window and Basic Pixel Mapping.
A highlight of the show were the
UK - In step with the welcome return of the British summer, PLASA Show made a triumphant return to the Grand Hall of Olympia London from 3-5 September, spanning a third more floor space with a striking 28% increase in visitors.
Lee House, operations director for Ambersphere Solutions, says: “I was struck by a sense of nostalgia and excitement - PLASA Show has made a triumphant return! The hall was bustling with a diverse array of exhibitors and, most importantly, visitors who were eager to engage in meaningful conversations about their technological needs for the present and future. It was a jam-packed, unforgettable three days that left us eagerly anticipating what next year will bring."
Tom Mowat, hire account manager for Encore, concurs: “PLASA Show 2023 was absolutely incredible. It was fantastic to see the whole of the hall used by exhibitors. The attendance along with the quality of conversation is testament to just how important this event is in our calendar.”
Well over a third of visitors were final decision makers, and one in five were business owners or directors. Additional key job roles included technicians and programmers (one in ten), followed closely by sound engineers, lighting designers, technical directors and consultants. Half of the attendees work across concert touring, theatre, and live events, with a further 20% hailing from AV, broadcast and corporate sectors. Notably, this year saw a 9% increase in international visitors, with 17 more countries in attendance compared to 2022.
Adam Ironside, marketing manager for
Germany - Stage Precision has announced the latest release of its flagship software, SP version 1.1.0. This update introduces a variety of powerful features and integrations designed to streamline workflows and enhance user control.
One of the key features of SP version 1.1.0 is its revamped Camera Calibration. Recently trialled on a project for the Gamers 8 event in Saudi Arabia, the new workflow redefines the calibration experience and is ideal for all virtual production setups, including green screens, LED walls and augmented reality.
"We've made it much simpler and faster to calibrate a lens profile and align a tracking system,” explains Axel Lambrecht, CTO of Stage Precision. “This will further reduce reliance on manual measurements and enable much of the camera and lens calibration workflows to be handled offsite, allowing more time for fine-tuning onset and much faster setup times.”
Additionally, SP version 1.1.0 introduces tools for focusing cameras on known points, making it suitable for large-scale calibration scenarios like stadium-scale augmented reality productions. This AR workflow technology recently proved its worth at the Bank of America Stadium when leading full-service fan experience company, the Famous Group, pioneered the use of SP camera calibration tools for the Carolina Panthers' pre-season opener. Using the stadium's jumbo LED displays as calibration boards - indeed, any screen source can be used in this capacity - this highly innovative approach was used to calibrate multiple stadium cameras, determining their precise
USA - ARRI has opened a compact, multipurpose studio facility. Located at ARRI’s premises in New York City in the heart of the East Coast studio landscape, ARRI Studio New York provides cost-effective production infrastructure with access to ARRI’s camera and lighting systems. The turnkey studio configuration with space for live audience is designed as a production environment for corporate videos, interview-style setups, town-hall presentations, educational and training clips, fashion shoots, and music videos.
Built around a curved LED wall with image-based lighting design, ARRI Studio New York offers an efficient, user-friendly introduction to virtual production with in-house creative and technical support. The new facility enables advertising and commercial clients to embrace the full potential of the technology, such as reducing costs and carbon footprint by avoiding crew travel to multiple locations, consistency in weather and daylight conditions, and real-time virtualisation.
The studio is operated by ARRI, with clients able to tap into the technical insights of in-house support staff including creative producer Luis Feliciano. For their convenience, clients have access to the full inventory of ARRI Rental’s professional camera and lighting equipment.
Stephan Ukas-Bradley, vice president solutions ARRI Americas, comments: “ARRI has been at the forefront of virtual production innovation from its origins in high-end film and feature production. At ARRI Studio New York, clients benefit from ARRI’s comprehensive knowledge and brand excel
Slovakia - The Leyard VDS Series is Leyard Europe's latest LED technology using Chip on Board (COB) technology. COB LED technology is becoming increasingly popular and Leyard Europe has developed the VDS Series to provide a state-of-the-art visualisation solution.
Using this technology allows the display to achieve extremely wide viewing angles and high contrast ratios while maintaining a very high power / efficiency ratio. The VDS Series also comes packed with the latest 5G technology for easy installation and cabling.
Available in 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8mm pixel pitch models, all of which are fully installable and serviceable from the front, the VDS Series features a 27" 16:9 cabinet and is perfect for Full HD, 4K and 8K setups.
All this, combined with a protective layer and EMC Class B certification, makes it suitable for those public spaces such as airports, train stations, museums and lobbies.
By making use of the latest flip chip COB technology, Leyard Europe can ensure low power consumption, high contrast ratio and a wide viewing angle of up to 170 degrees.
"Compared to a traditional SMD LED, which has a point emittance, so pixels can be observed at close distances, COB emits a more uniformly distributed light,” says Cris Tanghe, VP product Europe at Leyard Europe. “The obtained larger viewing angles, in combination with its protection layer, effectively relieves graininess and reduces moiré effects. The VDS-series have no UVA, UVB, UVC or other wavelengths below 380nm, improving the visual comfort for long-term viewing such a
The Netherlands - This year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) will see Brompton Technology demonstrating an array of pioneering LED video processing solutions as well as offering product demos, panel sessions, and technology masterclasses throughout the show.
Focused on driving future innovation, Brompton will showcase its latest TrueLight technology, along with other industry firsts, Frame Remapping and ShutterSync. All of this will be available at the Brompton Technology booth 3.B23, which the company will be sharing with one of UK’s leading suppliers of video technology, White Light.
TrueLight builds upon Brompton’s Dynamic Calibration technology to empower panels with extra emitters, such as RGBW, to be fully per-pixel colour-calibrated and ensure colour accuracy is maintained at all times. Users retain complete control over the RGB to RGBW conversion, allowing them to choose the desired spectrum for achieving their intended outcome. This technology proves particularly beneficial in scenarios where panels are used as high-quality lighting sources, such as within a virtual production volume or any virtual reality situation where LED panels illuminate foreground elements that need to blend in with content.
Frame Remapping enables multiple cameras to each capture a rendered virtual background with the correct perspective, ultimately unlocking a myriad of in-camera visual effects possibilities to be realised for XR or virtual production. Additionally, when filming an LED screen, it is crucial to precisely match the camera's shutter s
Australia - The first Australian feature film to be entirely shot using Virtual Production premieres internationally this month. Mercy Road is an unrelentingly tense psychological thriller from Tracks director John Curran.
Teaming up with Australian filmmaker Alex Proyas’ (The Crow, Dark City) Arclight Films and virtual film production company, Heretic Foundation filmed the in-car and select outdoor scenes for the 85-min drama using the LED Volume stage at the purpose-built TDC Studios in Sydney, Australia.
Working from a script by Chris Pelletier and Jesse Heffring and starring Luke Bracey (Point Break, Hacksaw Ridge, Elvis), Mercy Road is a white-knuckle ride about a man who is pushed to the limits of his sanity to protect his beloved daughter.
To realise his vision, Curran and cinematographer Ross Giardina (Gold) devised the film to be shot using real-time in-camera compositing techniques at TDC Studios with a workflow designed and supervised by Heretic.
TDC supplied and engineered the bespoke virtual set and space for filming including ROE Black Pearl BP2 LED screens, RedSpy by StYpe wireless optical motion tracking and the latest vx 2 disguise Media Server. The LED screen itself was 11m x 4m while the LED ceiling was utilised.
The TDC team deployed the disguise XR workflow using rx II render nodes to render out Unreal Engine scene work live. “Utilising XR for scenes like this becomes very efficient as production staff are able to change out the desired scenery very quickly,”
Saudi Arabia - Fully established as a legal entity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, global crewing specialist Showforce, a division of the Spendlove Group, has announced ambitious plans for expansion in the country. The company has opened an office in Riyadh with business development manager Zachariah Smith relocating to spearhead the operation.
Initially accompanied by experienced members of the Middle East operations team, Smith will lead the charge in bolstering local crew numbers, growing its talent pool and securing new clients.
The office will deal with all enquiries and bookings along with recruitment, training and accreditation to ensure that the impressive standards of service that Showforce is globally renowned for are maintained.
Showforce’s chairman and founder Ian Spendlove comments: “KSA presents us with an exciting opportunity for growth. The level of investment in the burgeoning event and leisure industry in the country is phenomenal and we’ve already contributed to the success of major events like Formula E, MDL Beast Soundstorm, WWE, Winter at Tantora Festival and Formula 1.
“We’re incredibly proud of the local crew that we have recruited, trained and nurtured so far. Our company ethos has always been to take our skills and expertise to new territories and leave a legacy of employment. Opening an office and operating from a permanent base will allow us to invest in more local talent both in our office-based operations team and crew on the ground.”
The Riyadh office is well placed to service events and venu
UK - The winners of this year’s PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show at Olympia London. The awards, run in association with LSi magazine, are respected industry-wide for celebrating future-focussed technology that improves safety, efficiency and performance through new methods and materials.
40 products were entered this year, with the judges ultimately awarding eight products, including one highly coveted Gold Award. This year’s judging team comprised 12 independent technical specialists from a wide array of backgrounds, chaired once again by chartered engineer and LSi columnist, James Eade.
The winning products and judges’ comments are listed below:
Astera, PlutoFresnel: The judges said that the versatility of this battery powered Fresnel-come-profile is unmatched and it will find a home in many rental companies.
Coda Audio, SPACE: The judges felt that although flat panel speaker technology is not new, this product provides an innovative approach to the market need for wall speakers to be heard and not seen.
Elation, Netron EN6 IP: The judges say that this device brings lighting control distribution and format conversion to the outdoors at an accessible price point.
Funktion-One, VX M-BEAM: The judges were impressed by the innovative speaker rigging system and how it will enable greater use of the products in venues with single-point hangs.
Martin, MAC Aura XiP: The j
UK/USA - For the last 15 years the JL-Group’s (JLL) DNA has been synonymous with a commitment to client service, strong values and pushing boundaries in the ever-evolving world of technical production across the television and event industries.
Phil McMichael, JLL commercial director says; “As our clients business needs evolve, we evolve and so following the delivery of multiple successful Stateside projects in partnership with our Agency, Corporate and Television clients we are delighted to announce our full-time expansion into USA.”
JLL’s first US office will be a new hybrid working hub opening on Madison Avenue, New York and will serve as the base for new team members, the existing UK team, a meeting point for our clients and a collaboration space with strategic event delivery partners.
JLL has also announced its first strategic partnership with Eagle AV Rental in New Jersey. This alliance offers project delivery teams access to over $10m of equipment, supporting technicians, localised inter-state knowledge, economical transportation and ensures the JLL reputation for seamless delivery is in place from day one.
USA - Sphere Entertainment Co has announced that internationally renowned media artist Refik Anadol is the first artist to utilise the Exosphere, the fully programmable LED exterior of Sphere in Las Vegas, as an immersive canvas, debuting an AI Data Sculpture created exclusively for Sphere called Machine Hallucinations: Sphere.
Refik Anadol is a media artist, director, and ‘pioneer in the aesthetics of machine intelligence’. He uses large collections of public data and machine learning algorithms to create immersive art installations. Anadol is the founder of Refik Anadol Studio, a technology-driven creative design studio based in Los Angeles. Anadol’s work has been exhibited on six continents, including MoMA, New York; Art Basel, Miami; and the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.
Machine Hallucinations: Sphere, an immersive digital experience, celebrates Sphere’s architecture by featuring dynamic visualizations using vast amounts of data to create abstract imagery of space and nature. The two-chapter series creates a collective, meditative, and multisensory experience that takes audiences on a journey of light, movement, and colour with vivid pigments, shapes, and patterns. This immersive experience invites viewers to imagine alternative realities constructed by invisible data movements around them.
“I am extremely honoured to be the first artist to utilise the exterior of Sphere,” Anadol said. “It’s so exciting to be given such an architectural and engineering marvel as a canvas. This opportunity aligns perfectly with our
Canada - Christie reports that its RGB pure laser projectors are illuminating a new immersive venue in Toronto. Illuminarium Experiences, in partnership with Toronto-based Secret Location, has opened its first Canadian location in Toronto’s Distillery Historic District. The 13,500sq.ft space includes almost 30 Christie RGB pure laser projectors and maintenance and support from Christie Professional Services.
Illuminarium at The Distillery District places guests in the story and allows them to see, hear, feel, and affect the space around them. The new experience opens with two immersive shows: "Waking Wonderland inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Through the Looking Glass, takes guests through multiple projection-mapped environments and includes 7.2m real-time frames and over 30 unique interactions. SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond uses images from the James Webb Space Telescope to journey through the solar system, complete with 360-degree screens and a countdown to take off in a rocket.
“Illuminarium at The Distillery District allows guests to experience the extraordinary,” says Ryan Andal, president & founder of Secret Location. “We are inviting the public to experience next-to-impossible situations like stepping on the Moon or fantastical adventures like a Mad Hatter Tea Party, all without leaving Toronto. Through interactive environments, user-driven special effects and motion tracking technology, audiences are active participants while enjoying the essence of the story in an immersive and exhilarating w