Robe Esprites spark up 2022 Halberg Awards
- Details
The set, lighting and visuals were designed collaboratively by LD Jason Steel working closely with Simon Garrett of Big Picture. The company delivered lighting and visual equipment, including the nearly 100 Robe fixtures utilised on the show.
The starting point for lighting the diamond-shaped stage was a 25m wide cross-shaped 6mm LED video surface, curving gently round at the ends, a monolithic structure that set the aesthetic tone and look of the event.
The stage was built with wings at 45-degrees and featured a large ramped central runway, and this sculptural architecture and minimalist design was a big move away from the projection-based concepts that characterised the show over the last decade.
It brought a fresh, crisp, contemporary vibe that looked classy in reality, and epic on camera for the show directed by Matt Quin and produced by Scott Cleater.
Big Picture has recently invested in Robe Esprites, MegaPointes and Tarrantulas, and this event was the first chance for Garrett and Jason to properly use 20 Esprites on a major live show.
With only 16 tables in the vast arena space, lighting and visuals played a major role in enhancing the dynamics and energy of the show, and in ensuring that this translated on camera, and therefore to the hundreds of thousands of TV viewers.
The Esprites were positioned on two chevron-shaped trusses above the stage, alternated with LEDWash 600s, and used for multiple tasks, from primary key lighting on the talent to washing the stage to illuminating two large banners down the room. They also worked well for creating cool gobo / breakup washes and animations above the tables which filled the arena for wide shots.
“The light output is great,” enthuses Garrett. “It’s strikingly flat and even, which meant we could save time on programming all the front washes and specials. They are very bright for the size, and we found we could cover the entire stage with only six lights! They were also great for picking out the banners and other core set elements needing accurate shuttering, so basically, GREAT workhorse fixtures that are also nice and quiet.”
Also in action on the 2022 Halberg Awards were 12 Robe Tarrantula LED wash beams, six BMFL Blades, 24 MegaPointes, 16 LEDBeam100s and 16 LEDWash 600s, all running via a grandMA3 console programmed by Jason.
Other lights on the rig included 80 x LED pixel battens which supported the clean digital look created by the LED cross and the space around it.
A thought-through less-is-more approach proved that using these powerful tools creatively and judiciously can produce a much higher impact visual than just piling on the numbers!
Garrett has been involved with the Halberg Awards for many years. It is named after Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg and the event is a major fundraiser for The Halberg Foundation charity which enhances the lives of physically disabled New Zealanders by enabling them to participate in sport and recreation.
The new lights were delivered by Jands, Robe’s Australian and New Zealand distributor, with Garrett commenting, “We all know the challenges presented by the global supply chain due to COVID, and it was great to see Jands and Robe working together to get the stock delivered to us.”
