Lighting

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UK - As part of an ongoing drive to improve the services offered to its customers, the FX Group has restructured its technical department, with several key promotions from within the company. The reorganization is also in response to the departure in early September of technical director Frank Oglethorpe, who has relocated to the US.

Adam Pope, who has worked in a technical capacity for FX for almost six years, has been promoted to technical manager. Pope previously worked as an audio engineer in Prague, prior to that spending six years in Soundcraft's R&D department. He will be responsible for the day to day running of the technical and check-in department, liaising with suppliers' and clients' own technical staff and working with clients on special projects which involve FX in both an advisory and rentals role. Pope will also continue to offer technical support on equipment, s

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Europe / Argentina - After a busy exhibition season, rounded off with successful shows at PLASA and IBC, PG Stage and LCC Photon Technik have been appointed European co-distributors for the Dexel range of theatre and studio luminaires. The deal, which was finalised between PG's Paul Holt, LCC's Lee Rickard and Dexel's managing director Marcello Ruiz Diaz at IBC in Amsterdam, will see PG Stage take responsibility for marketing Dexel's theatre lighting range, while LCC Photon Technik have similar responsibility for the studio range.

The Dexel range of luminaires from Argentina provides a value for money alternative to larger name brands and is already carving a niche in the market for users where financial constraints apply, but where high performance is still required, say the company.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - DHA Lighting recently announced its appointment as the exclusive UK distributor for the Lighting Innovation range of products. The appointment took place at this year's PLASA Show, and begins with immediate effect.

This new deal will see DHA Lighting offering the entire Lighting Innovation range in the UK, with particular focus on the new Super Beam 1200 Beamlight, which was launched at the PLASA Show. This is an updated version of the classic low-voltage 'beamlight' lantern that has found favour with lighting designers over the years, particularly DHA's David Hersey who has featured beamlights in many of his classic designs. Beamlights give an intense, parallel-beam 'shaft' of light unobtainable with any other type of fixture. The Super Beam 1200 improves upon the traditional low-voltage units by using a Philips' 80V 1200W lamp to give dramatically improved brightness - mo

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USA - Elation Professional has unveiled the Octopod 80, an LED pod lighting system manufactured by Chinese-based Alkalite and distributed exclusively by Elation in North America.

Consisting of a network of eight large lighting pods and a proprietary controller, the Octopod 80 utilizes LED technology to produce a virtually infinite range of colours. Each of the pods is equipped with 90 LEDs - 30 red, 30 green and 30 blue - which, through RGB colour-mixing technology, can create any colour imaginable. When all 90 LEDs are turned on, the Octopod 80 will generate extremely bright, 100% pure white light, with smooth transitions from one colour to the next.

Because the Octopod 80's LED system produces no infrared and ultra-violet light, heat production is kept to a minimum. This means the lights can shine directly on an object or surface at close range, with no risk of discoloration

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Europe - The Kisslite 3200K white LED ringlight is the first available low CCT and high CRI, warm white solid-state onboard light source. Lightweight and portable, the ringlight system opens the door significantly for use of solid-state illumination in commercial, drama, and documentary shooting.

The Kisslite ringlight unit clamps onto the barrel of most popular fixed barrel lenses and also features an adaptor clamp for standard Arri 19mm bars and Panavision PV bars. Step down rings are available for most lenses from 112.8mm down to 80mm. The ringlight is powered by a small, lightweight, dedicated power supply unit that accepts power from any 12Vor 24V film or video battery utilizing standard configuration 4-pin XLR. The control box provides flicker-free power and allows individual switching of four-quarter sub-sets - top, bottom, left and right - and dimming from 100% down to

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USA - Wybron's new Nexera dichroic colour changing fixtures are now shipping with the UL and C-UL mark. Effective from 10 September 2004, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. has authorized all four versions of Nexera - Profile, Profile CDM, Wash and Wash CDM to ship with UL and/or C-UL labels.

This certification marks the next step on Wybron's journey toward the development of a strong product line featuring fixtures built on Wybron's legendary standards. After 25 years of excellence in service, Wybron continues to design and manufacture valuable products for the lighting industry. From accessories to fixtures, Wybron is the one professionals use and use and use.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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Pioneering lighting designer Andy Phillips, who was an integral part of the artistic team at the Royal Court Theatre from 1965 - 1972, passed away on September 17 aged 63.

Phillips was famed for his unfussy and uncluttered lighting techniques, believing that if lighting was noticed it was essentially bad lighting. During his time at the Royal Court he was given free reign to experiment with lighting, which ultimately resulted in the famous 'white light' technique where, if colour was used at all it tended to be colour correction reducing the orange cast of tungsten sources. This method aimed to retain the natural skin tone of an actors face and ensure total visual clarity of facial expression. During this period many of the Court's set designers were also dispensing with the artifice of theatre, often removing masking and leaving stage and lighting exposed. John Dexter, speaking of Phi

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USA - Color Kinetics Inc (NASDAQ: CLRK), a pioneer in the design, marketing and licensing of intelligent solid-state lighting systems and technologies, today announced the continued traction of its OEM and Licensing business with five agreements signed in the third quarter of 2004 to date.

The newly signed OEM and Licensing partners are CityLight, a Turkish architectural lighting firm; City Theatrical, Inc., a lighting accessories manufacturer; Next Generation Lighting, LLC, a new developer of custom solid-state lighting solutions; Orange22, a furniture manufacturer; and, as previously announced, Spectrum Manufacturing, a manufacturer of entertainment and event lighting products.

"Color Kinetics supports the widespread adoption of intelligent solid-state lighting through an open and active OEM and Licensing program, and we're pleased to help these companies go to market q

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Belgium - For the entertainment lighting industry Philips has developed double-ended lamps with "golden" lamp caps, called MSR Gold. The new MSR lamps put pure colors on stage, based on pure white light. Next to that, the latest HID lamp filling technology creates a color consistency for the whole MSR range (double-ended as well as single ended lamps). The MSR Gold lamps are the latest solution for demanding stage performances.

The double-ended lamps are now equipped with gold-plated lamp caps allowing higher cap temperatures (up to 400°C) reducing lamp (holder) damage. The golden lamps also feature the patented Philips P3 pinch protection allowing pinch temperatures up to 500°C. The MSR SA/DE GOLD range is already available in 400W and 1200W, to be followed soon by the 700W.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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China - Martin Professional Hong Kong recently sponsored a series of lighting and make up training courses aimed at increasing the quality of television programming in China by discussing the relationship between make up and lighting.

Martin, as a popular and respected player in both television and stage productions in China, participated with three days of informative seminars regarding the use and integration of intelligent lighting in all aspects of television. Held from 26 July to 1 August at the Hua Hai Hotel in Weihai, Shandong, on the Eastern coast, the seminars were organized by the Chinese Radio and Television Society and Martin Professional Hong Kong. In attendance were lighting designers from TV stations and production companies across the country.

Lecturers included Martin's International segment manager for stage, studio and event Lighting, Mark Ravenhill, who di

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UK - Even if you're a leading player in the entertainment lighting industry, there are times when you might need some extra lighting - such as when you show your wares at a major industry trade show. At this year's PLASA Show at Earls Court, 23 of the industry's leading lighting (and sound, and staging) companies relied on White Light to supply the lighting equipment and, in some cases, lighting crew for their show stands.

White Light's equipment could be found on the stands of A.C. Lighting, Andolite, the Association of Lighting Designers, Apollo Design, Bytecraft, City Theatrical, Flashlight, Hall Stage, Le Maitre, MA Lighting, Meyer Sound, Robe Show Lighting, Scene Change, Steeldeck, Triple E/Rosebrand and XTBA. British Harlequin, DHA, ETC, Rosco, Stage Technologies, Strand Lighting and Zero88 used White Light's equipment, and also used the services of the White Light Events

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UK - Based on a legacy of over 20 years lighting control and systems integration experience, Control Lighting Ltd has been formed to unite a dedicated team of architectural and theatrical lighting professionals, to offer customized, highly reliable and user-friendly lighting control solutions.

Control Lighting pays considerable attention to every detail during a project's lifecycle, and by embracing a collaborative and hands-on approach, works with clients from the initial concept to the final stage of commissioning, in what is dubbed their 'cradle to grave' approach. The emphasis of Control Lighting's methodology is the uniqueness of every project undertaken, providing the client with the very best solution to suit both needs and budget.

Ray Dolby, Control Lighting Ltd's projects director stated: "At Control Lighting we are entering what we believe to be a highly speci

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UK - GMTV, Britain's biggest breakfast time broadcaster, has chosen I-Vision to supply the station with its new look lighting system. I-Vision has installed an LED lighting package using Luxeon LEDs and a new high frequency driver system, the first time it has been used in a television environment. The new system will enable directors to incorporate a flexible colour changing style into the new-look show.

GMTV's lighting director John Allard said: "The need to be able to change the background colour of the set smoothly and without flicker at any given part of the show led to I-Vision being called in. The new set has been designed around a 16:9 aspect ratio, with large windows and sweeping, clean lines complemented by brighter clearer colours and a more up to date feel."

The new set, which has been installed to accommodate the station's switch to widescreen, also inc

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USA - See Factor, one of New York's leading lighting production companies, has added 26 new Robe Show Lighting ColorSpots 1200 ATs to its inventory - bringing its current total of these fixtures to 48. See Factor first used the ColorSpot 1200 AT fixtures was on the Deep Purple 'Bananas' tour in late 2003, when they were road-tested by LD Louis Ball. "The Robes performed superbly and totally reliably on that tour," says See Factor's operations manager, Elliot Krowe.

When the 2004 tour came up, Ball specified Robe ColorSpot 1200s, and See Factor's president and founder, Bob See, decided to purchase 22 units for the Deep Purple tour and for future production work. Once again, the fixtures reportedly worked perfectly on the Deep Purple tour, "And that's exactly what I like - no headaches," says Krowe. Bob See added: "The performance of these lights was outs

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UK - Liverpool Culture Company events team scooped a silver award at the Event Industry Oscars for the 'City of Light' display, which was held to celebrate Liverpool's Capital of Culture win.

The team received the award in the 'Best National Live/Public Event'' category at the annual National Events Awards, held in London's Grosvenor Hotel, at the weekend. The 'City of Light' event was held at Sefton Park over three days in September 2003 and attracted more than 60,000 people.

The team, which have also organized some of the biggest firework displays in Europe, created a stunning visual display which took a light hearted look at the history of Liverpool using state of the art technology. The event was pipped for gold by a mobile phone firm's campaign that illuminated ten of London's most recognisable buildings. But the Culture Company scored a major moral victory as it was the

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USA - An impossible-to-miss media event, the launch of - the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built - caused an international stir. Pathway Connectivity keeps the data flowing in the four of the most technically sophisticated facilities aboard the largest passenger ship ever built - Cunard's $800 million historic luxury liner, Queen Mary 2. The four areas are the Main Lounge, the Queen's Room, the disco and Illuminations, the first floating planetarium ever constructed.

The Main Lounge sports 45 Pathport DMX units, running eight universes driven by an MA Lighting GrandMA console in a full tracking backup configuration, using a GrandMA Relay unit. The control system outputs Pathport protocol directly, using DMX only at the output stage. The award-winning Pathport DMX management system is more than a tool to route DMX over Ethernet, say the company: with up to 64

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UK - Hundreds of showgoers entered ETC's Daily Draw contest at PLASA 2004, hoping to win one of the company's brand new SmartFade compact lighting control consoles. ETC drew one winner from each day of the show and has now announced the names of the lucky individuals.

Sunday's draw saw Krisjanis Berzins, a freelance lighting designer from Dublin, as the first winner of the console, which is worth over £800. Krisjanis, who is currently designing a touring system for the Mexican guitar duo, Rodrigo y Gabriella, said that SmartFade will be perfect for controlling the dramatic and dynamic video images he plans to use.

Hugo Van De Graaf, the second winner, was riding the London Eye when ETC's Miranda Hunt called him with the good news. Hugo, the managing director of Movingheadquarters, Holland, said: "I am delighted to have won the SmartFade console and plan to use it at our

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Denmark - Martin ShowDesigner (MSD), Martin Professional's lighting and set design software package, now comes in two versions. An all inclusive MSD Gold version contains new features such as Live Video inputs and Fast Net-Render, while a streamlined Silver version is customized for those who do not need the full package of options yet still want to take advantage of the latest in lighting design software.

MSD is Martin's unique and user-friendly lighting and set design software package, useful in developing realistic 3-D lighting simulations. Brilliant as a high quality production or sales presentation tool, MSD allows you to create realistic set and lighting design renderings using reflection, transparency, lighting, shadow and smoke.

Working closely with an array of lighting professionals from both the architectural and entertainment industry, feedback revealed a market n

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UK - Lighting designer Nick Jevons of Electric Fly Productions used 60 James Thomas Pixelline 1044 battens to produce mind-boggling video effects on his visual design for the BBC Radio One's "One Big Weekend" event. The Pixellines were sourced and supplied via Bandit Lites UK, along with a large Martin moving light rig.

In keeping with his very individual 'randomonium' style of lighting and visual design, Jevons wanted to use them experimentally instead of conventionally, and so went for the video angle. He also utilized a RADlite digital media server to run the versatile PixelDrive software to create and run video clips and effects specifically for the Pixellines.

It's the fourth time running that Jevons has produced stunning visual designs for the biannual Radio One event - and the first time he's used Pixelline on the high profile event. Right from the outset, he'

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UK - Jonathan McMullan who works in Stage Electrics' London branch has been awarded the 'Michael Northern Award' for Best Student Lighting Design from the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD).

The award was in recognition of Jonathan's lighting design for a production of Monday after the Miracle, a play based on the life of Helen Keller. McMullan worked on this production whilst studying Stage Management and Technical Theatre at the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama. The lighting design for the show was entered into the award after an ALD member saw the performance and suggested it be considered. McMullan, with the help of his tutor Steve Huttly, submitted plans and details which were considered by five judges.

McMullan joined Stage Electrics in May 2004 as a warehouse technician and is now working as a customer services representative - his ultimate aim is to be

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UK - Bandit Lites UK joined the beautiful people and supplied two contrasting venues with lighting equipment and services for Spring 2005 London Fashion Week. The first was for S2 Events and staged at the high profile British Fashion Council's marquee, Duke of York's Barracks in London's Kings Road.

The second was in Selfridges' Car Park for the Fashion Fringe shows. Fashion Fringe is a new concept, launched to offer the best of UK's young fashion designers a chance to showcase their talent and imagination.

The main tent at the Duke of York's Barracks seated approximately 500 people and saw 24 of the finest and most prominent collections of next season revealed, including Jasper Conran. Simon Tutchener was the lighting designer, in his eighth year and 16th season of lighting LFW events. Production manager was Tom Brunsdon for S2 Events, who has been involved in LFW for the las

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UK - The recent PLASA show saw the preview of two high-power ChromaRange product additions, the ChromaBatten200 and ChromaFlood200; both are 200W LED fixtures! The ChromaBatten200 is a 4ft/1.2m batten whilst the ChromaFlood200 is a compact flood fixture. Both units are IP65 rated and are powered directly from 100-240 Volts and have full remote DMX control of RGB levels to allow endless colour mixing. Internal sequences provide operation without a separate control system.

These amazing fixtures have to be seen and are sure to open up new possibilities for LED entertainment and architectural lighting!

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - Ian Kirby has designed and specified the lighting for Ultimate Leisure's latest nightclub, Halo in Leeds. Situated at the heart of the sprawling Leeds University campus, Halo (and twin-level lounge bar, the Quilted Llama) form the first phase of the conversion of the 160-year-old decommissioned Trinity St. David's Church. All the LED and automated lighting was supplied and fitted by Liverpool-based Over Audio.

Kirby, who runs Coemar UK and Lighting Effects Distribution from a base in Kent, reports that having used Coemar fixtures on projects in the past, Ultimate Leisure invited him to design the rig for Leeds. Over the main dancefloor he has used four Coemar ProWash 250s as the essential beam effects, complementing the moving yokes with eight Geni Shiva scanners, four Geni Bursts (rotating barrel effects) and two high-powered Hungaroflash EUDMX strobes. The entire system

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Mexico - The City is the result of an ambitious project, the brainchild of owner Mike Kelly and general manager Kurt Jansen, to create some of the world's leading nightclubs in the very centre of Cancun, Mexico. Every detail of the decor and technological solutions has been carefully evaluated and selected to create a high quality finished product. The City's three-dimensional façade grabs attention with a variety of architectural styles forming the club's logo, and hinting at the surprises waiting inside. With 9,000sq.m of space and a capacity of 5,000, The City extends over various levels: a nightclub, a beach club, a lounge area, a restaurant and terrace bar.

The 2,500sq.m nightclub lies beneath a vaulted ceiling, and has a spacious disco floor, as well as two exclusive areas for private parties and VIPs. Nine bars located on the three levels operate around the clock. The N

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