Lighting

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Japan - Toyota City in Aichi prefecture in western Japan is known as 'Car Industry City', and is currently busy hosting World Expo 2005. The city's Toyota Stadium, which opened in June 2001, was designed by architect Kiyoshi Kurokawa to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the city's founding. The 45,000 capacity stadium consists of six stories - two underground and four above - and is packed full of amenities: natural turf football field with retractable roof, movable full-color screen, restaurant, party room, and an indoor sports space that includes a swimming pool. Surrounding the stadium is a large open area, Toyota City Central Park, with a magnificent view of the modern Toyota Bridge.

At each corner of the stadium are four large masts that point skyward to a height of 96m. The prominent pillars play more than an aesthetic role, however: the masts support the main and back r

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Italy - Italian lighting manufacturer DTS Illuminazione srl premiered its new products at the recent PLASA Show. The Delta R, the first model in a range of new-generation LED moving heads, won the interest of the professionals and the media alike, as it represents a radical evolution in comparison to conventional LED colour changers. Its compact and elegant housing incorporates the new LED RGB Full Colour technology, which, the company claims "gives a level of control over colour synthesis and colour temperature that until now was impossible". Other features inlcude motorized pan and tilt, and an IP65 protection level that makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.

DTS, which has celebrated its first 25 years in business, says it now plans an aggressive programme of growth. The company says: "We are confident we can achieve this through a series of new pr

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USA - Lycian Stage Lighting introduces its newest followspot, the model 1292 3K-ST.The Lycian 1292 3K-ST Xenon goes on sale in mid-November.

The model name, Stubby, accurately describes one of its attributes, as the overall length of the unit is remarkably short for a Xenon followspot. Thanks to its short overall length the 1292 offers a remarkable to size to brightness ratio. As a short throw, optically the 1292 Stubby 3K-ST is designed for throws up to just beyond 100ft.

Within its recommended throw distance Stubby is capable of beam widths from head-shots to three person circles or greater. The 1292 incorporates features from the popular M2 line with the proven lamphouse and several components from the proven Lycian 1293 3K Long Throw. Controls are top mounted and include a six- color boomerang, two dichroic color changers, fader, nichrome iris, and separate horizontal and

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USA - The phenomenally popular Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which NBC broadcasts to viewers around the world, has become the first show in the US to run with the new Congo lighting desk by ETC. The show's two Congo boards debuted behind the scenes on the 6 September broadcast, which included an elaborate moving-light sequence for rock group Lifehouse. The consoles are now busy controlling the lights for each night's show.

"We needed a high-speed console with great reliability and a lot of channels for moving lights," said Gilbert Quintanar, head electrician on the Tonight Show and 29-year veteran with NBC studios. The Tonight Show keeps a full rig of some 475 devices - including 300 conventional fixtures - with numerous ETC Source Fours among them, plus a growing rig of over 90 moving lights. There's no small amount of pressure on this set where the technical crew crea

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USA - Al Crawford, the lighting director for the hugely popular Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, has praised the efforts of PRG Europe in helping to make the group's first ever UK tour go so smoothly. Renowned for its high energy performances, the company is regarded as one of America's greatest dance companies and performs a vast range of styles, including modern, jazz, hip hop, folk, gospel and ballet, and everything in between.

"It's a very eclectic mix of dance, which means the lighting has to be just as flexible and diverse," explained Crawford. "For example, our signature work, Revelations, was first lit in 1960, so one of the challenges is having this recreated with today's more advanced equipment. Other work in the tour repertory can be quite modern, with contemporary lighting effects and lots of vivid qualities - we have the very classical and the very

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UK - The PLASA Show has again proved itself one of the most influential events in the industry calendar. Around 13,000 (subject to ABC audit) key industry people visited London in early September to participate in what is now the major international gathering-point for the entertainment, event and installation industries. The emphasis was very much on business, with exhibitors not only generating significant leads, but also reporting an unprecedented number of orders being placed.

As in previous years, the Show had a strong international profile with a third of exhibitors based outside the UK, and an increasing international visitor attendance, which is now nudging the 30% mark.

One of the key reasons for the Show's continued momentum is its focus on new developments and its ongoing investment in interactive feature areas, awards that recognize the best design work in the indu

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USA - Color Kinetics has appointed Ellen Bossert as vice-president of marketing, and says Bossert will "lead the company's worldwide marketing strategy and manage the evolution of its brand as an industry leader in intelligent solid-state lighting solutions".

"We're very pleased to welcome Ellen, who joins the company during an exciting time of growth and positioning for the future," said Bill Sims, the company's president and CEO. "We have successfully transitioned from an emerging start-up organization to a growing public concern, and the opportunity to penetrate the larger, general lighting market presents a host of new research, marketing and communications requirements. As such, Ellen's considerable expertise will help us identify these new requirements and accordingly shape the new public face of Color Kinetics and its brand."

Color Kinetics

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USA - Miami-based Laser Production Network - LaserNet - has announced the recent completion of laser installations in three nightclubs. The latest nightclub in Port of Spain, Trinidad is 'Zen' - described by LPN as "the most impressive nightclub in the Caribbean". This Asian-flavoured club features LaserNet's LaserPro projector with a 7W white light laser and 32 bounce mirrors which send beams throughout the three-storey club. Aerial graphics created with Pangolin make the install complete.

Metropolis, in Downtown Miami opened recently featuring LaserNet's 1W Argon air-cooled laser Matrix beam/scan projector, while new nightclub Tao in Las Vegas, billed as an Asian Bistro, features LaserNet's 5W Copper Bromide ScannerPro amid the Asian artifacts. The Pangolin-based projector targets 16 bounce mirrors over the dance floor.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Leading entertainment lighting supplier White Light has introduced the new White Light Smart Touring Rack. A versatile new touring dimmer system, demonstrated at this year's PLASA show, the Smart Touring Rack is now available for both hire and sale.

Designed in response to the needs of touring productions which now freely mix conventional and automated lanterns and so need easy access to a mixture of dimmers and switchable hard power. Each Smart Touring Rack contains four 12-way modules; each module can either be a 12-way ETC SmartPack 10A dimmer pack or a 12-way 10A MCB power module. Each 12-way module is RCD protected, and each dimmer module has its own 'brain', so that if one brain does fail only those 12 dimmers are lost but the rest of the rack continues to function normally. Every rack also offers six ways of independent power, meaning that non-dimmed power is availab

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UK - A.C. Lighting was the recipient of dealer awards from both lighting and audio manufacturers at PLASA 2005. Zero 88's Graham Eales, creator of Frog, presented A.C. northern sales director Jonathan Walters and northern sales manager Adam Beaumont with their UK Dealer of the Year 2005 award.

Grant Bales-Smith, UK market manager for Zero 88 commented: "A.C. thoroughly deserve to receive this award, which is in recognition of the support and dedication their sales team has put into promoting the Zero 88 brand over the past 12 months, seeing a significant upturn in their overall Zero 88 sales."

A.C.'s Jonathan Walters commented: "I'm delighted to receive this award on behalf of the whole sales team. A.C. places great importance on being able to provide customers with a quick delivery turnaround, a team of highly trained staff and a full technical backup service,

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UK - The new Revolution series of user control panels from Dynalite incorporate an innovative clip-on cover fastening system, providing "the ultimate in aesthetic design flexibility".

Incorporating a button depth adjustment facility, the panels can accommodate covers of practically any flat architectural surface medium from 1.2mm to 6.5mm in depth. "The possibilities are endless," says Dynalite.

To complement the panel face, button caps are available in silver and charcoal grey, providing a wide range of décor matching possibilities. Designed both for commercial and residential settings, the Revolution series panels are available in a range of configurations from single column, catering for one to eight buttons, through to double or triple column designs featuring up to 24 buttons.

Smooth action buttons with LED indicators provide tactile and visua

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USA - Entertainment lighting manufacturer High End Systems Inc. (HES) is now shipping the new Studio Command automated wash luminaire, which debuted at PLASA 2005. Studio Command is now the third automated wash fixture in the HES family.

Richard Belliveau, HES chief technology officer, says: "We designed the Studio Command to provide discerning lighting designers with a new look for their stage. The lenticular array optical system coupled with innovative aesthetics provides a dynamic eye-catching look. These new features combined with a high light output and a large cross-sectional output beam is bound to turn some heads on new shows."

Studio Command's lenticular array optical system is claimed to greatly enhance the homogeneity of the projected light. The optical head is compact and light in weight, while still offering a large diameter exiting beam. The long-life M

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USA - ARRI Inc. has brought on board two well-regarded professionals in the lighting industry - Fred H. Horne and Mike Jones.

Jones' first step into the film business began on American Graffiti (1973), directed by George Lucas. He has since garnered three decades of experience in various areas of lighting. Jones, formerly of lighting and grip rental house 1st Unit, has joined ARRI in the newly created position of technical sales representative. Based out of the Burbank, CA office, his duties include sales, product development, evaluation and troubleshooting. Says Jones: "Working for ARRI is the best place to utilize my talents and apply the knowledge that I have accumulated over the last 30 years."

Horne is now a part of the ARRI Blauvelt, NY team, working as the Northeast lighting sales manager. The position was previously held by Roger Dean, who now covers t

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UK - Projected Image Digital has supplied theatre and performance design college Rose Bruford in Sidcup, Kent with a High End Systems Catalyst Pro version 3 digital media server (software only) and a PixelMAD playback system for running low resolution video sources through LED lighting fixtures.

These were purchased by the college's Lighting department as part of a new investment in digital scenography, a move co-ordinated by Nick Hunt, lecturer in lighting design, and Rob Fowler for PID. The funding came from a 'Knowledge Transfer' scheme, designed to encourage partnerships between higher education and industry.

"With the 'convergence' of video and lighting becoming increasingly common," states Hunt. "We wanted to start building up a laboratory of kit to enable us and our students to explore this technology."

PID also supplied a selection of Artnet boxes

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UK - For the staging of its annual Quality Awards ceremony and theatrical entertainment, an NHS Trust has called upon the services and expertise of PSL for the fifth year in a row, taking full advantage of the one-stop event production shop, project-managed by PSL's Mark Solomons.

The South Essex Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental healthcare to its local region, hosted its annual awards show at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon. PSL supplied all production design, sets, lighting and dedicated lighting designer John Montague, sound, vision mixing, a 2-camera DVD shoot plus a confetti cannon for the show finale.

Set designer Oliver Stewart comments: "I have to balance the musical elements with the fact that it is an awards ceremony in a theatrical space, and the design has to work in a multi-tiered theatre."

Video as shown on-stage on two 10ft x 7.5ft

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UK - London-based event services company PSL has expanded its sales team with the appointment of David Hudson as head of sales. Hudson brings heaps of experience to the energetic PSL task force, having spent the last two-and-a-half years working for George P. Johnson, the world's largest event marketing company. As business development director, he was instrumental in establishing GPJ's new UK operation; prior to that, he spent 10 years working in the event production industry, always in a sales and marketing role and usually in the live environment.

Hudson says he welcomes the opportunities offered by PSL's wide-ranging skill-set and its massive inventory of technical equipment. With the mainstream corporate sector in his sights, he plans to co-ordinate the company's sales approach, emphasizing the 'one-stop shop' capability that is unique to PSL.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - The Effects Company has announced a supplement to its range of Aromatech essences for the Christmas season. These 'specials' have been blended to reflect the aromas that compliment the season, say The Effects Co, and the range comprises: Christmas Spice, Frankincense and Myrrh, Mince Pie and Mulled Wine. Pine and Cinnamon are also available from the standard range. Mixed boxes of 12 (2 x 6 essences) can be ordered.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Steve Ramos has joined Rosco's European operation as development manager for the UK. Ramos, well known to many in the industry, was most recently sales manager for Le Maitre, overseeing sales for Europe and territories excluding North America and Canada. In moving to Rosco, Ramos commented: "The opportunity to broaden my horizons with a new and exciting product range was too tempting to resist; with Rosco's acquisition of DHA, it means a lot of work but one that I am thoroughly looking forward to."

Kees Frijters, Rosco vice-president of European Operations, said: "Rosco is currently forging ahead with significant growth across a number of markets in Europe. Steve's sales experience and current relationships in the industry will be of great benefit to this growth. He will work closely with Ron Knell, our sales manager for the UK & Ireland and their combined ac

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USA - Industry writer and commentator Mike Falconer has launched a podcast service of audio recordings - Mike Falconer's Entertainment Technology World and Other Stories.

"The plan is to make a couple of articles available each month in an audio format," says Falconer. "Like the text archive I maintain on mikefalconer.net, the articles that will be part of the podcast will have been previously published; however, there may also be the occasional unpublished article." The individual MP3 files are also available for download from mikefalconer.net for users who do not wish to use the podcast.

Falconer has had articles published in industry trade magazines Lighting Dimensions, Lighting & Sound America, Lighting & Sound International and Projection Lights and Staging News.

Full details of Falconer's podcast and links to sever

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UK - James Thomas Engineering has announced that Chris Ewington (Cube Associates) has decided to stand down from any future development of PixelRange products.

After five years of being an integral member of the team, Chris is to move on to new ventures. Andy Walters, Head of PixelRange, said: "JTE would like to thank Chris for all his efforts over the years and wish him every success in the future."

Chris Ewington states: "I would like to thank the whole team at JTE for their hard work in helping to realise the PixelRange and I wish it continued success."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - For the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea which opens this month, Signwave UK has designed, developed and delivered advanced lighting control systems that run on Windows XP platforms.

Amongst the technology behind the exhibits are three Martin MAC250+ moving heads that can be positioned and controlled by a computer using the industry standard DMX protocol. "Multimedia developers ISO wanted a visitor-controlled trackball to move a spotlight in realtime over a projected map of Wales," says Adrian Ward, manager of Signwave UK. "We love a challenge and after a heavy period of research and testing, we showed that we could precisely position the spotlight on the map using custom software, and give the developers of the multimedia software a way to control the light in their code."

Signwave developed its DMXBridge software to bridge the gap between a visi

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UK - More than 15 years after its introduction, White Light's VSFX Optical Effect system remains hugely popular with lighting designers for creating moving clouds, water, rain, snow and other effects on stage.

The most recent shows to turn to VSFX are the new Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White, and the epic new stage production of The Lord of the Rings being produced in Toronto. Both productions are being lit by lighting designer Paul Pyant who also made extensive use of VSFX moving clouds on the London production of The Woman in White - despite the presence of a number of video projectors on the show.

White Light has supplied six VSFX units to The Lord of the Rings, and 14 to The Woman in White via the show's lighting supplier, Hudson Sound & Light.

First released in 1990, and updated to include built-in DMX co

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Belgium - In response to "an ever increasing market demand to utilise LED display technology in a creative way", Barco has launched three products - MiSphere, Creative MiPix and Creative Olite.

"Adding a creative dimension to LED technology attests Barco's technology leadership in the international events and architectural lighting industry. Most of the products have been developed in close partnership with leading show designers and can now be offered as a true solution to the market. Let's break the mold and unleash the creativity!" comments Stephan Paridaen, president of Barco Media & Entertainment.

A MiSphere consists of 4 full colour high performance LEDs that reside inside an opaque, light-defusing capsule. With 360-degree viewing angles, and the ability to play both full video & data, the MiSphere bridges the gap between existing video and lighting p

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Worldwide - Oasis current world tour, in support of their latest release Don't Believe the Truth, began in the UK this summer and is currently wrapping up a US leg. It now moves on to Japan and Australia. Lighting designer is Andi Watson who uses 87 MAC 2000 Wash, 40 MAC 2000 Performance and Atomic strobes with Atomic Colors on the stadium show, with supply by PRG. An arena show uses a smaller rig.

The MAC 2000 Performance is the main profile spot on the show and Watson uses its graphical features extensively. "I love the Performance fixture mainly due to the animation wheel," Watson stated. "It enables you to give such a fantastic direction to the energy and light you're using. We use that quite a lot, probably more than we use gobos. It tends not to be spectacularly dark when we start the stadium shows - a lot of the time you don't see the beams right at

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  4. LSC in positive mode post-PLASA
  5. Lasernet at LDI, Orlando
  6. LxDesigns releases LxActive
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