Lighting

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China - Beijing has become a hot spot for avant-garde architecture as the world pays more attention to the city's building boom. Many of the world's great architects have bold structures sprouting all over the city, with such descriptive nicknames as the bird's nest, twisted doughnut and eggshell. Even surrounded by such ultra-modern marvels, the New Poly Plaza in Beijing stands tall as a bold landmark building. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), it is recognized as one of the most innovative architectural designs in the world. The building incorporates 24 stories of office space built around a 90m tall atrium enclosed by the world's largest cable-net-supported glass wall.

The challenge for lighting designers was to enhance the magnificence of the building and ensure it would stand out as a distinctive addition to the city's nighttime landscape, while combining tradit

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UK - A.C. Lighting Ltd has confirmed that it is now an approved reseller for the sale of used Martin Professional MAC moving yoke fixtures.

Under the arrangement, Martin Professional UK will use A.C.'s in-house service department and used equipment sales team to supply the industry with approved second hand MAC fixtures originating from trade-ins as customers upgrade to newer models.

As one of Martin's major UK dealers, the partnership means A.C. Lighting can now offer customers the complete package of new and used equipment, servicing and repairs for the MAC range of leading moving heads, says the company.

A.C. Lighting will provide a complete list of all equipment available on the company's Bargain Stock list on its website, which is updated on a daily basis.

A.C. Lighting's northern sales director, Jonathan Walters, commented, "We're very pleased to be approved by

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Australia - After the successful release of the 2U Redback dimmer late last year, Australian control systems manufacturer LSC Lighting Systems has announced the release of a 4U version of the Redback specifically targeted at markets that use UK outlets. The new six-channel dimmer provides 12 x 15A UK outlets all located on one side of the front panel ensuring that the controls can still be accessed when using a cord patch. The rotatable side panels also allow the dimmer to be wall mounted, rack-mounted or to free stand.

The new package inherits all the features of the Redback family, including a full 512-channel DMX softpatch; Min & Max levels and a choice of individual fade curves per channel. With the built- in memories, individual fade times and chases, Redback can even run in stand-alone mode making it suitable for museums, presentation and retail environments, says the comp

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UK - The first exhibitors have already committed to next year's Showlight which takes place at BBC Scotland's headquarters in Glasgow, from 16-19 May 2009. Martin Professional, the main sponsor for the event, was first to sign up, followed by ETC, Gerriets, MA Lighting, Pixel Range, Rainbow Colour Changers, Robe UK, Robert Juliat and Selecon Europe.

Mark Ravenhill, vice-president for television and theatre lighting at Martin Professional, says, "Showlight has emerged as one of the most important events for lighting professionals, an invaluable asset to the ongoing development of the industry. It is exceptionally fruitful for us as it provides the opportunity for real two-way dialogue."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - Large-format projection specialists E/T/C London created spectacular 90m wide images and produced the soundtrack for a special large scale outdoor event to launch the new Sunderland Aquatic Centre, the North East's first Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Working closely with show producers Magnetic Events, and soundscape producer Karen Monid, E/T/C's Ross Ashton interpreted an original storyboard by Magnetic's Robin Morley to create a 15-minute collage of images based on aquatic themes, interwoven with water-related elements from the City's past and present, with "the swimmer" at its core.

The show, titled A Poem To Sunderland, took an abstract, non-narrative format and the projections were beamed onto the side of the futuristic cylindrical building (designed by The Red Box Design Group) located adjacent to the City's Stadium of Light football ground.

E/T/C

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UK - The Association of British Theatre Technician's ABTT Theatre Show is gearing up to celebrate its 30th birthday in London's Royal Horticultural Halls, 11-12 June 2008.

Many new innovations on the lighting front will be showcased this year with an emphasis on energy efficiency in line with the Theatres Trust conference on sustainable theatres to be held on 10 June.

Selecon will showcase its new 80V Power Supply with direct DMX control.

ETC will highlight products that offer low cost of ownership and sustainable solutions. PRG Europe will highlight its products and services.

Zero 88 will demonstrate its new version 3 software for its Leap Frog 48 & 96 consoles. Its Jester ML series will be showcased.

Stage Electrics will premiere the QMaxz 575 moving head, which offers cost effectivity and high performance as the latest addition to its expansive rental fleet, says the

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UK - "A good plan applied with vigour now is better than a perfect plan implemented too late." General Patton knew what he was talking about, any complex operation, be it battle, marketing campaign, or just moving home, requires forethought.

The recent relocation of PRG's main UK office from the former bus garage at Coventry Road in Birmingham, to a parts depot originally built for Rover Group at Longbridge has been just such an operation.

Nimble on its feet for such a large company, the rest of the touring production industry barely noticed the shift as Company MD Dave Keighley explained. "The move to new premises offered us the opportunity to make major improvements to the way we work and to our working environment. At over 165,000 square feet, this is a building with enormous potential; so yes, we did indeed to spend time planning how we wanted the building t

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USA - The University of Tennessee has officially launched its fund-raising campaign in an attempt to raise $1 billion.

The kick-off event was held on 17 April 17, 2008 at UT's Thompson-Boling Arena. It started with an introduction and dinner. Then UT President, John Petersen took to the stage to introduce the campaign video. The evening's programme featured appearances from a variety of students and faculty members.

Bandit CEO, Michael T. Strickland is on the campaign board and attended the event. Chris Lisle programmed the campaign launch. He used Cyberlight Turbos, Martin MAC 2000 Performances, MAC 600s, MAC 500s and High End Systems Studio Spots to light the event. Lighting was controlled by a Flying Pig Systems Whole Hog II and wing.

(Jim Evans)

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USA Lighting and control manufacturer High End Systems and UK-based Projected Image Digital have announced the next installment of Digital Lighting University, to be held 15-16 May at the Cochrane Theatre, part of the Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London. Digital Lighting University is a programme designed to help professionals learn to apply, use and design with digital lighting in their projects.

Lighting designers, operators, video technicians, directors and other professionals in the lighting, video or special events industries are invited to attend. The two-day programme is designed to present key information in the most efficient manner. An international team of experts will present case studies, instructions and most importantly, hands-on exercises to help students on their way to new techniques in digital lighting.

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USA - Nexxus Lighting has confirmed that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of solid-state LED lighting manufacturer, Lumificient Corporation. The newly acquired company will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexxus Lighting and will continue to operate out of its manufacturing facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Under the terms of the stock purchase agreement, the shareholders of Lumificient Corporation received cash consideration of $1.1 million, 475,000 shares of Nexxus Lighting's Common Stock and, based upon certain future earn-out formulations, additional shares could be earned. Lumificient Corporation had 2007 revenue of approximately $2.2 million and first quarter 2008 revenue of approximately $933,000.

"The acquisition of Lumificient Corporation is very exciting. In addition to Lumificient's current growth rate for its existing solid-stat

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Denmark - The Peter Schaufuss Ballet, based in Holstebro, is one of Scandinavia's premiere ballet companies, a top-class touring troupe that was established in 1997 by renowned ballet dancer, choreographer and director Peter Schaufuss. The company tours nationally and internationally with new productions staged every year.

For their latest production, Michael - I'm Bad, a dance biography set to the original music of Michael Jackson that highlights notable moments in the singer's life, lighting and video designer Bo Kudsk Kristensen had the opportunity to incorporate a video element into the show and chose a back wall of Martin LC Series LED panels.

"For 'Bad' we were looking for more of a living set and thought about projectors," Kristensen explains, "but then Martin came out with these great LED panels, which are very bright and easy to work with.

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UK - Lighting designer Dave Byars (Beautiful South, Young Knives, Blur, Deacon Blue & many more) has joined the product development team at Manchester based LED innovators, i-Pix.

He and i-Pix founder Chris Ewington have worked closely on various projects since Ewington launched the original Pixel range of products into the entertainment market in 2003. Byars used these products, and has also been a keen advocate of the first i-Pix fixture - the Satellite - and more recently their new BB range - integrating these into his designs and creative work.

"We're delighted to be working with Dave and to have someone of his touring experience on the team," declares Ewington, "His appointment also reinforces our commitment to ensuring that working LD's are actively involved in our product creation and development". This is one of the areas which helps keep I-Pix uniq

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UK - Arcola Theatre has demonstrated that there is no artistic compromise required to deliver low energy naturalistic lighting for classic works. Mehmet Ergen's critically acclaimed production of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People is lit on under 5kW.

The challenge was to light a naturalistic piece of theatre with a peak lighting load of just 5kW. For a previous show at Arcola Theatre The Living Unknown Soldier, LED and fluorescent sources were used to cut power consumption to this level, however the colours, dimming profiles, and quality of light given from the current generation of LEDs and fluorescents makes it difficult to use them in naturalistic pieces where the lighting should go unnoticed.

Lighting designer Michael Nabarro instead used a combination of lower-wattage and lower-voltage tungsten sources provided by Selecon, ETC and White Light to trim the overal

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USA - Located in Hallandale Beachin North Miami, Scarlett's Cabaret is 'part gentlemen's club, part nightclub'. "Scarlett's is a one-of-a-kind club, it's a hybrid," said Michael Meacham, lighting designer and programmer at idesign.

Helping to create the atmosphere is a long list of Martin gear that includes MAC 250 Kryptons, MX-10, MX-4 and Mania SCX600 scanners, and Wizard Extremes all brought to life by a Magnum Club Smoke system. Lighting control is from a Martin LightJockey.

Adding a distinctively decorative look to the club is a wall of Martin LC Series LED panels that work against mirrored pillars and chrome poles to emit a brightness that seems to increase in intensity and range throughout the venue.

"Its brightness is remarkable and reliable," said Meacham, who had the panels installed in the 'skybox' at the back of the club. "It took no long

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UK - HSL supplied lighting equipment for LD Davy Sherwin and the We Are Scientists UK tour, which was sold out for the New York indie rockers.

"It's great to work with Davy again," says HSL's project manager Mike Oates. "He has a very creative eye and can make an expedient sized rig go a long way."

It was Sherwin's first tour with the band and his design was based on exploring the mixing of different qualities and textures of light emitted by LED and tungsten lightsources.

Upstage were four Litec wind-up towers at different heights, with a total variation of about a foot. These introduced form and architecture to the stage. Attached to the top of each of these was a 2m section of truss, each rigged with two Robe ColorWash 700E AT moving lights and four Showtec Sunstrips - with 10 individual channels of MR16 lights. Two of the Sunstrips were mounted vertic

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UK - White Light's busy installation team has recently helped Kingsmead School in Enfield carry out a spectacular conversion, turning what the school described as its "dull and dowdy traditional old school hall with its block flooring, wooden chairs, squeaky stage and harsh fluorescent lighting" into an "exciting, modern theatre space".

The transformation of the hall was designed by Tim Foster of Tim Foster Architects, well known for their theatre work, particularly the Tricycle Theatre and the associated Tricycle Cinema in Kilburn, the re-development of the Theatre Royal in Norwich, the adaptation of London's Whitehall Theatre into the Trafalgar Studios and many more.

At Kingsmead, they were asked to develop much needed performing facilities for a school that had recently been awarded special status for the performing and visual arts. The result is a recta

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USA - Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige's Heart of the City tour has been a huge box office success, raking in more than $9 million after only its first eight dates.

With the two co-headliners sharing a stage set and teaming up for some numbers such as an opening duet of Jay-Z's Can't Knock the Hustle, then going on to perform solo with their individual bands, the show's lighting fixtures had to be versatile. The lighting had to accommodate both Blige's "softer, more feminine" show and Jay-Z's performance, which "is very hard-hitting and masculine," said Patrick Dierson of Artfag, LLC, the tour's lighting director.

"They are two very high-profile artists, and the dynamic of her show versus his is a bit different," Dierson elaborated. "Her show is a lot softer, although it still has a lot of accents and pushes because she's a strong perfor

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New Zealand - The Singing Bee is the local New Zealand production of the US format show of the same name. The singing competition combines karaoke with a spelling bee as contestants try to remember the lyrics to popular songs. Airing on New Zealand's TV2, lighting director for the show is Chris McKenzie of Martin Professional distributor Kenderdine Electrical.

The major visual element of The Singing Bee set is a cyclorama-like backing created by eight large S shaped panels. "When we saw that the Australian production had used an RP screen material and LED sources to back light it, we decided that this was the way to go," says McKenzie. "We set up a test with the Martin Stagebar 54 LED luminaires and a sample of the material and were blown away with the result."

A total of 60 Stagebars are used in vertical rows of three to light the cyclorama p

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USA - Bandit Lites is working with multi-platinum country recording artist, Blake Shelton on his current tour.

Lighting designer Jody Marsh chose to use Martin MAC 500s and MAC 600s for this tour. Lighting is controlled by a Whole Hog II. He said the thought process behind the design had to do primarily with the venues they would be playing.

"I know what I'm going to get from local vendors and then I make changes accordingly to essentially pull off the same show every night," Marsh explained. "You may not see the lights hung the same every night but you're still getting the same overall product, or as close to it as you can get. Creatively, I know what I can do with the lights."

Marsh said that biggest challenge for this tour is just to be flexible. "This past weekend we had two shows. One show was a 'normal day.' The second show, I didn't have the a

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USA - The third annual Behind the Scenes Tony Awards Party is set for Sunday, 15 June in New York City. The event brings together the shops that work on Broadway and the companies that supply them for "a terrific evening of schmoozing, food and drink, and cheering for their Tony-nominated shows".

Fred Gallo of PRG Scenic Technologies, one of the organizers of the evening, says: "Those of us that work on Broadway rarely get the time to catch up with friends, colleagues, and co-workers outside the pressures of getting the show up. The Tony Party offers a great opportunity to see each other, celebrate what we're doing, spend some down-time together, and at the same time provide important help to our colleagues in need. What could be better?"

The 2008 Behind the Scenes Tony Awards party will be held on 15 June 7pm to 11pm at Cibo restaurant, 767 Second Avenue b

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Australia - Show Technology Australia, exclusive dealers for Robert Juliat products throughout Australia, reports "fantastic feedback" following the sale of a pair of Super Korrigan followspots to the Gold Coast Arts Centre in Queensland.

The Super Korrigan is a replacement for the 1200W HMI Korrigan followspot and incorporates a new double-condenser optical system that produces 25 per cent more light than the older model.

"Compared to other followspots on the market we found the Super Korrigans to be uniquely compact and light," remarked Russell Jones, senior lighting technician at GCAC. "The crew thinks the Super Korrigans are great and everyone loves them. We love their output, the smooth operating of the iris and the fact that we've got the DMX models too. The way that the sliders work is fantastic. Externally, the followspots are not very hot eith

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Hong Kong - LED artist Teddy Lo has a reputation for his groundbreaking pieces of visual art. Committed to demonstrating both the illuminative and environmental benefits of LED lighting, he has used the latest Lighthouse LED technology for the maiden display of his newest - and biggest - creation, Phaeodaria.

An integral part of the A-Glow-Glow Macro Interactive Media Arts Exhibition, which took place at the peripheral area of the Hong Kong Museum of Art from 11-20 April 2008, Lo's 'Phaeodaria' comprised around 80 pieces of Lighthouse's new creative video solution, LEDscape Bar, arranged to form an 8m diameter geodesic dome.

Inspired by Ernst Haeckel's illustrations of marine life forms, the project utilised wireless mobile telecommunications technologies to change the colours of the Lighthouse LEDscape Bar - thereby illustrating in lit form the wireless informat

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Denmark - Martin Professional's Magnum 2500 Hz is a plug-and-play hazer for DJs or when a simple haze solution is needed in smaller venues, clubs, and bars. Its large fluid container and optional DMX also make it suitable for a large variety of installations, says the company.

The compact Magnum 2500 Hz uses a 900W heat exchanger to punch out a full 2500 cubic meters per minute of uniform haze for mid-air projection or atmosphere enhancement.

This portable hazer heats up fast and is continuously operational for a trouble-free 'set it and forget it' effect. Its large 3.8 litre fluid capacity (1 US gallon) provides for extremely long runs when needed.

Haze output and on/off timing are controllable via a handy remote control that can be conveniently stored in its own compartment. Like all Magnum products the Magnum 2500 incorporates advanced Jem technology including new electro

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UK - A cloud hangs at Heathrow - but its silver lining shows itself in a remarkable display. This is Cloud, a 5m digital sculpture by art and design company Troika, in the atrium to British Airways luxury lounges at Heathrow's Terminal 5. Evocative of the technology used on old-fashioned travel information boards, 4638 flip-dots cover the surface, switching between black and silver.

A Pharos Lighting Playback Controller (LPC X) controls the continuous fluid motion, displaying dramatic geometric and organic patterns across the sculpture, generating stunning visual and audio effects.

Drivers for the mechanical switching were pre-designed to receive RS232 serial data rather than DMX, so Pharos developed and implemented a custom control protocol to allow seamless communication with the sculpture's RS232 flip-dot drivers. This then allowed Troika to utilise Pharos Designer s

  1. Scottish Academy takes TiMax
  2. Martin LED panels play key role for Natalia
  3. Bandit joins Iglesias in South America
  4. Avolites on menu for the Kooks
  5. Frank Lambrechts joins Rosco
  6. Robert Izzett joins DWR Distribution
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