Germany - Christie Pandoras Box Software Version 8.8 technology is powering the impressive projection mapping at Schlosslichtspiele Festival at Karlsruhe Palace. Technical team AV Active has deployed two Pandoras Box licences, two Christie Widget Designers and 24 Pandoras Box outputs to power projection mapping onto the 172m x17m (564 feet x 56 feet) façade of Karlsruhe Palace.
Among this year’s flagship events is mapping virtuoso Maxin10sity’s 80’s Flash show to tie in with a 1980s museum exhibit inside the building, while German electronic band Kraftwerk performs in front of the Palace during the festivities. The show runs from until 17 September.
“We’re always happy to use Christie Pandoras Box on events - we know how to use it and prepare the content, and we’ve had no technical issues in the many years we have been working with it,” says Tamás Vaspöri, managing director, Maxin10sity. “We love coming back to Schlosslichtspiele and enjoy striving to create something new that people haven’t seen before. The detailed façade - with its many windows and artistic columns - gives us a variety of possibilities to create interesting effects, and the 1980s theme allows us to express our creativity in a new way.”
The event, which is now in its ninth iteration, has been powered by Pandoras Box every year, and Maxin10sity has created mapping content for each festival. "We opted for Pandoras Box from the outset (in 2015),” says Sven Gayer, technical director AV Active. “At that time, no other solution could offer the versatil
China - Votion Studios, a technology-driven creative agency in Hong Kong, incubated by Vobile Group in 2021, has launched a new virtual production studio that centres around an AOTO LED display powered by LED video processing from Brompton Technology.
The studio’s expertise extends beyond production, and also encompasses the pivotal pre-production stage. Through its dedicated in-house VFX team, the facility offers comprehensive support to its clients, functioning as a creative hub for the development of XR and VP productions, underlining its commitment to go be more than a service provider by cultivating partnerships that drive inventive storytelling.
In 2022, Votion reinvested in its LED volume, replacing the original LED configuration with advanced AOTO LED panels and Brompton’s Tessera LED processors.
At the heart of the studio's capabilities are three AOTO LED displays: an RM 2.3mm curved LED wall, measuring 10 by 3.5m; an 8.5 by 5m AE 2.3mm LED floor; along with an M3.7mm height-adjustable LED ceiling, which spans an impressive 4 by 3m. The entire setup is driven by five Brompton Technology Tessera SX40 LED processors, complemented by four Tessera XD 10G data distribution units to deliver a unified data distribution solution.
“Adopting Brompton LED processing marked a pivotal moment in our commitment to provide cutting-edge, innovative visuals throughout our projects,” says Roger Proeis, co-founder at Votion Studios. “The inclusion of full 4K support and remarkable LED video processing, encompassing HDR, Dynamic Calibration, and
UK - Video company UP is on the road with Depeche Mode and an Anton Corbijn-designed custom video set piece.
Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori continues its world-spanning tour - it's this summer's longest running European stadium tour - with an LED ‘M’ centrepiece, a 3D scenic element that becomes seamlessly integrated as part of the video wall.
Working alongside TAIT and show designer Jason Baeri, Universal Pixels has helped to create the custom-built set piece for artistic director and long-time Depeche Mode collaborator, Anton Corbjin’s latest vision.
The LED adorned ‘M’ stands at an impressive 8m in height, aiding the tour’s video visuals and doubling an additional dimension for the video content. Universal Pixels has provided 320m2 of INFiLED ER5 LED for the upstage wall, IMAG screens and the ‘M’.
Video director Jon Shrimpton says: “Anton is a true master of design, and becomes the eyes of the band. I look at what he does with his films and base everything around that. We try to make the cameras show the audience what the music sounds like; when it sounds dark, weird and spooky, the cameras reflect that. If we’re hearing a song like I Feel You, which is a huge, great big energy thump of a song, then the camera cut has to be energetic.”
Universal Pixels has also provided Shrimpton’s team with a Grass Valley Kula PPU, Hitachi 3G camera channels, Panasonic HE145 robo cameras and disguise gx2c media servers.
Shrimpton works on a six-inch preview monitor television with a camera pointed at it t
UK - From stand D3 with SES, at this year’s PLASA Show, Data Strategy will showcase the extensive benefits of the industry’s first choice electrical and cable safety inspection solution, the QC-Check workstation.
Anticipating an extension to the summer festival season’s conversational theme of cable identification out on site, Data Strategy’s Iain Roche will be on stand ready to discuss the benefits of simple labelling solutions, as well as the latest rental system integrations and QC-Check’s most popular add-on modules, including the PowerCheck distro testing, LOLER inspection and SimplyPATS integration software.
Integration with equipment hire software is central to QC-Check’s role in embedding practical safety inspection solutions into the heart of the warehouse process. Data Strategy is progressing two new and interesting integrations that will allow more hire companies and venues to easily fulfil the statutory requirements to ensure electrical appliances and equipment are always safe to use.
QC-Check systems are installed in major film studios; production companies both large and small (PRG, Creative Technology, Adlib, White Light and Entec); various theatres including the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre, and recently, via Star Live, played a central role in testing equipment ahead of the King’s Coronation and many high-profile festival stages across the UK this summer.
QC-Check is a networked, multi-user application that controls Out Board’s PAT-4 (single or 3-phase in 16A, 32A & 125A ratings) to deliver P
USA - Sports fans are being treated to a massive 2,000sq.ft video screen at the new DraftKings Sportsbook bar at Chicago’s Wrigley Field stadium, with game footage and betting information delivered by a tvONE CORIOmaster2 video processor and integrated by tvONE partner McCann Systems.
The expansive LED feature wall wraps around the space and is visible from practically any seat. DraftKings Sportsbook is a restaurant, bar, and sports betting facility and is connected to the historic Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
Upon realising that the large LED screen would require many video sources to be displayed and have several preset layouts, immersive digital environments specialists McCann Systems specified tvONE’s CORIOmaster2 video processor, which is engineered to drive ‘more pixels than you will ever need’ with its high bandwidth CORIO2 processing.
“The processing power of the tvONE CORIOmaster2 allowed us to produce a combined video resolution of 16,320 x 1560 to cover the entire LED wall,” says Al Ragone, senior field applications engineer with McCann. “We are utilising five outputs from the processor that all produce 4K resolution, which is fed to the main LED wall. We are also using the internal window processing of the unit to create up to 48 unique windows that can be displayed on the video wall across 24 different layouts and formats.”
The massive LED screen can display up to 24 sporting events at one time or provide a single expansive image for an immersive experience. Billed by developer Marquee Dev
USA - Live event production company, White Tie Productions has purchased 120 Alfalite Litepix Series panels, making them the first live event company in the U.S. with Alfalite LED panels. It marks the second sale in the U.S. for the new FOR-A/Alfalite alliance.
Headquartered in Phoenix with a second office in Orlando, White Tie will have 60 panels based in each location. The screens will be shipped to customers throughout the U.S. The walls will be showcased in White Tie’s Phoenix studios when they are not out on live productions.
White Tie specialises in creating large-scale events for non-profit and corporate associations. Company president Ross Snyder comments: “When you see an Alfalite wall in person, it’s unique. You can talk about LED all day long but until you see a camera pointed at it, you can’t fully understand how well constructed it is. These panels have an almost 180-degree, crystal-clear viewing angle, which is unlike any other LED.”
When not being used for customer events across the country, White Tie will house 60 1.9mm pixel pitch Litepix ORIM screens at its Phoenix location, and 60 2.6mm pixel pitch screens Litepix ORIM screens at its Orlando office. The Phoenix office has a 2,500sq.ft streaming studio, where the White Tie team will utilise the 1.9mm video wall on set for virtual programming as well as live event rentals.
“It used to be that you didn’t go below 2mm on a portable wall for fear of damage,” said Snyder. “But with the ORIM on the 1.9’s, you get a really sharp on-camera image in a very well pro
UK - Sam Fender played two homecoming shows at St. James’ Park in Newcastle with lighting designed by Sam Tozer - also the show’s creative director - and equipment supplied by event technology specialists, Adlib, including 11 x Robe Fortes running on five RoboSpot systems.
Tozer has been working with the artist since he re-started playing live after the pandemic in 2021. Working alongside him was lighting director Luke Avery, who was heavily involved in the design process, together with set designer Flora Harvey. Video content was created by UDC.
Sam’s overall vision for these shows was to make the lighting look epic, large scale and ‘industrial strength’ to cover the dynamic range of Sam Fender’s music.
The Fortes were all rigged on the front truss and utilised for spot lighting, key lighting and specials. “I needed a very reliable and stable remote follow spotting system for the task of key’ing the band,” explained Sam.
He wanted a stage left and a stage right spot for every band member to give even coverage across their bodies and faces, and this setup was a good example of how the RoboSpot system can be used flexibly and creatively.
The RoboSpot BaseStations were located behind the stage, and operated by local crew, and the Fortes were used throughout the set. Each RoboSpot operator was allocated a band member and stayed with them. Harry Williams was spot calling, and all the fast blackouts and other special effects utilised on the Fortes were programmed and executed from the main grandMA3 lighting console.
USA - Brompton Technology has been recognised by the Television Academy with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering, Science & Technology. The Emmy was awarded for its Tessera SX40 LED video processor, which has played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of LED screens for virtual production and elevated the storytelling process through its impact on how television programmes are created.
The Television Academy named Brompton Technology’s founders Richard Mead (CEO) and Chris Deighton (CTO), alongside director of engineering Adrian Jeakins and engineering manager Evangelos Apostolopoulos, as the core team responsible for the Tessera SX40.
Since its debut in 2018, the SX40 has played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of LED for virtual production in the television industry, and has been used across many of the most popular and technologically advanced television series in recent years, including: The Mandalorian, House of the Dragon, The Book of Boba Fett, Westworld, Foundation, Our Flag Means Death and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
“The entire Brompton team is incredibly thrilled and humbled to receive such a prestigious award from our industry peers, and for the recognition of the vital role that LED processing plays for in-camera visual effects,” commented Mead. “It is a demanding medium that aims to recreate reality within a studio, and that is exactly the kind of challenge that Brompton Technology has always sought to meet. Our mission is to deliver the
USA - Christie has introduced two new RGB pure laser projectors: the M 4K15 RGB and M 4K+15 RGB. Part of our award-winning M 4K RGB Series, they deliver 15,750 lumens and are designed for the most demanding applications, including staging and live events, projection mapping spectacles, and theme park attractions.
“Our original M Series projectors, first introduced in 2007, were our most successful line of Pro AV projectors with over 16,000 units sold,” says Joel St-Denis, director of product management, Christie. “Our new models continue the tradition of innovation which has made the M Series so popular, combining ruggedness, reliability, and brightness into a compact chassis.”
Christie has simplified installation and operation by delivering full brightness at 120V or 220V, omnidirectional rigging capabilities, and TruLife+ electronics, which eliminates the hassle and cost of removable options cards. At 83.8 lbs (38.1 kg), the M 4K15 RGB and M 4K+15 RGB are the lightest 3DLP projectors in their class.
The new projectors are compatible with legacy M, J, and Crimson Series lenses and M Series rigging frames for additional cost savings.
With RGB pure laser illumination, the new projectors produce vibrant, bright, and true-to-life visuals that approach 98% of the Rec.2020 colour gamut, while operating at a quiet 43 dBA to ensure that the focus remains on the screen.
The M 4K15 RGB offers a 2700:1 contrast ratio and 4K UHD (3840x2160) resolution, while the M 4K+15 RGB offers a contrast ratio of 2200:1 and 4K UHD+(3840x2400) resolution
UK - Display specialist PSCo (part of the Midwich Group) has announced the introduction of the Absen MR2.5 high resolution LED floor display. The high impact floor display is exclusively available from PSCo in the UK for trade-only rental and purchase.
The MR series LED floor panel is available in 2.5mm pixel pitch and uses a GOB SMD packaging process resulting in deep blacks with a non-reflective surface. Specified with Brompton R2 processing, the wide colour gamut and high-contrast performance of the MR2.5 produce impressive in-camera performance versus other LED floor technologies.
The Absen MR floor can be combined with Absen PL2.5 Pro Brompton LED walls to create seamless floor-to-wall 2.5mm displays running from the same Brompton controllers. These products are perfectly suited to xR stages and virtual studios, as well as eye-catching corporate and live events.
The product adopts a two-in-one design featuring an aluminium chassis cabinet and a separate optional carbon-fibre sub-floor frame, allowing the option to install a thinner and lighter LED floor solution resulting in increased versality for a wide range of applications where the floor can be built without adding sub-frames at the bottom.
The MR2.5 adopts a high-strength frame design with a maximum load-bearing capacity of 2500kg/㎡, which ensures safety and durability through challenging on-stage activities. The surface of MR is covered with a matte finish which is easy to clean and features a scratch-resistant layer, creating a long-lasting and high-impact visual staging effect.
USA - A 500-mile-long NASCA cup race, the Daytona 500 is an annual event held at the Daytona International Speedway. This year’s event marked 75 years of NASCAR, and to celebrate this anniversary, the event included a special virtual final lap. The Famous Group were chosen as NASCAR’s preferred partners to bring this ambitious project to life.
“We were asked to recreate 18 historic NASCAR racecars and show them racing in a single lap together on the Daytona racetrack,” explains Erik Beaumont, head of mixed reality at The Famous Group. “The fantasy lap would include a Dale Earnhardt Jr. No.88 car and a Dale Earnhardt Sr. No.3 car, a nod to some of the most important moments in Daytona 500 history.”
Creating a virtual mixed-reality event for live broadcast required careful tracking to ensure the seamless fusion of the imaginary and the real. Stage Precision’s SP data and control management software was identified as a crucial tool for crafting this historic production.
The project also marked the first use of Stage Precision’s Shield for Unreal Engine 5 plug-in, specially designed for virtual production and augmented reality applications. “This was our first big project using SP. We had tested it and found it filled a hole in our workflow and toolchain but had yet to use it on a major project,” explains Beaumont. “SP provided us with an extraordinary level of control, making it an indispensable asset for this project.”
The Famous Group used SP to ensure the maximum level of control over tracking, timing, signals and to t
USA - Avid has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of STG in an all-cash transaction valuing Avid at approximately $1.4bn, inclusive of Avid’s net debt.
“Since our founding over 30 years ago, Avid has delivered technology that enables individuals and enterprises who create media for a living to make, manage and monetise today’s most celebrated video and audio content across the globe,” said Jeff Rosica, Avid’s chief executive officer and president.
“We are pleased to announce this transaction with STG, who share our conviction and excitement in delivering innovative technology solutions to address our customers’ creative and business needs.
“STG's expertise in the technology sector and significant financial and strategic resources will help accelerate the achievement of our strategic vision, building on the momentum of our successful transformation achieved over the past several years. This transaction represents the start of an exciting new chapter for Avid, our customers, our partners and our team members and is a testament to the importance of Avid and our solutions in powering the media and entertainment industry.”
John P. Wallace, chairman of the Avid board of directors, says: “This transaction is the result of a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives for Avid. Upon closing, this transaction will deliver immediate, significant and certain value to our stockholders. After carefully evaluating a variety of options, the board determined that this transaction i
UK - PCL Live, founded by Adam Wilson, is a leading audio-visual company in the Northeast of Scotland. With impressive industry experience in installation projects, event equipment hire and operation, live streaming, and video production services for over 15 years, Wilson has driven PCL Live to operate using modern technology, with a focus around Leyard Europe products.
“One of the main benefits of Leyard screens is that they’re modular, so we can build them in any configuration needed, which gives us a unique selling point,” says Alex Sherman, business development and technical manager at PCL Live. “Adam has always wanted to push boundaries, and expand delivering the latest low power, green technologies and we didn’t see any other AV companies in the area doing this.
“One of the reasons we wanted to work with Leyard Europe is because they offer a complete range of screen solutions with a strong clear environmental policy as well as super power efficient products that will fit with any project we’re asked to do. I don’t see us going anywhere else.”
“Using Leyard Europe products has given us the opportunity to assist in some truly unique and exciting projects,” says Sherman. “We have provided two 6x3m outdoor video walls for the Gothenburg Greats event for Aberdeen football club, which was a huge occasion for the city. We have also provided a host of different sized video walls for events and conferences that have blown the clients expectation out of the water.
“The feedback we have had from using these products to dis
UK - Audio-visual and entertainment technology company, Anna Valley has officially opened a new, multi-purpose studio complex in July 2023. The facility is located on the same block as Anna Valley’s headquarters in West London, in premises previously used to produce content for a broadcast shopping channel and includes five professional studio spaces that can be tailored to suit the production needs of media and entertainment, commercial and event clients.
The idea for Anna Valley Studios originated due to the audio-visual company’s success in using their headquarters as a virtual production and event studio during the pandemic. Despite the lifting of Covid restrictions in 2022, the demand for affordable studio spaces has remained high across their event and production client base. In addition, while the number of studios with volumes have increased in recent months, there is a shortage of affordable virtual production testing facilities available.
Anna Valley Studios aims to satisfy this demand by providing simple but professional spaces that a range of clients can use to create and share video content. The soundproof studios provide a budget-friendly but fit-for-purpose location for corporate clients to produce virtual events and high-end presentation videos or for production teams to conduct camera, lighting or virtual production tests and film pilots and programme segments. With all the supporting infrastructure in place, the technology in the studios can easily be upgraded to support more ambitious commercial and film shoots.
The Anna Val
Canada - Theatrixx Technologies, the Montreal-based manufacturer and distributor of technical equipment specially adapted for the performing arts, events and entertainment sectors, has announced the launch of its new premium high refresh rate Nomad TPEP+ 2.6 indoor LED panel, now available with Brompton Technology processing.
The panels incorporate a new proprietary Titanium Polymer Edge Protection technology (TPEP+) which ‘ensures unparalleled module protection and durability’. They designed to meet the demands of event production and rental.
A liquid shader now replaces the traditional brittle plastic shaders, resulting in an impressive +170-degree viewing angle. The innovative polymer compound forms mechanical bonds between each pixel without covering the LED lenses or altering their colour spectrum.
Individually batched premium SMD diodes, a 1/16 driving mode, and 16 bits of greyscale depth, coupled with a refresh rate of 7,680hz, make the Nomad Brompton series suitable for high-end XR studios and Virtual Production applications.
Interested event and production companies in the UK and Europe can now view the combination of Nomad and Brompton in a demo suite at Brompton Technology HQ, Gunnersbury, West London.
Kris Hill, the UK & Ireland sales manager for Theatrixx, comments: “We are pleased to offer our range of popular Nomad TPEP+ panels with industry-leading Brompton processing, and we are delighted to showcase our innovation at Brompton’s impressive West London headquarters. Our new collaboration will give our coll
South Korea - RealProtec is a technology company that offers innovative solutions for South Korea’s film and media industries. Its strong focus on virtual production enables production teams to streamline processes and bring their clients' creative visions to life in a fast, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
Supported by a highly skilled team and leveraging cutting-edge LED technologies from Brompton Technology and INFiLED, RealProtec collaborated with CJ OliveNetworks and Jinwoo M&C to create Gwangju Content Cube (GCC) VX Studio, the country’s largest VP studio operated by a Korean government organisation, the Gwangju Information & Content Agency.
GCC was created as a multifaceted space equipped with content production infrastructure for movies, games, and animations, alongside immersive content experience facilities like VR, AR, and MR. Its setup is expected to act as a breeding ground for cultural content-related start-ups and drive the job market in Gwangju. “This is particularly significant as Gwangju boasts the only cultural industry investment promotion zone in Korea, closely connected to the National Asian Culture Centre and the Gwangju CGI Centre,” says COO of RealProtec, Sungbaek Choi.
Part of GCC, the new VX Studio covers 1,466sqm of the overall facility and features an AV system from Sony and a disguise vx4 media server and rxII render system, while the camera tracking system in operation is by STYPE.
The main LED wall comprises INFiLED DB2.6 S8C LED panels, measuring an impressive 30m wide by 6m tall. INFiLED
UK - Pulp, live on stage, a fleetingly rare event in recent years is a moment to cherish, none more so than this current outing. Across the summer months they will visit seaside resorts, towns, cities and parks, playing theatres, arenas and festivals. Just the sort of complex logistical puzzle production manager Joel Stanley enjoys.
“Not quite,” he said with a grin. “It's just 13 shows in three months though dates keep getting added. The budget was set a year ago when the band began music rehearsals as a six piece; I came on board at the start of this year and we now have 17 people on stage.”
Balancing budget, band and venues saw Stanley reach for some certainty as a fulcrum. “My three core vendors, Neg Earth, Video Design and Skan PA have brought great attention to detail in support of making this adaptable demand actually work. With such a tricky itinerary and a need for expanding and contracting production, I wouldn’t settle for anything but the best, I needed to know there would be no issues once we got out there.
“We have a template for the show built on the festival rig where we can nestle our five flown trusses amongst whatever’s is already there. More than enough for a robust arena show, they can readily be scaled down for the theatres.”
Garth Jennings is the show director, chosen by Jarvis Cocker for their not infrequent collaborations on his solo work. Jennings is more recognisably an auteur than a rock ‘n’ roll show designer; his movie credits include Sing and Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, et
Germany - Lang AG has expanded its rental inventory with the addition of 50 additional units of the PT-RQ50 projector from Panasonic. With this move, the company doubles its rental stock of the 3-chip DLP projector to a total of 100 units.
With this acquisition, the company is responding to the increasing demand for high-quality, high-performance projectors.
Lang AG CEO Tobias Lang summarizes the motives for the additional purchase: "Panasonic's PT-RQ50 is the best 4K projector available on the market - especially for demanding events and large-scale events. We have increased the supply to be able to meet the increasing demand."
Jan Markus Jahn, head of media entertainment business division at Panasonic Europe GmbH, further explains, "We are delighted with the trust that LANG has placed in the PT-RQ50 and are proud that our projector is able to impress with its performance every time at numerous top events."
Puerto Rico – Two Green Hippo Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers powered the visuals for multiple wraparound LED screens which formed the backdrop for this year’s televised Premios Tu Música Urbano. The Awards, which celebrate Latin Urban music, were broadcast live from Puerto Rico capital San Juan’s 18,000-capacity Choliseo and streamed live to fans worldwide on YouTube.
Florida-based production house JMT Show Concepts was commissioned by Sora & Company, producer Soraya Sanchez, and the Telemundo TV network to create and provide all of the content visuals for the event.
“Awards shows are very intense because you have to do content, show looks and programming in such a short time – for this project, it was just six days,” says Jorge Toro from JMT. “The magic of the new Boreal+ MK2 model is how fast that it is, with the 10G network connection to upload content and the ability to convert the files to FlexRes in much less time. The power of the upgraded Media Servers was a major upgrade this year and we had a blast working with the MK2 models.”
The JMT team used two V4 Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers, which drove data via two 4K60 outputs from their switcher matrix to LED processors, controlling the visuals via ZooKeeper and a motorized MIDI controller. One of the standout performances on the night was by the younger generation of Latin Urban music artists, who collaborated to pay paid tribute to those who paved the way for them, including Ivy Queen, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Tego Calderón and Wisin y Yandel.
“For this moment, w
USA - Nanolumens has announced that Rob Lamb has joined the company as chief financial officer (CFO), effective now. Rob will be part of Nanolumens executive leadership team, reporting to chief executive officer, Ney Corsino.
Rob comes to Nanolumens from Hodinkee, a New York based e-commerce and media company that specializes in the luxury watch industry, where he also served as CFO.
Prior to his role with Hodinkee, Rob spent nearly 20 years with Turner Broadcasting where he served in a variety of finance roles across the organisation.
"I am thrilled to welcome Rob to Nanolumens where his contributions will undoubtedly make an impact as our company continues to grow. Rob’s strong background as a strategic financial leader makes him the right choice to help us move forward in achieving our growth objectives and continue to position Nanolumens for the future,” said Corsino.
Australia - Following record-breaking attendance in 2023, Australia's largest festival, Vivid Sydney, is inviting expressions of interest (EOI) for its 2024 event programme.
In 2023 Vivid Sydney attracted more than 3.28m attendees who experienced the 300+ light, music, ideas and food events of the programme. Now, artists, musicians, thought leaders and food creatives are invited to submit an EOI to be part of the 2024 programme under the unified, creative vision – Vivid Sydney, Humanity.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said Vivid Sydney presented an opportunity for those in the creative sector to showcase their talents to a large and far-reaching audience as part of an event that exemplifies Sydney’s standing as the major events capital of the Asia Pacific. “Vivid Sydney is a globally recognised event that brings together creativity, innovation and technology, through the lens of local and international talent in our spectacular Harbour City.
“This is a festival that could not be delivered in any other city in the world in the same way. The unique combination of place and creativity has established Vivid Sydney as an icon in its own right and is a great example of how arts, culture and creative industries can combine to forge unforgettable visitor experiences that attract people to the city time and again.
“I strongly encourage all artists, musicians, thought leaders, and culinary creatives to express their interest to be part of Vivid Sydney 2024.”
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said the festival pushed
UK - The UK premier of the much-publicised movie, Barbie, took place 12 July at Cineworld Leicester Square. Limited Edition Event Design with support from IPS (Impact Production Services) produced the event.
Helping to create the colourful scene was a collection of 272 IP65 rated Chauvet Professional video tiles and lighting fixtures from IPS’ own extensive inventory.
“As most of the action at a premiere event takes place outside, IP rated equipment is the most suitable, since it allows everything to keep operating whatever happens with the weather,” Tom Warden of IPS said of the event’s kit. “There is only one chance to get things right on these shows and Limited Edition Event Design does an excellent job as the technical production designer.
Film premieres are a tough gig in the best of times, especially when they take place in very busy central London locations. This is partly why the team at IPS and Limited Edition Event Design always have an eye on the latest products being released.”
To help ensure that this event would have a distinctive footprint, IPS supplied a 34m long scaffolding structure to support six angled LED Screens made with F4IP LED panels (each 2.5m wide by 4m high) to spell out ‘Barbie’ and showcase images associated with the film.
The design team added scaff tubes between the screens, each fitted with six COLORdash H12XIP fixtures in rows. These RGBWAUV LED pars were used to endow the premiere space with the all-important pink colour tones. “Our pink wall of light was essential as a backdro
Europe - Many applications require cables with enhanced flexibility - which in turn may affect the durability of a cable. With these facts in mind, Sommer cable has developed the SC-Mercator Cat.6a Proflex network cable with a dual jacket construction to combine maximum flexibility with ultimate ruggedness.
The cable, with its outer diameter of 8.7mm (0.34“), features a cold-flexible soft PVC jacket that is extruded in two work steps. The outer jacket is applied like a tube to keep the wire pairs in a tight position even when in motion. The second, inner jacket serves as an extra protection against abrasion, pressure or kinks or as a reset force to maintain flexibility - for very good reeling properties and only little memory effect without causing annoying loops and trip hazards. The S/FTP construction with the high cross-section of AWG24/7 also works without hesitation over longer distances.
Users who find conventional CAT cables too stiff can fall back on this Proflex variant with its high-quality mat finish. However, one must take into account that this design represents a compromise between rigid standard lines and heavy-duty cables with an adamant PUR jacket. For applications under high pressure, strong tensile forces and temperatures below freezing point the manufacturer recommends a PUR version.
The Proflex cable is suited for use in live entertainment and studio applications, as well as for industrial applications. Most current standards are supported, such as 10GBaseT & 1GBaseT Ethernet, Dante, AVB, ACE, GigaACE, ARTNET, MA-Net, HDBa
Sweden - Brompton Technology has appointed Lotta Schiefer as its new global sales lead. With an impressive career spanning over 30 years, during which she has worked with global manufacturers such as Barco, Vari*Lite and Wireless Solutions, Schiefer brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. She will utilise her expertise to further lead the company’s sales team in their mission to provide top level service to Brompton customers across the globe.
Having started out as a lighting technician, Schiefer soon found herself drawn into the world of pixels. Over time, she transitioned from technical roles to more commercial and organisational positions in sales, business development, and people management.
Most recently, Schiefer held the role of operations manager for broadcast and technical services at the Royal Swedish Opera. There, she established a broadcast service that delivered regular performances amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic.
In her position as sales lead at Brompton, Schiefer is determined to keep spreading the Brompton vibe worldwide by establishing a cohesive sales strategy that highlights the commercial advantages Brompton processing brings to its customers’ workflows.
“At Brompton, we are privileged to have some of the industry’s most brilliant technical minds constantly innovating to develop cutting-edge solutions,” says Schiefer. “Our company has an outstanding reputation for delivering unparalleled hardware and software products for LED processing, as well as for its 24/7 customer support. In