The series was recorded at Cardiff's Enfys Studios over the course of a week. Each programme contained musical artist from Wales, plus their guests in front of a live studio audience. Boom Pictures engaged their regular lighting director Steff Jones and his team on the production. Steffan was also asked to consult on the design of the LED and screen technology used to form the set.
Originally, the series was to be produced at ITV Wales's Studio 1 facilities but due to unforeseen last minute circumstances, Boom Pictures had to relocate the production to Enfys Studios.
"Originally we were set to be loading into ITV Wales, which is a much larger space than Enfys Studios," says Steffan. "There were plans and designs already in place - however these had to be quickly modified in order to accommodate the revised studio space.
"Despite the last minute change of location, Boom Pictures wanted to keep to the same plans and visuals as per the original brief for Studio 1. But with the space being smaller, they wanted to emphasize and enhance both depth and space. This was achieved by using largely a screen and LED based set."
Steffan explained that as there were no hard features to the set, they were able to by completely change the mood of a song or item by the use of graphics across the screens and LED products. He commented, "Creating dramatic impact was an important factor to the creative director on this series. We achieved this by using a careful selection of graphics for each number. The screens and the graphics largely set the mood & atmosphere for each number, and were the main elements, which we supplemented with lighting effects."
The contents of the various programmes broadly varied from a choir of over 60, to a full orchestra, and a 'rock and roll' style of band. The set (video based), consisted of a central main 9m x 5m 9mm LED Screen masked by 96 Chroma Hearts. There were a further six columns of 2.5m x 5m 9mm LED staggered downstage across the studio to create a frame, and a stage environment. In-between each column, there were towers of Barco Mi-Strip. On stage, there were various risers fronted by frosted Perspex, and backlit by Chroma Strips. The screen and LED technology was driven by two Green Hippotizer Media Servers.
The Lighting rig consisted of 40 x Robe 300 Spots, 35 x RobeLED 600 Washes, 11 x VL1000 TS, 96 x Chroma Hearts, 72 x Chroma Strips, eight 2K's, 21 x CP62 Floorpars, and one Robert Juliet Alex follow Spot.
The lighting rig was controlled by two Compulite Vectors by Alex Mildenhall and Nick Hansen.
HSL Group was the main lighting supplier, supplemented by Osprey Lighting. Chaos Visual supplied all the Screens and LED technology.
(Jim Evans)
