The schedule featured a programme of classic films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Oscar-winning Japanese animation Spirited Away and the metropolitan premiere of the horror film Land of the Dead, as well as music sets from DJs as diverse as Asian Dub Foundation, Osymyso and Four Tet.
Blackout's Project Manager Kevin Monks collaborated with Somerset House's Events Manager John Howes to design and supply the integral giant cinema projection screen to his specifications.
Manufactured by Blackout France, the 17.5 metre x 7 metre matt semi-permeable projection screen weighed over one tonne and required Blackout's eight-man team to assemble its Thomas truss frame on site before it was laced over and stretched to the extremities, ensuring a super taught display.
The screen concealed a d&b audiotechnik Q-Series line array, which was supplied by Dobson Sound. Another four sets of d&b speakers were also flown in the corners of the courtyard, reproducing a full cinematic surround sound experience in the open air.
Ian Thomas of Bell Theatre Services provided the film projection equipment comprising of a Phillips' FP20 35mm cinefilm projector, which boasted a reinforced lamp-housing and a water coolant system to cradle an ultra bright 7kw bulb, which projected the image 60 metres across the courtyard.
(Jim Evans)
