Drake commissioned Blackout to design and supply a host of acoustic black-serge drapes, which were deployed on the new series of Channel 4's blockbuster, 'Big Brother'. Paul Drake says: "The time-scale to supply the acoustic drapes was extremely tight. Blackout were great to work with and provided the perfect practical solution, softening the acoustics of a highly reverberant set into a functional live broadcast environment."
'Shattered' was the show investigating the effects of sleep deprivation on contestants living in a purpose-built studio. Here, Blackout transformed the old warehouse location at London's Tobacco Dock into a live studio environment. A range of bespoke black-serge drapes were designed, supplied and rigged to create the blacked-out studio environment where the contestants were filmed. Additionally, Blackout masked the building's exterior using black PUFC waterproof drapes, disguising masses of cables and creating more aesthetically attractive camera views.
They also supplied a host of gauze drapes to minimize reflections through the windows. The location-based 'white' room, used by the fleet of medics, sleep scientists and psychologists was fabricated from white filled cloth, also designed and installed by Blackout.
Recognized for their can-do approach and creative insight, Blackout has also supplied a variety of drapes, Kabuki systems and LED starcloths to LWT, BBC, Carlton, Sky and Granada on shows as diverse as Top of The Pops and Casualty.
(Jane Cockburn)
