Chauvet enhances National Geographic Encounter
- Details
Located in Times Square, this 60,000sq.ft multi-media experience digitally takes visitors on an entertaining and immersive adventure across the ocean, from the South Pacific to the coast of California, where guests can get up close with dozens of species, including mischievous sea lions, sharks up to 20’ long, a 50’ Humpback whale, a battle between two ferocious Humboldt squids, and much more.
Adding to the immersive environment in the multi-room experience is an elaborate and detailed lighting design by Lightswitch that features a collection of over 200 Chauvet Professional fixtures, supplied by 4Wall Entertainment. Used throughout Encounter, the fixtures add colour and texture to its key scenic elements.
“Video is also a major storytelling element in Encounter, but the reason it works is that all of the design elements, including the lighting design, work as a whole,” says Howard Werner of Lightswitch. “The lighting not only sets the scene for a movie to play, but also is in sync with the video and the audio elements of Encounter. This synchronization is what creates a cohesive design and fully immersive experience.
“In addition, technology provides us with tools as designers, and sometimes video is the right tool to create a feeling,” adds Werner. “When that’s the case, we work to support the video with light to create a complete experience for the audience and extend that experience off the screen and throughout the space.”
As an example of this interplay of video and light, Werner points to a battle scene between the two ferocious Humboldt squids. This scene extends beyond the frame of the audience’s peripheral vision, with the action volleying between two video screens on opposite walls. In this case, the design team uses lighting to direct guests toward the screen where the action is taking place.
Lightswitch was initially brought into the project by Falcon’s Treehouse, who was hired by SPE Partners, creators and developers of Encounter. “We worked with Falcon’s Treehouse and SPE’s world-class global team to create this first-of-its-kind entertainment experience,” says Werner. “At the same time, all of us also kept an eye towards budget and sustainability.”
Over 150 COLORado 1 Solo RGBW fixtures are positioned at various points throughout Encounter to wash areas with deep blues and greens, as well as other color fixtures to enhance its realistic effect. “The COLORados are great lights for projects like this,” said Werner. “They are small, versatile and relatively inexpensive with short lead times.”
The Lightswitch team also deployed 27 Ovation E-910FC RGBA-Lime colour mixing ellipsoidals and 16 COLORdash Accent Quad LED units throughout National Geographic Encounter.
In addition to the Chauvet Professional fixtures in the experience, six Abyss USB water FX units from Chauvet DJ are also installed throughout Encounter.
(Jim Evans)
