CPL streamlines broadcast event for Tropic
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Staged at Kinetic Studios in Corby, UK, the design was turned around and approved in a short timeframe for the biannual event, known for its razzamatazz and high production values, which has been delivered online since the start of the pandemic.
All production elements were sourced by the CPL including the location and a crew of 30 headed by Lee Gruszeckyj.
The client was keen that absolutely no compromises were made in presentational quality for the transition from live in-person to live digital, and upping the game from the spring event, a new zoom gallery of 400 invited guests was integral to CPL’s studio design.
“The set aesthetic was inspired by Ant & Dec’s SNT (Saturday Night Takeaway) variety show and various breakfast television formats, with a bit of 24-hour news channel hustle. Effectively we created our own televisual environment,” explained Lee, who helped mould the look and co-ordinated all the necessary technical logistics including building the set in the studio and the broadcast transmission.
On site, everything started with the rigging installation which entailed the construction of a completely new grid, so all 6m of max headroom could be utilised. The three large LED screens were also flown on the first day and the laminate floor came in to cover the full width of the space.
The main screen was 20m wide and included a gap with a staircase for walk ons and exits, with another ground supported section of LED immediately behind making the gap seamless.
disguise media servers were supplied and programmed with video playback content, graphics and other stings, and the d3’s 3D modelling was used to build and present the concept to the client.
Five operated Sony HD cameras included one on an 18ft jib fitted with a wide-angle lens to catch the impressive wide shots, and the set design featured an inbuilt ‘camera pool’ area so these could be quickly and easily deployed around the space as needed for different segments. Calling the shots was the broadcast’s producer / director Nigel Harris.
Primary key lighting was achieved using Gemini LED Litepanels, with ARRI L7 LED fresnels for back light.
Astera Titan Tubes – running wirelessly – highlighted some of the vertical stair balustrades, adding depth to the picture, and Robe LEDBeam 150s rigged either side of the staircase were used in conjunction with confetti cannons to boost the general excitement and anticipation for entrances.
Additional Astera tubes were ensconced in the bespoke display cabinet constructed for the new products.
Six Robe Spiiders coloured and textured the studio floor together with Clay Paky Mythos for further gobo layering and spectral detail. All lighting was run via an Avolites Quartz console.
Providing audio was straightforward. Each presenter was double mic’d with Shure Axient lavaliers and they also had in-ear monitoring. CPL’s audio team pushed their Riedel Bolero comms system to the max, operating an open talkback system so Nigel Harris could talk directly to all the cameras and the presenters via their IEMs.
Loudspeakers were secreted behind the sofas for VT play-ins and Zoom wall volume.
