Creative Technology provided 17 Digital Projection Lightning 28sx projectors to project video images onto a variety of projection surfaces throughout the venue. The most interesting surface was a 30ft tall ‘flute’ that sat centre-stage and also served as a scenic element. The flute, approximately 40ft in diameter at the top, narrowing down to 7ft at the bottom, was created out of white laser cloth, which is slightly transparent but still opaque enough to use as a projection device. Throughout the evening, images were projected onto the flute from eight 28sx projectors. The projectors were housed in custom-built hydraulic projection wagons enabling the projectors to tilt up and down, shooting video onto different positions of the flute. The main screen, also referred to as the ‘best picture screen’, was a 22ft x 30ft, 4:3 aspect ratio, Stewart, front projection screen, supported by three Lightning 28sx projectors. For added versatility, window framing was used as an overlay to give the screen the appearance of a 16:9 aspect ratio projection device.
Two custom fabricated 9ft x 16ft Stewart Aero View 100 rear projection screens, supported by four 28sx projectors, flew in and out from stage left and stage right on command. Finally, for audience viewing, a pair of 6.9ft x 12ft custom fabricated Aero View 100 rear projection screens were placed in balconies stage right and left supported by two Lightning 28sx projectors.
This is the third Oscar event that Creative Technology has been involved in and the 11th for Frank McMinn, vice-president of entertainment, Creative Technology Los Angeles.
(Lee Baldock)
