The visual centrepiece of the setup was a large upstage LED screen made up of 448 Elation EPT6IP LED video panels. The 6.7mm pixel pitch LED screen, which served as a visual backdrop for the performance stage where cheerleader routines took place, measured 58.80 ft. wide x 33.60 ft. tall (28 panels wide x 16 panels tall, 2688 pixels x 1536 pixels). The LED wall was big enough that a standard image would not fit the screen size so images were seamlessly integrated using four simultaneous video inputs. Processing was handled by four EPT VSC video processors and John Stem, head of video at Gemini, implemented the video design flawlessly.
The large LED screen was used to display static images, such as NCA logos, but was also used to show intro videos for each team and was active during breaks to show a variety of other video content such as info clips, sponsor loops, commercial content and promotional cheerleader videos.
The EPT6IP is a rugged IP65-rated panel with 5000 Nits of calibrated output which was plenty bright for the large amount of competing lighting in the NCA rig. It features 14-bit grey scale processing for a high quality picture with excellent detail and its broadcast-quality 1,920Hz refresh rate meant the screen showed no flickering during the CBS broadcast. "There were really no problems with the screen," said Gemini's Jason Cain, who served as lighting and video designer and has gathered quite a bit of experience with the panels since their purchase, including on Slayer's 2015 summer tour. "The screen looked great - the contrast and brightness is excellent and the resolution is nice."
Several Elation lighting fixtures were incorporated as part of the large lighting package. These included Cuepix Blinder WW2 white LED blinders that were mounted on a horizontal downstage truss and used for camera white light. Additional Cuepix Blinders were used to light promotional banners on each side of the stage.
Pointed at the audience from vertical truss towers on either side of the stage were ACL 360 Rollers. Used to provide eye-catching ACL-type beams were Platinum Beam 5R Extreme moving heads located on a proscenium truss while Platinum SBX hybrid moving heads worked from the floor and overhead truss.
Elation LED video screens & broadcast product specialist Red Walter was on-site for any technical needs. "We've enjoyed a long relationship with Elation and their support has been second to none," stated Gemini video specialist John Stem. "Elation has gone out of their way on several occasions since I've been with Gemini in respect to tech support, backing their product, and making sure Gemini shows using Elation equipment come off to our clients' high standards."
(Jim Evans)
