Germany’s Next Topmodel goes live with GLP
- Details
LD Manuel da Costa and his team from mdc licht.gestalten were responsible for the lighting design of this lavishly equipped show. Additionally, in collaboration with the video technicians, he oversaw the technical settings of the cameras and supported creative producer, Joy Hayat Berhanu and her team, in the individual productions of the show.
Manuel describes the setting for this year’s finale: “The real problem was the non-existent audience,” he reports. “In the past few years we have always been in large, full 10,000-seat halls for the final, and the show naturally thrives on the atmosphere. In order to avoid producing the show in a huge, but empty hall, the decision was made to go to a smaller studio, but without sacrificing the size of the set, because we wanted to keep the familiar set of recent years. So we just shortened it a bit and symbolically replaced the absent viewers with cut-out figures in the set.”
Manuel chose GLP fixtures to light the show. While a matrix of 180 impression X4 along the entire length of three catwalks provided the basic colour scheme for the broadcast, 28 JDC1 hybrid strobes and 14 of the brand new JDC Lines provided the punch and effects.
The JDC1 was used as a cover behind the LED entrance wall, where it functioned in many forms to generate a special effect. The designer regularly relies on the powerful hybrid strobe. “I appreciate the many possible uses of the JDC1 as a classic strobe, as an LED effect or a panel light. The tilt function, and last but not least the decent punch, make the JDC1 a versatile, really well-rounded affair.”
With the 14 new JDC Lines, which GLP key account manager, Oliver Schwendke, had offered the designer for a field test, Manuel was able to provide a spectacular visual finish above the LED wall.
The new devices were originally only intended for a single production, but things turned out differently. “We actually only wanted to use the Lines as part of the Philipp Plein production, but we recognised the strength and potential of the fixtures on site, and consequently decided to undertake a redesign so that we could use these versatile devices more frequently,” explains Manuel.
The JDC Line will be available in lengths of 500mm and 1000mm in the future. The shorter version was used for Germany’s Next Topmodel, but Manuel says he already has ideas for which the 1-metre version is ideal. “I think with its simple fixing, giving the designers the opportunity to expand the presentation, it has great potential. I will definitely use them again as my interest is certainly aroused.”
In addition to Manuel da Costa (LD/Lighting cameraman), the mdc licht.gestalten team included Jonas König (LD/moving light operator), Dennis Muhl (video operator), Viola Weinert (server cluster), Tobi Petzold (lighting technician), Ludwig Laudan(keylight operator) and Christoph Dahm (technical planner).
(Jim Evans)
