Opening in Melbourne this month, King Kong has been over five years in the making. Stage Technologies, automation specialists contracted by Production Resource Group (PRG), have been working closely with animatronic experts at Global Creature Technology to breathe life into the six metre tall silverback for the production.
Sonny Tilders, creative director at Global Creature Technology commented, "King Kong reflects a real maturing for 'Global Creature Technology'. With Walking with Dinosaurs we learnt how to walk, with How to Train Your Dragon we discovered how to fly and now we have combined them both in this very sophisticated puppet. Kong represents the culmination of a raft of technologies and techniques we have developed in our seven years."
Sonny will be co-presenting with Pete Quinlan from Stage Technologies on the behind the scenes process and technology involved in this most ambitious theatrical event of the decade.
"One of the most pleasing results of the project however has been working with Stage Technologies to develop a way of interfacing our two control systems. By doing this we have been able to utilise the strengths of each system, allowing puppeteers live control of not only the puppet itself but also the hoists and moving apparatus built by Stage Technologies. The result is a great combination of safe and reliable repeatability with the flexibility of live control. We had no idea how useful it was going to be until we started into rehearsals. It proved to be a real game changer and critical to so much of the puppet's performance," stated Sonny.
ENTECH 2013 event manager, Stephen Dallimore said, "We are delighted to announce this exclusive session on the program at ENTECH this year. We are always looking for ways to showcase how amazing our Australian industry is! What the team behind King Kong have accomplished is simply outstanding. I personally look forward to hearing more about how they bring to life one of the most technologically advanced puppets in the world - a one-tonne, six-metre tall silverback gorilla."
The session is on during ENTECH 2013, 23 - 25 July in Sydney. Tickets are only $39 and available now at www.entechshow.com.au
(Jim Evans)
