"The museum and specifically the Whale Room are very active, so the biggest challenge was having time in the space. We needed to be flexible with our schedule and footprint," Warren-Wisniewski said. "It is also a very old building, so many of the conveniences in new buildings just aren't there - for instance, there is no real loading dock where a large truck will fit." Acting as on-site manager, Warren-Wisniewski dealt with a myriad of issues so Brill could concentrate on the design.
Also instrumental were staff lighting designers Dan Rousseau and Wolfram Ott, who assisted Brill during the lengthy preproduction phase and load-in. According to Rousseau, "CNN Heroes isn't a simple awards show. There were presenters, multiple video clips of the Heroes (which involved different cues), two musical performances, and various stand-up positions throughout the room. The shoot was accomplished with four ped. cameras, three handheld cameras, two jibs, and a steadi-cam. The event ran as if it were being televised live with breaks between blocks."
The rig consisted of Vari*Lites, VL 3500 Spots, Martin MAC Viper Performances, Martin MAC Auras, Clay Paky Sharpy Profiles, Chroma-Q Color Force 72" Strips, ColorKinetic Color Blast TRXs, Selecon Studio Panels, and 200 linear feet of star drop from Rose Brand. Everything was controlled by a MA2, programmed by Mike Appel.
The different fixtures, combined with a large video screen, made balancing the luminosity and colour temperatures tricky. After much refining, the team settled on 75fc and 5200k. "It was a little blue," said Rousseau, "but with the various light sources it was critical to get the colors to match." Thus working closely with the video department was key to creating a polished, balanced final product.
Stage Call Productions provided the IATSE Local One labour. "These are some of the best Local One guys in the city," said Brill. Ott echoed his sentiments, "Stage Call hires some of the best. I have come to really respect and appreciate the value those guys bring. They make all the difference." Chris Daily, owner of Stage Call, assembled the team.
Chris Szabo served as gaffer. 4 Wall Lighting Rentals of New York provided the equipment; Showman Fabricators built the set.
(Jim Evans)
