Israel - The X-Factor reality show is a multinational singing competition originated and created by Simon Cowell in the UK. Since then, many countries have adapted the format and began airing their own national version, including Israel.

For the first time and for the first season, X-Factor Israel took place at the primetime of the Israeli Channel 2 TV network. The first show of the season drew a record rating of 40% - the highest rating ever made for a music show.

The whole season was lit by lighting designer Dakar Azulay and lighting operator Yaron Shush, who relied on the Vector Reds and Vector Ultra Violet consoles.

The final show on January 14th was one of the biggest events in the Israeli TV. Therefore, a high standard of performances was expected in all aspects, especially in terms of the lighting. The two Vector Reds, one Vector Ultra Violet and one Vector PC Wing as

UK - Blackout provided extensive draping for this year's star studded National Television Awards (NTAs) held at the O2 Arena, 22 January 2014.

Broadcast live on ITV1 and hosted by Dermot O'Leary, the glittering ceremony saw TV's biggest stars out in force for the 19th annual event. The evening saw Coronation Street steal the show, taking home the serial Drama Award and Geordie duo Ant and Dec triumphed picking up a handful of gongs, including the Entertainment Presenter Award for the 13th consecutive year.

Contracted by NTA producers Indigo Television, Blackout installed black wool serge drapes 82 metres wide with an 18 metre drop, to create the desired effect for the TV broadcast. The drapes were shaped around the large 19m by 9.5m screen, which was the focal point of the show, with additional drapes used to mask off the arena to create the environment for the spectacu

UK - There's little doubt that Maroon 5 are riding high at the moment. This is a band who radiate confidence and self-assured accomplishment in their live performances. Here in the UK and Europe in January to complete a date sheet interrupted by front man Adam Levine's TV commitments to the US version of The Voice, another outfit might have opted for a pared down version of their stage production for just a few shows. Not so for Maroon 5. With a stage set, laser show, video and lighting design by Eric Wade, a veteran of the likes of Usher, Mariah Carey and Eric Clapton, this was a show to blow away all of those January blues.

"I am using a ton of Clay Paky fixtures on this show," says Wade, "probably the most ever. There are Sharpies, Alpha Profile 1500s, Alpha Wash 1500s and Sharpy Washes. I really, really like the Alpha Wash which I specified when I origi

UK - Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity have been breakdancing around the UK's biggest arenas in a dynamic show entitled Limitless. Lighting designer Neil Trenell's beat-perfect show design, featured sophisticated pyrotechnics and a backdrop of stunning video visuals, all cleverly punctuated with intense bursts of light from an array of Philips Showline LED SL NITRO 510s.

Trenell's lighting trusses carried a number of LED wash and profile fixtures, peppered at regular intervals with Showline SL NITRO 510s. Although he only used 14 in total he used them in a multiplicity of imaginative ways including full on audience blinders, single snare accents, and flash flares.

"Incredibly, the SL NITRO 510s make it looks like there are at least 100 strobes on stage - not just 14," explains Trenell. "I'm impressed, you get serious bang for your buck from th

UK - Successful UK pop band JLS completed their final tour just before Christmas complete with a bold and vibrant lighting and visuals design by Dave Lee and lighting equipment for the tour supplied by HSL to live producers, Production North.

As the four members of JLS - JB Gill, Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold and Ortisé Williams - are moving on to pursue solo careers and new projects five years after bursting onto the music scene as runners up on the 2008 X-Factor series. Since then they have had numerous number one hits, completed four major tours and sold over 10 million records worldwide.

Both HSL - where the account was project managed by Mike Oates - and Dave Lee have been involved right from the start of JLS's meteoric career, seeing the band grow and develop into a pop-tastic tour de force that has entertained audiences everywhere.

Mike Oates comments, &

UK - NL Productions, the Edinburgh-based events arm of Northern Light Stage and Technical Services Ltd, has become a major stockist of Clay Paky fixtures in Scotland following a considerable investment with the manufacturer's UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions.

NL Productions has purchased 30 of Clay Paky's latest industry-leading luminaires, including A.LEDA WASH K10s, Sharpys, Sharpy Washes and Alpha Spot QWO 800s.

"There aren't many Sharpys in rental stocks this far north yet," points out NL Productions' hire manager John Pike. "We were keen to introduce the Sharpy into the Scottish events market and felt we were well placed to do this. Our top level clients are very aware that the Sharpy is delivering many of the looks of the moment and they are keen to use them on their own events."

In fact, since the Sharpys and Sharpy Washes have been added to N

Italy - Following a successful Showlight in the Czech Republic last year, and with a little over three years to go to the next one, incoming Showlight chairman John Allen has announced that Clay Paky is to be the main sponsor of Showlight 2017.

Organised by lighting professionals for lighting professionals, Showlight exists specifically to give people time to talk, to discuss ideas and to mix with some of the best known names in the lighting industry. It is only the support given by companies such as Clay Paky, by providing generous 'seed' money, that enables Showlight to take place.

Pio Nahum, marketing director of Clay Paky, said, "It is a big honour for us to bring Showlight to Italy. Our country has had a great influence in the development of performing arts and related technologies - you only have to think of how famous Italian theatre, opera and ballet are. For cent

France - Top French TV lighting designer David Seligmann-Forest for Lite4life again specified Robe products to light the popular reality TV show MasterChef France, series 4 of which was recorded at La Plaine Studios, St Denis, Paris, and broadcast on the TF1 network.

Seligman-Forest has lit all four series of MasterChef France for producers Shine France. The MasterChef franchise is the world's best loved TV gastronomic phenomena - and he has used more and more Robe lights over the years on this and all his other work. Robe is definitely his moving light of choice.

For the three months of shooting the MasterChef France 4 episodes in the special studio workshop, his lighting rig contained four Robin LEDWash 1200s, 39 x Robin LEDWash 600s, 20 x RobinLEDWash 300s and eight of the small super-quick-and-bright Robin LEDBeam 100s.

"It's absolutely essential to ha

UK - Bristol-based lighting and rigging rental specialists Fineline celebrates the start of 2014 with a rebranding exercise, complete with a new-look logo and website to consolidate a last quarter investment strategy that is focused on offering new and innovative technologies and imaginative solutions to its growing portfolio of clients.

2014 is the third year that Fineline - originally established in 1988 - has been running under new, lively and energetic independent ownership, with a management team led by MD Rob Sangwell.

The company has built up a reputation as a leading lighting and visuals facility in the South West region - encapsulated in the new strap-line 'Professional-Creative-Trusted' - and works nationwide in the UK and worldwide internationally.

Sangwell explains, "Three years ago, a new era in Fineline's history was launched with the buy-out and implement

UK - Television lighting director Lee Allen has quickly adopted SGM's new highly efficient P-5 LED washlight as an essential part of his inventory, after being introduced to the fixture by rental specialists Richard Martin Lighting (RML).

The West London based moving light specialists had made a substantial investment in the product in time for the BBC's fundraiser Children In Need late last year, and when they demonstrated the attributes to Allen he was quick to earmark them for the children's programme Blue Peter, for which he is LD.

The second longest-running TV show in the UK (having first aired in 1958), the evergreen British children's programme, an essential part of Children In Need, was shot outside the new MediaCity studios, at Salford Quays in Manchester. Lee explained why he was so enthusiastic about using this low-profile light, which came supp

South Africa - ETC's South African dealer Prosound has supplied a Source Four XT external fixture to illuminate a statue at the entrance to the Lejwe la Metsi game farm in South Africa.

Kobus van Rensburg, owner of home automation company Electronia, which carried out the installation, explains, "The new villa at the farm, where visitors come to observe wild animals, has some amazing features; one of them is a bronze leopard that runs across the water at the western side of the house."

Very high profile VIPs are regularly entertained at the game farm, so it was important to have the statue looking at its best.

"We tried various types of lights but couldn't get sufficient illumination on the statue," explains van Rensburg. "The problem was that when it was viewed from inside the villa at night, glare on the inside of the windows hid the outside water

Denmark - In late 2013, Martin Professional put out a call to lighting designers around the world, whether a professional lighting designer, small-venue producer or industry newbie, to share their passion for the lighting industry. With hundreds of entries, a one-minute-long video from 22-year-old Ricardo Dias from Portugal managed to convince Martin he was the most passionate member of the lighting industry. His creative approach to lighting earned him, along with his father, a round-trip visit to Martin headquarters in Denmark for a two-day tour of a lifetime.

Dias' creative approach to lighting design was the most impressive point of interest to Martin. The recession continues to impact the lighting industry in Portugal, so the lack of proper equipment forces Dias and his crew of four friends to be creative when hired for a gig. During events, the team has to make on-the-fly

UK - Entertainment lighting specialist White Light has announced the appointment of industry veteran Ken Berreen as the company's distribution sales manager. Ken brings to the role more than 30 years experience with lighting and sound technology having worked at all levels of the entertainment industry. Previous roles include project management, lighting design, installation, hire, and sales experience most recently as European sales manager for well-known stage lighting manufacturers.

"I am happy to welcome Ken to White Light," says Peter Threadgold, White Light sales director. "His experience on all sides of the industry makes him a great addition to our team. I look forward to working with him as White Light continues to grow."

In his new role, Ken will focus on delivering White Light's innovative products and quality customer service to both new and exi

UK - Welsh language TV Network S4C commissioned the return of popular entertainment series An Audience With which was produced in co-production by Boom Pictures and Mr Producer in late 2013.

The series was recorded at Cardiff's Enfys Studios over the course of a week. Each programme contained musical artist from Wales, plus their guests in front of a live studio audience. Boom Pictures engaged their regular lighting director Steff Jones and his team on the production. Steffan was also asked to consult on the design of the LED and screen technology used to form the set.

Originally, the series was to be produced at ITV Wales's Studio 1 facilities but due to unforeseen last minute circumstances, Boom Pictures had to relocate the production to Enfys Studios.

"Originally we were set to be loading into ITV Wales, which is a much larger space than Enfys Studios," s

Benelux - With the start of a new year comes the start of a new arrangement for Robert Juliat in their distribution network as AED Distribution takes on the role of official distributor for the Benelux countries.

The agreement came into force on 1 January 2014 when AED Distribution took on responsibility for the Netherlands, having represented Belgium and Luxembourg since 2011.

AED Distribution will cover all markets but are especially excited at the prospect of supporting the theatre market with Robert Juliat products.

"We are very happy to bring the full range of Robert Juliat products to the BeNeLux territories, and in particular to the theatre market", comments Hans Vanderheijden, MD of AED Distribution HQ. "From single lens luminaires and profiles to followspots, Robert Juliat's range covers every requirement from the smallest to the largest venues."

USA / UK - PLASA has announced the launch of its International interactive job board. With its focus on the creative industries, the PLASA Job Board offers its members - and the creative industries at large - an easy-to-use and highly targeted resource for online employment connections.

"We're very excited about the PLASA Job Board because we know how critical it is for employers in the industry to attract first-rate talent with a minimum expenditure of time and resources," said Kacey Coffin, Director of Membership for PLASA worldwide. "And it's important for us to help enable smooth career transitions for our members and those seeking industry jobs."

Both members and non-members can use the new PLASA Job Board to reach qualified candidates with members receiving special pricing. Employers can post jobs online, search for qualified candidates based on speci

UK - Live entertainment sustainability consultancy :entertaining sustainability is partnering with energy measurement experts Measure My Energy to provide their full range of sophisticated, web-enabled smart energy meters.

The system, which is perfectly adapted for use in either performing arts buildings or supply chain warehouses has been developed to deliver easy-to-read live consumption information for electricity, water and gas direct to buildings or facilities managers securely over the internet.

The information gathered can help drive down energy use by identifying exact wastage points. Logical grouping of areas, departments or buildings is easily achieved, with detailed reports easily created to show weekly, monthly, annual or custom period usages.

SMS or email alerts can be sent to key workers in the event of defined parameters being met - be that, for example, unexp

Italy - An all-Robe moving light rig took its place in the ring for the 2013 Golden International Circus Festival which ran over three weeks through December and January at the Theater Tendastriscie in Rome, Italy.

Lighting designer Massimo Tomasino added his own touches of magic and spectacle to the various high energy performances with 24 x Robe Robin Pointes and 24 x Robe Robin 600 LEDWashes.

Some of the best international circus acts in the world were presented by Liana Orfei in the show produced by Golden Production Srl to thousands of delighted circus fans as the event celebrated its 30th season.

Tomasino takes up the story, "I chose to combine these two excellent Robe products because I knew their potential was exactly what I needed."

He's used LEDWash 600s many times before on tours, concerts and musicals, however it was his first time incorporating Robe'

Spain / The Netherlands - Among all the products for AV installers and integrators that Work is presenting at ISE 2014 (stand 7-M176), UDA 16, the array configuration column, is "probably the crown jewel", the company says.

"This new concept of column loudspeaker with line array shape provides many advantages for integrators: controlled beamwidth for almost all frequencies reproduced by the column which leads not only to minimise undesirable effects induced by walls and ceiling reflections (reverbs and echoes) but also to excellent results in reverberant acoustic conditions and a perfect music and speech intelligibility," says the company.

Another attractive launch prepared for Amsterdam will be the new series of active and passive subwoofers Z15 and Z18. This new series is composed of four models, Z15 (single 15"), Z18 (single 18") that can be co

UK - Lamp and LED lighting specialist CLD Distribution has announced a comprehensive new range of retrofittable direct replacement LED light sources called Integral.

This reflects the growing demand for LED technology across a broad range of industrial, commercial and domestic sectors, and CLD's focus on staying at the forefront of this fast changing world by offering the most innovative and high quality LED lighting solutions. These help save money and the environment.

The Integral LED lamps are constructed using cutting-edge LED technology and the best components available, which sets them apart from the rest.

The range is available in a wide variety of popular types, Wattages, dim and non-dim versions and warm or cold whites. The types of fixture include PAR16, MR11s and classic light bulb replacements.

Recreating the much loved and familiar output properties of traditi

Mexico - Ending their 2013 El Objeto tour in style, well-known alternative rock Mexican band Café Tacuba played their last show of the year at the Palacio de los Deportes arena in Mexico City, for first time using 14 new Robe Robin Pointes, recently purchased by local rental company, Meridian Pro S.A de C.V. The Pointes were located right behind the band forming a line upstage.

The band's producer Sergio Serrano - who also has his own lighting and video company, LED Project, in the same city - commented that they are always looking out for the newest products that will keep the company at the forefront of the latest technologies.

"I saw the Pointe and proposed we used these for the last show to the band's German LD, 'Tiffy' Castellanos, who agreed and also really likes them. It's a fixture far better than others available on the market, and that's what we al

USA - With a soaring roof that's distinctively shaped like a nine-point star, Valparaiso University's Chapel of the Resurrection is a fabled landmark to passing motorists on nearby US Route 30. By some accounts the largest collegiate chapel in the US, boasting a 98ft high circular chancel, the 55-year-old structure is also 'big' in terms of the interior illumination challenges it presents - which is why Jeff Hazewinkel, director of the Centre for the Arts at the Indiana university, specified Chauvet Professional's award-winning Ovation E-190WW LED ellipsoidal for a recent lighting upgrade to the facility.

The Ovation E-190WW units made their debut in grand fashion, illuminating the 2013 Valparaiso University Christmas Concert, a beloved musical tradition in the community for more than 80 years. Attended by some 2,500 individuals, the concert featured the Valparaiso University Ch

USA - The EWDMX IP Transceiver is a wireless DMX transmitter/receiver and the next generation of powerful wireless DMX control from Elation Professional. Compatible with all previous Elation EWDMX and W-DMX products, this new unit offers full RDM support and comes in an IP65-rated enclosure for outdoor use.

The EWDMX IP uses W-DMX G4 protocol for reliable dual band operation and is an easy way to connect remote fixtures to a DMX system. It offers a fast and easy way of connecting and setting up a lighting system and is especially useful for a lighting system with hard to get at fixtures as no cables are required.

The EWDMX IP saves time and reduces expensive downtime by eliminating the hassle of having to run 100's of meters of cable, deal with loose connections or have riggers fasten and troubleshoot cables. The EWDMX facilitates both set up of the lighting system and lightin

South Africa - Durban's Barnyard Theatre, found in the Gateway Shopping Centre, Umhlanga, has thrilled audiences over the past year with one good production after the next. This steady flow has enabled the well run theatre to recently purchase additional gear including a grandMA2 Port Node, 10 Longman Stagebars, six Longman LED parcans and 80 new connectors and cables.

"Since the equipment arrived, we have received great compliments," said Eduard Biermann, who heads sound and lighting. The fixtures have been used to light the backdrop on stage, and it now jumps out."

The gear was purchased from Nick Barnes from DWR Distribution, Durban. The Stagebars in particular, with the colour changing LED properties and strobe effects, has created eye candy to jazz up shows. DWR's Nick Britz provided training for the grandMA2 Node, giving Biermann a boost of confidence.

H

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