Promoted by Palm Plus Events, the event featured an Anglo-Dutch cast of boy and girl bands, including Girls Aloud, Big Brovaz, Liz McClarnon and a host of Dutch artists. Mindful of the fact that the stage design had to resonate with an audience of 6-12-year-olds, Philip Pelgrom's team sent block slabs of colour to the Versa TILE flats, with recognizable, rasterized computer images (such as the audience would find on their PS2 and Xbox games), leaping across to the lo-res MiPix walls. Graphic or live camera feeds (from Fox Kids' 12-camera PPU) to the 25mm pixel pitch central display completed the moving tableau.
JVR's Jeroen Jongenelen said that although his company had been involved with this show for the past three years, this was the first time they had broken with convention by integrating three leading-edge screen displays. It was the result of setting up a Versa TILE demo for the lighting designer in their Roosendaal showroom and providing a number of still images of MiPIX.
The idea was rubber-stamped by Dennis van der Haagen at Sightline Productions - who was responsible for co-ordinating all the technical services. The stage in the 10,500-capacity venue was in-filled with four Pioneer 50" plasma screens with a 61" plasma relay anchored in the Interview/Green Room outside the auditorium.
Philip Pelgrom knew instinctively how he could maximise each LED display. "We wanted to create a set made up entirely of video and lighting, and I went for Versa TILE in order to create a 'poppy' look filled with bright colours. At the same time I wanted to create a lot of contrast between the different systems so I staggered the displays, which also enabled the camera crew to get side shots."
Using Versa TILE as the basis of the virtual set also allowed him to go full-on with ambient effects. "Because there is a limitation in the resolution it means that logos won't work. However, it does allow us to create a rasterized 'computer games' feel. "As for MiPix that has more of a digital feel and we use that as a live input. But it is also very bright which enables us to build a bridge between the lighting. But it's all about maintaining continuity."
While the moving lights were run off a Wholehog desk, CrateTown's VJ crew were hard at work on a specially-developed multi-layered DVE hardware/software system (known as Robin), using two identical Korg MIDI keyboards for record and play out. This allows them RGB control with the ability to create filters, colour correct and provide video animations. "Using the DVE Editor we can make complex DVE cues - we can either use that to control the media or DMX it, which we can then lock to the lighting desk if we have a lot of programming time at our disposal. We can build a complete show of effects and take one cue and make it a complex as we want."
The technical team working alongside CrateTown and JVR Audiovisual for Sightline Productions included the tried and trusted Ampco Pro Rent (who supplied the PA and control), Chain (lighting), Stageco (staging), Frontline (rigging) and Mojo Barriers. The event was televised worldwide, with Mark van Ierssel managing the production.
(Lee Baldock)
