The band's established lighting designer, Cormac Jackson helped to develop their artistic vision involving a different way video can light the stage. Production manager, Bob O'Brien approached long time friend Mark O'Herlihy of PRG Nocturne to supply the video and custom designed products for the creative video solution.
As on previous tours Franz Ferdinand show their personality by using various production elements. For this tour they chose to experiment with the way they use video on stage. There were three custom-fabricated screens made of a reflective UV material, Mark refers to them as almost like "rotating, vertical, venetian blinds". These were the main target for the projectors to hit. Adding to these reflecting screens, the backline amps were also covered with a UV type material to enhance and increase the target area for the projectors. The band wore extraordinary suits made of a UV-based fabric which picked up the imagery from the video which created a very artistic stage display.
The media content for the video was controlled using a dual Catalyst system, Programmer Nick Malbon. To reach the Barco HD 20K projectors at front of house Mark supplied the PRG Nocturne proprietary fiber optic system. The system has been specifically designed to allow the DVI signal to run up to 500ft, which as a perfect solution considering where the projectors needed to be placed.
Mark comments on the artistic atmosphere that was created by the set up, "There was a distinct 'arty' feel that was created from the projections, with the bespoke screens and other reflective materials picking up the monochrome images, it was a very different way of doing things."
The simple, yet effective, video set up was looked after by a crew of one - Paul Barry.
Franz Ferdinand have since released two albums of their live performances at the Forest National in Brussels and the London Roundhouse.
(Jim Evans)
