Road Hog 4 controls royal wedding coverage
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UK lighting designer and programmer Bill Peachment, Gaffin Riley and Will Plenty supplied four High End Systems Road Hog 4 consoles for Sky News’ live coverage of the 19 May event in Windsor.
It was a marathon for everyone watching and for the media covering it. While Peachment’s day started at 4am and stretched to midnight, he’s used to long days and was “proud to be a part of it." Activities surrounding the wedding were scripted to the minute, but anything could happen at a live event. Peachment wasn’t worried. He’s trusted Road Hog 4 consoles to see him successfully through his career of television and musical events in the UK.
"Live TV is a fast-moving environment," says Peachment. "We don’t get rehearsal time, so button pushing has to be minimal to get the desired effect and the Hog is good for that."
Peachment, Riley and Plenty own and supplied the Road Hog 4 consoles, positioning two at each of two locations: at the top of Windsor Castle for the site of the wedding, and along the Long Walk - a two and a half mile (4km) path that served as the main part of the open-air carriage parade after the ceremony. Midway along the Long Walk, Sky News set up an open-air tent where the reporters interviewed special guests.
"We needed the consoles because we were constantly adjusting the lighting from sunrise to sunset. I spec'd Road Hog 4 because I and other programmers on the event use them. The good thing in that situation is they are very data solid. Every key stroke is written to the hard drive. If we lost power, we wouldn't lose programming. Everything worked great. It was a simple show."
(Jim Evans)
