This year the event was lit by Nicholas Michaletos from l technical solutions provider, Sound Stylists, who supplied lighting equipment and crew for the show.
Robe moving lights were at the core of the rig for the event, which was broadcast live on SABC channels 1, 2 and 3 as well as SuperSport.
Michaletos worked closely with set and production designer Wayne Sproule from Pendragon Dezign, with whom he's worked very successfully on previous projects including the Sports Awards of Gauteng at the end of 2011 for the same client - producers Warren Bowles Corporate Communications (WBCC).
They were very keen to keep this visual continuity with the PSL Awards, and so asked both back in the same roles.
The Robes - Robin 600 LEDWashes and ColorSpot and ColorWash 700E ATs were all supplied by Johannesburg based Sound Stylists - the company has a large hire stock of several different types of Robe.
The design brief was to keep the look clean, uncomplicated and functional. The LEDWashes were placed downstage on booms just off the stage apron, and used for low, angular cross lighting and side highlighting.
The ColorSpot and Wash 700E ATs were rigged overhead on the stage fly bars and used for general stage lighting / washing and specials, as well as to illuminate three elegant scenic arches that defined the shape and form of the stage and presentation area.
Lighting generally also complemented the striking looking set and the action happening onstage, with the set ideally lending itself to dynamic colouration.
Multiple plasma screens were integrally mounted on the two front arches, with a bank of four plasmas hung left and right between these same two arches, and an LED screen at the back, upstage of a third arch.
Michaletos comments, "Using the Robes, was a real pleasure, particularly the LEDWash 600s with their selection of CT whites, which makes them extremely camera-friendly and in this case ideal for mixing with the Source Four front key lighting."
The range of colours available from all the Robe fixtures also meant they could easily match lighting colours and looks to that of the video playback content.
Show lighting was programmed and run on a Road Hog Full Boar console.
(Jim Evans)
