Robe at the City of David Lightshow
- Details
Lighting was designed by Micha Margalit and delivered by Danor Theatre and Studio Systems who won a tender issued by the Israel Government Tourist Corporation (IGTC). Further, Danor was also asked by AVS Creative - who co-ordinated all the project’s multimedia aspects and the integration between light, sound and projection - to work on the actual physical lighting installation.
Challenges included dealing with the difficult topography and the specific positions where lights needed to be rigged, managing the cable runs with diligence and care and negotiating the environment which is both an active archaeological excavation and a popular heritage site and tourist destination.
All this entailed a very complex operation to integrate the lighting and maintain the integrity, history and significance of the site.
The team at Danor worked closely with Micha the lighting designer and proposed a Robe solution for the entertainment elements that support the 45-minute projected show.
Danor has also supplied hundreds of LED lights dotted around the two sites highlighting the architecture, excavations and the totally unique spaces.
The multimedia show is divided into two sections and takes place across two sites; the Givati Parking Lot and Area G - overlooked by the charismatic predominantly Palestinian hillside neighbourhood of Silwan - which are a short walk apart. It unravels some of the myths and mysteries of Jerusalem’s compelling and colourful history.
“Convincing the IGTC and others involved from the City of David site to use moving lights in these two shows was exacting, and especially sensitive due to the site’s proximity to Silwan village, so it was important that the houses there were not affected by any light pollution or spillage from the show,” Micha comments.
The 16 x Pointes and six DL4S Profiles in Area G were chosen as the most flexible and reliable options for show lighting, and are installed in weather domes, all in extremely inaccessible positions.
In addition to the jagged and majestic stonework, the DL4S Profiles illuminate the trees and foliage around the slope, changing the colour and texture throughout the show and dramatically outlining the projections.
Danor provided lighting programmer Ronen Ben Harush to work with Micha on fine-tuning the lighting once the final video content was edited and completed working closely with the AVS creative team (CEO Malki Shem Tov) on each scene to evoke the right atmosphere and enhance the narrative.
Danor project manager Ronen Binschtock worked closely onsite with Guy Grosman, PM for AVS, dealing with the crew, scheduling and the practicalities of making the installation happen in a timely and efficient manner, while Erez co-ordinated the substantial administration, logistics and communications involved in a project of this stature.
The Compulite Vector lighting controller is linked to the overall show control system which is timecode triggered from the soundscape.
(Jim Evans)
