Robe helps Slovenia on its way to Eurovision
- Details
A stunning lighting design by Crt Birsa amazed audiences – both onscreen and live – for which Crt utilized over 200 Robe fixtures on the rig including Spiiders, BMFL Blades, Pointes, MMX WashBeams, Squares, LEDBeam 100s, PARFect 100s, CycFX 8s, LEDWash 600s, ColorSpot 1200E ATs and a single Robin 600E Spot … supplied to the show by Slovenia’s largest rental company, Event Lighting.
Crt worked closely with set designer Greta Godnic to create a striking visual environment for this high-profile show, which was broadcast live on Slovenian national TV in threeparts – two semi-finals and a grand finale – each attended by a live audience of around 1000.
Crt is one of the country’s leading LDs and gets involved in many of RTV’s (Slovenian National TV) largest and more complex shows.
When Greta and Crt were initiating the designs, they wanted to involve the whole room in the show rather than separating the stage and set from the venue. One big harmonious performance space was a key aesthetic goal.
The imposing set comprised three giant grey industrial style crosses each side of stage – six in total - that resembled huge hammers laid on their sides.
Twenty-four MMX WashBeams were on the front trusses and also under the control of the National TV operators. They were picked due to the blades and positioned as they were, could light both the stage and the green room areas immediately in front of it.
The 36 x Pointes were the main show effects lights. The trussing design formed three main diagonally orientated squares (like the Diamond in a pack of cards) with 16 Pointes in the outer squares and eight on the inner one which they dubbed ‘the chandelier’ due to it having the greatest concentration of lights. The other 12 were around the front and to the sides of the stage.
Twenty Spiiders also made their presence felt. Sixteen Spiiders formed the middle square and were used as secondary effects lights. Usually Crt combined them with LEDBeam 100s and Squares. The other four were used to wash the venue ceiling with colours to match the set.
Crt ran the lighting on a Chamsys console. He had to programme for 26 live performances and create a wide range of general and signature looks for the show to help with atmospheric tasks like ramping up the tension when awaiting the results, razzamatazz for the winner announcement, plus looks for all the ad breaks, stings, jingles and other sound, vision and time fillers used during the broadcast.
Den Baruca created the video content for most performers, with a few providing their own, and Crt enjoyed working with Event Lighting and their crew, chiefed by Uros Faganelj. “They are one of the best lighting rental companies in Slovenia, and did a great job! Everything ran smoothly over the three-week period, and their team has all the technical knowledge needed to do this complex job.”
Event Lighting’s large stock of Robe kit has been supplied by Slovenian distributor, MK Light Sound.
(Jim Evans)
