Robe LEDBeam 350s play the TV game
- Details
The 32 LEDBeam 350s - the first to arrive in the Netherlands - were delivered to lighting rental company Eventec which specialises in supplying lighting for the television and broadcast sector by Robe’s Benelux distributor, Controllux.
Eventec works regularly with the show’s production company, Fabiola BV, and was asked to supply lighting and rigging for the series’ three-week shooting period at Westergas. The show action starts with 100 competitors who play a series of crazy games and knockout rounds until only one - the winner - is left standing!
Bas and director Bastien Angemeer discussed initial ideas for lighting, and Bas created the design based on this plus having an adaptable and versatile rig to be able to quickly cover multiple requirements of the fast-paced show and tight recording schedule.
Recorded in the Netherlands, this was a German edition of the show, so key elements included having a fuller and more prominent production that had featured in the Dutch version, and the director also wanted to be able to conceal props and scenic elements at strategic times with clever lighting and a few tricks while other games were being prepared.
A 20m diameter circular truss was installed in the roof space of Westergas mimicking its impressive circumference, and this was surrounded by a series of 21 x ‘arm’ trusses of two different sizes that alternated around the circular shape of the venue, in the space between the truss and the perimeter wall.
The LEDBeam 350s were positioned at the top end - nearer the outside - of each of the 21 x sticks of ‘finger’ truss, with a MegaPointe at the other end, and two Spiiders in the middle.
In addition to these, also on the lighting rig were another 82 Robe fixtures - 40 x Spiiders, 20 MegaPointes and 22 Esprites - plus other lights.
The Westergas floor had to be kept relatively clear of kit and set allowing the games to be set up, played, and filmed, so the Esprites were on trusses hung in the middle of the circular truss and were optimised for key light.
The remaining 11 LEDBeam 350s were deployed on the floor in different positions, used as punchy and flexible lightsources around the back wall that could be moved to wherever they were needed according to the shots.
A major challenge of lighting “99 - Eine:r schlägt sie alle!” was the speed at which games and shots needed to be set up and recorded. Bas needed to accommodate the director’s wishes and requests quickly and efficiently. He worked alongside lighting programmer and operator Thijs Benschop also from Light Image using a grandMA2.
