The show's lighting was designed by Martin Kubanka, and the equipment included Robe moving lights as the main 'workhorses' of the rig.
Miss Universe is one of the most popular programmes on the Slovakian TV calendar and enjoys massive ratings. It is organised by former Miss Slovakia, Silvia Lakatosova-Chovancova, and her company the In Agency. This year the set was designed by Michael Klang, the show was directed by Thomas Eibner and the DoP was Vladimir Durcansky. It was also broadcast live in the neighbouring Czech Republic.
Kubanka has lit the show 11 times previously. This year he had to illuminate the 12 contestants to look fabulous on camera, light four live diverse performances including Kristina, Slovakia's 2010 Eurovision Song Contest hope; Slovakian rockers Gladiator, chart topping singer Zuzana Smatanova and Czech superstar David Koler plus a lively dance medley section.
The Q-99 team installed 180m of trussing in the roof over the stage and audience onto which the lighting and LED was flown.
Lighting consisted of 16 Robe ColorWash 1200E ATs and 48 ColorSpot 1200E ATs, 18 ColorSpot 575E ATs and 18 ColorMix 575 ATs, along with a selection of Source Four PARs, blinders, LED moving lights, 3K Falcon Beams, LED strips lighting the side of the stage, and LED blocks illuminating the set steps.
Eight of the ColorSpot 1200E ATs were upstage on the floor, used for bold beam effects and sweeps into the audience. The rest of the ColorSpot and Washes were distributed across the overhead rig, and utilised for a mix of stage washes, gobo texturing on the floor and set materials - some giant scatter cushions and a skirt around the stage made up of a special reflective and translucent material, which picked up the light very well. The colour mix units were positioned under this stage 'skirt'.
The ColorSpot and ColorWash 1200s were also used for key lighting in specific positions. These rigged onto side trusses protruding into the auditorium were used for sweeping across the audience.
Michael Schmidt (lights) and Thomas Lecky (video) worked with Kubanka on the programming, using two grandMA full size consoles.
From a rental company angle, Marek Adamik from Q-99, which has a large stock of Robe, comments, "These lights are incredibly tough and reliable - they are ideal for what we need as a busy rental operation, and are proving outstanding value for money."
For the first time, Q-99 also used their new L-Acoustics Kiva/Kilo system with SB118 subs, all driven by new LA8 amplifiers. Enjoying another Slovakian premier with Q-99 was their new LED flooring modules from RGG in Latvia.
(Jim Evans)
