The lighting rig for the main showspace was designed by Darren Russell who needed a flexible and versatile range of fixtures to help deliver the high expectations of everyone involved, so he based this around Robe moving lights - BMFLs, Pointes and LEDWashes - plus a selection of conventional lights.
Darren says that with this many Robes on the rig this year, they could be properly creative with lighting over and above the traditional requirements for fashion events. "The brief was actually to make it more theatrical and edgy this year, so lighting played a much bigger role than previously," he explained.
Fashfest was the vision of founders Clint and Andrea Hutchinson in 2013 to bring a high profile red carpet fashion event to Australia's capital to showcase modern and emerging talent. This year the three-day event moved from May to October and was creatively directed by Cameron Ellis, involving a cast and crew of around 400 including designers, creatives, models, technicians and back-of-house-and-stage staff.
The main room this year featured a 44m long by 4m wide runway and at the start of this, in the 'entrance' position, was a stage for bands, DJs and other live performers. A 46m wide by 9m wide box truss was installed above to create plenty of flexible options on lighting positions, and a large LED screen at the rear of the entrance was framed by ladder trusses which were rigged with 11 of 16 Pointes added to the plot for hi-impact looks and effects.
The workhorse moving lights were the 32 x LEDWash 600s, 16 x BMFL Spots and four BMFL WashBeams, all rigged on the box truss together with some LED profile and fresnels 'conventionals'. "I wanted the lighting to echo the elegance, fun and creativity of the shows," says Darren, and these were all excellent choices.
The remaining five Pointes were rigged on the 'front' truss at the short end of the grid with the BMFL WashBeams also on this same truss for lighting bands and performers. The shutters of the WashBeams were "amazing" for shaping and defining light for specific areas.
The BMFL Spots and LEDWash 600s were positioned all around the trussing grid spaced so their focus could be maximised.
The front array lighting at the end of the runway - for amassed media, photographers and videographers - was a mix of LEDWash 600s and LED profiles and fresnels. Elite Event Technology also supplied audio, video, rigging, staging and power for the main showspace, the foyer, VIP areas and the entire building.
(Jim Evans)
