The most imaginative display was at BBC Television Centre, where for the third year running Screenco were equal to Christopher George's design for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, sending video constantly streaming around the studio in a liquid pelmet. Screenco provided three screens in widescreen format to take the long camera shots, hiring in Barco i8 and i10 high-brightness modules from sister company Creative Technology, which they configured respectively into a single 7.2m x 4m, and two 4.9m x 2.7m walls.
Screenco then supplied four long 1.2m deep panel strips - two in 13.8m lengths, one at 9.7m and the fourth measuring 4.9m - for the studio perimeter. These were alternately broadcasting strips of video footage, generic graphics and liquid effects.
But it was at London's Docklands Arena that Screenco broke the LED record - fittingly at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. Contracted by production company Nine Yards, Screenco's vast 156-module, 25mm screen (pictured) measured 21.13m wide by 7.32m high, making it the biggest indoor LED high-brightness display ever seen in Europe. It provided an innovative solution for Done and Dusted, who were responsible for the production and design.
With all the risers set behind the screen, a large 8.1m x 4.88m door, positioned in the centre, raised and lowered on varispeed dual-brake motor hoists - provided by Unusual Rigging and operated from a laptop. The screen content was played out from a separate production gallery, which Screenco occupied within CTV's scanner. Four digital motion effects panels enabled the I-mag to be used either full frame or as individual windows, receiving various VT play-ins and graphics.
In between times, Screenco moved north - to Manchester's MEN Arena for the Top of the Pops Awards. Just 24 hours ahead of the event the Manic Street Preachers requested three vertical columns, mounted on dollies, as a screen destination for their generic film. While the three 800mm x 3.6m displays - spread equidistantly - remained static during the show, it was imperative that they could be moved swiftly off set at the end of the performance.
"This unusual request demanded an overnight response," reports Screenco project manager Steve Purkess, "and we managed to fulfil the band's wishes with a little help from Concept Staging, who provided the structural support." Taking feeds from the BBC, Screenco's main display consisted of a 15mm I-mag measuring 5.76m x 3.6m, situated upstage centre, and four 42" plasma displays, relaying the action to the backstage area.
