As part of the show’s huge technical set-up, Electrosonic Systems was commissioned to design a system which would reliably retain 35mm film clips produced for the Storm show, and display them on three screens. Crucial to the system was ease of operation in conjunction with live actors, musicians and dancers. Two of the screens are Saco LED (12ft wide x 9ft high and 8ft wide x 6ft high). The third is a Stewart screen 30ft wide x 38ft high with two Digital Projection 15SX projectors overlapping each other’s images to double the brightness.
Image processing is by an Electrosonic Vector, configured for six standard inputs, two standard outputs and 1 high definition output. Three Doremi JPEG servers store the source material. JPEG was decided upon as the correct solution, because the director of the show wanted to craft the material on the screens by starting or stopping on any frame in a video sequence and determine this in ‘real time’ during rehearsals. Two Cannon XL1 Cameras, using wireless antennae, are also used in the show, so that live images can be intermixed with the filmed images held on the JPEG servers.
Electrosonic C-through for Windows software is used on a PC to control the servers’ content during the show. The C-through computer has a timecode card which allows it to follow the timecode generated by the live keyboard player and keep the screen material in synchronization with the rest of the show’s dancers, singers and musicians.
The whole system was designed with contingency in mind: the operator has the ability to over-ride the standard show in emergency situations, with patchbays and other incidental equipment located at both the control booth and at the stage locations. Mirrored control is achieved with a mouse, keyboard and monitor and allows stage technicians to run the system from either below the stage, where the Electrosonic Vector is actually located, or from the control booth behind the audience. Mini LCD monitors serve as the ‘eyes’ into the theater from under the stage, and are also used to see the segments projected onto the screens above. A locking rack below the stage contains the Vector and other equipment and prevents unauthorized access to system control during the show and after hours.
(Lee Baldock)
