Thousands of dedicated fans flocked to London to celebrate the latest instalment in the Star Wars franchise, where Stormtroopers and Jedi knights joined the cast and celebrities for the biggest premiere of the year.
Utopium illuminated Nelson's Column, transforming it into a giant light sabre. Utopium provided 24 Clay Paky Mythos, three MDG One atmosphere machines, four Studio Due City-Color LEDs and two Studio Due City-Beams to create the spectacle.
In Leicester Square, the cast and crew were joined by celebrity guests as the area was transformed into a space-themed venue. Utopium installed 120 tonnes of ballast to stabilise the 26 masts supporting 175m of 52cm ST header truss, from which the lighting, 10 x 29sq.m video walls supplied by VER, and over 1,000sq.m of black wool serge drapes were rigged.
LED lighting illuminated the entire length of the red carpet, the Empire and Odeon Cinemas and the stage set where the world's media captured the stars. To achieve this, Utopium provided 68 SGM P5s, 12 SGM P2s and 8 SGM Q7 luminaires: the effects were achieved using 50 Chauvet 230 SR Beams, 24 Chauvet RH1s, 12 Martin MAC 2000 Washes, and 12 Chauvet 412Zs.
The installation was designed and project managed by Utopium's Colin Bodenham, who comments: "This was such a spectacular premiere to work on and we are proud to have been contracted to provide the lighting and rigging for this prestigious event. Star Wars is all about dynamics and future tech, which gave us great scope to be creative. Illuminating the 52m high Nelson's Column to create a giant light sabre the moment the premiere ended was a unique finale to the evening."
(Lee Baldock)
