Paddy Burnside was again Vertigo’s project manager for the event. This year the company rigged two ‘goalpost’ screen supports, constructed from James Thomas SuperTruss, in front of the Odeon’s two side billboards, onto which were flown LED screens supplied by Light Media Displays. The trussing supports were braced back to the building using chemical fixings, and the base of each leg was encased in a three-quarter tonne concrete block, clad in plywood - these latter, cast at Vertigo’s workshop in Bermondsey, to comply with Westminster Council requirements.
On the North East and South West entrances to Leicester Square, Vertigo rigged two further 7m wide by 7m high goalpost screen support structures, also built with 52cm Thomas truss. Above the external VIP seating block, they installed a 4m by 6m box truss frame with 7m legs, complete with a tented roof underneath. At one end of this, they suspended Mr. Weasley’s flying car, which had previously been delivered to Vertigo’s warehouse, where it was rigged onto a custom-built hanging frame, and transported to site for rigging. The company also fixed various catenaries around the truss in the Square from the truss in front of the cinema to the seating block, providing cable runs for all other production departments including video, lighting, sound and power.
Vertigo’s crew chief on-site was Matt Davies. Their client was event producer West Design, and production management was by Andy Cheeseman.
(Ruth Rossington)
