The tour unfolds Michael Jackson's artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing his creative genius for the first time, the show "captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations".
VideoBlades, a result of an alliance between Lighthouse and Pix2o, is a large-scale LED video display technology that straddles the worlds of video and lighting in the entertainment, events and architectural markets. VideoBlades 12 provides a 12.5mm pixel pitch, modular LED video screen that delivers "superb image quality both indoors and outdoors, with a literal twist...".
VideoBlades 12 comes in two formats, SkyRoll and GroundRoll, which can be deployed by rolling up or down from its patented rotating structure. The modular format allows for the seamless formation of large-scale screens limited in size only by a customer's needs. VideoBlades 12 was selected as the best new video product at LDI 2010.
For Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour, over 2500 VideoBlades create the nearly 200sq.m of LED Video display that is the show's main display surface. For the show, the VideoBlades are deployed in three main ways:
Six GroundRolls seam together in pairs to build the massive up-stage screen that presents music videos from the Michael Jackson's past, as well as other vivid content.
The set's main stage is made of thin transparent plexiglass that covers the surface of 42sq.m (560 VideoBlades). While the LED video plays, dancers perform and set pieces move on top of the main stage. At select moments, the entire main stage hinges up to wow the audience with even more video surface.
The final piece of the set employing versatile VideoBlades is a column that splits into two separate pieces, exposing another 260 VideoBlades.
In total, the tour uses eight GroundRolls and 10 Stage Segments. Roughly 3.6m LEDs are used to create the various stage surfaces, but it requires only one video technician and a few stage hands to rig and assemble the VideoBlades portions of the set.
(Jim Evans)
