For the in-your-face, hi-energy performance - more akin to an AC/DC or Offspring gig than a pop show - the video is directed by Ruary Macphie (who's other 'recents' include Robbie Williams, David Gray). He's using one of XL's three-camera packages for IMAG, with one camera at FOH and two in the pit on track-and-dolly, to produce action-packed visuals that match the band's intense energy.
There are two side screens, and a large 60sqm LED screen onstage. All screens take a collage of IMAG and pre-recorded visuals throughout the show. The VT insert material- an eclectic mix of graphics, treated and manipulated promo videos, and specially shot footage produced by The Field - was co-ordinated by Peter Barnes. This all runs off a Catalyst digital media server, controlled by lighting designer Graham Feast via his WholeHog 2 console, with the output sent to MacPhie to output to screen at the relevant times.
The set builds to a loud and exciting climax with the onstage LED screen splitting spectacularly into three jagged - pyramid style - sections for the encore. This gives the space a totally different look and feel as some of the upstage lighting trusses move in to blast through the gaps in the screen. After the screen split, the Catalyst runs in a specially configured mode, still showing a complete picture across all three sections.
The IMAG images of each band member also appear intact across the three screens - even though the VT has been jig-sawed to fit the pyramid shapes. This is done using a Magic DVE video effects machine. Throughout the show, all three cameras are fed to the centre screen and then sub-switched - consuming all three mix effects on Macphie's GVG vision mixer - so they also appearing on the side screens. The sub-switching continues throughout the show, and is done by John Steele. XL's crew on Busted are Macphie, Steele, Mark Antoniuk, Dan Ormerod and Jon Shrimpton. Lighting is supplied by LSD Fourth Phase and audio by Wigwam.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
