With a
loyal fan base in the UK eager to see their favorite wrestler vie for ring
dominance, American professional wrestling organization TNA Wrestling traveled
to England earlier in the year for a series of arena shows dubbed the
MAXIMUM IMPACT 8 Tour. Elation Professional lighting fixtures have been staples
on TNA Wrestling events in the UK recently with this year’s lighting package
predominately made up of Elation Platinum Beam 5R Extreme™ and Platinum Wash
ZFX Pro™ moving heads.
This year’s shows, which included an
extra layer of emotion as they marked wrestling legend Kurt Angle\’s final
bouts, were designed by
Emmy Award-winning LD Jeff Bornstein with Ian Livie, whose production company
has provided entertainment technology for TNA’s UK shows for years, assisting
with the design elements. Lighting operation was by Andre Huff.
Lighting Designer/Director Jeff
Bornstein has been with TNA on and off since its inception with his current
affiliation starting in 2006. He commented: “The Platinum Beams are an integral
part of creating a third dimension in lighting as they pierce the air like no
other fixture, have great color, sweeping movement, strobe, and prism
rotation. The Platinum Wash ZFX allows for lighting scenic elements, as well as
allowing for color area wash when a character treatment is appropriate.”
Bornstein says he has also used Elation Elar series PAR lights for nine years
as truss warmers “as no competitor has equal output.” He also uses Platinum
Beams on all his shows in the US.
The UK
shows, which played in Manchester, London and Birmingham,
were also recorded
for TV broadcast. Ian Livie explains the Elation lighting’s role on the event.
“Lighting was a major
part of the show as we really had to make a little look like a lot,” he says. “It
was a big show because of Kurt Angle’s final appearance. We had to create
excitement, create a busy look and the lighting was used to do that.”
Ian
Livie.com supplied all the production for the shows – sound, lighting, video,
rigging and set – the company’s ninth year as the principal vendor for TNA
shows in the UK. Livie, who has used beam lights on TNA events for many years
and was one of the first lighting designers ever to use beam lights when they first
came out, often turns to Elation’s industry-staple Platinum Beam 5R Extreme. “We
created an ambiance light show with a big, bold and beautiful design,” Livie
comments. “We used the Platinum Beam fixtures for principal wash and effects
for the entrance and arena. They gave the dynamic effect we wanted and have the
power to really cut through.”
The
Platinum Beam effects were used as the talent came into the arena at an
entrance area where four scenic towers held three Platinum Beam 5R Extremes
each. Additional Platinum Beams projected their narrow, dense beams from the
stage floor while more fixtures operated from above a video wall. “There was a
lot of ambient lighting that the Platinum Beam Extremes had to cut through, not
least from the LED video screens, and they did,” Livie states. “They are a
superior looking light with excellent optics and destroyed the arena.” Some 44 fixtures
were used in total.
Above
the wrestling ring on a hexagon ring and across three trusses – one 40’ truss
with a 26’ truss on each side – hung more Platinum Beam 5R Extremes along with
Platinum Wash ZFX Pro LED moving head wash luminaires used for audience
lighting. Focused up in a static blue look during the wrestling action, 24 of
the Platinum Wash ZFX Pro’s were used in total.
“Ian Livie and his crew are truly
the most dedicated, hard-working professionals I’ve had the pleasure to work
with,” Bornstein concludes. “They work tirelessly, maintain a great attitude,
handle issues as they arise and keep me informed of the status as needed.”
http://www.elationlighting.com
