Netherlands – Lichtmacht (Light-Force) is a broadcast technical production and rental specialist based in Hilversum, The Netherlands, active in all related areas, including television, films, commercials, streaming, XR, AR, VR, and also engaged in high-end studio installations. The well-respected company provides expert crew, creatives, and the best and most appropriate equipment for numerous projects year-round.
Last year, they invested in Robe moving lights for the first time, with the purchase of 24 x SVB1s – a small, lightweight, high-impact effect, beam, and wash luminaire that looks great on camera in multiple contexts.
These were also the first SVB1s in the Netherlands at the time, explained Lichtmacht lighting designer Daan Thieme, adding that they like to keep ahead of the curve and have the latest technology available for their various projects.
The SVB1s were deployed almost immediately on Vrooooom, a Formula 1 commentary show aired live every Friday evening. This is broadcast from Nordic streaming service Viaplay’s studios in Hilversum before every Grand Prix weekend, available on their streaming service and free TV channel, Viaplay TV.
The one-hour episodes discussed daily highlights in a lively, informal style, comprising a Friday live link to the track for practice sessions and pit news followed by a Friday night ‘café show,’ then more live links to the Saturday qualifying sessions and the race on the Sunday.
Daan created two distinctive lighting looks to cover the four segments.
The first look had a more centralised and cosy feel for the pre and post-practice talks, focusing on the central studio positions while the rest of the space was darker; and the other one was a more relaxed Friday night bar / entertainment setting for the café show, which also included a live audience of around 60, encouraging interaction between race fans and the presenters.
This is specifically why they wanted to use the SVB1s, mainly for backlighting the audience and for cool back-of-camera effects like twinkling, bokeh and slow kinetic chases that look dynamic but subtle and interesting while not distracting.
Daan, a lighting professional of some 20 years and an expert in the worlds of feature films and broadcast, recalled how they had previously worked with other Robe products like the LEDBeam 150 and more recently LEDBeam 350s, and the original plan to vibe up the lighting for this series involved using these fixtures.
However, when SVB1 was launched, Daan, together with Lichtmacht’s general manager Loet Bol and operations manager Yuri van Houter, decided that it would be better – and edgier – to purchase and use the newer products. “We really wanted to keep the look of the show contemporary and crisp, and this was a perfect way to do it,” Daan noted.
He likes the fact that SVB1 is a small and versatile fixture like the LEDBeam 150 – that it can be fitted into any space – and that it has a host of additional characteristics, including continuous pan-and-tilt movement, and it also makes an excellent blinder.
The SVB1s were part of a lighting rig of approximately 150 LED units used on Vrooooom.
The stylish set was designed by a Danish company, and Daan had an open brief for the lighting design, which he matched using warm colours, complementing the wooden elements of the set.
Episodes of Vrooooom remain available via on-demand post-broadcast, enhancing Viaplay’s F1 coverage, which includes exclusive rights in the Netherlands through 2029.
Daan, Loet and Yuri all comment that it has been great working with Robe and their local Benelux distributor Controllux, and Daan is delighted with the additional texturing and effects he’s been able to create with the SVB1s and can see them staying in the studio for some time.
Photos @ Louise Stickland
