Almost 300 Robe lighting fixtures
were used to illuminate the 2017 Total Production International (TPi) Awards
produced by TPi Magazine, part of Mondiale Publishing and staged at
Evolution in Battersea, central London on Monday night.
The event honours some of the best creative
and technical achievement in the world of entertainment technology and was
hosted by comedian, writer and actor Russell Kane – for the third consecutive
year – who opened with a side-splittingly funny stand-up routine getting guests
in the mood for another highly memorable TPi Awards.
Robe used the opportunity of being
in front of the entire industry to launch a brand new lighting fixture – the
pixelPATT – featuring 7 x 30W RGBW LED multi-chips, one in the centre
surrounded by a ring of six, housed in a super-slim and lightweight brushed
metal frame – which extends Robe’s PATT range of elegant retro styled
light sources.
20 x pixelPATTs graced a spectacular
lighting rig designed by Nathan Wan, together with other new fixtures including
the Spiider LED wash beam and the Spikie, and favourites like Pointe,
ColorStrobe and DL7 range profiles and fresnels.
The starting point for the lighting
design was the shape of the screen / set created by FIX8Group.
A large V-shaped truss was at the
centre of his idea, and this zig-zagged across the room maximising the headroom
and the lateral space which was 40 metres wide, adding an architectural look
and context that pulled the 1450 guests into the action with the lighting.
To get some height variation, 16 of
the 20 x PixelPATTs were hung on drop arms off these V trusses, with another
four flanking the stage each side on floor stands. The distinctive flower like
shape was great eye and camera candy, and they became the signature look of
this year’s show.
The pixels are all individually controllable,
so as well as being a cool looking light source in its own right, there’s great
potential for mapping effects.
Another new piece of Robe technology
was the Halo pixel ring of which there were 42 in total fitted onto the
front of Robe PARFect 100s. Twelve on a front truss pointed into the audience,
complimented by the other 28 hung on the two runs of the central V truss also
on drop arms.
The Halo rings were run via inbuilt
macros created by Robe giving a mellow rippling kinetic effect greatly adding
to the dining atmosphere.
Nathan explains that the challenge
with this format of events is always producing a comfortable environment for
the dinner section of the evening. “Guests need to be able to see their food
and each other, but you have to ensure it’s also intimate and cosy it’s a lot
more complex than it sounds!”
While eye candy and visual interest is
incredibly important for creating good vibes in the room, for this event in
particular, there’s also the consideration that the whole industry is looking
at the production with a critical eye!
The workhorse lights where 54 x
Spiiders, Robe’s hugely successful wash beam luminaire launched at the end of
2016. Dotted all over the trusses, during the dinner these helped the pleasant
tungsten look, and when the Awards started, they swept across the massive room
with big bold colour looks.
Forty-two Pointes were also deployed
on the trusses, used for all the effects and sharp gobo work to compliment the
Spiiders. \”You can never run out of unique and interesting combinations
with Pointes,\” says Nathan.
Plenty of effects lights joined the
party. Sixty Spikies – a small, super-fast
LED WashBeam – were deployed – 18 for the stage, nine on a truss
above and nine in a line upstage on the floor – for dramatic aerial beam work.
The balance were on the main V truss where they were ideal for whizzy room
effects.
The 20 x ColorStrobes were rigged on
the over stage trusses and the side V truss spans, bringing high-impact and
razzmatazz to the visual picture bright and powerful enough to hold their own
against the big LED back screen.
Last but by no means least was the
all-important key lighting and for this Robe’s DL7S and DL7F LED luminaires –
positioned on the front truss – were chosen for their great colour temperature,
highly accurate tuneable white ranges and flesh tones.
All this was controlled by an
Avolites Arena console running the main moving and effects lights and a Tiger
Touch II for all the keys and camera lighting.
Time was – as ever – another
challenge necessitating serious pre-visualisation. The physical get-in was on the Sunday, and there was just
one overnight programming session as the room was in use the next day for the
TPi Awards’ first daytime event.
Nathan and FOH team – comprising
assistant LD Kieran Hancox and lighting director Andy Webb – worked closely on
site with Evolution’s house lighting suppliers Hawthorn and their project
managers Tom Ring and Paul Bird who were “fantastic” says Nathan.
Kieran, a Professions Production
Skills student and finalist from Guildford School of Acting, operated the main
console for the show with Andy taking care of the keys and camera lights.
Andy and Nathan frequently
collaborate on shows, amalgamating their experience and imagination from the
worlds of theatre and rock ‘n’ roll respectively.
For Kieran, it was the first time
he’s had a chance to work on a major prestigious large-scale project like this,
and one with so much tech at his fingertips for which he rose to the occasion with
great style! “It was an awesome opportunity and a completely invaluable
experience,” he commented.
In addition to supporting the show, Robe’s UK and International teams and their guests
– occupying 7 tables – enjoyed a fantastic evening and Robe again sponsored the
‘Favourite Lighting Rental Company’ Award, which was presented by CEO Josef
Valchar and won for the fourth consecutive year by Neg Earth Lights.
Other
winners of the night included Fredrik Jönsson (Lighting Designer of the Year),
Rob Sinclair (Set Designer of the Year), Ola Melzig (Production Manager of the
Year) and Oli Metcalfe (Des Fallon Video Visionary Award), while the Royal
Albert Hall won the ‘Favourite Venue’ category. Entec director and head of
lighting Noreen O’Riordan won a well-deserved ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award for
services to the industry.
The TPi
Awards also remembered the too many ‘absent friends’ who departed in 2016 in a
show stopping evening that was a fitting celebration to their incredible characters’,
lives and contributions to the industry.
Josef Valchar stated, “We were
delighted to support another amazing TPi Awards and catch up with so many
friends and colleagues. The event continues to grow, develop and we are very
proud to be part of honouring the companies, individuals and innovators who
have so much passion, commitment and imagination that are driving our industry
forward.”
http://www.robe.cz
Photos : Louise Stickland
