E\T\C projects for Marco Borsato
Large format projection specialists E\T\C are supplying 12 PIGI projectors and crew to production company Sightline for a series of major concerts by Dutch superstar Marco Borsato.
The projectors are creating an image covering a large rear cyc measuring 70 metres wide with a 12 metre drop for the multi-platinum selling artist, who is currently playing a sold-out 10-show run at Arnhem’s Gelredome stadium. The enormous production has consumed 55 trucks worth of gear across all departments and will have been enjoyed by over 350,000 people by the end of the run.
E\T\C is once again working with scenic and visual designer Bart Clements, who has created the show’s awesome production design in collaboration with Stefaan Desmedt. This is based on a multi-layered architectural montage of complimentary and contrasting video and projected images.
E\T\C’s Ross Ashton says, “Its great to be working with Bart again. He’s highly innovative and always pushes all the technical and creative boundaries of what’s achievable with projection”
The PIGI’s are being rear projected, and run as 6 doubled up pairs, each with a double rotating scroller. This gives the option of having two sets of contra scrolling images going on with all 12 machines being in two sets of 6 cross-fading pairs … or the projectors can be overlaid on top of each other for a double brightness image
All the content and original images for projection were created by Bart Clements and his graphic design team (totalling 7 including himself and Desmedt). E\T\C took these and converted them into PIGI artwork and films, ending up with approximately 30 metres of film for each projector, giving 80 different PIGI looks of which 60 are utilised in the show.
Clements’ design has taken the classic design ideas of form and shape and created them with video and projected images. Because of the way this is physically layered onstage, and textured by the use of different surface materials, the set takes on a truly 3D, almost holographic, super-wide look that is simultaneously intricate, intimate and epic.
The set up time was incredibly tight. E\T\C’s crew chief Andy Murrell arrived on the Monday and marked up the positions and the power runs. The load in commenced on Tuesday, and a non-stop 48 hour PIGI programming session – all done on PIGI’s OnlyCue computer based system - began on Tuesday evening, ready for the dress rehearsal on Thursday. This was followed by the first show on Friday.
E\T\C supplied two crews and two programmers (Steve Cameron and Karen Monid) for this gruelling period – who worked in shifts to ensure that those working were always fresh.
Now set up, the kit is being looked after by Adam Masters, Michael Barry and Steve Cameron for the 2 week run.
The E\T\C crew is also working closely with the team from XL Video Belgium who are supplying the high resolution LED screens and some specialist scenic LED set elements.
Marco Borsato’s “Symphonica in Rosso” show is being production managed by Tammo Van Brakel for Sightline. Lighting is supplied by EML from Belgium and sound by Peak Audio from Holland. | Click on the pictures for the large version |
