Large format projections specialists E\T\C supplied 7 PIGI 6Kw projectors with double rotating scrollers for Major Sir Michael Parker’s “Music on Fire” extravaganza, staged at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. The event was specially devised and produced by Parker to mark the 60th anniversary of the Army Benevolent Fund, with the second night attended by HM The Queen. Projection was a major element of the 2-hour mixed media show, which also featured stunning pyrotechnics throughout, music from the Orchestra of the Royal Artillery, plus lighting and sound. E\T\C’s Ross Ashton has worked with Parker on a number of occasions in the past, including the renowned Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, when he made history as originator of the first official projections for Buckingham Palace.
Ross Ashton also projected onto Buckingham Palace for the Brightening Up London project last Christmas/New Year, and The Queen is known to be a big fan of the medium. Parker wanted high impact graphic accompaniment to his storyboard and specially selected music programme, which unfolded the history of the Army Benevolent Fund – narrated by Timothy West.
Projection was the ideal visual vehicle, and the 120 metre wide, cream-painted Old Academy building was the perfect projection surface. The transparent-backed stage was positioned in front of the Academy, allowing the audience on the field in front a clear view of the whole panoramic vista. Projection ran for the entire second half of the show. The installation was designed by Ashton, and the 7 projectors, were positioned 50 metres back from the building, spread out just behind the rear-of-stage. Parker wanted to be able to achieve both specific effects and cross-fades. The latter normally involves utilising two complete sets of projectors, and in this case would have required a total of 10. However Ashton was able to devise a method of maximising the impact and keep within the budget which ran to 7 machines.
By beaming a third projector onto each side wing of the building, they could fade to a two-slides or a two-slides-and-centre look, thereby always keeping an image on the building before scrolling on to the next full ‘widescreen’ look using all 5 machines. Parker had very definite ideas about the images he wanted for his storyboard. Most of the content was researched, compiled and created as projection artwork by Paul Chatfield working for E\T\C. Images included dramatic moody swastikas, Union Jacks, the white cliffs of Dover, mass graves, faces and numerous other pictorial depictions that kept up the brisk pace, rolling along with the music and pyros. The projection was programmed and operated by Karen Monid using PIGI’s PC-based OnlyCue system, Other E\T\C crew on site were Andy Murrell and Paul Supple, and Paul Highfield handled the project’s logistics. Major Sir Michael Parker comments, “E\T\C’s projections were as good as I expected, and lived up to the excellent work they’ve done at Buckingham Palace”.
Show lighting designer was John Pope, with equipment supplied by Essential Lighting. Sound designer was Paul Keating, with a VDOSC system from Delta sound, and the pyro was designed by Wilf Scott and Keith Webb from Pyrovision. An MTFX Firedance flame jet system was also in action, operated by Mark Turner. Summit Steel supplied SmarTmasts for flying the PA and for rigging seating stand lighting, and the technical production director was Christopher Venn. | Click on the pictures for the large version |
