Controlling 64 universes of automated fixtures, Robert Sondergaard utilized four MA Lighting grandMA full size consoles and 16 MA Lighting NSPs to bring the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics Opening Ceremonies to life.
Installed at Vancouver, British Columbia's BC Place Stadium, the consoles ran at marathon lengths in preparation for the March event. Lighting Designer Sondergaard explains, “We had 4 full size grandMAs networked together without any problems. We had two operators/programmers who worked simultaneously, and we used one of our backup desks for tech work (resetting fixtures, patching and so on). Because the venue has a translucent roof we brought our previsualization suite with us and networked it in as well – this allowed us to build looks during the day and then we finessed them at night when the sun went down.”
“Our two operators (Shaun Forbes and Sharon Huizinga) come from two completely different backgrounds – Shaun does mainly programming for music numbers on TV shows and Sharon has an extensive background programming for theatre. Each had their consoles setup in completely different ways, but were able to store in a common cue stack for playback. Sharon took the early shift, building looks in our visualizer during the afternoon and running rehearsals until 11pm, and Shaun took the late shift going until 4am building the large music numbers. Our lighting department head, Jason Bolger (who designed the networking/patch system) used the consoles in the morning to trouble shoot with PRG crew. We were going almost 18 hours a day with the consoles.”
Joe Cabrera of ACT Lighting adds,“Whenever someone from Electric Aura calls our support line, it's never a simple question. It's always to find out the very best way to do something that pushes the envelope. They are constantly innovating, and always with amazing results.”
Also on Robert's Electric Aura team was TV Lighting Director Jason McKinnon and Followspot Director Alan Brodie.
The X Paralympic Opening Ceremonies were produced by Patrick Roberge Productions, directed by Patrick Roberge. Associate Director/ Head Choreographer was Joecelyn Peden. Director of Production was Nik von Schulman and Technical Director was Michael Scriven.
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