The votes are in, and Chicago's Grant Park will never be the same. Barack Obama's riveting 2008 victory speech rang through crowds, as MA Lighting's grandMA consoles (supplied by overall Lighting Contractor - Christie Lites) took front row. A.C.T Lighting is the exclusive distributor of the grandMA in North America.
States lighting designer Bob Peterson: "The Obama campaign provided the statement for the directive, which was to elegantly transfer from the exuberance of the campaign to the seriousness of the presidency. What that meant to me," he explains, "was to deem victory night a serious and strong historical evening."
According to Peterson, "we massaged our single look over a course of three nights. The primary component was to light the President Elect to his very best advantage, then cleanly illuminate the 100,000+ people in the park, all at exposures that would allow the skyline and city to be a backdrop in the network cut shot." Several disciplines of equipment including Martin, SyncroLite, and Musco were specified and the team then spent a lot of time programming, so that the hang and focus of each instrument was carefully layered.
"I worked with programmer/director/operator Kevin Lawson to decide which consoles to use," says Peterson. "He chose grandMAs."
The MA Lighting grandMA console provides quick-and-ready solutions for applications such as theatres, concert touring, clubs, television, musical events, amusement parks or cruise ships. It can control moving lights, conventional lights, and effects, as well as LEDs and video - even when working in real time with maximum channel count. It provides a truly flexible and comfortable programming and operating environment, and is capable of controlling huge numbers of devices efficiently and virtually effortlessly.
"I think grandMA," claims Peterson, "is really becoming the console of choice for me. The stability of the platform has proven excellent on everything I've had it on." He revels in his aesthetic memory of the momentous occasion: "I honestly believe the images from that night are going to be in the history books!"
Robert Roth of Christie Lites adds, "It was a tremendous honor to be involved in this moment of American history. Everybody was extremely professional. We had a tremendous lighting team and the MA consoles were as usual the stalwart solid platform that they always are.
C3 Presents (Austin, Texas) was the event producer.
"To be part of this historical event is an honor. To be part of this event given the fact that Bob Peterson was the LD is a point of professional pride. Bob has been a great one for a long time," comments A.C.T Lighting President and CEO Bob Gordon.
About A.C. T. Lighting
A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T. Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its clients. For more information call 818-707-0884 or visit www.actlighting.com.