Lighting designer Martin Kubanka specified Robe moving lights for the 2011 Miss Universe Slovak Republic beauty pageant, which was staged at the Sibamac Arena at the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava, and broadcast live on the main national TV channel, RTVS.
Slovakia's leading rental company Q-99 supplied lighting, sound and AV production for the event, and with Kubanka clocking up an impressive 13 years of lighting the show, the use of over 100 Robe fixtures ensured that he had all the creative tools he needed to keep reinventing and refreshing the show year on year!
The set was designed by Michael Klang and featured 75 square metres of high resolution LED surface, over 70 square metres of medium resolution LED surface and 60 square metres of LED floor as well as the extensive lighting rig. The set was 'stepped' on 5 different levels and the far wings were shaped to resemble speaker horns. It had a stylish flourish and took the light very well.
The Robes were a mix of 46 x ColorSpot 1200E ATs, 18 ColorWash 1200E ATs, 18 x ColorSpot 575E ATs and 16 ColorMixes, most of which were dotted all across a large overhead trussing grid – comprising over 240 metres in total - which was installed above the stage and the audience. The balance of the fixtures were positioned on the stage floor.
The Robes were the work-horses of the rig and had multifunctional roles – for general lighting as well as for specials and set washing. They were also used to create atmosphere, mood and to provide contra-lighting for the TV ‘white lights'.
Specific units additionally had their own individual positions to highlight the 12 contestants when they were all standing on their marks onstage for certain sections of the show.
A row of ColorSpots 1200s was rigged in a trough separating the back and front parts of the stage which were interconnected both sides by the steps.
Say Kubanka, “There are certain basic lighting rules when it comes to beauty shows, obviously it has to look glamorous and gorgeous ….. and it has to be lit so the contestant's flesh tones are perfect for the camera.” Over and above that he has the challenge of making the show look new and different each year. "I have to say that I have not yet run out of new things to discover using the Robes and I have never stopped experimenting," he explains.
The different sections of the contest were punctuated by a variety of different guest artists and performers, all of whom needed theatrical lighting.
In addition to the moving lights, the rig included a large selection of generics, LED fixtures and a white light package. Lighting was operated by Michael Schmidt using a grandMA full size console, with another one run by Thomas Lecky dealing with sending video content to all the onstage video surfaces and set video elements.
Kubanka has been a committed Robe user for many years and it's still his favorite brand of moving light, “Robe products are reliable, versatile and offer lots of creative scope,” he says. Q-99 bought into the Robe brand right from the start, and has a large stock that is used constantly. They service a whole variety of shows and events including many of Slovakia's top TV shows.
He likes the way that Robe's technology is constantly evolving and they are trying out new ideas and listening to requests and suggestions from those at the ‘sharp end' of the business. He is eagerly awaiting being able to incorporate some of the new ROBIN fixtures in his designs, specially the LEDWash 600s.
The director for Miss Universe Slovakia 2011 was Thomas Eibner and the DoP Vladimir Durcansky.
Dagmar Kolesarova was crowned Miss Universe Slovakia 2011, and will represent Slovakia in September at the Miss Universe 2011 final in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
For more press info. on Robe Lighting, please contact Louise Stickland on +44 (0)1865 202679/+44 (0)7831 329888 or Email ‘[email protected]'. For more product and general info, check www.robe.cz or call + 420 571 751 510.