Live Design Magazine: Dirk Sanders, technical designer for Control Freak Systems (CFS), worked on both the arena and the stadium versions of Bon Jovi’s Because We Can Tour, putting together the complex video control systems. On the arena tour, CFS worked with the lighting, video, and automation teams to configure a groundbreaking control system that redefined integration for video control. As Bon Jovi now drives into the stadium leg of the tour, Sanders explains that, though the two designs are vastly different, the integration of the control systems—this time between the lighting and the video—are no less complex.
3 comments:
I know very little about media so part of the article about the media server system went mostly over my head but the one part that really stuck out to me was the bit about the interaction between lighting and media. Pretty often I see shows where media and lighting aren't really all that cohesive so it was nice to hear that they made a real effort to combine the two into a more singular element. I also never really realized how different arena and stadium tours are. I didn't realize that the entire production design had to be reconfigured. The set for the stadium tour with the whole front end of a car looks really awesome.
Personally I think this article is really pushing the idea of lighting and video/ media control being one entity. I wont be surprised if one day we have a master show control computer that runs every aspect of a live performance . Who knows maybe a CMU Alum will be the developer? I also find it interesting that media and lighting seems to be converging as more and more lighting designers begin to explore media design and incorporate it as part of their lighting design. After all... projectors, screens, Led Walls, etc. etc are all pieces of equipment that emit light and are a visual component which must fit hand in hand with lighting.
Having been to a Bon Jovi show before I can say that the use of comprehensive media is no new thing for him. Unlike Philip and Sam I do not find it very surprising that Media and Lighting worked together so well. Maybe this is due to the fact that I often think of the two together in that Media often has to do with projections and to me that has a lot to do with light. Also if lights are shining on a projection there is little chance that it will be seen very well.
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