Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
01/03/2012

PSI Takes Out The Family Fortunes

Production Services Ireland (PSI)'s Dublin branch kicked off 2012 with the supply of full lighting production, trussing and associated rigging for two high profile TV series - Take Me Out (Ireland) and Family Fortunes - both recorded at the Helix Theatre, Dublin City University.
Andrew Leonard, lighting designer for both shows worked closely with console programmer and live visuals operator Peter Canning from High Resolution Lighting. PSI's project manager was Ciaran Tallon, and it was the first time that Dublin and Belfast based PSI has been involved with either show.
The series producer was Billy McGrath, and the production company in both cases was Sideline Productions for TV3. Twenty episodes of both shows were shot in two two-week slots, with a two-day changeover in-between, and the sets for each production were designed by Anita Barrett.
Take Me Out
The crew installed a centre box truss just in front of the stage onto which was rigged 30 VARI*LITE V*L1000 Tungsten moving lights for front keys to highlight each of the 30 girls standing in their pods. There were also 30 PixelPARs in the actual pod set pieces.
Upstage of this was a back truss measuring 21 metres wide. Running along each side of the auditorium was a 10 metre side truss, and above the FOH position were two 9 metre wide trusses giving additional audience lighting positions and for drapes.
Back lighting each contestant from the back truss was an ETC Source Four 15-30 zoom in white, and another Source Four 25-50 zoom in red. When anyone pressed their buzzer to indicate disinterest in the prospective date on offer, the appropriate Source Four would light up, plus the PixelPAR in the requisite colour.
These cues programmed by Canning were triggered via MIDI from the Virtuoso console which was integrated with the contestant’s buzzer system.
In addition to these fixtures, PSI supplied Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs & ColorWash 700E ATs, V*L3500 Spots, more PixelPARs & Source Four zooms, 1.2K fresnels, ARRI 2k & 1k fresnels, floor PARs, 800W Red-heads along with 30 x Chroma-Q Color Block DB4 LED battens.
Family Fortunes
In the changeover days, all the V*L 1000 Tungstens were removed and a VL 2500 spot package and extra Robe ColorWash 700E ATs were added. The trussing was reconfigured, with the back truss remaining, but the box being converted into straight lengths.
The set was also completely different.
For Andrew Leonard and the whole creative team, the challenges included delivering the best possible shows that were also comparable in terms of production values to the UK versions – but on a far more expedient budget!
For Take Me Out, this informed elements like his choice the V*L1000s for front key lights and Source Fours at the back, a look and effect that worked really nicely.
For Family fortunes, he explains that his aim was to deliver “Punchy pictures” which were well keyed, simultaneously dressing Anita Barrett’s Spandex set elements as softly as possible. Lots of LED and VL 2500s provided classic beam shots through the slightly hazed wide shots.
(CD/GK)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

11/04/2023
StreamGuys To Focus On Simplifying Live Constribution And Production Workflows
StreamGuys will bring its latest contribution to the media and entertainment industry to NAB Show 2023 – this time, with a focus on simplifying live c
11/04/2023
Crunchyroll Expands Cloud-Based Post-Production
SDVI and TMT Insights has announced that Crunchyroll, the international anime brand, has deployed the SDVI Rally media supply chain management platfor
29/03/2023
Riedel Strengthens Its Production Management Team
Riedel Communications has strengthened its Product Division management team with the promotion of Jan Eveleens to chief operating officer (COO) and th
04/09/2023
Agile Content To Present True Glass-To-Glass Media Production And Distribution Solutions
Agile Content is to return to the IBC show in Amsterdam where the leading provider of OTT digital TV and video distribution software will present its
30/08/2023
Chyron Brings Innovation In Newsroom Production To IBC2023
Chyron is to showcase innovative functionality across its news production solutions at IBC2023 (Stand 7.A45), with a focus on powerful new data-handli
24/08/2023
Vislink Showcases Live Production At IBC 2023
Vislink Technologies, Inc., a global technology leader in the capture, delivery and management of high quality, live video and associated data in the
21/04/2023
FOR-A To Showcase NDI®-Compatible Live Video Production Ecosystem
FOR-A is showcasing a fully NDI®-compatible live video production ecosystem at CABSAT 2023 (stand S1-M10, Dubai World Trade Centre, 16 – 18 May). The
21/04/2023
DHD TX2 Ultra-Compact Multitouch Audio Production Mixer To Debut At MPTS
The DHD TX2 ultra-compact multitouch audio production mixer will make its UK exhibition debut at the Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS), Olympi
20/04/2023
Grass Valley Expands Production Switcher Lineup
Grass Valley has announced a new product innovation within its Production Switcher product lineup. Grass Valley production switchers continue to lead
06/03/2023
FOR-A Supplies HVS-2000 3 M/E Production Switcher
FOR-A has supplied a powerful HVS-2000 3 M/E production switcher to the news studio of the Palestine Broadcasting Corporation. Replacing a life-expire
24/02/2023
KMBC Kansas City Relies On TVU Networks' Live Remote Production Solutions
When it comes to live coverage of the hometown football team's Big Game win and victory parade, fans expect video as dynamic as this year's matchup be
24/02/2023
Gravity Media Boosts Location Post-Production Solution
Gravity Media has announced its advanced location post-production solution in collaboration with Pronology's mRes. This innovative location post solut
20/02/2023
Mo-Sys To Demonstrate Approach To Hybrid Virtual Production Workflows
Mo-Sys Engineering will demonstrate a new hybrid approach to final pixel (ICVFX) virtual shooting at the HPA Tech Retreat (booth 720, Innovation Zone,
28/03/2024
Hitachi Kokusai To Highlight New Live Production Package
Hitachi Kokusai is to highlight a new live production package at NAB Show 2024 that bundles its Z-HD6500 HD camera with its CU-HD550 camera control un
27/03/2024
Lawo Announces Production Introduction Event
Lawo has announced its upcoming milestone product introduction event on 09 April. After the successful launch of Lawo's latest-generation audio consol