Automated Fixtures Intresting use of LEDmovers (Today Show, 007)

[gaffer240]

Don't know if any body caught this on the Today Shows this mouring, but not being familar with movers, at all, I thought this was a clever use of them. They are in the forground of Daniel Craig, being interveiew by Matt Lauer.

Today Show Video Player

 

[Darthrob13]

Took me a second to figure out what you meant.....the "7" is almost a "?".

Which admitedly would be funny.

 

[SAWYeR]

Oh Showpix...I wonder how much those cost them to be used just for that?

 

[derekleffew]

I think the most interesting aspect is that the StudioPix™ appear to have gel taped on the front (watch the reflections at 00:41, especially on the center unit)--I'm guessing a Neutral Density of some sort.

 

[SteveB]

Took me a second to figure out what you meant.....the "7" is almost a "?".

Which admitedly would be funny.

Yeah, that was my question - who's "0 0 ?"

I'm actually surprised the Production Designer went with it, it was not quite there...

Steve B.

 

[sk8rsdad]

Might have been a 'product placement' deal with the marketing group 'cause it seems to me to be a silly way to put up a sign when they could have done it in video editing.

 

[jowens]

Clearly someone's "good idea" with poor execution. AND whoever is in charge said "looks good to me."

 

[SerraAva]

Being a corporate guy, I couldn't take my eyes off the mess of cables running off to the left of the screen and not to the back wall either, just cut across in the middle of the floor. As for the lights themselves, far to big and bulky for something like this. I can't help but stare at the lights and wonder what the heck are those things and why are they there (know what they are and why are they there, but it is my initial thought as not as a lighting person). Distracting from the point of the show/interview.

 

[elite1trek]

Must be nice to just have those laying around...What will one of those run your wallet for these days?

Anyway, it was too flashy, I felt like whoever decided to do it this way was just showing off.

 

[lieperjp]

The only reason why I can think that they did this was that he may not have decided to show up until the last minute (for instance, waiting for a more lucrative deal with another network?), and whoever was in charge thought they needed something techy and flashy for the set - but had no time to do it. I agree that it should have been done with video editing.

 

[lightman02]

They rent them from PRG, they don't own the showpix or the showguns that they are now using a lot. And yes things are thrown together very quickly and trust me there's not much thought at all. Trust me I know, I work for NBC NY.

 

[avkid]

Trust me I know, I work for NBC NY.

Ooh..an insider.
What do you do there?
(feel free to PM if you don't want to publicize)

 

[gafftaper]

Wow... that's uh... pretty lame actually.

They looked way cooler in the HES/Barco booth at LDI. They were also freakin' bright at LDI. I'm impressed they can turn them down that low actually.

[Hijack] During my backstage time at Cirque: Ka I found the ultimate in pointless use of a moving light. They've got this massive stage that can raise in the air, tilt, and spin... it's an amazing feat of engineering. On the underside of this stage are two moving lights... I think they were VL's not sure the model. I never saw them move. I never saw them visible to the audience. They seemed to always be aimed down into the pit below the super cool flying stage. When I watched the show from the house I didn't see them from my seat. They did change color from scene to scene. I asked my guide what they were for, he couldn't help me. Very expensive Color changing work lights I guess. Ahh to have that kind of budget. [Hijack ends]

 

[gafftapegreenia]

Wow... that's uh... pretty lame actually.

They looked way cooler in the HES/Barco booth at LDI. They were also freakin' bright at LDI. I'm impressed they can turn them down that low actually.

[Hijack] During my backstage time at Cirque: Ka I found the ultimate in pointless use of a moving light. They've got this massive stage that can raise in the air, tilt, and spin... it's an amazing feat of engineering. On the underside of this stage are two moving lights... I think they were VL's not sure the model. I never saw them move. I never saw them visible to the audience. They seemed to always be aimed down into the pit below the super cool flying stage. When I watched the show from the house I didn't see them from my seat. They did change color from scene to scene. I asked my guide what they were for, he couldn't help me. Very expensive Color changing work lights I guess. Ahh to have that kind of budget. [Hijack ends]

Because they can, gaffbrother, because they can!

 

[gafftaper]

[Hijack continues]

Because they can, gaffbrother, because they can!

True gaffbrother so true. Actually the T.D. explained that there was no traditional design process. They set up an act and said hang a light here, here, and here. Then the next day they said... no I don't like that put another one here and here, but don't take anything down. Eventually they had 3000 lights in the rig. Over time the show has had some acts come and go and the rig continues to evolve on it's own. [hijack ends]

 

[gafftapegreenia]

[Hijack continues]


True gaffbrother so true. Actually the T.D. explained that there was no traditional design process. They set up an act and said hang a light here, here, and here. Then the next day they said... no I don't like that put another one here and here, but don't take anything down. Eventually they had 3000 lights in the rig. Over time the show has had some acts come and go and the rig continues to evolve on it's own. [hijack ends]

I really don't want to think about trying to assigned, channel, patch and program that mess.

 

[TimMiller]

You have to get to the point where no matter what there will be a light hitting the area that you want.

 

[derekleffew]

I think the most interesting aspect is that the StudioPix™ appear to have gel taped on the front (watch the reflections at 00:41, especially on the center unit)--I'm guessing a Neutral Density of some sort.

On another forum a Barco/HES representative explained that the StudioPix (as seen also on the deck in the clips referenced in this thread: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting/10063-showpix-today-show-today.html) regularly have 0.6 ND taped on them for the Today show, to prevent them from blowing out the camera(s). I wonder if it's because they don't dim well, or just for ease of programming?