Indianapolis Opera Projectionmapping Faust
For the first time in the Indianapolis Opera’s history, projectionmapping is playing center stage. The past few seasons have seen projection playing a larger role in the repertoire, but this is the first time mapping has had a role. Gounod’s Faust, directed and designed by Joachim Schamberger, tells the tale of an aging scholar who trades his time in hell for earthly pleasures he’s missed out on. Schamberger, who’s previous projection designs were Tosca and Das Rheingold, has stepped up the projection role to a much higher level. I can’t tell you much about the actual opera itself, but I can tell you about the technical end:
For Faust, Joachim had 7 panels built (McGuire Scenic), various widths at 24′ high, that move on traveller tracks thus dividing the space into multiple planes. The panels are skinned in bright white and make absolutely pristine projection surfaces. In order to get the right perspective for sizing, he first used a camera view from the projection booth in Vectorworks to create the various scenes with line drawings. This gave a pretty good approximation of the angles, height, and space to be projected on. He then set about compiling the projection playback materiel using Photoshop and Final Cut. The resulting footage was then rendered in Final Cut at HDV 1920×1080 MPEG2. This presented a slight codec/bandwidth problem because the plan was to use VDMX and Syphon through Madmapper in order to size the scenes accurately. HDV and Mpeg2 are not the most friendly codec for playback through any software based system and the Radeon 2600HD cards in the trusty OctoMacPro were a bit under the task. Instead, I re-rendered the content, pared down the length of most of the clips, and packaged them all in PJPEG Quicktime movies. We ultimately decided on using Modul8 because of it’s extreme ease of clip organization, playback capabilities, and tight integration with Madmapper. All the content is played back via a FW800 1TB RAID 0. Viola- nary a burp in speed or smoothness. Because of the overall linearity of the set pieces, Madmapper proved to be invaluable. Joachim came up with a few templates of primitives that could be applied to many scenes and using presets, we were able to match the pieces exactly as seen in perspective. I used a Macbook Pro 17″ (quad i7, 16gb RAM), fed into an ImagePro, which fed a DVI DA and finally two DPI Lightning 35hd’s. The resultant image quality and brightness was astounding from 135′. Lensing provided by the good folks at Nationwide (thanks James!).
Navistar Truck Videomapping
There’s been a recent spate of automobile projection mappings as of late, like a few from SuperGlue, RadugaDesign, and DuckUnit, but trucks and other vehicles are starting to crop up.
DALLAS – Navistar’s display at a recent trucking show in March aimed to debut a new truck while creating a brand experience that captured the company’s versatility. Freeman delivered an exhibit that included a skin-wrapped truck and several screens. Using projection, the truck itself became a screen showcasing the vehicle’s many potential applications. Freeman, a provider of services for marketing events, partnered with Navistar to build an immersive brand experience to showcase its global product offerings and future technologies.
The goal of the display at the 2012 Mid America Trucking Show held in March was twofold: debut the new Loadstar truck while creating a brand experience that captured the company’s versatility. Freeman delivered an exhibit that included a skin-wrapped (more…)
The Visual Drugstore’s Intel Mapping of 2012- Hamburg
We let you know about The Visual Drugstore’s partnership with Intel a while back. Video artist Mar-K.os (aka Markos Aristides) just completed a projectionmapping in Hamburg for the Ultrabook 3D tour….Lot’s of Sanyos and the awesome MMOV! Check it out:
4AV projectionmapping for Manpower Experis
4AV spent the weekend putting out a great cylindrical projectionmapping on 40m high steel tank in Westerpark Amsterdam. Rudy Vorstenbosch acquired four (of course, if your name is 4AV I’d think it would HAVE to be four…) of the big Barco XLM HD30′s from PRG and used fixed 1:1 lenses to shoot the gig. All content was played out via two Catalyst media servers running over fiber DVI, along with an Ethernet line for projector control through Barco’s management app. Postpanic did all the media content and the audio was provided by Massive. I don’t know what I like more- the still imagery or the video, but it’s all pretty nice work folks!
Electrosonic Installs Versatile AV Technology at the University of Salford’s New MediaCityUK Development
London (March 27, 2012) – When the University of Salford opened its state-of-the-art digital learning, teaching and research space at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, it incorporated a flexible audio-visual system that can be customised and utilised in a number of creative ways to inform, educate and entertain students and visitors about the University’s current and future projects.
The original technical design was prepared by The Centre for Virtual Environments at the University of Salford, and Electrosonic was awarded the contract to engineer and install the complete system, working directly for the University.
MediaCityUK, which is home to over 1,500 students, acts as a creative space designed to encourage creativity, innovation and collaboration between academics, students, professionals and the industry.
The new entrance area of the building is an elliptical space aptly called the Egg, and is described as “a publicly accessible digital interactive showcase for visitors and students alike”. This open public place, designed to support MediaCityUK’s ethos of collaboration, (more…)
It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me…..
I haven’t posted much in the last week because, quite frankly, I’ve been working my ass off. We were a bit shorthanded at the theatre and it ended up being a loooooong week. But I’ve slept since then and the gig this week is Pirates of the Caribbean- Curse of the Black Pearl…Live! Basically, we screen the film and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra plays the soundtrack. Ought to be easy right? Read on….. (more…)
CALL 911 NOW! UMF takes over Miami and is SOLD OUT
EDM superstars Skrillex and Fat Boy Slim are just a drop in the bucket at the Ultra Music Festival. Combine that with a stage and visual design from V Squared Labs and you get the real star of the show– the mainstage rig! Here’s a look at the rig courtesy of MTV and Vello: Get More: Music News
If V Squared is there you know it will be great….maybe rivaling the famed Amon Tobin ISAM rig….we’ll see. “We have this crazy high-definition output system taking it to the next level at Ultra this year,” Virkhaus beamed. Of course, possibly the most exciting one-up from last year’s undertaking is the presence of, wait for it, an “LED roof” over the stage that is going to be an added visual element for each set.
“This is the overhead grid that’s going to be over viewers,” Virkhaus explained. “You’ve got artists like Tiësto, Afrojack, Skrillex, Avicii — people coming who are going to make a fantastic show for the audience — and we are going to do some amazing visuals. I know [the fans] are going to be blown away with the experience we are bringing.”
Of course there are other projects going on as well. Large scale projection masters Senovva will be projectionmapping for Red Bull with 12 Barco FLM 20k’s as seen here:
Send pics please…..or a ticket and a flight to Miami….
UVA’s High Arctic
United Visual Artist’s puts out some fantastic work. One only has to look at Origin and Coachella to realize that they are pretty much at the cutting edge of blended technologies. I came across their piece “High Arctic” recently and had to show it off. This was from an install at the National Maritime Museum in the UK (man there are some really great installs that happen there…) that ran from July until this past January.
The installation is based on UVA Creative Director Matt Clark’s Cape Farewell expedition to Svalbard which he took with Nick Drake in September 2010 and fragments (more…)
Utah’s Megaplex outfits with Christie
More and more theater complexes are switching to digital as the new standard, and Christie Digital isn’t wasting any time getting their products in the door. And for good reasons- brightness, image quality, and ROI. Here’s a quip from their press release announcing Megaplex’s upgrades:
Christie, a global leader in visual display technology, is providing the 4K DLP Cinema projection solution at a new screen at the Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons, which debuts March 15 with VIP seating, table service and full reclining chairs as part of Megaplex’s transition to complete digital projection throughout its chain. Megaplex, a leading independent cinema chain in Utah, is converting all of its screens to digital projection, drawing from the Christie Solaria™ Series. The new projectors, (more…)
DPI offers a new Titan
Digital Projection has revealed an addition to the TITAN projector line with the new, 12,000 lumen TITAN 800-3D series. Incredibly compact for its lumen performance, the TITAN 800 platform incorporates DPI’s advanced image Warp and Blend capabilities, available 3D capability and a host of professional features to suit almost any commercial or staging application imaginable. The TITAN 800 platform is available in 1080p, WUXGA and SX+ native resolutions, and joins DPI’s already robust commercial AV product lineup, which now incorporates over 30, 3D capable precision displays. The TITAN 800 will commence shipping in Q2, 2012 and carries an MSRP range between $59,995 and $79,995, depending on the resolution.
Delivering 12,000 lumens of dazzling brightness, the new TITAN 800 projectors reveal powerful 3-chip DLP® performance available in an incredibly compact chassis. Utilizing DPI’s new, advanced electronics, (more…)
Indy Opera Goes to the Movies
While not quite the same scale as Aida at the RAH, the Indianapolis Opera is in full swing this week and the program is entitled “Opera Goes to the Movies”. The idea is to have a massive movie screen and play clips of various movies that have music from operas….combine that with live singers, a live orchestra, and IMAG and you get the idea. For my part I get to set up, align, and generally babysit two Christie HD 12k’s. All the clips and editing by Derek Tow of South 40 Productions.
The general size of the screen when combined with the physical depth of our stage dictated .73:1.0 lenses which, if you’ve ever had to use them on a big gun Christie, are not the most cooperative of glass. The PJ’s had to be center of screen, which in this case was 18′ so scaffolding had to be done as you can see in the following pics (No, there’s no Pandora’s box on this gig, I just use their totally useful grids). These HD12k’s don’t have Twist or warp, or even enhanced keystone correction, so all the convergence is manual. Big tip for anyone using a rental like these- shoot some lithium grease into the rigging feet and screws before stacking them and sending them in the air! You’ll save a ton of hassle and have less blisters. Trust me. All playback is coming from 2 iMacs (primary and backup) using Playback Pro + running into a Panasonic AV-HS400 and sent down the line HD-SDI. We’re using a 24′ jib, a 33x Canon on sticks, and my Vaddio HD19 cameras for IMAG. Surprisingly- the little PTZ cams look pretty good!
Indianapolis Opera’s executive director John Pickett says that during the planning of this year’s season they wanted to present four entries yet include something that was on a lesser scale financially, while attracting newer audiences at the same time. That’s how Opera Goes to the Movies came about.
“It will be a great situation for people who like film and understand the role that music and opera have played in it. However, they may have never tried or have had limited experience with live opera singing with an orchestra. I think people who are new to opera will love it because it is a lot of the greatest hits of opera that they know or have heard. It will give them some context about it,” says Pickett, who also thinks that the singing “will be of high enough caliber that the ‘foamers’ (those who foam at the mouth or get excited about opera) and aficionados of opera will enjoy it too.”
Projectiondesign Ships a Big Install
Rugged, reliable and realistic, with low total cost of ownership; these were the projector requirements and deliverables of the huge projectiondesign upgrade of the two simulation bridges at the Marine Training Centre in Singapore.
Swire Marine Training Centre in Singapore, operated by Swire Pacific Offshore, is the first facility of its kind in Asia. Swire’s Marine Training Centre has the ability to fully simulate the working environment of an (more…)
DPI Lightning 45sx+ Lights An Entire Arena
OK….not the whole thing…but it’s pretty damn bright in there. The pre-game and intermission display at Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks, got a make-over this year that includes four DPI Lightning 45sx+ projectors and Green Hippo media servers. I’ve always thought that arena’s should trick out their team intro’s and halftimes. I mean, the mascot shooting baskets and “shoot-the-puck” contests just don’t cut it any more.
There are also lightweight scrims that come down from the rafters in the for corners of the ice so it really opens the dimensionality of the show. The displays are split into segments by a Datapath X4 video wall processor, creating a 200-foot by 80-foot image on the ice. The DPI Lightning 45 sx+ packs a walloping 30,000 lumen punch with a contrast ratio of 1800:1. It also has an Intelligent Lens Mount (ILM) system that allows up to 10 different presets for lens settings (zoom, focus, shift) that can be recalled automatically. I own 2 of the 35hd’s and I can tell you, these are not your typical PJ’s- they’re big and super bright and it looks like they’ve accomplished their mission for the Canucks.
New stuff this week….
I’ve been a bit slammed as of late. I haven’t really had time to even surf for content…but I do have a couple of great projects coming up that I’ll be sure to document thoroughly. One is for the Indianapolis Opera called ‘Opera Goes to the Movies’. We’re projecting a 32′ wide image with movie content as well as IMAG. I’ll be using two Christie HD 12k’s with .73:1 lenses. Ought to be a blast lining them up……
The other is Pirates of the Caribbean: Live in Concert. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra plays the soundtrack and we screen the movie with sound effects and dialogue intact. I’ll be using two DPI Digital Lightning 35hd’s with 3-4.3:1 lenses from about 120′ front projection. I’ve been stressing over this one a bit…but I’m pretty sure it’ll end up being a walk in the park.
In the meantime: Bart Kresa from BartKresa Design posted a great link to an article over on our Facebook page. He’s doing a workshop and speaking at Event Solutions Idea Factory in Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, February 26 – 29. If you’re anywhere near Vegas around then, this is one to see. Bart was responsible for the Christie booth at InfoCOMM last season and it was unbelievable! See for yourself….
Here’s a vid that features a little bit about the upcoming workshop in Vegas- and be sure to read the great article over at DesignDawgs by Liese Gardner. Thanks Liese!
VW Passat Moov’s Up…..
Here’s a great video from our colleagues at Moov, a design/production house in Poland. It’s a good peek behind the scenes of what a good car projectionmapping consists of. Dig the projectionDesign F82 3-chip 10k’s! We’d also like to congratulate Moov for their Innavate 2012 Award for ‘Most InnAVative Corporate Event Project’. If you look at the nominees for 2012 in that category you’ll know this was not easy! Check out more of their work at their website or Youtube channel.
And of course, the video itself:
Like this kind of stuff? – hit the “donate” button on the right- or I’ll just settle for a follow on FB or Twitter. Try our RSS feed or subscribe by email for info like this on a timely basis!
Vortex Immersion Dome at Indy SB Village
Surprisingly there’s not much projection-wise in town for the big game. I figured there was going to be no shortage of large scale mappings and/or other projection eye-candy, but from what I can tell it’s pretty dead. Why no one has coated the ridiculous amount of tent fabric space available with wacko projection is beyond me. I mean, it’s the Superbowl so it’s not like anyone’s short of cash…..
The one that seems to be standing out so far is the Microsoft Kinect Play60 Fan Dome in a parking lot just north of the Fieldhouse. Vortex Immersion Media are the folks behind these domes and by all accounts it looks pretty entertaining. They have a number of different styles of interactive dome projection rigs, the largest of which can have over 50,000 s.f. of interior floor space and accommodate 10,00 people! They have a number of geodesic options too- be sure to check their website for details. Vortex Immersion has a whole team of content creators as well as an architectural consulting arm that can do projection analysis….you know- for when you need an upgrade to the home theater/man cave.
Barco’s New HDX-18
Kortrijk, Belgium, 30 January 2012 – Barco, a leader in projection technology for the rental and staging industry, is proud to add a new unit to its HDX range of three-chip DLP projectors. The HDX-W18 is the latest addition to the successful HDX family, sharing the on-board image processing, compact design, easy servicing, and preview mode features with its W12 and W14 cousins, but clocking in at 17,500 lumens. Barco will unveil the HDX-W18 at ISE from 31 January to 2 February 2012.
“After our very successful introduction of the HDX-W14 last year, we are excited to expand our HDX range with a 17,500 lumens unit. This new model supports the customer requirements of getting more brightness out of compact projector systems,” says Chris Colpaert, Director of Strategic Marketing ProAV at Barco. “The HDX is equipped with Xenon lamps and contains a high contrast optical engine. This results in stunning color reproductions, presenting audiences with crisp and vivid images on every occasion.” Pictured is the HDX-W14, but one could assume they share the same frame.
“The on-board image processing technology is based on Barco’s renowned ImagePRO signal processor, which offers high quality and flexible scaling capabilities and has been a reference in the events market for many years,” Mr. Colpaert continues. “This additional feature set boosts creativity and decreases the time it takes to get sources on screen the way users want.”
Barco’s HDX projectors consist of only five building blocks, which makes them exceedingly easy to maintain. They come with a WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution, which even exceeds industry-standard full HD. The projectors feature control through a user-friendly, built-in color LCD screen with a preview mode – and, thanks to a straightforward user interface, the projector can be set up in no time. Furthermore, users can easily control the HDX via a smart phone or tablet computer.
A quick look at the product features:
Quick preview
The HDX-W18′s built-in color LCD screen provides you with all the information you need on your projector’s connected sources, status, power, temperatures and lamp runtime. The LCD screen also allows you to preview your connected sources.
3G-compatibility
The HDX-W18 has a native 3G HDSDI/SDI input, which makes it compatible with progressive sources over a single BNC cable. This also means that the HDX-W18 allows for digital inputs that don’t come through fragile DVI fiber cables.
Wireless control
Barco’s HDX platform is designed for wireless control. Whether from one central PC or with a smartphone or tablet computer, you remain connected to the HDX at all times.
Only five building blocks
Barco designed the HDX-W18 with efficiency and quick setup in mind. It features just five building blocks that can be removed and replaced quickly, so that time spent servicing the projector is kept to a bare minimum.
25% more compact
The HDX-W18′s compact and functional design never takes up more space than strictly necessary. In addition, it can be easily boxed, shipped and fits into standard flight cases.
Basketball Courts are the next Projectionmapping Playground
I know- it’s Superbowl week and I should be posting about all the great projection happening there (not much) but that’s a different story-
Well it was bound to happen at some point. Ever since the first one of these I saw featuring the original HES Orbital Head I thought it was a great idea. Basketball courts in arenas are the perfect medium for projection…controlled light, loud sound systems, giant canvas, captive audience. I can only hope the half-time stuff gets creative with motion tracking on the cheerleaders and mascots, etc. Team intros could be taken to the next level pretty easily. Not to mention the advertising potential- to wit, the Georgia State Lottery vid that follows. Again, it’s not so much about the “mapping”….there isn’t any really…it’s more about the content production. Although the HES stuff had the player’s headshots projected and some live video highlights, which I’d like to see more of when this takes off again. And you know it will!
Fête des Lumières Features Christie Digital in a Big Way
Although the origin of the Fete des Lumiere in Lyon France is a little on the dark side (1643, when the municipal councilors promised to pay tribute to Mary, Mother of Jesus if the town was spared from plague) it is anything but dark. This year, with the Festival set to run this year from December 8 to 11, Lyon, in its role as “the capital of light”, welcomed some of the world’s top artists and became for the 13th consecutive year -the scene of one of the largest urban events in the world. Nearly 4 million visitors from around the world came to explore the city and enjoy the grandiose, poetic and truly out of the ordinary artistic creations. For four nights, the city’s monuments, rivers and hills were transformed into a vast expanse of artistic expression (more…)
Holiday Mapping in NYC for HP
Drive Productions recently did a fun holiday mapping on the side of the Maritime Hotel in NYC. It was a 4-minute promotional event for the launch of the new HP Z800 Workstation. Looks like it was twelve Christie 18k’s supplying the lumens (one for each day of Christmas?). If anyone needs gift ideas for me, I’ll take the UVA d3 system they use, the HP Z800 Workstation ( “but you’re a Mac-head PF!”….I know, but I do need a decent Windows machine…), or perhaps just a yellow safety vest with the Drive logo!
Follow Projectionfreak!