(26/09/2014) Lighting and rigging specialists dbn were asked by Glasgow-based arts organization Cryptic to collaborate on creating Sound To Sea', a very special night-time nautical extravaganza presented in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre, and in association with Walk The Plank, All Or Nothing and The Royal Navy, staged at the Canting Basin on the River Clyde in Glasgow.
This vibrant and ambitious site specific work, directed by Cathie Boyd, celebrated Cryptic's 20th anniversary and was part of the arts programme accompanying the 2014 XX Commonwealth Games in the city, which culminated the same weekend.
dbn's Stephen Page was commissioned to design and develop a lighting scheme for the show, due to the company's extensive experience working on dynamic outdoor multi-faceted performances like this.
The performance encompassed several live artists and bands, aerialists, pyro effects, around 140 performers and no less than fourteen ships which were part of a magical kinetic set, some moving around the dock during the performance.
The scale of the site was huge from the top of the Science Centre roof, where the aerialists performed, to the boats maneuvering in the dock, reaching right along to Glasgow Tower at the end of the Science Centre, which became a striking end-stop to the action, with carefully choreographed pyro sequences fired in and around it.
It was the expansive and varied nature of this temporary theatre environment that was the biggest challenge for Page when lighting the show. The solution was to position lights in just about every conceivable position around the space!
At the top and bottom of the Science Centre roof were eight strategically deployed SGM P5s 16 in total with two Studio Due City Color LED also shooting up from the floor either side.
Either side, and to the front of the building were four Clay Paky Alpha Wash 700s and level with the middle of the audience positions, in front of the roof and to the sides, were two Alpha Wash QWO 800s each side.
The large dock basin and hub of the performance was directly in front of the Science Centre which had 16 x Alpha Beam 700s positioned around its perimeter, used for creating an eye-catching backdrop to the boats and performers. They also doubled up as reinforcement for illuminating the Science Centre roof.
The shape and makeup of the Science Centre roof was another galvanizing element with its distinctive titanium-clad crescent shaped structure acting as a backdrop to the event, so throwing sufficient light up there without it being reflected up into the night sky was extremely tricky.
Around the FOH position were another eight P5s shooting into the basin together with another two QWO 800s, four CP Sharpie Washes, four Martin Atomic strobes and two Robert Juliat Victor followspots.
The Glasgow Tower was lit with six Sharpie Beams and four Sharpie Washes.
Page operated all the shore-based lighting from his trusty Jands Vista T2 console.
Six vessels had lighting systems installed on them, to support performers playing on deck.
copyrighted by Cryptic Glasgow electro outfit, Miaoux Miaoux, and Model Aeroplanes from Dundee were special guests aboard auxiliary support vessel SD Omagh,' and they were lit from behind with Clay Paky A.leda K10 B-Eye wash lights and a grid of Chauvet Nexus 4x4 panels, all operated locally via a Jands S3 console.
The Treacherous Orchestra made waves aboard Royal Navy minesweeper, HMS Bangor, with their set being lit with a variety of kit including six Sharpies rigged on a scaffolding goalpost creating a high impact fan effect, Showtec Sunstrips upstage for eye-candy and Showtec Spectral Zoom LED PARs for general washing, controlled with another Jands Vista S3.
dbn's intrepid Nick Buckley literally had to jump ship' via the dockside to be in place in time to operate lighting on both boats!
Further kit was installed on the four other boats that were active in the show the Orcuan', a 9 metre long Birlinn fishing vessel; the 33 ft long Baldie White Wing' popular for fishing on the East Coast of Scotland; the Wee Spark' a third scale Cylde puffer' and the Maybe', an elegant traditional Dutch sailing Ketch launched in 1933 and built for round-the-world cruising.
The on-board lighting kit included a single CP GlowUp battery powered wireless LED up-lighter rigged on the Orcuan' to a slightly more sophisticated set up on the White Wing' comprising 30 metres of LED tape and two GlowUps, controlled locally by an ETC SmartFade 1224.
The Wee Spark' was fired up with four iPix BB4 LED battens and two GlowUps controlled via wireless link to the FOH console on the shore, and the Maybe' was graced with 600 metres of Warm White fairy lights in her rigging which provided a fantastic backdrop to an additional solo aerial dancer.
Page recalls that after getting sufficient illumination up to the top of the Science Centre, rigging these fairy lights was definitely the next most challenging lighting detail of the project to get right!
Also on the Maybe' were three CP A.leda K10 B-Eyes and six Spectral Zoom 2500 LED pars, all controlled by an ultra-compact Jands Vista M1.
Glasgow beatboxer Bigg Taj freestyled aboard the Wee Spark,' folk singer Rachel Sermanni sang from the prow of the White Wing,' and soprano Marie Claire Breen, in full voice, was rowed into the performance space aboard the Orcuan' accompanied by the Glasgow Phoenix Choir singing from the dock side.
Page and Buckley were joined by three other dbn crew Moss Everhard, Col Emmerson and Steve Barnet, and they were assisted by rigger Pete Isherwood on the first day, and on the de-rig by Lucas Athienetes.
Page sums up, It was a really exhilarating project to be involved in, brought to fruition by a lot of hard work and some
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
(26/09/2014) Lighting and rigging specialists dbn were asked by Glasgow-based arts organization Cryptic to collaborate on creating Sound To Sea', a very special night-time nautical extravaganza presented in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre, and in association with Walk The Plank, All Or Nothing and The Royal Navy, staged at the Canting Basin on the River Clyde in Glasgow.
