Gemini unlocks new studio savings

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class=attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail f-align-center alt decoding=async data-lazy-srcset=https://www.litepanels.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/plaid-turtle-logo-150x150.png 150w, https://www.litepanels.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/plaid-turtle-logo-140x140.png 140w, https://www.litepanels.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/plaid-turtle-logo-100x100.png 100w, https://www.litepanels.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/plaid-turtle-logo.png 300w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px data-lazy-src=https://www.litepanels.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/plaid-turtle-logo-150x150.png />Plaid TurtlePlaid Turtle started when organizations were forced to come up with a virtual event model due to the pandemic. Producer, Brian Cole and Engineer, Kirk Baggott pooled their resources, knowledge and relationships in the film and live event space to start Plaid Turtle and help their partners reimagine virtual, in-person, and hybrid events.

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It started out as an offer to help manage a studio and turned into a major studio refit. When Producer, Brian Cole, and Engineer Kirk Baggot took on running the North American Mission Board's studio in Alpharetta, Ga, they quickly realized that a major overhaul of lighting was needed. With some help from Litepanels lighting designers, and a fleet of powerful Gemini 1x1 Hard panels, the comfort of on-screen talent in the studio is improved, and operating costs drastically reduced.

Brian and Kirk have been working together for 20 years on various films and live event productions. When the 2020 global pandemic forced many companies to shut down their in-person events, they combined their experience with streaming technology and virtual events to form Plaid Turtle. The company produces virtual, in-person or hybrid events for clients such as Chick-fil-A, Barna, and Lifeway.

New lamps for old Kirk had been providing crews and some consultancy work to the North American Mission Board at their studio. When the studio manager left, Kirk offered to take on managing the studio for the organization. I probably should have looked at the building first, says Kirk. It's an incredible space, but it was built a long time ago. Some of the lights must have been there since they built it - all traditional, incandescent fixtures. Despite the age, the team could work with the setup. They thought.

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We would wrap up a shoot in the studio and then he next time we came in, three lights would need new bulbs and the color temperatures had all shifted, it was crazy, says Kirk. You could literally see a color shift from one end of the set to the other. Even though it was all the same lights, all new light bulbs. It was awful - something we were constantly fighting. Fortunately, as the end of the year approached, the Board had funds available from a canceled project. I told them you really need new lights. The Board agreed, so Kirk and Brian began the task of removing over 70 traditional lighting fixtures from the studio and drawing up plans to replace them with LED fixtures.

We had done an event with Retro8 films for Chick-fil-A. They had brought a 20 x 20 muslin and used a Litepanels Gemini 2x1 Soft and some other fixtures to blast a ceiling of beautiful light over the set that we had built, says Brian. Kirk recalled that the set that was about the same size as the individual sets we were building. So, he suggested we try a similar lighting setup in the studio.

High five Having experienced the quality and output of the Gemini 2x1 in action, Kirk and Brian contacted Litepanels for some advice on how to light their space. Litepanels co-founder and Gaffer, Pat Grosswendt, took up the challenge. When we started talking to Pat, we werent sure how many lights we would need, says Kirk. We had a plan, we had all the specifications, and we knew basically what we were getting, but we werent positive of what the result was going to be. Pat was incredibly helpful and enthusiastic. As with any studio project, there were also budget considerations. We had decided the budget would allow us to get 20 super powerful Gemini 1x1 Hard panels, says Brian. We had planned to fix 16 up in the air, running eight on each 20x20. That would leave us with four to serve as our front light, but we would need to figure out something to do with the windows that are behind the set, he says. Pat suggested that we could achieve the look we wanted with five lights on each 20x20, and we said, do you really think so?

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Gemini 1x1 Hard panels produce an outstanding 3000 lux @10ft/3m of naturally accurate white light, or richly saturated color. Without diffusion, the incredibly bright raw light is 20% more powerful than a 200W HMI.

We got the first five up in the air without the diffusion and turned one on, says Brian.

One of the guys doing the installation said, wow that's bright, is it 100%?', we said no, it's 25%. We cranked them up to full power and it was incredible.

Brian ColeProducer

With ample output from each Gemini unit, the budget

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