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Shark Tale Premier in Venice
A three camera PPU was supplied by Blitz Video, used for pre-show IMAG capturing the excitement, talent, presenters, audience, etc. This was directed by Rob Fender and engineered by Mick Jones and beamed onto the screen, along with Shark Tale trailer footage and video visuals from the M-Box digital media server run from the lighting desk.
Shark Tale sound track was broadcast to the audience via FM radios, complete with headsets which were given to the audience as they arrived in the Square. The process of setting up an official Italian broadcast station for the event was co-ordinated by radio and sound expert Bob Whyley. Guests could select between Italian and English soundtrack. The only audio element emanating from the large Turbosound PA during the film was sub bass.
The sound system, also used for a pre- and post-show presentations and speeches - was designed by Derrick Zieba and supplied by Britannia Row. Zieba mixed using a Yamaha DM2000. The PA consisted of left and right front stacks with three delays each side of the square – was also engineered to act as a full audio back up system in case of blips with the radio broadcast – although it wasn’t needed as the broadcast ran like clockwork.
Lighting designer Manny Treeson, worked closely with programmer/operator Christian Hibbard. Using 80 Martin MAC 2k washes, eight MAC 2k profiles and eight Irious Pro Space Cannon searchlights, the lighting scheme included the tasteful illumination of the Piazza San Marco’s famous architectural features including the Campanile tower. Hibbard operated the show using a Virtuoso VX console. All lighting equipment was supplied by London-based Essential Lighting, who’s crew Chief was Simon Dunnell.
Summit Steel supplied the vast quantities of rigging required to transform the Piazza into an auditorium capable of receiving a state-of-the-art production. This included building the main left and right PA wings – four legged ground support structures which also each accommodated several lighting fixtures, and six 12 metre Summit SmarTmasts for sound and lighting rigging points along the Piazza.
At the entrance, Summit constructed an intricate 12-legged ground support system, draped with signage and banners. The five-strong rigging team also built a 15 metre goal-post gantry above the FOH mixing and projection position to give additional lighting positions.
The 1.2 megawatts of generated power needed to run the production in St Mark’s Square was supplied by Aggreko and managed by Stewart Parker. The four generator sets were craned off their trucks onto a floating pontoon which was moored 200 metres away from the Square. The electricity was run in using approximately 6km of 120mm Powerlok mains cable, needing three specially constructed trussing bridges to traverse waterways and roads. Once in the square, the Aggreko team also supplied all the distribution to various locations and departments, a feat which alone involved another 2km of cable and massive amounts of distro.
Andy Peat commented: “This event was a massive technical challenge for all departments. Working in St Mark’s Square isn’t easy so teamwork and communication were crucial to the project’s success - and it’s a great testament to all concerned that we worked together to produce such a spectacular result. There were some very large smiles among the production team at the end of the night!”
21st September 2004
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