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XL’s New MiTRIX on Nelly Furtado
XL Video UK is supplying 270 panels of its new stock of Barco MiTRIX screen to Nelly Furtado’s UK and European tour. This was specified by lighting and set designer Bradley Wagg, who has been working with the Canadian-Portuguese songstress Furtado since last summer.
XL’s account handler Des Fallon comments: “This is a great example of video elements being brought into the show as ‘digital lighting’. It’s good to be working with them - Nelly Furtado is an exciting and hugely talented artist and there’s a real buzz about her, the show and its presentation.”
Toronto-based Wagg has used video in clubs and on corporate events before, but this is the first time he’s fully integrated the medium into a live show like this. It’s also his first European tour and the first time he’s worked with XL Video, who came onboard through Bob Ward’s new company Safe as Milk, who introduced XL to Furtado’s tour manager Thomas Reitz. “XL has been absolutely brilliant and really supportive,” states Wagg.
The screen is in 16:9 format and is a powerful visual reinforcement for the show which features a large ‘extravaganza’ style atmosphere, complete with a layered stage set (also designed by Wagg with active input from Furtado) and elaborate architectural feel. The screen tracks on two axes - up and down height wise, and also up and downstage on a Kinesys automation system. It’s currently used for playback footage and to show some low-level camera work. As the tour progresses throughout the year, it is intended to increase the camera/IMAG elements of the show.
Wagg wanted a moving video screen from the outset. “It has to move - It’s the cool thing to do!” he comments. He also needed a flexible solution for the show that plays both large theatres and arenas on this leg, and above all, it had to be light weight.
He was originally looking at using another transparent screen product, but when Barco launched MiTRIX, it proved much brighter and also quickly gained a reputation for being extremely easy to rig, tough and ultimately tourable.
MiTrix is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, offering a 24mm pixel pitch and an impressive 3000 Nit brightness. It sets a new standards of performance for ‘exotic’ LED displays, and its all-metal construction cools the LEDs efficiently and ensures the strength and robustness required for the most demanding rental and staging applications.
XL Video UK has invested heavily in MiTRIX product in recent months the demand increasing rapidly as the product is seen and used by more people.
Wagg worked on creating the show’s video playback content with his colleague Jason Gardash (who operates the Kinesys system during the show). This is stored on a 24 layer Brash media server and triggered via his Compulite Vector lighting console. They are using a combination of material from the Brash onboard library, re-worked samples from some of Furtado’s music videos and various 3D objects including the Furtado logo.
XL is also providing William Crombez to look after the MiTRIX.
19th March 2007
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