Standards News

Green Hippo and Prase deliver Hippotizer video-to-surface training

Italy – Italian audio, video, digital signage and control solution distributor Prase Media Technologies has delivered its first Hippotizer training sessions, in collaboration with Green Hippo. The two-day course was designed to showcase some of the world-class features of the Nevis+ and Boreal+ MK2 media servers and the new Hippotizer 4.8 software.

Prase became a Green Hippo distributor for Italy in spring 2022, working with the entire range of Green Hippo’s award-winning Hippotizer media servers and in addition, tvONE products. Prase is now working to extend the influence of Green Hippo’s video playback technology, furthering Green Hippo’s global reach and enhancing customer service.

Hippotizer product specialist Leon Dickens provided training at the event, held at the Prase office located in the northern Italian town of Noventa Di Piave, alongside Prase’s Sonny Laurano and Enrico Fodde. Attendees learned how to manage, send, manipulate and sync video content on any surface. The visuals were displayed on two 40" displays and a much larger Absen 4K LED screen.

“With Hippotizer as a new product in Prase’s catalogue, they recognised that a key component for product exposure throughout Italy would be comprehensive training sessions for AV users,” says Dickens. “Prase has fantastic facilities for demonstrating the capabilities of the Hippotizer software and going forward aim to continue access to Hippotizer training. Many of Prase’s existing customers, who attended the training session, were interested to have a hands-on experience with the Hippotizer hardware available. Attendees ranged from freelance AV professionals, event technicians from a number of AV rental companies as well as some of Prase’s wider sales team.”

Dickens says that focuses of the training in Hippotizer 4.8 software highlighted the features of the Hippotizer workflow, including TimelinePlus, VideoMapper, DMX2 and PixelMapper components.

“Some attendees showed specific interest in the SHAPE alignment features which we demonstrated at the end of the session,” adds Dickens. “Finally, an overview of the new 4.8 features Show Manager, improved encoding and REST API webpage design framework. Having outreach to completely new users of Hippotizer is always a great experience, there was genuine interest shown by the whole group. Demonstrating the PixelMapper and DMX2 components is always a winner for us, it is a staple feature of Hippotizer and always well received. Our simplistic design and integration with the lighting world provides a great intermediary solution.”

Sonny Laurano, Prase's application engineer, comments: “We were thrilled to host our first Hippotizer training sessions at Prase. Hippotizer is a very flexible media server offering a wide range of features that caters for most of the pro-AV industry requirements. Simplistic UI design and interoperability makes the Hippotizer product range a great choice for live events, installation and broadcast. MultiController, DMX2 and the new REST API really open doors for end users to customise interaction with the products, while maintaining all of the technical functionality that Hippotizer is known for.

“Meeting new users, hearing their feedback and demonstrating new solutions was great fun and much knowledge was gained along with some great ideas.”

Luca Battistelli, business manager, Prase Media Technologies, says: “We’re excited to have Green Hippo’s premium media servers in our catalogue, and to be able to offer Italian professionals best-in-class technologies for creating an engaging and stunning multimedia experience. Our partnership with Green Hippo pairs with Prase's growing video proposal, mainly projectors and LED walls.”

To discover Green Hippo’s training opportunities, visit www.green-hippo.com/support/training 

2nd May 2023

Martin Training and Product Showcase Series

UK – Sound Technology Ltd, distributor of Martin Professional lighting in the UK, has announced a series of Martin training, demo and product showcase events taking place around the the country in 2023.

The first event takes place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on 22nd March. The morning session is dedicated to training on Martin's P3 Creative Video system and networking. This introductory session will take you through the basics of how it works, and an overview of what equipment is involved, as well as a look at a few typical set-ups. It will be a combination of product introductions, typical applications and a walk-through of physically setting up and working a P3 set-up.

The afternoon is a drop-in demo event from 2pm, showcasing the demo the latest Martin fixtures, including:

• MAC Aura XiP

• MAC Ultra Performance and Wash, with new V2 firmware

• ERA series including the new ERA150 Wash

• ELP ellipsoidal and ELP PAR fixtures

• VDO Atomic Dot & Bold creative video range

Both parts of the day require registration in advance but numbers for the morning session are limited.

The series then moves on to LIPA in Liverpool on 5th April, University of Derby on 18th April and Royal School of Speech and Drama in London on 16th May.

For more information and to register, please visit https://www.soundtech.co.uk/professional-lighting/training-series-2023

20th March 2023

disguise and XPLOR Launch UK Virtual Production Accelerator Course 

UK – disguise and XPLOR have announced a new partnership to further tackle the skills gap in virtual production. Together, the two organisations are launching the first UK Virtual Production Accelerator, a learning programme that gives trainees hands-on experience with the latest real-time technologies and advanced LED volumes.

Based at XPLOR's recently launched £7m+ Production Park facility in West Yorkshire which boasts a 340 square metre virtual production volume and xR studio with ROE Visual LED screens, the programme is suitable for both students and industry professionals. Over the course of four days, participants will ramp up their skills in volume control operations, virtual art department integration and practical shoot elements through a combination of online, classroom and on-set learning.

XPLOR’s training is delivered by education providers Backstage Academy, which specialises in live experience production, supporting the future of the industry through undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and short courses. Operating from Production Park, the facilities are just one of the 400+ state-of-the-art virtual production studios and xR stages globally that are running on disguise solutions. This rapid adoption of disguise's advanced production technologies brings the need for skilled talent who are well versed in the unique workflows that deliver virtual production and in-camera VFX. 

“In just under three years, virtual production has changed from something only a few are experimenting with to a global phenomenon that allows filmmakers to tell even more ambitious stories. However, this growth in adoption has left a huge skills gap. disguise, just like XPLOR and Backstage Academy, shares a strong passion for education. After launching our Virtual Production Accelerator Programme in America last year in partnership with ROE Visual, we now hope to bring the Accelerator’s focus on the practical to Production Park for VP enthusiasts in the UK and Europe,” says disguise chief experience officer, Alex Wills.

The R&D element to disguise and XPLOR’s partnership combines disguise's advanced production technology and workflow-focused training with XPLOR’s world-class facility and large-scale design and prototyping spaces. Together, disguise and XPLOR will investigate new features and capabilities that push the boundaries of what's possible in virtual production.

“Backstage have been long-term partners with disguise. This is the latest exciting development in our relationship moving into film and TV,” says Rachel Nicholson, head of Backstage Academy.

28th February 2023

The show must go on

UK - Without lifting, the entertainment industry will grind to a halt: theatre, television and film sets would not be moved, lighting rigs for live concerts will remain on the stage instead of above it. However, in the spring of 2020, the sector really did come to a sudden stop. Entertainment was hugely impacted by Covid, being one of the first sectors to be put into lockdown and often one of the last to be freed from restrictions, as Paul Fulcher, founder and managing director of Rigging Services, explains. Many freelance contractors found themselves out of work, and often ineligible for furlough or other assistance. There was a mass exodus from the industry and many experienced hands have not returned.

New recruits need training, but so do those hired from other sectors because the lifting environment in entertainment is in many ways unique. It is, for example, the only industry that deliberately lifts loads above people: whether they are performers or an audience, sometimes with artistes ‘flying’ on the load. Often, multiple lifts are involved, including many electric hoists lifting and lowering in a synchronised manner. A lot of this is ‘live’ so there may be only hours to install rigging along with lights, sound, video and other installations, and there is no second chance to get it right. Some of the skills and the science required would include understanding rigging plots, load tables, angular forces as well as other forces such as compression, torsion, bending, load distribution, mathematics, physics, mechanical principles, materials science and so on. Working in the ‘creative’ sector also requires understanding this unique culture.

Training is required but Fulcher cautions against reliance on ‘free’ online training content, much of which is unreliable. He says: “Look for reputable providers, and at how their training is assessed. LEEA, and the relevant entertainment trade associations, can help you find high quality training.”

Matthew Wheeler, rigging compliance supervisor for the National Theatre in London, described ‘How we put a show on’ from the rigger’s point of view’. The process starts with a ‘white card’: a basic model demonstrating the staging and concepts and what the designer or director is trying to achieve. The technical departments (sound, lights and so forth) cost and analyse this to inform the creative team of the feasibility of what is being proposed and Wheeler emphasised the importance of the riggers being fully involved at this stage to ensure that proposed lifts can be performed safely.

A model, typically in full colour at 1:25 scale, is developed out of this to demonstrate feasibility and the effects of any changes the creative side may require. There is a pre-production fit-up in which scenic elements are prepared for stage alongside lighting, sound, AV and other features (noting that this may have to work around elements of the current production on stage), and then there are previews, press nights and the opening.

The rigger requires an in-depth understanding both of the equipment and of the designer’s vision, to work out what can be done safely while meeting creative requirements. Information is key: from the artistic vision to the weights of scenic elements and what lighting, sound, props or flying performers are travelling with the scenery in the lift.

There are many complications. The building or staging may not be a permanent structure with a history of previous successful practice to draw on. Lifts may have to be performed safely in a blackout and there may be ‘no fly zones’ to be respected. The way the cast interacts with the scenery is important: does, for example, a door in a scenic flat have to be closed securely before the lift can occur? And there is always someone wanting to add another couple of lamps to the lift, regardless of the extra weight.

Two-way communication is crucial with designers and with production, stage and venue managers. Equally vital is managing expectations on cost, time and performance. For example, agreement is needed on how long a lift will take because this can affect the ‘pace’ of the show. Can the riggers offer a ‘window’ of time within which the creatives can work for a particular lift?

The rig may be strictly ‘for one night only’, but equally a successful theatrical show may run for months or even years, with implication for how continuing safety is guaranteed. Access time for examination and inspection, routine maintenance and repair, need to be agreed, and insisted on, with the stage/production management. While theatrical rigging is often ‘out of sight’ it mustn’t be allowed to be ‘out of mind’.

Unique though aspects of the entertainment sector are, the legal obligations are the same as in any other industry. According to Dave Tucker, a senior training specialist at LEEA, the responsibility for such things as equipment selection, inspection, maintenance, instruction and training lie with of the ‘owner’ of the equipment, which in this case would typically be the production or stage manager. These responsibilities can be delegated to a person with the required skill sets but he cautions that a qualified rigger/slinger may not be qualified to examine/inspect and vice-versa.

End users also have responsibilities. Given the ‘one-off’ nature of many stage lifting scenarios, caution needs to be exercised with regard to ‘engineering solutions’ that may stray outside the capabilities of the equipment and the supporting structure or beyond the training of the operators. The lifting operations supervisor must plan, carry out and supervise all lifts. He or she will be familiar with the many challenges of lifting in this environment.

Inspection regimes: pre-use, periodically during use and, ideally, at knock-down as well, must be adhered to. These of course vary according to administration and are a minimum requirement.

Across the world there is a plethora of standards applicable to lifting in the entertainment sector; LEEA participates actively in setting and revising these through ISO, CEN, BSI, ASME and others. Keith Tonge from LEEA’s technical services team highlights EN 17206:2020 Entertainment technology – machinery for stages and other production areas – safety requirements and inspections, which is under review having been published a couple of years ago. It covers quite a range, from lifts and hoists to performer flying systems. prEN 17795-5 part 5, which comprises codes of practice for lifting and motion operations in the events industry, is currently out for comment. Other relevant standards work is under way in the US, Australia and elsewhere. Tonge stresses the need for lifting practitioners with entertainments expertise to contribute to this work.

Since the disruption caused by Covid, it is more necessary than ever to ensure that qualifications actually belong to the person presenting them, that they are still current, and that the competencies of people who may have stepped away from the job during Covid remain intact. Meanwhile, new entrants in England may be interested in the LEEA-backed lifting engineering technician apprenticeship scheme, or another scheme specifically for live event riggers.

For further information visit leeaint.com and a LEEA hosted webinar on these issues is available to watch at: https://leeaint.com/open-learning

27th February 2023

Elation Professional and Obsidian Control Systems partner with UK’s Backstage Academy

UK – Elation Professional and Obsidian Control Systems are partnering with Backstage Academy, the UK’s premier institution for the education of the next generation of live event professionals. Both Elation and Obsidian are providing the latest in cutting-edge products to Backstage Academy for use in educational courses and training purposes.

Backstage Academy is located in the heart of Production Park, a live events and entertainment technology campus near Leeds that combines industry, education and innovation. It features production studios, businesses and educational facilities, where creatives, technicians, designers, and engineers collaborate to advance the live events industry. Backstage Academy offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, short courses and bespoke training programs that involve getting hands on with cutting-edge equipment and technology used by the entertainment industry. 4Wall Entertainment, TAIT and ROE Visual are on site and entrenched in the fabric of Production Park as well as other industry leading companies.

Backstage Academy students will have access to Elation lighting and Obsidian lighting control products for their studies for both on-campus and off-campus projects. The gear will also be utilised in training courses with industry professionals. The package includes Proteus and KL series luminaires from Elation, Magmatic atmospheric effects, as well as NX control solutions and NETRON data distribution devices from Obsidian.

Rachel Nicholson, head of institution at Backstage Academy, said: “We pride ourselves on being a place where we equip the next generation of live industry professionals with all the necessary skills and experience for an evolving and changing industry. Partnerships with industry-leading companies such as Elation Professional are key to our students’ personal and professional development. They will gain hands-on experience, training and confidence using the latest cutting-edge lighting and control technologies. We are delighted to be working with Elation Professional and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Graham Hill, business development manager at Elation Professional, adds: “The live events industry needs education facilities like Backstage Academy like never before and we are thrilled to be adding our latest lighting and control technologies to their training curriculum. Production Park has quickly established itself as one of the leading training and research centres for our industry and for Elation and Obsidian to be there at the start of a young professionals' career in live events is quite significant. We are proud to be supporting the next generation of users, designers, hirers and specifiers.” The partnership with Backstage Academy also includes use of Production Park facilities for product demonstrations and Open Days events.

The partnership also sees Elation lighting products used within XPLOR, a research and innovation centre delivered by Backstage Academy that opened in 2022. It features spacious design and prototype areas for testing, modelling, and building physical and virtual environments. XPLOR conducts pioneering research and development as well as custom services for clients. Elation's KL Panel and KL Fresnel 8 FC luminaires are used in XPLOR's Centre for Virtual Production.

www.elationlighting.com 

22nd February 2023

Entertainment power courses lay ‘PAT testing’ to rest

UK – New professional training which provides the very latest guidance on the In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISITEE) – including why the term ‘PAT Testing’ should now be considered a thing of the past – has been announced.

Presented by James Eade, the UK’s leading expert on electrical power safety for entertainment environments, the hugely popular JET 2377 courses will be available in Bristol on 15-16 February and again on 17-18 May 2023.

The course brings attendees up to date with the important changes introduced by the revised 5th edition of the IET Code of Practice on In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, written by James himself. Among the major developments that everyone should be aware of is that what was commonly called ‘PAT testing’ – the process of inspection and checks on equipment while in-service – is now out of date, replaced by the latest guidance.

Designed by James Eade, the two-day course is aimed at increasing understanding of the need for a holistic approach to the management of electrical equipment in the workplace, as well as the practicalities of actually doing so.

The course focuses squarely on the entertainment and events industry but can be tailored for other industries. It puts the IET guidance and requirements in the Code of Practice into a context that will make sense to (and prove invaluable to) anyone with responsibility for electrical equipment and systems including rental companies, technicians, freelancers and venue managers alike.

Of the JET 2377 courses, James says: “We’re seeing increased competition in the events and entertainment marketplace, with properly skilled crew in ever-greater demand. Because of this, the need for best practice in electrical systems has never been greater. Having the latest knowledge and reliable equipment ensures not only peace of mind, but optimum safety and performance for all concerned.”

James, who trained almost 500 professionals in event, touring, theatre, film and television during 2022 alone, is also chairman of the British Standard 7909 committee, which deals with the management of temporary electrical systems for events.

For more information on courses, pricing and availability, or to sign up to receive emailed updates, visit the website at //eade.uk.com

30th January 2023

Production Futures ON TOUR to visit Nottingham Confetti Institute

UK – Production Futures is an initiative created to provide opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop real careers in production across every area of the live event, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film industries

As part of its continuing programme of ON TOUR live events, Production Futures will visit Nottingham’s Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies on 23rd January, with world-leading industry experts and brand partners including manufacturers Sennheiser, Avolites, ChamSys, Chauvet Professional, Shure, NEXO, disguise, Brompton Technology, TAIT, Roe Visual, Riedel Communications and Vectorworks, as well as a number of leading supply and production companies.

Part of Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Confetti has two campuses, one in Nottingham and a new one in east London, scheduled to open this September. Production Futures ON TOUR will visit the Nottingham campus, based in the heart of the city’s award winning Creative Quarter. Confetti has specialist hubs dedicated to digital, media, film, TV, music and live events and offers further education from age 16, as well as higher education degree courses.

Reflecting the importance it attaches to providing students with access to careers in the creative industries, Confetti will release all its students from timetabled activities to enable their attendance. The event will also be open to all young people from Nottingham and its surrounding areas who wish to explore careers in production.

The event will be staged across the Confetti campus with activities, including panel discussions, hands-on experiences and talks and takes place at the Metronome music and live events hub and the Confetti X complex, a purpose-built suite designed for esports production and other emerging technologies. Special guests include top music producer, director and songwriter, Steve Anderson (Kylie Minogue, Westlife, etc), alongside a number of other industry-leading experts who will cover an extensive range of topics.

Newly introduced for the Confetti event is the Production Futures ‘Industry Hangout’ where the young people in attendance can informally discuss specific job and training opportunities with the organisation’s brand partners. As part of an initiative to increase its reach within the industry, Production Futures is also inviting prospective new brand partners to attend the ‘Hangout’ to see for themselves the huge potential talent waiting to be unlocked.

Hannah Eakins, CEO at Production Futures, is looking forward to the day: “We’re delighted to be bringing our ON TOUR event to Nottingham and working with Confetti to provide young people in the area with the opportunity to engage directly with key players in the production industries. The importance of a face to face platform where the next generation of talent can really get under the skin of what our industry can offer can’t be underestimated. As we know, there is a skills shortage across what is a rapidly growing sector and our brand partners place a high value on being able to tap in to what is a huge pool of talent.”

Confetti founder and chief executive, Craig Chettle MBE added: “We’re excited to be hosting Production Futures at our Metronome and Confetti X facilities in Nottingham. The event aligns with our ‘Do it For Real’ ethos, affording those wanting to get into the creative and entertainment industries a fantastic opportunity to hear from experts, attend masterclasses, and connect with key industry partners.”

To find out more about the Production Futures event and to reserve your free place, please visit the event listing on Eventbrite here.

13th January 2023

Allen & Heath to Begin Tenth Semester of Award-Winning Mini Masterclass Series

USA – Allen & Heath USA has announced a brand new semester of its weekly Mini Masterclass series. The free 25-minute classes, held online every Wednesday, feature world-class instructors and product experts discussing various features and hardware within the Allen & Heath ecosystem. Created in November 2020 and now totalling over 100 weeks of sessions, the Mini Masterclasses continue to evolve and grow based on continual feedback from the engaged Allen & Heath community.

Previous Mini Masterclass topics have ranged from basic terminology to advanced dLive processing. Many classes are also dedicated to installation topics, such as the ever-expanding AHM series of powerful matrix mixers and the Everything I/O ecosystem. Each session is followed by a Q&A, giving users the opportunity to have their questions answered by the experts. This innovative format was honoured last year with an SCN Stellar Service Award, noted as representing exceptional service and training by the readers of Systems Contractor News magazine.

“With the beginning of our tenth semester, we're more excited than ever to continue building this community,” notes Samantha Potter, commercial audio manager for Allen & Heath USA and core Masterclass instructor. “We're covering topics that span quite the gamut, fuelled heavily by our attendees. It's a blast getting to spend a few minutes on Wednesdays in a casual, virtual environment where people can learn something new and have a safe space to ask questions.”

The new semester will begin this week on January 11th, 2023, and will feature many anticipated classes on FX processing, custom control, hardware overviews, studio configuration and more.

To register, please visit https://www.allen-heath.com/events/

11th January 2023

disguise Revamps its Learn Platform to Provide an Industry-Tailored Learning Experience

UK – disguise, the technology platform enabling the most spectacular live experiences and virtual productions, has re-engineered its learning programme to a new offering named 'disguise Learn'. disguise Learn’s new in-classroom and online courses provide an improved experience offering dedicated learning pathways for virtual production, extended reality, broadcast graphics, location-based experiences and live events so users can pick a learning pathway most relevant to their chosen industry application.

"Within the last three years, we've helped power more than 600 real-time productions in over 50 countries. With disguise Learn, we want to share all we've learned with our 20 years of industry expertise and make it as easy as possible for anyone to become an expert in disguise workflows. With our new, industry-tailored learning pathways, learners can apply newfound knowledge to whichever projects they work in including xR and virtual production as well as location-based experiences and live shows,” says disguise training manager for EMEA, Alex Lapthorne.

disguise Learn offers a blended approach with both online and classroom learning for all levels of experience. The online offering comes free of charge and now includes more easily consumable learning content presented in different formats. Users of disguise Learn can also enjoy easier access to trainers in different regions with disguise providing classroom learning in their key locations across EMEA, APAC and the Americas either through their own trainers or through certified disguise training partners. Users can now easily learn in their preferred medium, on their budget, and on their schedule.

“While virtual productions, live events, and location-based experiences are quickly adopting next-generation technology platforms, all these industries need people with the knowledge to put the technology to use. With the launch of disguise Learn, we have expanded our existing catalogue of courses so our users can easily learn new skills that will enable them to transition into new working environments and discover exciting opportunities, “ says disguise training manager for the Americas, Vickie Claiborne.

disguise Learn offers certification in the form of printed certificates and digital badges that get posted to the attendees' Linkedin network upon successful completion of each module. With this, attendees can showcase their skills, making it easier to land their next gig.

“We are proud to launch disguise Learn and offer an easier and better way for users to begin their learning journey with us. Now, both new and existing users can get the best out of our software and hardware solutions and feel fully supported within the disguise ecosystem,” says disguise chief experience officer Alex Wills. “The pace of innovation within the media and entertainment space is increasing exponentially and we want as many people as possible harnessing the disguise platform to stay at the very forefront of these industries.”

To sign up for disguise Learn online visit www.disguise.one/en/learn/

1st December 2022

ABTT Launches 2nd Guidance Note on Mental Health & Well-being

The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has launched Guidance Note W2: Mental health and well-being in the workplace – A practical guide to conducting Stress Risk Assessments and creating well-being policies.

This is the second in the ABTT’s “W” series of Guidance Notes which deal with legal duties and best practice for ensuring the welfare of all workers.

Guidance Note W2 is launched to coincide with International Stress Awareness Week 7-11 November 2022.¹

Guidance Note W2 provides guidance for risk assessing stress in the workplace. It is closely aligned with the HSE’s current advice provided as part of the Working Minds campaign². The guidance note offers concise guidance and a step-by-step methodology by which to begin risk assessing work related stress.

Guidance Note W2 is part of the Code of Practice for the Theatre Industry in the UK which is produced by the ABTT with the support of the national Theatre Safety Committee and which is recognised by the HSE as an Established Standard.

Work-related stress is a major cause of occupational ill health and can cause severe physical and psychological conditions in workers. It can also lead to poor productivity and human error, increased sickness absence, increases in accidents, high staff turnover and poor performance. HSE statistics show that work-related stress is a significant issue with more than 15.4 million working days lost as a result of stress, anxiety or depression. This equates to an estimated cost of £5.2 billion.³ Stress, anxiety and depression are the number one reasons for work related illness in the UK.

The “AAPTLE 2021 UK Backstage Well-being survey” provided significant evidence of a higher than average prevalence of mental ill health in technical and production practitioners working in theatre and live performance.

Guidance Note W2 provides support for workplaces in assessing the risk of work-related stress and for working towards methods by which reduce it.

1 International Stress Awareness Week 7-11 November 2022: https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress- awareness-week

2 Working Minds: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/working-minds/

3 HSE Stress work book: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wbk01.pdf

 

7th November 2022