Robe Used to Light First Sport Awards Gauteng Show

A brand new sporting awards event -- the Sport Awards Gauteng 2011 -- was staged at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, an initiative by the local Gauteng government to reward and acknowledge those in the province who excel at various sports. It was broadcast live on the Supersport 4 satellite TV channel.

Lighting designer Nicholas Michaletos' rig contained 80 Robe moving lights, which were the core of the lighting, supplied by locally based MGG productions -- plus a large generic rig -- all of which was programmed and run by MGG's Kevin Rieck using a grandMA console.

The lighting design was based around a set and production design by Wayne Sproule of Pendragon Dezign. He gave Michaletos a very clear idea of what he wanted in terms of lighting aesthetics, and the result was a fusion of classical theatrical and televisual styles.

The set provided a translucent framework to the space that needed to be lit so it would change color and style to match the content being displayed on the video centerpiece -- the back of the set consisted of a large LED screen. The set took texturing and coloration well, and this, plus the clear brief from Sproule, made lighting the show "relatively straightforward" to a seasoned professional like Michaletos.

The rig included the new ROBIN 600 LEDWashes -- MGG was the first rental company in South Africa to take delivery of these. Their range of real whites at different color temperatures is extremely useful for television environments, together with the 15 -- 60 degree zoom and smooth color mixing.

On the Sport Awards, the LEDWash 600s were positioned front-of-house, and used primarily for audience cut-away shots, but once Michaletos discovered "how effective their whites and CTO functions are," they became very useful to fill the stage apron as well.

Joining the 12 ROBIN 600 LEDWashes on the rig were 20 Robe CitySkape 48 LED floods, 20 LEDForce 7s, 14 Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs, and 12 ColorWash 700E ATs. These were arranged on four overhead LX bars in the theatre's roof, with some on the floor.

Michaletos expands, "My aim was to provide a visual clarity with neat, clean looks giving good television and media shots -- while the set and video visuals provided the sparkly bits and the magic required." The lighting rig featured conventional back-lights, side color booms and white key lights for entrances, the presenters, the podiums, and the stage apron. "The overhead Robes gave me color, beams, and gobos," he explains, adding that they offered all the flexibility he needed, while PARs provided his basic three color washes from the sides and overhead at the back.

Rieck comments that he learnt a huge amount from Michaletos on this show, "He created colors and combinations that I would never have thought of," he concludes.

A night of glamour and media interest saw the presentation of many awards, including that of Lifetime Achiever to soccer boss Irvin Khoza for his work in making the historic 2010 FIFA World Cup a resounding success.