Robe ROBIN MMX Spots and LEDWashes for La Grande Battle, French Television Competition

Lighting designer and DP David Seligmann-Forest, from Lite4Life used Robe ROBIN MMX Spots, ROBIN 600E Spots, and LEDWash 600s to light La Grande Battle, a live TV presentation aired on French network France 2.

Ten major European stars from a variety of musical genres -- rock, pop, rap, flamenco, opera, brass band, etc. -- battled it out to win the final of this popular series for the best reinterpretation of classical songs and music. They were selected from over 300 bands by the public vote via the website.

Hosted by popular TV presenter Nagui and classical musician Jean-Francois Zygel, the artist line-up for the final included Italian opera singer Roberto Alagna; Anguun, France's 2012 Eurovision Song Contest hopeful; and French jazz singer and guitarist, Thomas Dutronc.

There was also a 90-piece orchestra. It was recorded in the large Euromedia Studio 217, at the Studios de France in Paris.

The Robe equipment included 24 ROBIN MMX Spots, 40 ROBIN 600 LEDWashes, 14 ROBIN 300 LEDWashes, and 16 ROBIN 600E spots, which, together with various other fixtures were spread out around the studio in the air and on the floor.

Seligmann-Forest was brought onboard to design the show's lighting by production company Banijay Productions, with whom he has worked on several previous projects.

The newly launched ROBIN MMX was specified for the La Grande Battle final because of the 8.5-46.5-degree zoom and the extremely bright beam, which, he reckons, "is far more efficient than any competitor product in that." He also thinks "the MMX Spot's gobos and dual animation wheel are excellent."

The Robe units allowed him to light the show dynamically and differently for each contestant. He also illuminated the eye-catching set, designed by Michèle Sarfati-Teledeko in original and complimentary ways.

Lighting for the final was run through two consoles -- a grandMA and an ADB desk - -operated by Xavier Gruchet, from Pixelux; the equipment was supplied by two rental companies: Lightco, from Paris, and Yes, from Froyennes - Tournai in Belgium, which provided the Robes.