Lighthouse VideoBlades in Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour

LED video screen manufacturer Lighthouse's new product, VideoBlades, is used by Solotech as the main video element in Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour.

VideoBlades, the result of an alliance between Lighthouse and Pix2o, is a large-scale LED video display technology that straddles the worlds of video and lighting in the entertainment, events, and architectural markets. VideoBlades 12 provides a 12.5mm pixel pitch, modular LED video screen that, the company says, delivers superb image quality both indoors and outdoors, with a literal twist.

VideoBlades 12 comes in two formats: SkyRoll and GroundRoll, which can be deployed by rolling up or down from its patented rotating structure. The modular format allows for the seamless formation of large-scale screens limited in size only by a customer's needs, the company says. VideoBlades 12 was selected as the best new video product at LDI 2010.

For theJackson show, Solotech deploys over 2,500 VideoBlades to create the nearly 200 sq. m. of LED video display that is the show's main display surface. For the show, the VideoBlades are deployed in three main ways:

1) Six GroundRolls seam together in pairs to build the massive up-stage screen that presents music videos from the Michael Jackson's past, as well as other content.

2) The set's main stage is made of thin transparent Plexiglas that covers the surface of 42 sq. m. (560 VideoBlades). While the LED video plays, dancers perform and set pieces move on top of the main stage. At select moments, the entire main stage hinges up to wow the audience with even more video surface.

3) A column splits into two separate pieces, exposing another 260 VideoBlades.

In total, the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour uses eight GroundRolls and 10 stage segments. Roughly 3.6 million LEDs are used to create the various stage surfaces, but it requires only one video technician and a few stage hands to rig and assemble the VideoBlades portions of the set.

Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour opened October 2, 2011 in Montreal and plays across North America through August 2012.