Green Hippo's Hippotizer Steers Seamless Visual Storytelling for Saudi Global Conference

	"Lighting and video played a central role in shaping the atmosphere," Mohsen says. Photo: HiLights Group

The Momentum Global Development Finance Conference delivered a visually immersive experience powered by real-time playback, compositing, and mapping across a complex multi-surface display. At the core of the video system were Hippotizer Media Servers from Green Hippo, an ACT Entertainment brand.

Delivered by HiLights Group in collaboration with La Gloire, the full AVL production at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center transformed the high-profile event into a cohesive environment, blending lighting, video, and stage design into a unified creative language.

HiLights Group deployed Hippotizer Boreal MK2+ and Karst+ Media Servers. "We designed the system around Hippotizer for flexibility and resilience," says Ahmed Mohsen, head of video at HiLights Group. "It supported high-resolution outputs, dynamic transitions, and seamless synchronization across all visual and lighting elements.

"Hippotizer gave us maximum reliability without compromising creativity, and the confidence to execute complex sequences while remaining adaptable to changes during the show."

The production -- held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud -- required a tightly integrated approach, with video and lighting working in sync to support storytelling and respond dynamically throughout the conference.

"Lighting and video played a central role in shaping the atmosphere," Mohsen continues. "We used a wide range of color palettes, movement, and contrast - from bold, high-energy looks to softer, ambient scenes - to create depth and emotional variation."

Visual content complemented this approach, combining high-resolution graphics, layered compositions, and motion-driven elements that interacted fluidly with the stage environment. The set acted as a flexible canvas, with clean architectural lines and mapped surfaces allowing content to evolve across different segments.

Configured with synchronized timelines and redundancy systems, the Hippotizer platform ensured uninterrupted playback throughout live operation. "Its ability to handle real-time compositing and multi-output mapping allowed us to maintain both precision and flexibility in a fast-paced environment," adds Mohsen.

A key strength of the deployment was its integrated workflow, enabling seamless communication between video, lighting, and show control systems. Using Hippotizer's Pin Bridge tool, operators controlled video parameters directly from the lighting console, ensuring tight synchronization between lighting cues and visual content while enhancing creative responsiveness.

"MIDI control further enhanced real-time interaction, giving us a tactile interface for triggering clips, adjusting layers, and manipulating effects during rehearsals and live operation," says Mohsen. "The Timeline tool structured the show, aligning visual sequences with timecode and key moments, while still allowing manual overrides when needed."

The Mix Preset feature streamlined operation by enabling rapid recall of complex visual states, reducing programming time and simplifying transitions. Meanwhile, Hippotizer's ZooKeeper network solution allowed multiple servers to function as a unified system, supporting synchronized playback, shared content, and centralized control across all outputs.

"This was critical for maintaining consistency across large-format LED displays and mapped scenic elements," Mohsen notes.

Redundancy planning further ensured system stability and minimized risk during live operation. "The biggest challenge in live production is adapting to last-minute changes," he adds. "Hippotizer allowed us to make adjustments seamlessly, without impacting performance."

HiLights Group delivered a comprehensive solution, spanning design, pre-visualization, technical planning, and on-site execution. Close collaboration across teams ensured smooth integration of all AVL elements, from concept through to live delivery.

The result was a series of standout visual moments, including high-impact opening sequences and cinematic transitions where lighting and video worked together to shift mood and energy. Large-scale mapped content added depth and perspective, while more minimal scenes provided contrast and clarity.

"Audience response reflected the success of this approach," concludes Mohsen. "The visuals played a key role in driving engagement and creating a memorable, immersive experience that supported both the performance and the overall storytelling."