XL Video makes a great projection for the show Massive Attack v Adam Curtis

Massive Attack v Adam Curtis is an avant-garde show in which the video is merged, lighting and sound. XL Video has been the company in charge of supplying the equipment that has allowed to make the projection on a large videowall that occupied the entire room, and HSL responsible for lighting.

XL Video has been the company in charge of supplying the projection system, 3D media server and LED modules ship Ilite 12 for the staging of the avant-garde work of Massive Attack v Adam Curtis; while HSL has been responsible for lighting.

Massive Attack v Adam Curtis premiered at The Mayfield Depot in Manchester, as part of the Manchester International Festival (MIF) 2013, continued his tour at the Kraftzentrale in Landschaftspark Duisburg for the Ruhrtriennale International Festival 2013 and conclude at New York's Park Avenue Armouries.

The charismatic Mayfield Depot was the stage chosen for the premiere of this enigmatic association of the Bristol band (England), Massive Attack, and the work done by British documentary filmmaker and producer Adam Curtis. A union that has resulted in an avant-garde work in which the three main technical disciplines merge: video, lighting and sound. About two thousand people came every night in Manchester to see this show, where cinema and music are mixed.

This project was a challenge from the out of the moment, starting with the stage he had chosen for his presentation. The majestic withered elegance of the Mayfield Depot provided a perfect backdrop for the world premiere. A building that was abandoned and that the MIF set in motion for this occasion.

Curtis' incisive images accompanied by massive attack's dynamic soundtrack to live performance, untie endless questions related to reality and imagination, the power of wealth, data, knowledge and technology, totalitarian ideals, randomness and fragility of life … all very well spun through real human stories and experiences.

A great background video wall

The video system was designed and coordinated by XL, helped by United Visual Artists (grape), who participated in the creation of the initial concept with Curtis and Massive Attack and was in charge of the staging of the video and visual effects.

For the start-up of this great show it was necessary to design a structure that would allow to support the large screen. XL también suministró 96 Ilite LED tiles 12 used to set up a screen for 16 wide and 12 high in screen format 4:3. This great video wall was placed on a platform placed on a scaffold at the back of the stage. Ahead if he placed the band and as protecting the whole stage was placed a large gauze that let the musicians and what was projected on the screen that was on the stage was placed.

The screens were powered by 12 Projectors Boat HDF-W26 with WUXGA resolution (1920×1200), located in a truss on the roof. These computers, equipped with a wide angle 0,65-1 with fixed lens, were chosen for their high endurance, brightness and reliability. This model of 26.000 Lumens offers WUXGA resolution (1920×1200).

XL Video also supplies the three-dimensional visual playback system media server d3 that is used to view and control the playback of creative video, LED and lighting system. In this project two of these systems were used that were responsible for delivering content.

Each projector was individually powered by fiber through a Lightwave Dual Link 8×8 DVI matrix using three videowall controllers Datapath X4. These devices allowed to split the image of 2048 X 1536 in four segments of 1024 X 768 they were the output to each projector.

HSL, responsible for lighting

The company HSL was responsible for coordinating the installation to make the lighting system work. To make the entire video infrastructure, sound and lighting could be implanted in perfect condition it was necessary to design a structure that would allow the distribution of energy through three generators.

HSL wanted to create an effect in which different light effects would occur both on stage and around the spectators..

In the part where the projectors were placed 12 MAC III Profiles heads Martin by Harman and 30 1K Fresnel spotlights , used as house lighting and eight Atomic Colours . On stage, behind the screen were used 20 ETC Source Four Profiles spotlights and six points Steal Mmx. Six MAC III were also used for special effects.

Six Robe Robin 600E Spots were used for color change of the main lights, whereas 20 650W fresnels were ideal to produce the shadows on the "gauze" in front of the screen. Five Lowell Omnis were in charge of creating the nearest shadows and five other Atomic Colours were placed on stage.

In order to create continuity at certain points on the screen, 44 Martin XB Wash moving lights.
Eighteen 2K fresnels were scattered all over the stage, thus by the space occupied by the spectators in order to create a certain atmosphere of disorientation.

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