Robe helps design the new stage for American Idol 2023

The unprecedented filming of the live finals of American Idol 2023 from the Red Studios Hollywood gave lighting designer Tom Sutherland the opportunity to DX7 to design a new staging with lighting solutions Steal as protagonists.

The live finals of American Idol 2023 have moved to a new location, Red Studios Hollywood, Giving to the lighting designer Tom Sutherland of DX7 design and production Florian Wieder The opportunity to create a new look in this space, which has embraced history and innovation in film and TV production since the early twentieth century.

The new set of American Idol has been the starting point from which Sutherland worked on the new lighting design. Elegant and modern, The area of action had a diamond shape, allowing the incorporation of a large number of Led sources, Screens, Lighting panels and strips, in addition to a striking Led floor.

After analyzing the market, the designer decided on a large number of Robe moving lights in his lighting scheme, among which stands out the use of 137 MegaPoints, 104 Treta2 (Intended for looks and special effects) and 49 Spiider Led, among other equipment.

All these solutions are used in a very versatile way, adapting to every need of the format and performances. Tom decided to reflect the diamond-shaped floor design with a grid of Spiiders located on the ceiling., forming a structure that resembled a kind of "contemporary chandelier".

A MegaPointes frame surrounded this grid, but it is not the only use that were given to these moving lights of Robe: were placed more along the wraparound structure of the stage at the front, above the side edges of the stage and along the “structure 1 of the stage” that curved around the back of the stage area.

Five MegaPointes were placed on each side of the deck and four behind the live band to create a structural look and silhouette effects from that angle..

The Tetra2 were used to frame the Led screen of the stage, A large surface that was divided and moved left and right to allow entrances and exits. In addition to these products Robe, employed other 700 Lights in the assembly. “The challenge is always to make sure you're using the most appropriate technology and make sure you're always pushing the boundaries and keeping things looking unique and distinctive.".

All lighting for the series was programmed into a console grandMA3 of MA Lightning and was run by Bobby Gray and Harry Forster, who worked in the first and second half of the season respectively.

The white lights were controlled by Nate Files, the director of the series was Phil Heyes and the executive producers were Matt Banks and Megan Wolflick. The lighting equipment was supplied by Felix Lighting, and everything was coordinated and managed by the account manager, Nicole Barnes.

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