Robe helps design the new American Idol stage 2023

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

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

The new set for American Idol has been the starting point from which Sutherland worked on the new lighting design. Stylish and modern, The performance area was diamond-shaped, allowing the incorporation of a large number of LED sources, Screens, Lighting panels and strips, plus 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 the use of 137 MegaPointes, 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 each need of the format and the performances. Tom decided to mirror the design of the diamond-shaped floor with a grid of Spiiders located on the ceiling, forming a structure that resembled a kind of "contemporary chandelier".

A frame of MegaPointes surrounded this grid, but it is not the only use given to these Robe moving lights: were placed further along the stage wraparound structure 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 stage LED screen, a large surface that was divided and shifted left and right to allow entrances and exits. In addition to these Robe products, used other 700 Lights in the assembly. “The challenge is always making sure that you are using the most appropriate technology and making sure that you are always pushing the boundaries and keeping things looking unique and distinctive.".

All of the show's lighting was programmed into one console grandMA3 of MA Lightning and was performed by Bobby Gray and Harry Forster, who worked in the first and second half of the season respectively.

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 person in charge of accounts, Nicole Barnes.

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