ISSUE 30 / MAY 2010 The official bi-monthly publication for wysiwyg Members IN THIS ISSUE: Paralympics Opening Ceremony TABLE OF CONTENTS Paralympics Opening Ceremonies 2 wysiwyg: New Features – New Places – New Uses 5 wysiwyg g It just keeps getting better! 6 Sneak peek g wysiwyg at Eurovision 2010 9 wysiwyg hangs a perfect “10” at Wakestock in Abu Dhabi 10 Congratulations to these winners! 11 DTS new look courtesy of wysiwyg 12 Virtual theatre created with wysiwyg 13 wysiwyg designs a console? 14 wysiwyg on Architecture: 110 Tower, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 16 CAST’s BlackBox adds partners: Coolux, Magna BSP, Sand Network 18 The latest additions from the Library 20 Tips & Tricks • TIP 1 - Using the LED Wizard and Splitting Video 22 • TIP 2 - Using wysiwyg to facilitate Floor-Focusing Fixtures 28 www.wysiwygsuite.com 35 Ripley Ave., Suite 1, Toronto, Canada M6S 3P2. Tel +1-416-597-2278 © 2010 ISSUE 30 /May 2010 PARALYM P ICS OP ENING CEREM O NIES Note from the Editor: I’ve been corresponding with Robert Sondergaard from Electric Aura in Port Moody, BC, Canada since mid-February about their extensive work during the Van- couver Olympics. I’ve crossed paths with them many times over the years and I’m always impressed with their work. But what they managed to achieve during the Olympics blew my socks off. I could easily have done an Olympic version of The Plan, as Electric Aura – and wysiwyg – were involved in some really amazing events! Since I couldn’t choose just one, I’ve decided to do a focus on the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies and then condense some of the others a bit in order to share all of the highlights. Hope you enjoy. My personal thanks to Robert and the entire Electric Aura crew for sharing the details, photos and renders, as well as involving wysiwyg in such internationally renowned events. We’re proud to be a part! March 12 saw the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Vancouver director/ head choreographer was Joecelyn Peden. Director of Paralympics, with Patrick Roberge as producer/artistic director production was Nik von Schulman and technical director was and lighting by Robert Sondergaard of Electric Aura. “The entire Michael Scriven. In addition to Robert Sondergaard and Jason BC Place was drawn in 3D in wysiwyg and we used it for daytime Bolger, the Electric Aura team included TV lighting director Jason programming,” says Robert, noting that the lighting for the cer- McKinnon and followspot director Alan Brodie. emonies was based on the initial plot created by Bob Dickinson of Full Flood for the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games Partial Gear List: on 12 February in the same venue. “Jason Bolger was our lead 9 2 – Active Grand MA wysiwyg technician. He worked out the Paralympic patch and 9 2 – Backup Grand MA (all 4 consoles networked together) implemented it in wysiwyg prior to the programming team start- 9 64 – Universes of DMX Output ing,” adds Robert. 9 12373 – Parameters used in show file 9 Robert explained, “wysiwyg was used extensively to create 3D 1278 – fixtures in show file 9 wysiwyg renders in the creation process. We had 64 Universes of DMX Whole system is drawn in 3D in and used for day- Output all fed into wysiwyg and over 460 Fixtures in our wysiwyg time programming file. wysiwyg Suite was used for pre-programming prior to load-in. 9 40 – Mac 2000 Performance It was also brought to the venue to program on during the day. 9 68 – Mac 2000 Wash Because the venue has a translucent roof we brought our pre- 9 124 – VL-3500 Spot visualization suite with us and networked it in as well - this allowed 9 68 – VL-3500 Wash us to build looks during the day and then we finessed them at 9 58 – VL-3000 Spot night when the sun went down.” 9 28 – VL-5 Arch 9 72 – VL2416 The X Paralympic Opening Ceremonies were produced by Patrick 9 8 – Syncrolite MX4 Roberge Productions, directed by Patrick Roberge. Associate 9 wysiwyg Perform © 2010 The official bi-monthly publication forwysiwyg Members 2 ISSUE 30 /May 2010 Paralympics Opening Ceremonies - continued Rendering - Paralympics Opening Ceremonies Rendering - Paralympics Opening Ceremonies Photo - Paralympics Opening Ceremonies Photo - Paralympics Opening Ceremonies In addition to a stunning Paralympic opening, Electric Aura was each day of the Olympic competition. Robert explains, “Patrick’s also “charged” with other high-profile Olympic events including: vision was that this show had to be one of the top 10 things to see during the Olympics.” The lighting, as well as all of the special ef- Experience BC at Robson Square – “Ignite the Dream” fects, were designed to create a stunning 360-degree experience that would showcase British Columbia at its best. wysiwyg helped Electric Aura take a carbon-friendly footstep during the Olympic Games at one of the most unique installa- Robert describes the set up: “Two square city blocks of downtown tions found above Robson Square in Vancouver. Every night from Vancouver were modeled in 3D. We had 42 Syncrolites, 60+ mov- 12-28 February the skies overhead exploded with lights, pyrotech- ers & a few hundred LEDs in the wysiwyg file. wysiwyg suite was nics, lasers, projections and flying performers. moved to an office at Robson Square so we could program the The project, aptly named ”Ignite the Dream” was the creation of show prior to load-in. Senior members of the BC Secretariat were Partrick Roberge to be the signature show celebrating the end of brought to the wysiwyg Suite to preview the show prior to load-in. © 2010 The official bi-monthly publication forwysiwyg Members 3 ISSUE 30 /May 2010 Paralympics Opening Ceremonies - continued They loved it. The show was triggered on an grandMA via timecode grandMA via timecode so they needed get the triggering informa- so we needed to get the triggering information in prior to load-in.” tion in prior to load-in. Jason McKinnon from Electric Aura was the A spectacular and innovative show, “Ignite the Dream” lit up the lead on this project, doing all of the wysiwyg drafting and program- Vancouver sky and downtown core twice each Olympic night, be- ming for it. coming a crowd favourite with more than half a million spectators during the show’s 17-day run. The Opening Ceremonies for the 122nd IOC Session Experience BC at Robson Square – Meet the Mascots Ice Show Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were welcomed to the Opening Ceremony of the 122nd Session of the A fun, family show featuring the Vancouver 2010 mascots, Meet IOC. Staged at the newly renovated Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the Mascots on Ice took to the GE Ice Plaza three times daily. IOC members and special guests were treated to a true Canadian Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and all their friends skated, danced and sang youth welcome. in celebration of the Vancouver 2010 Games. With original music, choreography, lighting and costumes, this ice show entertained wysiwyg was used to create the pitch renders to the IOC and audiences of all ages. VANOC. The newly renovated QET and their house hung over 400 fixtures which were in the wysiwyg file. The Canadian Winter Sports Showcase – West Vancouver’s Live Site Mayor of the Host City of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson and Pre- mier of the Host Province of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell Twice nightly the Spirit Square was alive with this unique per- opened the show with a welcome to the IOC delegates, who came formance created specially for West Vancouver 2010. A cast of from around the world. Over 2000 guests were treated to featured 12 professional dancers performed in, around and on top of the entertainment that included the Olympic 2010 Dancers, Circus building in a celebration of Canada’s winter sports. The live perfor- West, Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Vancou- mance was complemented by a dynamic soundtrack, huge video ver Academy of Dance, and the Vancouver School Board 2010 screen and high tech lighting design. Youth Choir, among others. Electric Aura used 40 Octostrips, 18 Movers, 72 Conventionals …..And that wasn’t even the whole list! Hopefully the team at and 100 LEDs in the wysiwyg file. The show was triggered on a Electric Aura enjoyed a well-earned break after the dust settled. About Electric Aura Since 2002 Electric Aura Projects Inc. has been making magic a reality for all of their clients. They bring extensive theatre, television broadcast, film, dance, corporate, theme park, and concert touring experience to each and every project they work on. The technological advances in our industry are pushing beyond the demands of traditional lighting design. In order to meet those demands, Electric Aura offers an integrated production team for all projects which includes lighting, set and video designers; draftsper- sons; programmers; electricians; crew chiefs and production support staff. They also offer wysiwyg studio services in order to maxi- mize the use of time on site and to help clients visualize their concepts. The key to continued success is the ability to work together to make the integration of all of the visual elements of each event seamless and to maintain the quality of design that clients have come to expect. Galleries of sample work can be viewed at www.electricaura.net. © 2010 The official bi-monthly publication forwysiwyg Members 4 ISSUE 30 /May 2010 wysiwyg : NEW FEATURES – NEW PLACES – NEW USES Letter from the editor, Joan Lyman, Manager, Communications Dear Readers, This issue of The Plan aims to take you to new places -- not only corners of the world, and much more.