REGIONAL ROUND-UP

MUSEUM OF THE FUTURE SHINES FOR 49TH UAE NATIONAL DAY

ECLIPSE DEPLOYS CLAYPAKY MYTHOS 2 LIGHTING FIXTURES FOR AN EYE-CATCHING TEMPORARY INSTALLATION.

As the UAE celebrated its 49th National Day on 2 December, Dubai sent a clear message that it is open for business, with a spectacular installation at the Museum of the Future. Set to open later this year, the 78m-high architectural masterpiece was adorned with 49 Claypaky Mythos 2 fixtures, which shone beams of light into its central void.

With design concept and event production from live experience agency People, eclipse Staging Services worked alongside rigging contractor, iRIG to deliver the ambitious project.

The fixtures were hung within a 360° clockface design, from custom-rolled pipe dead hung to the building structure. As the site is currently still under construction, careful consideration and additional health and safety measures were implemented and followed to ensure that the crew could work seamlessly around the active site.

Lighting Designer, Tony ‘Turbo’ Hall worked alongside an eclipse programmer as the light show ran live for six nights. The design of the rig allowed for various key looks, ranging from tight beams all focused to the centre of void, changing between the red, white and green colours of the UAE, to stunning aerial effects as the fixtures tiled out towards the nearby Emirates Towers.

“I was delighted to be able to use the Claypaky Mythos 2 from eclipse for this project,” Turbo commented. “The outstanding output from these fixtures created a one-horse race as far as fixture selection went. During programming, the enhanced output, even in saturated colours, proved a winning combination. The units proved to be extremely robust, with no failures on site. Given the issues with getting to any units, this was of paramount importance.”

With the end of 2020 and start of 2021 proving an extremely busy time for eclipse, this project was one of many that pointed to clear signs of revival for the UAE events industry. Photo: eclipse Staging Services www.eclipse.ae www.claypaky.it

POWER LOGISTICS SECURES EXTREME E CONTRACT

THE COMPANY PREPARES FOR A SEASON OPENER SET TO TAKE PLACE ON 20 MARCH IN ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA.

Power Logistics has been appointed to deliver temporary power solutions to radical new racing series, Extreme E. With five races planned for 2021, the series will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world, which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues and is committed to having a net-zero carbon footprint by the end of its first season.

“Securing a contract with Extreme E, which is committed to delivering on its net-zero carbon goals, is testament to the reputation that Power Logistics has built as a market leader in sustainable temporary power solutions,” said Power Logistics’ Managing Director, Mike Whitehouse. “This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with and learn from some of the world’s leading experts in sustainability, not only in sporting events but the wider community.”

The contract will see Power Logistics deliver a comprehensive electrical support package that encompasses the team garages and paddock area, along with support structures, broadcast compound and production areas. Among the services supplied by Power Logistics will be electrical designs, HVO-compatible generators and an experienced team of electricians who will travel to each of the five races in the series.

The standout element of the project is the design of bespoke cabling and distribution equipment that incorporates a smart power monitoring system, built specifically to meet Extreme E’s requirements.

The new series is pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology, supplied by AFC Energy, which will enable the fleet of SUVs to be charged utilising zero-emission energy. Power Logistics’ electrical cabling and distribution system will work in tandem with AFC Energy’s system to incorporate the car charging network.

Power Logistics will also implement extensive power monitoring of the energy and fuel usage of all touring elements at each circuit.

Detailed analysis of car charging and utility circuits will provide vital information, in minute detail, both in real time and post-race, to help the organising team deliver on their sustainable objectives. “The sustainable innovation driven in a racing series such as Extreme E is often transferred into the domestic market and road vehicles,” Whitehouse commented.

“We’re hoping to emulate that within the provision of temporary power for events. Working closely with Extreme E suppliers, like AFC Energy, presents an exciting opportunity for us to push the limits and expand our power monitoring system for a post-COVID world where environmental considerations will be vital.”

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer, Extreme E, commented: “Extreme E plans to be a leader and a pioneer in showcasing green technologies that offer solutions for reducing our environmental impact. We welcome all suppliers, such as Power Logistics, which support us to achieve this goal.”

The season begins on 20 March in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, before heading to Senegal, Greenland, Brazil and concluding in Argentina on 11 December. Photo: Power Logistics www.extreme-e.com www.powerlog.co.uk

ADIPEC 2020

DMG EVENTS APPOINTS 3MONKEYS TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR THE ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM EXHIBITION CONFERENCE, WITH AROUND 90,000 VIRTUAL GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE.

The world’s largest gathering of oil and gas industry players, ADIPEC took the decision to move its 2020 edition online, with a four-day streamed event comprising technical and strategic conferences, attended by an audience of almost 90,000 people.

Organisers DMG Events appointed 3Monkeys to deliver the virtual solution, which saw some 800 speakers give a mixture of pre-recorded and live speeches. “Our event is probably one of the biggest and most complex that has been done virtually,” commented DMG Events’ Jamie Burton. “We had to arrange for every speaker to be prerecorded for 15 minutes each – many of whom had never been asked to do anything like this before. It was a huge logistical editing challenge.”

The 3Monkeys solution comprised two green screen studios – twofour54/Saluki in Abu Dhabi and the 3Monkeys/eclipse facility in Dubai – both served by 3Monkeys’ central control room in Dubai. Inside the control room, 16 technical operators and production crew from the 3Monkeys team oversaw 36 remote caller channels with individual return feeds and talkback. “The complexity of what those guys do is absolutely incredible,” reflected Burton. “It’s certainly way out of the scope of what we have ever done before.”

While the event wasn’t quite as profitable as it would have been if it was held live in person, Burton stated that it did “relatively well” from a revenue standpoint. “You’ve got to look at a few other metrics to assess how successful it was,” he commented. “Did we keep the brand alive? Yes. Did we create one of the biggest virtual events – certainly in our space? Yes. And was it a good product with a good user experience? Yes.”

Speculating on the future, Burton was bullish about the prospect of return to an in-person event for ADIPEC 2021, which takes place in November. “What is clear is that people want that contact back – they want to see each other physically,” he commented. “The realistic ambition is for our 2021 event to be as close as possible to what the traditional live event would look like. Clearly, there’ll be measures to increase safety – whether that’s temperature testing, social distancing or something else remains to be seen. Maybe numbers won’t be quite as impressive as normal, but we want to get back to as close to normal as possible.”

And whether the event is fully physical, fully virtual or a hybrid solution, according to Burton, one thing is for sure: they will be working with 3Monkeys again. “Those guys are exceptional at what they do – they helped us massively,” he commented. “I don’t think there is anyone in Dubai doing what they do to the level that they do it. No matter what issue I bring to them, they always find a way to solve it, no matter what.” Photos: 3Monkeys www.adipec.com www.3monkeys.net

PROLIGHT + SOUND MIDDLE EAST 2021 CANCELLED

THE TRADESHOW GEARS UP FOR A RETURN TO THE REGION IN SEPTEMBER 2022.

The fifth edition of Prolight + Sound Middle East, the region’s dedicated exhibition for pro lighting, audio, and AV technology, will return to Dubai in September 2022, organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East has announced.

The three-day event was set to take place in January 2021, however, 2022 was the preferred year for its return with the best interest of all stakeholders in mind, as the world economy recovers from a COVID-19 pandemic-affected period in 2020.

Senior Show Manager, Dishan Isaac said the 2022 edition will take place, spearheaded by the Events, Technology & Entertainment Forum – a three-day conference bringing together government stakeholders and industry experts to discuss trends and strategies in developing iconic attractions and live events.

“The Sample Music Festival – a purposebuilt stage for DJs, music producers and audio gurus to test their skills with the latest turntables, controllers, mixers and samplers will also return,” Isaac commented. “Our workshops series will be back as well, such as the Dante training workshop by Audinate, where AV professionals can gather more in-depth knowledge about some of the key design concepts and common technologies deployed in typical medium-sized Dante networks.”

He added: “This in addition to the exhibition itself, where some 200 premium brands from across the globe will be on show, presenting the very best in the business for a wide range of visitors, from rental companies, distributors, installers, and system integrators, to venues, end-users, project owners and government associations. There will be much to look forward to when the industry gathers again for three days in Dubai, at a time when the live events and entertainment market will be in the midst of a major growth period.”

Isaac believes Prolight + Sound Middle East will continue to engage the industry in 2021 through its AV & Integrated Experiences Webinar series, along with other digital activities intended to keep professionals up to date on the latest trends in a post-pandemic world.

Prolight + Sound Middle East’s fourth edition in 2019 featured 58 exhibitors and 184 brands, while attracting more than 2,700 visitors from 60-plus countries. It is the fifth instalment of the international network of Prolight + Sound events worldwide. Photo: Prolight + Sound Middle East www.prolightsoundme.com

PROUD TO BE INVOLVED IN THE 49th UAE NATIONAL DAY

| Show / Broadcast Producer & Production Company |

CT MIDDLE EAST DELIVERS VIRTUAL UCL GRADUATION CEREMONY

THE VIRTUAL SOLUTION ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

Creative Technology (CT) provided a live platform for a virtual graduation and legacy event for WMP Creative and its client UCL Qatar (University College London in Qatar), enabling students from all over the world to celebrate their achievements.

CT supplied a full virtual solution, content management, communication system, and simultaneous translation, which was controlled from the company’s Middle East headquarters in partnership with the client, WMP Creative, Qatar.

The virtual solution allowed five different graduating classes and the academic staff to appear in six separate frames to ensure each class was easily identified throughout the ceremony. The equipment used was identical to a normal live show in a control room environment, minus the physical stage that would usually consist of the audio, video and lighting elements.

While the client designed the stage, CT built the virtual environment, modelling the 3D object of the stage to help produce the content. The content was created using 3D software and Notch to provide a fully customisable virtual environment, which saw various elements appear as augmented reality.

A key part of the solution was exporting the Notch content into CT’s disguise gx 2c system. This integration enabled CT to use the disguise camera system to build a sequence of different views and simulate director’s cuts for the different cues in the show. The camera system integration gave the audience the perspective that the stage elements and the environment were real, enabling them to feel as though they were attending a live show.

CT integrated its Riedel system to the video conferencing platform to enable the client, crew and remote staff to communicate from anywhere in the world. A Riedel Artist 64 matrix frame, controlling six DSP 2312 desktop panels and six Bolero wireless belt packs was also supplied. These units were used by CT crew and clients within the CT virtual studio setup. CT’s operators were able to program the E2 screen management system and media servers as they would in a normal live event setup from the direction of WMP, creatives and the show caller.

The ‘live’ aspects were implemented via video conferencing, and real-time confidence monitors were encoded to return the live feedback to participants, so they could watch the show as it happened. Along with a video return feed, the team could also communicate with the show participants to give them cues. This approach allowed participants to be integrated into the event from anywhere in the world.

The success of this solution is visible in the flexibility of the changes applicable in the design and in the real-time generative content that can be triggered and changed based on the client’s request. The graduation was streamed live onto the University’s YouTube channel and recorded so it could be played back via video on demand. Photo: CT Middle East www.ctme.co

MIDWICH ACQUIRES NMK GROUP

THE ACQUISITION REPRESENTS MIDWICH GROUP’S FIRST ENTRY INTO THE MIDDLE EAST.

Midwich has acquired a majority stake in the NMK Group, comprising NMK Electronics Enterprise, NMK Middle East FZE and Edge.

“This is an exciting day for the Midwich Group,” commented Stephen Fenby, Managing Director. “It not only marks the Group’s entry into one of the fastest growing AV markets in the world, but also means we now have a presence in all major global territories.”

The NMK Group will continue to be led by the existing management team who will retain a stake in the business, comprising of Alex Kemanes (Managing Director) and Constantinos ‘Dino’ Drimakis (Director – Business Development) who were both mentored and trained by Founder and Managing Director of NMK Group, Nicolaos Kyvernitis, who will retire from the business following a period of transition.

“NMK has built a strong reputation for service and its value-add model is an excellent fit with Midwich’s global offering,” Fenby added. “We are looking forward to working with Alex, Dino and the rest of the NMK Group team. I would also like to thank Nicolaos Kyvernitis for his support, and to wish him well in the future.”

Kyvernitis commented: “After serving this regional audio industry for almost 35 years, I believe this is the right time to move forward. I am confident that I leave my employees in good hands as Stephen’s team share the same vision, which is why we considered Midwich as the only suitable partner for us to move forward. That said, we sincerely wish from the bottom of our hearts the best of luck to Alex and Dino and the rest of the group, in continuing the legacy of NMK Electronics Ent.”

Kemanes added: “We are confident that in Midwich, we have obtained a great partner with a dynamic team, vast geographic reach and immense experience in the AV industry.”

Drimakis concluded: “Having worked at NMK for over a decade, I feel excited for the next chapter in NMK’s history. A merger with a company of Midwich’s magnitude was a natural progression. NMK has always been innovating and propelling the AV distribution industry forward in the Middle East. We now have a global partner offering support and services across the globe. Filling Mr Nicolaos’ shoes will be an enormous task, which Alex and I feel confident and ready for. We are supported by a solid team of diverse, dynamic and committed people.” Photo: NMK Electronics www.edgeet.com www.nmkelectronics.com www.midwichgroupplc.com

AMIR CUP FINAL 2020

AN MA LIGHTING SYSTEM CONTROLS 150 MOVING LIGHTS AT QATAR’S AHMAD BIN ALI STADIUM.

Two years ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the country officially opened its fourth World Cup venue, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Taking place on 18 December – Qatari National Day – the Amir Cup Final 2020 saw the stadium officially inaugurated with a grand opening ceremony that utilised two MA Lighting grandMA3 full size consoles and multiple MA Network Switches.

Qatar Vision Company developed, produced and managed the inauguration ceremony and final, while Mohammad Assaf and Mark Anton were the Lighting Designers. The opening ceremony concept and creative treatment was created by Qatari Artistic Director and Producer, Sharif Hashisho, who is also the Managing Director of Qvision.

Best known for his previous work as a Director of Ceremonies for the 15th Asian Games and Director for the 17th Gulf Cup, as well as the Artistic Director and Producer of the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2019, Hashisho’s concept for the event was inspired by Arabic Poetry. Qvision fulfilled all the technical requirements for the show, deploying the MA system to control 150 moving lights.

Due to strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium was only allowed to reach approximately 50% capacity, with tickets limited to one per person and linked to the holder’s Qatar ID.

Following discussions between the Qatar Football Association and the Ministry of Public Health, any fan who attended the match had to return either a positive COVID-19 antibody test or a negative COVID-19 test prior to being allowed access to the stadium. Strict social distancing measures were also implemented within the vicinity of the stadium, including the fan zone and on public transport. Photo: MA Lighting www.malighting.com

Electrosonic opens its new production facility and regional hub in Dubai; PSAV President and CEO, Ben Erwin; L-Acoustics’ Rahul Samuel and Chris Mead; ES:ME Entertainment Services Senior Account Manager, Lars Toonen.

INDUSTRY APPOINTMENTS

THE LATEST MOVERS AND SHAKERS ACROSS THE REGION.

Electrosonic has completed the planning and construction of its new production facility and regional hub in Dubai, designed to provide enhanced local support to Middle East clients. The company already has a core team in Dubai with extensive experience in the region and plans to bring in more talent as part of an ambitious programme to double permanent staff numbers.

Paul Kent, Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, commented: “Dubai is at the heart of a dynamic growth region where so many exciting projects are underway. We want our clients in the Middle East to have the benefit of direct, local access to some of the most talented and creative people in the business.”

CEO, Jon Hancock added: “I am excited to see us being more strategic in a region which we have been present for many years. Now to have our own fully equipped permanent production facility is a great step forward that builds on our flagship projects in the region.”

ES:ME Entertainment Services has appointed Lars Toonen to the role of Senior Account Manager. Toonen will be tasked with developing customer relationships and will help to steadily grow the company’s client database and increase overall revenue. The company stated: “We would like to give Lars a warm welcome and we are excited to see the positive impact he will have on the company.”

L-Acoustics has named Chris Mead as Sales Manager for the Middle East, India and East Africa, as well as Rahul Samuel, as Application Engineer for the Middle East and India. The move is part of an effort to build a dedicated Sales and Application team in the Middle East and India.

“The Middle East and India share a common commitment to building innovative and technically advanced venues and entertainment experiences,” said Cédric Montrezor, Executive Director of Application at L-Acoustics. “This drive to excel and impress has led the region to dynamic growth – growth which remains resilient throughout the current difficult period.”

PSAV, parent company of Dubai-based eclipse, is now operating under the Encore name as part of a planned move to align its portfolio of companies, including Hawthorn and AVC Live, under a master brand. “This is an exciting day for our family of companies,” said Ben Erwin, President and CEO. “In a world changed by the pandemic, the Encore brand and new icon signal a forward focus. It puts our customers at the centre as we offer new platforms and tools to enable them to continue to meet and seamlessly connect in person and virtual audiences.” www.tpmeamagazine.com