MIDDLE EAST NEWS

FIFA ARAB CUP QATAR 2021 OPENING CEREMONY

CT DEPLOYS BARCO AND PANASONIC PROJECTORS AT QATAR’S AL BAYT STADIUM.

Even before a ball was kicked at the hosts’ opening FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 match against Bahrain, there was a feast for the eyes as the newly inaugurated Al Bayt Stadium staged a stunning opening ceremony. In a show befitting the historic occasion, fans were treated to a jaw-dropping pyrotechnics and projection display, along with beautiful choreography that featured traditional themes, scenes, and costumes from the Arab region.

Having previously delivered several largescale projection-mapping projects in Qatar and with a local office in the country, Creative Technology (CT) was entrusted with the video projection elements of the ceremony. The company supplied and installed 20 Barco UDV-4K40 projectors to cover the full field of play, as well as a combination of Panasonic RQ35K and more Barco UDV-4K40 projectors to cover three motorised transparent screens.

With each unit manually loaded up the steep step incline and narrow walkways of Al Bayt Stadium to the final seating level from the top concourse, the resulting projection was bright, high-contrast and able to reproduce high-quality content delivered by the client accurately within a full 4K workflow onto a large canvas size. “We have been operating in Qatar for over 15 years, which is prior to Qatar being awarded the FIFA 2022 World Cup rights,” commented Irum Ashraf, General Manager in Qatar.

“Our presence there will always remain a key part of our business,” she continued. “The World Cup in 2022 is a very exciting time for us. We have just signed on an additional warehouse and employed further local staff, allowing us to service more projects. Beyond 2022 is also key for our local office as we are looking forward to the challenges that the 2023 Doha Expo and 2030 Asian Games bring.” Photos: FIFA www.ct-group.com

STAGE FX AND LASER FX ADD SPARKLE TO F1 ABU DHABI

THE COMPANY SUPPLIES SFX AND LASER MAPPING AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

Stage FX and Laser FX were tasked with supplying a range of special effects and laser solutions during the Abu Dhabi F1, at both the race and the Yasalam After-Race Concerts.

At Yas Marina Circuit, the company provided its new MagicFX CO2 free stadium blowers with gold confetti to create a podium celebration.

Laser FX meanwhile worked with Neumann & Müller, supplying multiple RYGB Phaenon lasers to bring to life the large Abu Dhabi logo on Yas Marina Circuit Hill. At the Yasalam After-Race Concerts, Flash Entertainment appointed the company to provide a special effects package for Stormzy and Lewis Capaldi, as well as special effects and lasers for DJ Snake and Martin Garrix. The supply included CO2 jets, G-Flames, Sparkulars, Stadium Shot Xtremes and lasers. Photo: Stage FX and Laser FX www.stagefx.com www.laserfx.com

ECA2 LIGHTS BURJ KHALIFA FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE

THE COMPANY DEPLOYS PR LIGHTING AQUA 580 BEAMS AT NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECTACULAR.

Dubai’s 2022 New Year’s celebrations went ahead as usual despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including a spectacular laser and light show from the Burj Khalifa, created and produced by ECA2 with Laser System Europe (LSE) Managing Director, Patrick Awouters at the helm of the light and laser elements.

The company drew on its inventory of PR Lighting fixtures, deploying 250 AQUA 580 Beam waterproof moving heads. These lined up alongside 60 RGB lasers, ranging from 60W to 100W. The IP66-rated AQUA 580 Beam fixtures were recommended by Awouters, project managing the lighting with his son, Nathan. The fixtures had been purchased specifically for this project, and Awouters was in no doubt that they would be fit for purpose after delivering proof of concept for the client.

He cited “the combination of the brightness, the power, the weight and the experience of PR Lighting manufacturing IP-rated products over many years – mixed with our own experience of using PR products”, as the principal drivers.

The company has had more than four years of working with PR Lighting. “They are really professional and always react extremely quickly to all our requests, reflecting the quality in their product,” Awouters commented. “The AQUA 580 Beams met our expectations perfectly. We are impressed with the incredible power-to-weight ratio, the colour fidelity as well as other options.” Awouters was unequivocal in his praise for the AQUA Beam 580. “When we conducted a test for the customer, showing the AQUA 580 Beam against the competitor product, as soon as he saw the brightness and beam quality, his choice was immediately to the PR Lighting fixture.”

The show will be projected onto the building every hour from 6:15pm to 10:15pm on weekdays, with extended shows every 30 minutes until 10:45pm on weekends up to 31 March. Photos: Ralph Larmann www.pr-lighting.com www.eca2.com www.lse.eu

PYROJUNKIES JOINS ER PRODUCTIONS GROUP

THE MOVE IS SET TO INCREASE THE GROUP’S CAPACITY TO DELIVER MORE MAJOR SFX AND LASER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND BEYOND.

Pyrojunkies has become part of the ER Productions Group. “Dan [Mott, Pyrojunkies Founder] and his team were aware that we had started working with SFX with the goal of bringing it to the same standard as our laser offering, so it seemed like a great move to bring Pyrojunkies into the group due to their experience in this field,” stated Ryan Hagan, Co-Founder of ER Productions. “We know the team at Pyrojunkies and have even worked on numerous shows together.”

The new team has already been out in the field in the Middle East, supplying a complete SFX and laser package for all stages at Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm [page 32]. “It’s a great time to make this announcement, following our successful delivery at MDLBEAST Soundstorm,” Mott informed TPMEA.

In fact, the Middle East has become a major region of interest for both companies. In the past few months, ER Productions has opened its new Saudi Office – home of all the equipment used on Soundstorm – and the new partnership is set for a full season in the region, working on a range of high-level projects including Formula E.

Currently the two companies will remain in their respective headquarters, however, the plan is to bring the Group under one roof at ER Productions’ new facility, which has been five years in the making.

“Although we are bringing both companies into the same building, nothing will change with client experiences,” assured ER Productions CoFounder, Marc Webber. “Clients who have worked with Pyrojunkies in the past will still be speaking to the same team and the same goes for those working with ER Productions.”

Speaking generally about the partnership, Mott explained what he believed being part of ER Productions Group would mean for Pyrojunkies. “I hope some of my day-to-day operations are going to become a lot easier,” he chuckled. “Pyrojunkies is a much smaller company, which inevitably means most of us have worn multiple hats over the years. Now being part of the ER Productions Group is going to help us when it comes to bigger shows and means some of our staff can look to specialise in a specific skill rather than have to do it all.”

The new partnership is also set to bring a benefit when it comes to product development. “We have always designed and developed our own products when it comes to lasers,” said Webber. “With Pyrojunkies now in-house with their knowledge of SFX, it will be interesting to begin developing products in the field.”

Webber closed by praising Pyrojunkies forefathers, Shane Caulfield and Richard Huffam. “They started the company back in 2003 and although Dan has been running the show for a few years, they were still brought into the conversation, and we talked at length about the future of the company.” Photo: Drew Ressler (www.rukes.com) www.er-productions.com www.pyrojunkies.com

ER PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE THE ACQUISITION OF PYROJUNKIES LTD

The industry leading special effects company Pyrojunkies Limited has recently become an integral part of ER Productions. ER Productions are the world renowned, innovative and award-winning laser and SFX specialist. Pyrojunkies are a well established company supplying an extensive range of SFX including pyrotechnics & spark, flame & fire, confetti & streamer, CO2 & smoke, water & rain, snow & bubble and much more.

Both companies have unrivalled reputations for providing exceptional expertise, design and technology to some of the most iconic shows in the world. Together they are looking forward to a spectacular future.

The Colour Sound Experiment team onsite at MDLBEAST Soundstorm; Managing Director, Haydn Cruickshank.

COLOUR SOUND EXPERIMENT OPENS IN SAUDI ARABIA

THE TECHNICAL SERVICES COMPANY OPENS A NEW 30,000 SQ FT FACILITY IN JEDDAH IN RESPONSE TO STRONG DEMAND FROM THE SAUDI MARKET.

With an extensive and ever-evolving stock of intelligent lighting and LED, Colour Sound Experiment has become a mainstay of the industry in the 33 years since it began in 1989. In recent years, the UK-based company has seen demand for its services skyrocket in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia in particular proving a fruitful market. “The volume of shows we were being asked to look at in the country was astounding,” commented Managing Director, Haydn Cruickshank.

To service this sustained demand in the country, the company has opened a brand-new office in Jeddah. A 30,000 sq ft facility, the new warehouse is already full of new stock from the likes of ROE Visual, Leyard, Ayrton, Claypaky and MA Lighting. “We also have a good stock of Litec truss and EXE D8+ motors, as well as CAD and previsualisation facilities on site,” he added. A small Colour Sound team travelled to the Kingdom to get the operation up and running. “We sent some people there to help get things set up and provide training and integration,” Cruickshank revealed. “A few are staying but most of the team there are new employees.”

This move is part of a long-term strategy on building sustainably in the Kingdom, nurturing local talent and ultimately helping build towards the Saudi Vision 2030.

“It’s crazy that currently to put on a big show in Saudi Arabia you have to fly in many of the techs and bring most of the kit from other countries,” Cruickshank stated. “Our local training programme is a huge part of the plan to help create a sustainable live events industry in the country.” Saudi Arabia is a market that Cruickshank is incredibly excited about. “It is still in its infancy in terms of live events and that presents huge challenges, which is part of the appeal,” he commented.

“It’s also the biggest population in the region. The prospect of bringing awe-inspiring shows to a young population – most of which haven’t seen anything like it before – is extremely appealing.

“We’ve made a big commitment to the region and the Middle East is set to become an extremely important market for us,” he concluded. “Our aim is to get the Saudi Arabia branch to a point where there are enough local skills and knowledge in house that it doesn’t rely on the UK side for any technical support, or at least where that support is mutual.” Photos: Colour Sound Experiment www.coloursound.com