Tag Archive: Dave Isherwood

1. White Light Expands Its Expert Staff

   13 June 2019 10:14 Leave a Comment

   

                    Carmelo Amenta

   White Light has continued to expand its expert team by appointing a range of staff who each have extensive experience within the live entertainment industry.

   Joining WL as Technical Account Manager is Carmelo Amenta, who will deliver a range of broadcast projects, large-scale award ceremonies and live music concerts. Carmelo explains: “I’m delighted to have joined WL at what’s a really exciting time for the company. My role will see me collaborate closely with clients by taking their technical briefs and turning these into a reality. I’ve already delivered some amazing projects since I’ve started here and look forward to continue doing so over the next few months”.

   Also joining the company is Ian Charlampowicz who has been appointed as Senior Account Manager and will work specifically within the Broadcast media sector. He and Carmelo have already worked on events such as NFL Live at Wembley Arena, the Dimash Kudaibergen concert at Indigo O2 as well as an IBM Think Summit at the Old Truman Brewery.

    

   

                       Jade Harrison

   WL continues to be one of the leading technical suppliers to the events industry. To ensure that the company offers its clients the best service possible, it has appointed Jade Harrison as Business Development Manager. Having started her career at the Science Museum, Jade has worked for Mermaid London, Royal College of Surgeons, City of London and also sat on the board for Unique Venues of London. She comments: “I’ve known WL for the best part of 10 years but was still incredibly impressed when I realised just how huge the operation is. As a company, we’ve forged a reputation for delivering unforgettable events in truly unique locations and I cannot wait to show clients just what we’re able to offer them”.

   WL has also expanded the teams within its Managed Venues. This includes the recently-opened Illuminate with the appointments of Mark Sutcliffe and Luis Quiterio as Venue Sales Manager and Venue Technical Manager respectively. WL has also appointed Leonard Layton at Central Hall Westminster as Deputy Venue Manager. Leonard explains: “I will work closely with our Sales Manager to understand our client’s brief, determine the event’s technical requirements and resource all the necessary equipment from our extensive inventory”.

    

   

                           Roger Deane

   Alongside this, WL has recently acquired the assets of Imax Lighting, a company renowned for offering a premium level of equipment and service to the live events industry. The company’s entire equipment stock will now be available via WL and the company’s founder Gary Churchill joins WL as a Consultant. Also joining WL is Rodney George as Used Equipment Manager who will oversee the sale of used equipment to small businesses, theatres, colleges and live music venues.

   Whilst there are lots of new faces joining the company, WL will be saying goodbye to a long-term member of staff. Head of Broadcast and Corporate Hire Roger Deane will be retiring this summer after a long and successful career in the industry. Roger comments: “I first joined this world back in 1978 and, after four decades, I think I deserve a break! Whilst I will be sad to leave WL, I’m happy in the knowledge that the company has made so many exciting appointments and will continue to grow and offer clients, new and old, a level of personal service they won’t receive anywhere else”.

    

2. WL Blog: Prolight + Sound 2019

   15 April 2019 11:25 Leave a Comment

   

   Earlier this month, our team flew out to Frankfurt to attend Prolight + Sound: the international trade fair of technologies and services for entertainment, integrated systems and creation. As a company, it gives us the opportunity to see the latest technology as well as catch up with old friends and make new contacts. For those of you who were unable to attend, our Technical Director Dave Isherwood has written a blog about some of the products he came across and what he took away from his three days in Germany.  

   This year’s Prolight + Sound took place at Messe Frankfurt and the vast majority of lighting and rigging suppliers were located in Hall 12, a huge, new 2-story space. Having visited dozens of stands, here’s a rundown of some of the manufacturers who displayed some really exciting products and seemed to create a lot of buzz throughout the exhibition:

   Ayrton – Ayrton had all of their newly-released products on show including the smaller Diablo and Levante units. They were also demonstrating a prototype/concept profile called Huracan, which includes a novel 6-wheel colour system (C/M/Y/CTO/CTB/CTP) that allows for the mixing of very subtle pastel shades.

   Chauvet – Chauvet highlighted their new MK3 hard edged units – a step up from the MK2 featuring a brighter, quieter framing LED profile and effect spot pair with an 820W white LED engine.

   Clay Paky – There was a lot of interest around the Xtylos, a new beamlight with a laser lightsource – perhaps unsurprising given Osram’s investment in the technology for automotive lighting.  Another interesting introduction was a product called CloudIO, which allows for remote connection and support for installed CP fixtures based on IoT technology.

   ETC – We were really interested to witness the demo of the forthcoming AR technology within the Eos platform. The remote focus and pre-programming/visualisation offerings in the product look very impressive, especially the use of a smart phone as a focus “wand” – talk about technical wizardry!

   GLP – GLP were celebrating their 25th anniversary and did so by launching the Highlander large format discharge fixture; accompanied by a bagpiper and whisky naming ceremony! They also launched the FR10 Bar which is a larger format LED batten featuring an individual zoom optic per light source.

   

   High End – High End launched their new TurboRay, an RGBW LED source wash/beam with colour and gobo effects plus an array of radial diffusers on the front providing an interesting, if somewhat familiar, look to the TurboRay’s face.

   JB Lighting – JB were showing the new P18 LED Profile and Wash range – another white LED source fixture aimed at the +1000W discharge segment.

   Martin Professional – Martin had their recent ELP LED profiles on display, as well as the Allure range (now two fixtures), and the VDO Atomic Dot; a mini cold or warm LED dot with an aura effect that can be used singly or in combination as a blinder, strobe, pixel or beamlight – a clever and creative “lighting lego” product.

   ROBE – Another company celebrating a 25th anniversary, ROBE featured a large selection of new products including the Silver Scan LED source moving mirror designed for cruise ships and smaller venues where hanging space is tight – back to the future… Also on display were the T1 Profile and the new T1 Wash with PC or Fresnel option, the T1 followspot fixture, an IP65 MegaPointe called iPointe, and the SuperSpikie; a bigger, brighter version of the original Spikie. Continuing the show’s IP65 fixture theme (an idea gaining traction with an increasing number of manufacturers), a linear RGBW LED range called Eminere was on display, available in multiples of 300mm up to 1.2m. Finally there was a long throw 6° RGBW unit called Divine 72 from the Anolis stable.

   Robert Juliat – Robert Juliat showcased a further developed version of SpotMe called Maestro, which incorporates technology from Zactrack and allows operation with any DMX console. Their range also included the new 4-colour LED footlight Dalis 864, the Charles 960SX LED spot range and a neat USB powered remote fader set for their newer followspots.

   

   SGM – SGM launched the production version of their G7 Spot, a mid-size IP66 moving head with white LED source and CMY+CTO/CTB colour mix. They also displayed the new G7 Beam, a large front aperture beam/effect light with white source and colour mix, as well as launched the VPL (Video Pixel Linear LED) series, a neatly-designed 19mm pitch product in 305/610/1220mm lengths, with combined power and data.

   Vari*Lite – Another stand celebrating an anniversary, with it being a slightly unbelievable 25 years since the V*L5 won an Emmy award (which was proudly on display). Some slightly newer technology was on show as well including the VL2600 range, VL6000 Beam, VL800 Beamline, and the new VL10BeamWash – a hybrid 550W discharge fixture with a large front lens and punchy effects offering. Also on display was a concept/prototype VL6500 Washbeam, featuring radial diffusers on the front face of the VL6000 Beam.

   In conclusion, it was another jam-packed Prolight + Sound with a vast array of exciting new products launched or being demonstrated in prototype form. The exhibition highlighted the sheer volume of product that is now available to all segments of the market and the high quality of many LED fixtures now available. Whether all of this product will succeed in the market is another question… It was also great to catch up with several manufacturers to discuss future products and concepts that are still in development. We’re not allowed to say anything yet but watch this space!

    

3. White Light Adds Vari*Lite VL2600 to Hire Inventory

   25 October 2018 14:26 Leave a Comment

   

   For years, Vari*Lite has offered lighting designers ground-breaking products to help achieve their vision. Their latest product, the recently-launched Vari*Lite VL2600 Profile, promises to continue this tradition, designed with a range of features that push the boundaries of lighting technology. With a continued commitment to the very latest technology, White Light confirmed they are making a substantial investment in the product; with the fixture now available to hire for its clients.

   The VL2600 Profile is designed with top-class performance in mind. It produces 19,000 lumens of high colour temperature, high contrast light output from its state-of-the-art 550W light engine, with a class-leading zoom range of 7-48°. Shaun Robertshaw, UKI Sales for Vari*Lite, comments: “We are really excited with the VL2600 Profile. Expanding on the colour range of the VL2500, it offers a broader choice of saturated colours whilst maintaining the familiar Vari*Lite colour palette from the CMY colour system with variable CTO adjustment.  It’s also extremely compact, lightweight, fast and accurate; not to mention easy-to-use, prep and maintain”.

   On display at this year’s PLASA Show, the product has already proven extremely popular with lighting designers and technicians, impressed with both its capabilities and versatility. It was also here where WL confirmed they are making a substantial investment in the product, having spent time evaluating prototypes over the summer. The fixture will be available for clients to hire in mid-November.

   

   From left to right: Vari*Lite’s Shaun Robertshaw, White Light’s Bryan Raven and Dave Isherwood and VL’s Amber Etra.

   Dave Isherwood, WL’s Technical Director, comments: “At WL, we are renowned for investing in the very latest technology and being able to offer our clients as many options as possible; hence why we invested in the VL2600. It’s a really well-rounded product that will meet the demands of LDs across many of the varied markets we service, and it continues the innovation that the Vari*Lite brand is renowned for”.

   Shaun adds: “What’s great about this investment is that it further cements a long-standing partnership between ourselves and WL that has proved to be successful over many years. With WL investing in the Vari*Lite VL2600, I envisage that, in a very short time, it will become the ‘go to’ luminaire as did its predecessors. Here at Vari*Lite, our global team is committed to bringing designers the very best results and the Vari*Lite VL2600 does just that”.

4. White Light Adds W-DMX™ F-1 G5 to its Hire Inventory

   17 May 2018 10:49 Leave a Comment

   Wireless Solution Sweden is the world’s leading manufacturer of the most popular, reliable and exciting Wireless DMX control equipment: W-DMX™. The latest product in this revolutionary line is the BlackBox F-1 G5 which WL has now added to its hire equipment inventory.

   The W-DMX™ BlackBox F-1 G5 transceiver is a single link, highly flexible wireless solution. The unit supports, transmits and receives modes of both DMX and RDM signals, for both 2.4GHz, 5.2GHz or 5.8GHz frequency bands, and offers up to 2 universes per link.

   W-DMX’s International Business Development Manager David Ferraz comments: “G5 is a ground breaking generation of Wireless DMX that includes tri-band transmission. Due to the increasing wireless traffic in urban centres and large-scale venues, the G5 series have been created as having three separate frequencies. Wireless Solution is the only manufacturer of Wireless DMX to offer three different frequencies to transmit in. By having all three frequencies, this means that users will never receive interference from other devices”.

   The versatility and advance features of the F-1 G5 means it can be utilised on a range of projects. David explains: “W-DMX™ is known for being the de-facto standard technology on mission-critical events like Eurovision contests, Opening Ceremonies like the Commonwealth Games or the Baku European Games, Worldcups, Superbowl, and many other stadium-based events. It’s also the primary choice for the Opera House in London, and many West End plays”.

   Alongside this, W-DMX™ can also be used on smaller scale corporate events due to the OEM partnership it has with manufacturers like Clay Paky, Chauvet, CORE Lighting, among many others.

   David comments: “Whilst the F-1 is a revolutionary piece of equipment, all of our new produces are backward compatible down to G3, which was released in 2007. It makes the product extremely versatile, not to mention resourceful”.

   WL’s Technical Director Dave Isherwood adds: “The acquisition of the F-1 G5 marks another example of WL strengthening our already extensive hire inventory; building on the success and reliability we have enjoyed with past products from Wireless Solutions and giving our customers as many options as possible”.

5. White Light Invests in Philips VL1100 LED Range

   13 September 2017 08:10 Comments Off on White Light Invests in Philips VL1100 LED Range

   

   Philips Entertainment Lighting is one of the leading manufacturers for stage and television lighting. Earlier this year, the company launched the Philips VL1100 LED which sets a new standard in high quality LED moving head spotlights. As one of the leading lighting suppliers to the entertainment industry, White Light has immediately invested in the new VL1100 series; making it one of the first companies in the world to have this revolutionary product in its hire inventory.

   The Philips VL1100 LED has been specifically designed to offer high quality, high-CRI light output, consistent colour reproduction and a perfect ‘tungsten’ colour shift emulation. These characteristics are all delivered by an exclusive new 3200K Philips LED light engine which succeeds in making the VL1100 LED the first moving head framing profile fixture to offer a true alternative to the traditional tungsten source.

   The global launch of the product took place at this year’s ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace. Dave Isherwood, WL’s Technical Director, comments: “Having seen the VL1100 LED first hand at the ABTT Show, we were extremely impressed by its output and capabilities. The product has responded to what lighting designers have been requesting and the result is a moving head profile that continues the legacy of the VL1000 series, which are still one of the most specified fixtures on a range of shows”.

   The investment in the Philips VL1100 LED fixture means that WL will be one of the first companies in the world to be able to offer this as part of its hire stock. Dave comments: “As a company, we’ve established a reputation over 45 years for advocating the very latest lighting technology. By investing in the VL1100  LED, this means we will be able to offer lighting designers and technicians more options than ever before. We have one of the most extensive hire stocks in the UK and the VL1100 LED  is a very welcomed addition; especially as we are one of the few companies currently able to offer this revolutionary fixture”.

   

   Colin Kavanagh, General Manager at Philips Entertainment Lighting, states: “At Philips Entertainment Lighting, we are committed to using our resources and expertise to develop innovative lighting products that serve the precise needs of the market. We believe the VL1100 LED drastically raises the bar for high quality, versatile, professional stage and television lighting tools”.

   Dave adds: “We’re really excited to have the VL1100 LED as part of our hire stock and have already received significant interest from lighting designers. We will, of course, continue to stock the Philips VL1100 as this is a tried and tested favourite across the industry. The fact that we now have an updated version of this model means we are able to offer our clients more choice than ever before; something we strive for as a company”.

   Photos courtesy of Philips Entertainment Lighting.

6. White Light is Hopelessly Devoted to Grease UK Tour

   14 June 2017 08:07 Comments Off on White Light is Hopelessly Devoted to Grease UK Tour

   Since opening on Broadway in 1972 and being turned into a smash-hit movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, Grease has cemented its place in musical history. The original high school musical has played to millions across the world and features songs that have now become all-time classics. The unforgettable show is now back for a brand-new UK tour. Following its work on previous West End and touring runs of the show, WL has been called upon to supply the lighting equipment.

   This current production of Grease stars Tom Parker (The Wanted) as Danny Zuko, alongside Danielle Hope as Sandy and Darren Day as the Teen Angel. The show is being lit by Mark Henderson and the Associate Lighting Designer is Stuart Porter. Stuart comments: “I have worked on Grease since it was at the Piccadilly Theatre back in 2007. Mark has actually worked on it since it was at the Dominion Theatre back in 1993! As a result we both a strong connection to the piece.”

   One of Stuart’s main roles was to work alongside Mark in order to create a rig that would be tourable. Stuart adds: “Mark has lit this show so many times now so is aware of the feel and what he wants to achieve in certain sections. As the content never changes, our role with the lighting is to upgrade the previous set up and update it with the very latest equipment.”

   This upgrade included removing the previous scrollers and completely replacing these with Philips SL Par155 Zooms. Stuart comments: “We wanted to upgrade the rig to LED for both the look of the show and the benefits of reduced heat and energy. The PAR155 Zooms were recommended by WL’s Technical Director Dave Isherwood and they have been a fantastic addition. They have made the show look slightly brighter and given it a vibrant feel.”

   Alongside this, the LX team removed a previous bar of tungsten fixtures and replaced these with the Vari*Lite 1000 TS. Stuart states: “The Vari*Lites are ideal for this show as they still retain that tungsten feel and are fairly weighty fixtures for a conventional rig. However they can be focused remotely which has been hugely beneficial on a show like this.”

   Other fixtures on the rig include Martin Aura LEDs, Martin MAC Viper Washes and Martin MAC Viper Profiles. There were also Unique 2.1 Haze Machines and Jem Glaciator X-Stream Smoke Machines, while the show was programmed on an ETC Eos 4K console by Nick Simmons.

   Stuart comments: “We were very conscious that this was a touring rig and, as such, we had to keep it as streamlined as possible. Therefore we ensured that we drew on fixtures that we knew could deliver powerful results yet didn’t require vast quantities in order to do so.”

   

   The tour began in Manchester back in March. It will continue to travel the UK for the rest of the year, concluding at Brighton Theatre Royal where it will spend the Christmas season.

   Stuart adds: “It’s always a pleasure working on Grease as it really is a timeless show. We’ve been particularly lucky on this tour as we’ve worked with a brilliant team including Production Electrician Neil Anthony, Head of Touring Staff Andy Christie along with countless others. It’s also been great working with WL again who we have always used when lighting Grease and with whom we have a strong working relationship.”

   Images courtesy of Paul Coltas.