Los Angeles - July 21, 2006
It’s nice work if you can get it and grandMA’s got it onboard six Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships where it plays a key role in the line’s entertainment show control. A.C.T. Lighting is grandMA’s exclusive distributor in North America.
“The grandMA system is an important component for technical operations in the main showroom on our ships,” says Preston Bircher, entertainment technical projects manager for Carnival. “Carnival shows are very fast-paced, 55-minute shows with lots of glitz and constant movement. No two seconds are the same. Most ships have between two and seven production shows and althoughthey’re completely different, they utilize the same basic rig and light plot. The difference is in the programming with all the moving lights and color changers.”
“The flexibility of the grandMA system is fantastic,” he continues. “The desk typically controls VARI*LITE 2500 spots and washes, Cyberlight Cls, standard dimmers and Wybron color changers plus haze, smoke and fog effects and confetti canons. Our latest show uses multiple LED scenic elements, and grandMA’s ability to control them is amazing. The versatility of its effects and chases is also quite impressive.”
Demfis Fyssicopulos of dfdesign served as grandMA lighting programmer for Carnival’s 2,052-passenger Sensation with the next installation scheduled for the line’s 2,052-passenger Fascination. “These vessels are floating cities with a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. They are simply spectacular. The main showroom seats about 1,000 people (Keep in mind this is a ship) and is two- to three-decks high. The theater has all the accustomed lighting positions: ladders, pipes, front of house truss, balcony, etc. The larger ships also have a full fly space. This has been a fantastic experience and working with Preston and other members of the Carnival team has been a true and great pleasure”
Fyssicopulos was charged with programming two shows for Sensation, an ’80s-style show, “Far From Over” and, the fleet’s latest show,” Curves” which he characterizes as “very Vegas.” “The shows have breathtaking costumes and elaborate scenery which includes an orchestra elevator. ‘On Far From Over,’ there is even a full size motorcycle on stage which is quite unusual especially for a cruise ship!. A variety of LED fixtures were used to light the key set elements. All of the data distribution was done via PathPort coming out directly from the console. The entire show runs slaved to SMTE Time Code. Lights, lasers, video, and even Pyro are slaved to Time Code. The grandMA was simply the best tool for the job”
In Sensation’s main showroom, grandMA controls 26 VARI*LITE 2500 spots with custom magenta mixing disks and custom gobos; 20 High End Systems Cyberlight CLs with custom colors, gobos and effects; 84 Wybron Colorams with 22 colors; a Martin CX-10 Extreme; and 70 ETC Source 4 36-, 26- and 19-degree 575-watt ellipsoidals. The grandMA’s DMX control also encompasses two Radiance hazers, two 9-D smoke generators, two LSG foggers with pop-up traps and six Pro-Launcher confetti canons, all from LeMaitre. A grandMA MA Replay Unit provides day-to-day show playback.
“Preston and other members of the Carnival team are true professionals. Seeing them work with Demfis, and seeing how deep into the feature-set they reach, gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship,” commented Bob Gordon, President and CEO of A.C.T Lighting.
About A.C.T Lighting
A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its clients. For more information call 818-707-0884 or visit www.actlighting.com.
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