Czech Republic, Lighting Designer Bas Kemper stunned the crowds of 2017’s Transmission Festival at the O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic using 24 Robe MegaPointe multifunctional moving lights.
So when he returned to light 2018’s annual pilgrimage for trance-lovers from all over the globe, The Awakening, 60 Robe MegaPointes were prominent on the spec, along with 18 Robe BMFL Blades, and 20 Robe LEDBeam 150s all delivered, together with the rest of the lighting production, by Slovakian rental company, Ministry Rental Services in collaboration with RentAll.
Kemper designed the set, working closely with the Dutch VJ Vision Impossible collective on the video design and content production, with additional scenic video deco banners made by BedrichVlach of Czech company, Promo Production.
Transmission is known for its impressive sets, deco elements, high production values and fully visual and sonic immersive environments, and this was a USP that Netherlands-based Kemper and the creative team strived to deliver in spectacular fashion at every Transmission event for United Music.
Kemper had 30 Robe MegaPointes rigged over the stage, divided into blocks of three, with the other 30 deployed on the deck, also grouped in threes. This positioning was to ensure they could create a dynamic wall of light around the stage that could also move down and embrace the audience full on.
The lighting design involved mirroring left and right and also, the set, lasers, video, lights and SFX were mirrored 90% top and bottom, hence the 30 Robe MegaPointes at the top and 30 Robe MegaPointes lower down, with a similar set up for the 10 Robe LEDBeam 150s top and bottom.
In previous editions of Transmission, Kemper used a competitor brand moving light for this specific back effects lighting task, but in 2018, everyone on the team felt Robe MegaPointes were the way forward.
The 16 Robe BMFL Blades lit the vast set and stage elements, with two fixtures providing front and top key light for the DJs. Kemper believed that the BMFL Blade were among the best profile fixtures on the market for its ,“high output, good gobos, fabulous colours and accurate control.”
Aligning the video set pieces in the room was also a galvanising task, comprising five large apex-ended video screens flown above the stage and audience area, plus six columns of video hanging out of the roof down the long sides of the auditorium. These elements greatly enhanced the depth and perspective of the space together with podium dancers at the base of each column offering an immersive and cozy club vibe.
Another challenge was to maintain the signature Transmission look – a vast stage, lots of shaped LED and LED banners – whilst bringing a fresh and invigorating new look and style each year. Kemper has worked on Transmission Prague for the last 13 years, right since the start, and the pressure was on for each show to look and feel unique and be a completely one-off experience.
Also, the lighting and the video ideas needed to gel and work together in order to deliver a proper visual fluidity and harmonisation across the room, which took a lot of advanced work and inherent creative chemistry.
While the MegaPointes were at the core of the light show for this one Kemper also had a bunch of other lights including beamers and other hybrid fixtures, all pulled from Ministry’s vast rental stock. Lighting was operated by Zis Ankone and Martijn Deenen who utilised a MA Lighting grandMA2 platform.
The lasers and LED screens were delivered by Rudo Tucek and his team from Ministry while the overall technical production was coordinated by United Music Productions.