Blond Productions on Big Brother Africa
Like proud soldiers, a line up of 12 Robe 250 fixtures and six MAC 250+s stood on guard at a red carpet occasion, where 12 new housemates, from 12 different countries in Africa, said goodbye to their loved ones and hello to a 98 day television reality experience where USD 100 000 was up for grabs. Big Brother Africa II had begun!
Christiaan Ballot and his team from Blond Productions were awarded the coveted task, by Endemol South Africa, to provide lighting, sound and AV, for all the events outside the Big Brother House as well as assisting with shooting the inserts before the show on different locations. The competition took off with a live broadcast held on Sunday, 5th August at the Sasani Studios Balfour Park, South Africa, and Blond Productions will be involved with all the weekly evictions and the grand finale set to be held on 11th November when the winner will be announced.
In order to cater for all the technical requirements, Christiaan purchased an additional 6 x Robe 700E AT’s and 12 x Robe 250 Colour Spots. “They are awesome units! They definitely work for this production especially as we are lighting for television,” he commented. “The thing that sold me the most on these units was the zoom, the optics and definitely the brightness on the 700’s. They are also very reliable and with the great backup from the South African Robe Suppliers, DWR Distribution, we definitely didn’t go wrong.”
The new Robe 700s were set up in the roof and used as back light and to play back into the camera. A further 6 x Entours were on the stage floor, and 12 x Robe 250 & 6 x Mac 250+ in FOH and down the red carpet. Parcans were used on the roof of the stage along with 10 x 2 KW Fresnels. A further 12 x Par 56 Parcans were used on duck stands at FOH for extra fill, and parcans once again lit up the interview stage, based in the centre of the red carpet, and surrounding trees and buildings for ambience.
The first show, having been met with positive feedback and not a hint of technical trouble, has made Christiaan delighted to be part of something that really is a world-wide phenomenon. “It’s a real privilege to be involved in something like this,” said Christiaan. He expanded, “It has given us the opportunity to grow and definitely to learn. We also have had the opportunity to work with some of the best directors and camera crew in the country and this definitely motivates us to raise the bar even more.”
It’s not just anybody, however, who can be locked up with a dozen strangers or so. Christiaan gave his opinion, “Well, I was in the house over the weekend to have a quick look and it’s very small and cramped in there to be locked up for 98 days, but I think it could be a huge party to be in there with the crew. We all get along very well and are very good friends.” To top it off, he thinks William Taylor, the Technical Manager, would be the last man standing.
Lighting list
6 x Robe 700 E AT Color spots
12 x Robe 250 Spots
6 Martin Mac 250 Entours
6 Martin Mac 250 +
12 x 2KW Fresnels
84 x Par 64 Parcans
24 x Par 56 Parcans
2 x Strand 2.5KW Follow-spots
5 x Jands FPX 12-Way 3 x Zero 88 Beta Pack 2 1 x Compulite Rave 2 x Jem ZR 33 1 x Jem 24 / 7 Haze Machine
