MDG’s magical atmosphere for Idols SA

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Haze, glorious haze! For Idols South Africa, lighting designer Joshua Cutts from Visual Frontier relied on two MDG units to enhance the lighting beams on stage and to create an emotionally charged feel.

Season 16 of Idols SA, the largest talent search competition in the country, was hosted at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria and aired on Mzansi Magic, DStv Channel in 2020, a production directed by Sic Entertainment with the technical supplied by Dream Sets. Amidst a pandemic, the show managed to evoke hope, encourage talent and provide work in a tough economic climate. This in turn resulted in the full team, from performers to crew, being particularly appreciative and creating a tangible, positive ambience.

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While Joshua had a large rig at his disposal the use of atmospheric effects went hand-in-hand with the lighting gear to deliver an inspiring look for the viewers at home.  “Both the MDG ATMe and the MDG Ice Fog Compack are fantastic units,” commented Joshua. “The consistency of the ATMe is perfect for camera, while the low fog does exactly what low fog should do….it stays low and looks magical.

 

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Known for its quiet operation, the ATMe single high output haze generator is the evolution of the MDG’s Atmosphere, an industry standard for almost two decades. Features include extended hanging time (thanks to the MDG Neutral fluid), variable outputs, an automatic purging system, numerous control options and low fluid consumption.

 

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On wheels for easy transportation, the IceFog Q creates a thick, dense and low-lying fog with zero residue and operates without the use of dry ice. As one of the quietest low fog generators available, the unit can be placed closer to the action on stage.

The first season of Idols South Africa was aired in March 2002 and quite remarkably, has continued to grow ever since, capturing the heart of the population.

 

Photos by Duncan Riley