Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Canadian Poker Tour

Client: Aquila Productions, Edmonton, Alberta

Event: Canadian Poker Tour

Date: ongoing – episodes air regularly on Sportsnet

Location: Various

Lighting Featured: ColorBlast 12’s

Highlights: Through PWG Lighting Services, VIVID was contracted by Aquila Productions based in Edmonton Alberta to provide lighting and set design for a minimum of seven 1 hour episodes featuring Canadian Poker Tour tournaments.  This project challenged lighting and set designer Philip Guhl to create a set that was both functional as a TV studio as well as provided ample sponsorship exposure for the various venues that these events have taken place in. Seems like a simple task? The challenge with it was that, since the camera only shoots tight head shots, we had to get exposure behind every player’s shoulders. This was accomplished by utilizing multiple LCD screens that each ran a sponsorship loop created by Aquila specific for each event. This allowed for maximum exposure to the TV viewing audience

PWG subrented a large quantity of Color Blast 12’s from VIVID Lighting Solutions, to dress the set’s many truss towers which looked great on camera.  Conventional fixtures were used to highlight the feature table and dress any other scenic elements that required attention. The producer loved the LED fixture, not because the show needed the versatility of the RGB color mixing fixture, since there was only one look required for he show, but because in normal TV studio environments, after the TV lights have been on for 14+ hours, the ambient temperature in the room can be really hot. By using LED fixtures the poker players and crew were more comfortable because of their low heat characteristics.