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Ayrton MagicBlade FX fixtures give custom looks to performers on NBC’s “American Song Contest”

Full Flood Inc. has chosen Ayrton MagicBlade FX lighting fixtures for NBC’s new, eight-episode “American Song Contest”, the domestic answer to the “Eurovision Song Contest”. Volt Lites supplied the MagicBlade FX units, which are exclusively distributed in North America by ACT Entertainment.

Hosted by Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg, “American Song Contest” featured 56 live original song performances by artists from all fifty states, five US territories and the nation’s capital. It debuted on March 21 and wrapped with a finale featuring the winning performance on May 9.

Lighting Designer Noah Mitz and Lighting Director Will Gossett, both from Full Flood, were using 144 Ayrton MagicBlade FX for “American Song Contest”, which shoots on the Universal Studios lot in Los Angeles. “That’s by far the most MagicBlade FX fixtures we’ve ever used in an array such as this one”, says Gossett. “We’ve used MagicBlades on other shows in linear arrangements to border scenery or align with trusses, but it was great to have such a visual impact in the vertical plane like we did on this show.”

“American Song Contest” has a performance environment by Production Designer Julio Himede in the style of a forced perspective roadway, which terminates in an upstage wall comprised of various interchangeable lighting elements. “The set had to support 56 performances, each with a bespoke design, over the eight shows”, explains Gossett. “The MagicBlades comprised most of three independently sliding light walls; the three pieces could be configured as one wall element or used in different combinations. There was a grid of 54 MagicBlades in the centre wall and 45 MagicBlades in each of the left and right walls. The fixtures were yoked out 90° to maximize the variety of looks achieved through different pan positions.”

Lighting Directors/Programmers Patrick Brazil, Rob Koenig, and Darien Koop commanded a network of GrandMA2 consoles in addition to Capture software in an extensive previs process for the set and lights. The consoles remained on site for the run of shows and additional previs. ACT Entertainment also is the exclusive distributor of MA Lighting products in North America.

Other members of the lighting production team include Tyler Ericson (Assistant Lighting Director); Matt Benson (Gaffer); Mark Marroquin (Best Boy); David Russell, Janos Bode, Ben Lewis, and Jeff Geisser (System Techs).

(Photos: Matt Benson)

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