3mm LED used to create innovative canvas for premier awards show

CHALLENGE

The UK Music Video Awards (UKMVAs) is the premier awards show dedicated to innovation and creativity in music videos around the world. For their annual awards ceremony at the London Roundhouse they were looking for a production that had the innovation and creativity to match the awards and unique venue design. Ballistic Events and Reality Ltd teamed together to create the stage design and required a live events specialist to specify the equipment and to produce the audio visual for the event.

INSIGHT

Maestra Group, multi-award winning event design and technical production specialists, were brought on to this exciting project.

The event saw the presentation of 30 awards honouring the talent, innovation and success of video and commercials directors, cinematographers, producers, editors, stylists, art directors, visual effects creators, animators, colourists and commissioners – both established and emerging stars – and their work over the last 12 months.

Given the nature of the awards, the calibre of the guests and the fact that they were among the best and most inventive practitioners in the video production industry, the pressure was on to ensure an outstanding live production, lots of WOW factors and a presentation that was absolutely spot on.

Maestra knew that to achieve this WOW factor they would need to use LED. LED can be used to create any shape or size canvas, allowing for optimum design creativity. This flexibility meant that they could produce an innovative display that would suit the calibre of the awards.

They got in touch with PSCo, trade only AV rental provider, to supply the LED.

WHAT WE DID

The final solution was made up of multiple A3 Pro, 3.9mm LED walls created into an asymmetric LED design to boost the depth and 3D nature of the stage aesthetic.

This innovative design used 6 different LED canvases. Onstage a central video wall was flown offering a 7.5m x 4.5m canvas. To the left of this were four columns of LED, three of them 0.5m wide then a fourth one (nearest the central screen) at 1.5m wide, all with 4.5m drops. Another 0.5 x 4.5 m tall strip was rigged stage left.

All of the screens were run with a Novastar processor and a picture-in-picture (PIP) was designed for the centre screen to show video relay from the three live cameras.

The A3 Pro was chosen as it creates high resolution and performs at a viewing distance of only 3 metres. As the audience were at least 5 metres away this product offered the best option for the price point while still providing Full HD resolution.

They also knew that the audience would be sat in dimmed lighting, so it needed to be a product that could provide high brightness without the risk of a loss of grayscale or image quality – which LED can achieve.

Maestra worked intensively leading up to the show to ensure that everything was ready. PSCo sent an LED technician to the build day to over-see the project and assist Maestra’s experienced technicians where required.

Maestra’s intimate knowledge of the venue and how it works, paired with PSCo’s LED expertise ensured that the event went smoothly and had the WOW factor it desired.

RESULT

Justin Hammond, Managing Director at Maestra Group, commented on the project: “We always enjoy working on the MVAs as it is such a creative and inspiring event and PSCo were the perfect partner for the project. It is always really easy to work with PSCo. Their LED product range is great and allows us to deliver a creative solution, and their technicians are experienced and professional. The overall service from PSCo was great and helped us deliver a fantastic event.”