Dreamedia turns Uluru blue
Published: ASIA
AUSTRALIA: In celebration of the United Nation’s 70th anniversary, October saw landmarks around the world illuminated with the organisation’s recognisable logo. In Australia, more than 25 heritage sites turned ‘blue’ as part of the international Turn The World #UNBlue campaign intended to promote the message of peace, development and human rights. Highlighted landmarks in Australia included the Sydney Opera House, the MCG, Perth’s Bell Tower, Canberra’s Old Parliament House and the iconic Uluru rock – the only icon to have the UN’s logo projected on to it. Darwin-based Dreamedia was given the task of working out how to project the logo onto the famous rock, with managing director Chris O'Brien calling upon the advice of Show Technology.
‘They said that the Martin Professional MAC Viper was the correct light for the job,’ recalled Mr O’Brien. ‘Initially we only put our hand up to do a trial to see if it could actually be done as we had no idea. We decided we would cut up the logo into four segments and divide the portions into four MAC Vipers. We thought that would give us the most flexibility and firepower.’
This, it turned out, was far more than would be required on the day. ‘Upon arriving in the desert,’ added Nr O’Brien, ‘the guys decided to put one gobo into a MAC Viper to see how it would perform from 100m away and they were amazed to discover that just one MAC Viper absolutely nailed it.’
For the trial, Dreamedia sent down half a truck of ground support, chain motors and four MAC Vipers but the final setup was accomplished with the solo MAC Viper fixed to the back of a Ute. Control was a MA Lighting International dot2 XL-F.
‘Honestly, a lot of the credit must go to the Show Technology team as it was their technical team that really did the maths on this project,’ concluded Mr O’Brien. ‘We knew we needed the logo at least 45m wide as the viewing platform for all the dignitaries was 2km away.’