MAC 700 Profiles Give ‘dramatic impact’ to MTV’s “Total Request Live”

Scharff Weisberg has installed Martin MAC 700 Profiles and other lighting into MTV’s Times Square studio for the hit daily program “Total Request Live” (TRL). The updated moving light package better meets the current needs of the popular show.

“Every year TRL increases their production by consistently adding performances and positions to light,” notes MTV Studios lighting designer Brad Nelson. “The lighting needed to be as flexible as the show. Our previous lighting inventory couldn’t compete with what we required, and I needed more options.” The installation of MAC 700 spots gives Nelson “a lot more output from compact lights and allows us to enhance the dramatic impact we create.”

The 700s were loaded into the new TRL studio at the end of August. “We chose the 700s because we were looking for the most light we can get in a compact unit,” Brad states. “We are also dealing with huge windows that overlook Times Square. We do both daytime and nighttime shoots as well as performances, talk shows, game shows, news reads and all sorts of specials so the lighting rig needs to be flexible. Also, we have really small grid height in our studio (12'). It is difficult to get even washes from that height with a beam spread of 15-20 degrees. With the prism effect from the Martin units we are able to cheat a little and create a nice effect.”

The 700 Profiles are positioned in a grid near the windows “to get nice camera effects for the performances” and over the stage “to get nice texture wash for the non performance shows.

“With all the lights being the same, it makes setup of the different shows easier. We get the same 30 degree beam spread (more by cheating with the prism) as the MAC 550 with more punch to compete with the daylight for the daytime shows, all in a compact shell. We use them at least 10 hours a day and 5 to 6 days a week but haven't had any problems.”

Since programs shoot in the windowed studio during the day and night, the increased package also features a number of HMIs and Lekos, other automateds, 1.2K ARRI compact HMI fresnels, 1.2K ARRI HMI compacts, ARRI HMI Pocket PAR sun-gun kits, ETC Source 4 36-degree 750-watt lights, Mini 10 500-watt lights and ETC Source 4 750-watt PARs.

“We like everything we’ve received from Scharff Weisberg, and the brand new lighting gear is unparalleled,” says Nelson. “Their customer service has really been great.”