New Zealand’s AlpineUnity 2003

For the second year running, AlpineUnity welcomed 2003 with a one-of-a-kind New Year’s celebration and music festival in the central Southern Alps of New Zealand.
 
New Zealand’s Middle Earth Promotions launched the international festival with full technical production and designs provided by Illuminati-Nz Ltd., a professional show design and technical solutions company based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Middle Earth and Illuminati-Nz saturated the event in an abundance of Martin Professional lighting and an entanglement of assorted trussing.
 
Lighting designer for the event was once again Technical and Production Director Mike Smith of Illuminati.  He commented, “I decided to throw a spanner in the works this year and create something ´Big’.  And yes - it´s ´Martin Big´ throughout. For the first time I was told from my supplier (Electro Tech Services) that I could keep all the Martin lighting I asked for. Cost saving reductions were made only in generic fittings.
 
Showcase for music and production technology
The festival places a spotlight on live music in New Zealand – literally - and is a showcase for state-of-the-art production technology. The event has become a pilgrimage for international DJ’s and punters. This year’s top names included Timo Mass from Germany, Capital J from Toronto, Austin Leeds from Los Angeles and Clipz, John B and Daniel Ro from the United Kingdom.
 
The festival features a main outdoor zone, playing a back-to-back blend of live Electronica and DJ beats. It runs 24 hours over three days with three other major marquees playing Drum & Base, House and Hard Dance music. For creature comforts, a fully licensed House bar, garden bar and restaurant were available offering Dub, Hip Hop and stage performances.
 
Production challenge and concept
Last year’s AlpineUnity presented the first challenge to Illuminati-Nz, given the remote Alpine location and selection of equipment for the task. AplineUnity 2003 was a collaboration of concepts, experience and designs with the primary involvement of Martin Professional equipment. The production concept was based on the sheer size of the surroundings with the choice of equipment designed to enhance the distances and huge steel structures involved. Multiple stages with back-to-back turnovers required tight operations over the three-day festival.
 
MAC 2000 crop circle
The Martin MAC range carried each of the main zones through a complete visual dance experience. Selections of custom glass gobos were designed for both MAC 2000 and MAC 500 fixtures.
 
One MAC 2000 created the heart of the event with a 200-meter throw of a crop circle created by a key-stoned custom glass gobo created by Illuminati-Nz – as well as the help of a lawn mower. The main field had been left fallow previous to the event and strict transport paths were made to complete the effect. Central to the 50-meter crop circle was a 20-meter concert truss pyramid with MAC 500s placed at each foot and a selection of mirror balls above. Anti-climbing dress kits were designed and 20-meter fly guys were placed in the outer rings of the crop circle.
 
MAC 2000 zoom
Another three MAC 2000s were used in the main outdoor zone, with two hung off a 7-meter high hood stage and another at the 5-meter front of house hood. The MAC 2000’s zoom function allowed for everything from a pin spot effect on the main act from front of house to an effect that covered the entire main stage hood. The zoom function also allowed for immense distance projection, creating gobos on surrounding mountain rock screens one kilometer across.
 
Main outdoor zone
Eighteen vertical truss spikes, custom designed for the event and concreted into the ground, surrounded the main outdoor zone. The spikes were designed in a range of sizes and based on complex reflecting angles. Illuminati were able to create a wide range of effects using Martin RoboColor Pro 400s as warmers, with MAC 500s vertically stacked on top in custom-made domes.
 
Main stage
The main stage, framed by MAC 2000 projection, was supported with a line of Martin RoboScan Pro 918 scanners tucked into the curve of the hood. This allowed for discreet physical presence while providing a massive impact back into the hood and out into the dance area. These were then supported with MAC 600s on truss verticals within the main stage and a wide selection of profile projections from MAC 500s up-stage.
 
LightJockey control
Basic configurations of all areas were completed using the LightJockey’s Martin Off Line Visualizer. Rather than creating a detailed set of programs, Mike used the Off Line to provide near exact scaling over the large distances, offering virtual trail in fixture comparisons for the projection distances.
 
The Martin LightJockey PCMCIA 1024 (plus DMX IN), hosted within a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop, was the heart of every area’s operation. Detailed pallets were created previous to the event and attached to scale on site. DMX IN once again proved a major tool creating slider handles for a range of effects and programs. Static functions created instant feedback loops and every section of the rigs were at instant access. The LightJockey also offered excellent access to the non-Martin fixtures used.
 
Mike Smith comments
“AlpineUnity 2003 was run on a tight pack in/out time line,” Mike commented, “and due to the location, equipment error was not on the agenda. We found Martin’s robust style of fixture perfect for the occasion, competing with transport issues, dust, bugs and extreme Alpine temperature fluctuations. They always found their pallets as created and required only basic cleaning rather than maintenance after the event. Everything went according to plan. It´s one thing designing it on paper - and such another thing to be standing in front of it. The MAC 2000 was once again a show stopper.” There will be no question Martin Professional will be joining us for the expanded 2004 event.
 
“AlpineUnity and the Illuminati-Nz designs were made possible by the invested interest of key local companies such as Electro Tech Services, Show Tech, Shipley’s Audio Visual, Hang Up and Side Effect. Most of all, the fantastic efforts of the many people involved behind the scenes from Illuminati-Nz Production Crew made it all possible.”
 
Flock Hill Station, where the festival takes place, is located in the Pristine Craigieburn Valley and gateway to six remote yet internationally rated ski fields on New Zealand’s South Island. Flock Hill Lodge is located within one of the largest remaining private Stations in the country covering a massive 14,000 hectares. Access is offered in the form of jet boat, horse, unimog, 4WD or helicopter.