The “Strange” Side of Italian Love

Italian TV program “Stranamore” (Strange Love) is a show about lost and recovered love. In its 9th season, Stranamore, on Channel 5, highlights the trials and tribulations of separated lovers who then try to reconcile their relationship with the help of television.

Stranamore’s TV crew travels the country as a sort of mobile counseling clinic, helping broken hearts make peace. Host of the Sunday-night show, Alberto Castagna, has the difficult task of introducing the hopeless lovers awaiting reconciliation; meanwhile a studio audience waits in great anticipation for the outcome.

This year the studio has a new and original design thanks to Set Designer Mario Catalano, Cinematographer Gianluca Bronzini and Lighting Designer Gianni Mastropietro. Martin decorative lighting plays a key element in the new graphical look.

Gianluca commented on his efforts to renew the show. “Catalano and Mastropietro planned an elegant and essential studio. The most important elements stand out on the background of the stage with attention focused on the great heart and famous Stranamore door. We projected suggestive effects onto the door which opens in two parts.”

The heart, which is the main stage element and the defining trait of the Stranamore show, is covered in a reflective material. Its mirror-like characteristics could have posed a problem for the cameras, but this was solved by the use of reflected light. “We also had unexpected benefits thanks to the camera’s positioning,” states Gianluca. “Sometimes, we were surprised to see chance images reflected such as a landscape with a river surrounded by trees and a sunset sky.”

Pastel cloud backdrop projections from MAC 2000 Performance create a romantic atmosphere while decorative patterns grace the floor. Brilliant color wash is provided by MAC 2000 Wash. “We used 40 MAC 2000 Wash with their power brightness to give the dominant color to the walls. The MAC 2000 Wash is very suitable for television studios thanks to the color system’s flexibility, with the CMY mixing that provides an unlimited variety of colors. All the brilliant lighting effects were obtained with MAC 2000 Performance with their rotating gobos that allow a wide selection of designs.”

“We were all professionals and we got on well together, also in a short period of time. Our studio was engaged with another production and we had only 9 days in the studio before the broadcast. I want to thank all the light-team, organized by Claudio Schettini, who manages everybody after 20 years of experience.”