Norwest purchases ETC Source Fours for X Factor New Zealand
Published: ASIA
NEW ZEALAND: ETC lighting fixtures have been deployed by Norwest Oceania Productions for the production of X Factor New Zealand, resulting in the purchase of eight ETC Source Four Revolution fixtures. Norwest Oceania’s Simon Garrett and Paul Collison design and operate the weekly show from a temporary studio in South Auckland. The fixtures were purchased through Jands.
Having put the new fixtures to straight to use, Mr Garrett commented that, ‘I knew they would be good, but I underestimated how much fixed lighting they would render obsolete. Being able to shift lights live when the talent misses a mark has revolutionised my life.
‘The eight ETC Source Four Revolutions have been operating flawlessly for three months,’ he added. ‘They are really punchy but the massive zoom range means, as with a Fresnel, one can zoom out to retain colour temperature and shutter heavily to get the control back.’
Mr Collison concurd that last season’s X Factor was more difficult to light having no automated tungsten fixtures. ‘It makes a hard job harder when you can’t just swing a light around where you need it. ‘One minute you think you’ve lit all your positions and then suddenly a hosting position is added, or a vocalist is moved to a new spot.’
He also described the Revolution as reliable in these situations, with responsive and accurate shutters. ‘It’s a very easy fixture to use,’ he added. ‘It just sits there and does its’ job without you having to think about it too much. They require little attention and are simple in what they do, but do it very well. They are definitely the backbone of the show now and allow us to react much more quickly to new hosting positions as well as many of the performance elements. When we need them to, they can even do a respectable job of washing the stage.’