Given the complex staging requirements of the ceremony and gala that follows, Advanced Staging Productions has been the trusted event technology partner since 2006.
There are many moving parts when put- ting on an event with high profile atten- dees and political figures in a non-tradi- tional venue.Of course, security and dis- cretion is very important.
In the time that the National Constitution Center,Advanced Staging Productions and the other partners have been work- ing together, the look and feel of the event has changed and
evolved.For many years, the event took place in the open air - offering challenges for show- ing videos and presentation graphics - a problem solved using hi-resolution LED walls.
As one would expect, the event requires months of planning prior to the day of the ceremony held on the lawn of the National Constitution
Center.Planning is a team effort with all the event partners, including staff from the National Constitution Center,Karen Holt Homer (the producer),Steve McEntee from Proof Productions (scenic design and event labor management), the local unions,Brûlée Catering (the in-house catering partner),6abcWPVI (the local broadcast media partner),and, in recent years,a tent company.
80 January February 2016
Events held outdoors also are more chal- lenging to light properly for both the live audience and the broadcast audience. “Because of the timing,we have to plan for the changing ambient light as the sun sets and darkness creeps in - without making it noticeable to our audience,” said Jason Showers,Advanced Staging Productions lighting director,who dili- gently works to create an aesthetic and practical lighting plan (with redundan- cies in place) to meet all the needs of the event and the recording/broadcast. “The visual of our lighting installation from 2014 is an example of our work phi- losophy of always designing a solution appropriate for the production. In previ- ous years we had a large outdoor grid and the entire building was the event backdrop. In this setting we had a much more elaborate approach to really show- case the National Constitution Center with several lighting elements focused on the building only. It was an incredible visual, live and on the Channel 6 pro- gram. ”
Showers continued,“With the weather and event timing of the last two years, the event has been relocated into a tent on the front lawn. In this environment we make every effort to have our technology disappear from
view.Ambient lighting for the tent and the audience is located as far offstage as possible and the lighting installation for the stage is married directly to the roofline of the
tent.No horizontal trusses or motors in the line of sight anywhere.We custom make each length of pipe and engineer all the con- nections beforehand to facilitate a rapid installation during the load-in day.With so many other elements dependent upon our work being completed in a timely fashion, this is essential and has always been one of our best practices.Extra time and effort during pre-production yields a smooth process and experience on site for both us and our clients.”
When the event was staged outdoors, it was always at the mercy of the weather. Contingency plans were in place,but in 2011 the plan and Advanced Staging Production’s ability to react and execute was put to the test.
Jeff Spence,Advanced Staging Productions account manager said,“We always plan to be able to recreate as much of the look and feel of the outdoor show as possible within the constraints
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84