TDC DAZZLES AT VIVID SYDNEY
9 June 2016
Technical Direction Company’s technical wizardry is dazzling audiences of millions at Vivid Sydney. In 2016 the grand spectacle of light, video and music is extended from 18 days to 23, with video projections over nine sites including the Royal Botanic Garden and Taronga Zoo.
Michael Hassett, CEO at TDC said: “TDC works on the latest in projection and interactive technologies for Vivid for a total of 11 months prior to the event collaboratively engaging with all project stakeholders in enabling the artists’ creative imaginations to be writ across the skyline.”
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney Sandra Chipchase said: “Technology is a key element to the Festival as an enabler of artistic works. We’re constantly amazed at what TDC achieves for us each year and this year it’s bigger, better and more spectacular than ever. We expect it to go down in history as a record breaking year in attendance by audiences of all ages.”
To give you an appreciation of it all, here’s what TDC takes on:
- 70 video projectors, from 40,000 lumens through to 22,000 lumens
- Over 30 technical staff employed full time
- 11km of projection
- 20 million pixels equivalent to over 60 IMAX screens
- 20km of signal and power cables
- 22 media servers
- 3 different automation platforms servers running on unique software code
- All sites remotely monitored with realtime remote reporting
- A total light output of 1,750,000 ANSI lumens brightness
- Ensuring energy efficiency, equipment is powered every night but on-standby during the day
- Impressive 800GB video footage being played back continuously
Drew Ferors, a senior engineer, says, “Vivid Sydney enables us to continuously develop and research ‘TDC Live View’ software we’ve written that monitors the performance of all the projection equipment. We have installed sensors to measure even variables like temperature. 24/7 TDC Live View manages the integrity of projectors sending an alert in real-time if there’s unforeseen issues providing critical technical updates remotely.”
Steve Cain, head engineer said: “Managing the animations we are using d3 technologies media servers for a number of our sites this year. Two features that d3 media servers offers is 3D visualisation and footprint features to show hotspots’ and coldspots’ in projection mapping areas. It makes my life so much easier. The software is from the lighting design world so is a great tool. We can visually represent the object or building using a 3D fly-through showing how the projection will be laid out on the site to the millimetre of accuracy. This was particularly useful for when we worked at Taronga Zoo where we had to alter projector tower locations. Working in 3D we could move the projection towers and see the results instantly.”
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
X-Factory, Central Park Sydney
Taronga Zoo
Royal Botanic Garden
As Vivid’s Creative director, Ignatius Jones, noted: “We’re doing something at the Royal Botanic Garden that’s never been done before by projecting videos onto the giant fig trees. Many said that’s not possible, but when we did the test we were totally blown away. The texture of the leaves with the projection on them is extraordinary.”
Pete Lynn, Technical Project Manager, TDC said: “There are three different areas throughout the gardens that we have projected onto. Mapping non-traditional surfaces such as enormous trees has been really exciting and we are thrilled with the results.”
The Matter of Painting
Steve Cain said: “I really love the colour and vibrancy of this installation. The challenges for this site are multiple angles, trees, and returns, which we’ve managed to map accurately. This is a stunning building to project onto which is a light coloured sandstone. The shape is really interesting for projection too. Here, we use high-powered projectors and media serving. However not every project uses bells and whistles. Sometimes a simpler approach gives great results.” Cain added: “We love the old buildings so we broke all records in terms of set up, having projection mapping completed in just 1.5 hours. New buildings and objects challenge us which is the best way to learn things.”
Sergio Carrubba, managing director at Danny Rose added: “Working with TDC’s highly experienced team is always enjoyable and gives us assurances of the best possible outcome.”
Impossible Voyage
In terms of projection, Olin Winton explained: “We kept low profile viewing angles up as much as possible as it is a small building.”
Sydney’s Hidden Stories
Cyril De Baecque, Managing Director at Spinifex Group said: “TDC worked with our interactive department to synchronise the content using the world clock so that the projection on the building aligns with the content on the Huawei devices played through a Unity based app developed by Spinifex Group.”
Jeremy Mitchell, Director, Corporate and Public Affairs at Huawei added: “Companies like TDC have achieved outstanding results with our technology in this installation. We are delighted with the results!”
More Info:
Technical Direction Company: www.tdc.com.au
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