Audio Visual & Film Group Speed Up General Mills Staging Event Using Barco and Folsom Technology
Sacramento, August 10, 2004. General Mills creative team asked Audio Visual & Film Group (AVFG) to figure out a way to simulate the entire set up of equipment during a ten minute song at the top of the show with an audience in the room. This was an unusual request but a unique link to the theme of the meeting, Speed Driven Innovation and was made possible with the help of Barco projection, LED and Folsom switching.
“The VP of Sales for General Mills wanted to have an audience enter the room and have a minimum of equipment set up in advance,” comments Jim Fuller, President of AVFG. “No drapes or backdrops, screens or sets were to be in position, just a view of the stage with all of us exposed behind it.”
“General Mills wanted to show an example of Speed Driven Innovation by letting the audience see what happens during the set-up of a sales kick-off event. There could not have been a better example because we managed to accomplish the feel of an entire three day set up in ten minutes,” adds Dianna Fuller, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for AVFG.
Four Barco R18 projectors were used to project Matrix-like images on the sidewalls of the venue, while onstage a single 100” HoloPro screen suspended overhead shone brightly. HoloPro screen looked like a piece of glass until the Barco R8 fired up to provide a suspended holographic image onstage.
Two 12’x16’ screens were illuminated by twelve thousand lumen Barco R12 projectors while two 6’x8’ screens and two vertically positioned 7.5’x10’ screens used eight thousand lumen R8 projectors. The two vertically placed 7.5’x10’screens were projected upon using a slice of the video projection from the R8. The projectors were rigged from truss over the audience for front projection during the meeting and in keeping with AVFG’s commitment to technological innovation; projectors were fed a digital signal through CAT 5 cable from the video control backstage.
A Folsom 1604 video switcher and two Folsom ScreenPro switchers were used to route signals to all of the screen surfaces. This magical 1604 has sixteen inputs and four outputs and can be linked to the Folsom ScreenPro switchers to expand the outputs of the unit. The combination of both units made it simple for AVFG to handle all of the video input sources from Betacam SP Video playback, DoReMi V1D digital disk recorders, PowerPoint computer graphics and a three camera IMAG set up.
In addition, the Folsom units scale the video resolution from individual sources to one selectable resolution output. This ensures a seamless transition between video elements so the projector receives a consistent signal with no jumps or glitches in the video playback. AVFG used the DoReMi playback system for the primary video rolls throughout the show.
This technology gave the crew instant access to any video clip eliminating the danger of leaving an audio feed open during the cueing of a tape. Redundant Beta SP back up video tape rolled simultaneously with the DoReMi ensuring that a video roll would always play with no difficulties.
Folsom also gives AVFG the ability to seamlessly switch to back up video sources using preset programs accessible immediately during a failure of equipment.
It is common for the Folsom units to be used in multiple-source switching, and it is simple to program the routing of signals to each screen with a touch of a button. Video effects can be programmed so the director can use wipes, fades, and dissolves as transition points between video elements. Many effects can be generated as a result, even a wipe effect across all six-screen areas giving the show a particularly clean and professional look. AVFG managed the professional execution of video projection and switching without a hitch.
A Folsom ScreenPro was used to route computer graphics support and teleprompting text to five plasma screens positioned in front of the stage. This allowed the presenters to wander the stage where they were comfortable speaking to the audience without being constrained by a podium and presentation paddles.
AVFG managed the equipment for all show elements including lighting, cameras, video projection, sound reinforcement and production management. As if that was not enough, an outdoor reception kicked off the event where AVFG provided sound, lighting and a Barco 14' x 18' Dlite D7 LED Display for video.
For more information about Barco Events or its products, please contact
christine.morris@barco.com or visit
www.events.barco.com or
www.folsom.com About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.
For more information, please contact
Christine
Morris
Marketing Communications Manager - US
Barco Media & Entertainment
Telephone
+1 916 859 2500
christine.morris@barco.com
