7 minute read

KISS THE STARS

RENKUS-HEINZ OMNIBEAM

Creators and producers renowned and spectacular multimedia shows around the world, the latest outdoor permanent water and multimedia show by ECA2 is located in Vietnam, and features a versatile set-up that enables the venue to be used for a multitude of different types of events.

With the skilful design of a striking customised structure featuring embedded multimedia technologies, the Paris-based creative studio of international show producers ECA2 Group has created a spectacular outdoor theatre complex on a stunning stretch of coastline in southern Vietnam.

Real estate company Sun Group enlisted ECA2 to produce something special at their Sunset Town resort on the shores of Phu Quoc, and it was achieved with a complex setup, which includes the discreet integration of more than 30 Barco projectors, Modulo Pi media servers, an army of Robe moving lights, water and fire effects tailor-made by ECA2’s sister company Crystal, laser effects by LaserAnimation/LSE, an L-Acoustics sound system, and ECA2’s own show control architecture.

“It was a huge challenge to design, manufacture and install cutting-edge and tailor-made effects of monumental proportions for this project,” said Aurélien Bouvier, Technical Director, ECA2.

“For example, one aspect is the largest water-based screen ever designed, which measures over 1,000 sq m.”

For ECA2, the aquatic stage represents the biggest of any of its worldwide projects. The main arch is 30m tall and 65m wide, while the architecture can be lowered into the sea, submerging it to enhance the ‘island’ effect.

“We ensured the overall design of the project,” continued Bouvier, “and we had a team of designers for each specific aspect – the lights, water effects, audio system – these workings were then brought together for a final technical design.”

The ECA2 teams were tasked with implementing their ideas into an existing masterplan, with the Kiss Bridge already in situ and to be incorporated into their plan. The lead architect on the project, Erminio Serpente, designed the concept so that the Kiss Bridge and the sunset is visible for the audience during the show.

“We built the structure and the water pools in such a way that we can embed tailor-made effects in specific locations for the show, rather than building something and putting brackets to hang equipment on it,” stated Bouvier.

“Everything is embedded, so during the day, the equipment is not visible. Effectively we didn’t fit a show into a venue, we designed the venue for the show, so everything was conceptualised for the show and designed in a way that the technology can be embedded inside it. The show control aspect, which is one element of our expertise, has been implemented so that they can take control of some of the effects, and everything is easy for them to apply for their own use.” continued Bouvier.

Feeding the video projectors is an integrated platform by Modulo Pi, featuring a Modulo Kinetic media server, with three Kinetic Designer workstations connected to five Kinetic V-Nodes, each with six outputs. Within the software is a user interface section, allowing for the customisation of control, which gives the user access to specific functions and trigger tasks such as turning on projectors, or launching the show directly from a connected and compatible device.

“When it comes to projects like this, we are on site for as long as it is necessary in order to deliver a successful job for the client,” said Emmanuelle Charotte, VP Business Development, ECA2. “The main phases for this project were the concept, schematic and detailed design, procurement, programming, operation and training.

“Our core expertise is permanent installations, and we do also produce live events, as long as they have some sort of a creative and technical challenges. We’ve been doing permanent shows such as this around the world for the past thirty years. We currently have ten permanent shows running every night worldwide, all operated by a local team we have been training.”

For Bouvier, using familiar products from manufacturers he trusts was an important element to the project.

“We have worked with L-Acoustics for a long time and have a very good relationship with them,” he said. “Our audio acoustician is a specialist with L-Acoustics technology and their L-ISA spatialised capabilities, and theirs is a product that we know is reliable. Also, we worked alongside Robe to add a new feature to their fixtures, which is working well for this project, and will soon be added to every Robe product going forward. This is a common theme with our productions – we work closely with the manufacturers to deliver exactly what we need for certain situations. It takes a long time, but it is worth it.”

All the water features are designed and manufactured internally.

“Everything with regard to the special effects in the water and pyrotechnics was designed and tailor-made for the project,” said Bouvier. “When we start to design a show, we have a blank page and only an idea of the technical visual effects or cinematography. Then we develop the effects alongside the architecture.”

Charotte added: “We started the production of water screens and Cascade Screens© for a huge show called The “BIG-O” – the icon of the Yeosu Expo site in South Korea. For that project, we couldn’t achieve what we wanted with a regular water screen, so we developed and manufactured products that allowed us to project the content how we wanted. We have seen it referred to as a ‘hologram effect’ because we use different layers of water, and the resolution is incredible. Since then, we have been developing specific water screens for each project, and the Cascade Screen© that allows us to project at a certain resolution onto the water is a game-changing technology.”

One specific challenge for this project was the exclusive use of sea water for all the elements of the show that involve water.

“There are two challenges that come with using sea water – the first is the fact that we have to extract the water from the sea to fill the pool, and so we designed all the technical filling and emptying systems,” explained Bouvier. “This allows us to fill and empty the pools in two hours, but this was a huge challenge as we needed to use a 400m pipe out to sea, to be sure that the water we use is as clean as possible. The sea salt is actually a good thing for us because we don’t need to use any filtration, because there are no bacteria in sea water.”

Bouvier and the team specified a dedicated stainless steel, which is developed specifically for use with sea water, to be used across the facility. “A tricky aspect to this project was the windows which the light and laser effects beam out of,” continued Bouvier.

“As soon as the water dries on those windows, it can leave a salty residue on them, which can affect the quality of the effect passing through it, so being able to keep the quality in place by being able to clean those windows is important. There are a lot of small windows, and cleaning them is a challenge.

“Another challenge is the fact that there is so much water involved – jets are coming from on top of and behind the structure, and the amount of water coming down on the enclosed fixtures can be too much, even for a waterproof enclosure. So, when we throw that water up, there is a huge amount coming down, both within the arch and in the technical area, so we needed to design the layout in a way that it could withstand that kind of water-based environment.”

The project’s overall control system is custom made by ECA2, with a user-friendly interface design for the benefit of the end user. There is a setting for the main ‘Kiss the Stars’ show, and settings for equipment testing and for monitoring atmosphere levels such as temperature and humidity levels – which is controllable remotely via the ECA2 team. The show’s lights are programmed using an MA Lighting grandMA console, which is then played back via the Modulo Kinetic media server.

Technical Information

FLAMES (CRYSTAL / ECA2)

24 x Flame Generators

WATER EFFECTS (CRYSTAL / ECA2)

34 x 2D Focus Jets in Pools With LEDs, 20 x 2D Focus Jets in Black Hole with LEDs, 8 x 2D XL Jet in Pools & Black Holes with LEDs, 8 x 3D Jet in Pools with LEDs, 16 x Straights Jets with LEDs, 7 x Geysers Units with LEDs, 4 x Mist Series, 1000 sq m Cascade Screen©

VIDEO

9 x Barco 40k projectors, 22 x Barco 19k projectors, Modulo Pi Kinetic media server: 3 x Modulo Kinetic Designer, 5 x Modulo Kinetic V-Node

LIGHTING & LASERS

40 x Robe Forte Spot, 32 x Robe Mega Pointe, 1 x MA

Lighting grandMA console, 2 x LaserAnimation PHAENON XD 15500, 3 x LaserAnimation PHAENON XD 30000

AUDIO

20 x L-Acoustics K1 loudpspeakers, 12 x L-Acoustics KS28 subwoofers, 16 x L-Acoustics KIVA II loudspeakers, 4 x L-Acoustics X8 loudpeakers www.eca2.com

“This project was designed for the ‘Kiss The Stars’ show, but we created a second interface within the servers, so the clients are able to run certain elements of the technology in a customised way,” said Bouvier. “It’s a truly versatile setup because the clients are able to host private events at the location, in addition to the regular show.”

ECA2 worked with Modulo Pi to produce a server that had the capability to do everything that was required of the show, including its hard drive capacity and the input and output requirements.

“With every manufacturer that we worked with for this project, we do not have their regular product – there is a customised element to every item,” confirmed Bouvier.

‘Kiss the Stars’ has been opened, only in its multimedia version, since December 2022, and is presently under finalisation, with the full opening planned for the end of 2023, in its full hybrid cast and multimedia version, and Sun World Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Loxley, is delighted with the finished project.

“The timing of the ‘Kiss The Stars’ show allows guests to admire a stunning pre-show, courtesy of mother nature as the sun sets into the south Phu Quoc sea, which is framed by the show’s gigantic arches and the picturesque Kiss Bridge in the background,” said Loxley.

Daan Duijm, Sun World Group Director of Operations & Set Up, said:

“The ‘Kiss the Stars’ show is not just pushing boundaries in Vietnam, but worldwide. From the 1,000 sq m Cascade Screen©, to the almost 300 special effect fixtures, guests will be impressed by the iconic arches and immersed in a world-class show experience.”