BEYONCÉ & JAY-Z
Head Rigger Bill Rengstl; Strictly FX Crew Chief, Scott ‘Bull’ Allen; Fourth Generation, headed by Tweed Hurlocker and Chief Electrician Paul Traynor; Automation Crew Chief Sam Melotte;Railcam Robotic Systems’ Rick Compeau and Brian Sheid.
said Wszolek. If the team do achieve a shot that they want to recreate in WIcreations was also responsible for the star lift that carries the artists future shows, they have the benefit of a comprehensive recording package, from the top of the performer wall to the stage (and any level in between). Ingest, which ensures each night is properly archived. This is mounted on an I-beam and uses 2 hoists. A spotter positioned on The video walls themselves are constructed from PRG-supplied the wall ensures the stars are safely on or off the platform before operation. WinVision 9mm panels for the main left and right screens that track on Downstage of the video wall, the show has many more automation and off, and ROE CB 8mm for the static upstage tricks up its sleeve, created by Brilliant Stages. As wall that sits behind the giant pigeonholes of the well as the main stage (with incorporated scissor performer wall (the lower level of which has the lifts), BBQ deck and screamers, Brilliant created ability to ‘garage-door’ up if required). the twin runways, each featuring a travellator and, Automation of these walls is carried out by hidden within, a one-man mining cart that can WIcreations, headed by Crew Chief Sam Melotte transport the performer to the end of the thrust “The bridge was an (assisted by Stephan ‘Xumi’ Schumacher, Miro without being seen. Kusiuk, Robo Vrbjar and Matt Moran). The top and At the end of each runway a pantograph exceptional piece that had bottom tracks for the screen are built in advance staircase rises up to allow access and egress to never been done before. by Stageco, with the requisite lifting truss with and from perhaps the most impressive element of hoists ready to go when the team arrives. 12 truss the show - the giant bridge that detaches from the Not only the design and dollies with running motors (6 per side) run over main stage, raises into the air and tracks the 50m manufacture of an enormous the top track beam. During installation, these to the end of the thrusts. Weighing 20,000kg and move to the side of the stage so that 4 800kg hoists measuring 20m wide x 5m deep, the bridge carries piece of engineering proved on each side can gradually raise each section as both stars along with 16 dancers and features a challenging, but also the way tiles are added below, before transferring them railing that can be raised around the perimeter as on to the track. During the show, spotters on each required. it packaged and travelled side of the stage work alongside the video crew Ben Brooks headed the team from Brilliant had to be considered and as Melotte operates the system with WIcreations’ Stages. “The bridge was an exceptional piece own MCA program. For this tour, MCA is run on respected all the way through that had never been done before,” he said. “Not a computer, with tablet control available to only the design and manufacture of an enormous the process.” achieve the millimetre precision required during piece of engineering proved challenging, but installation. also the way it packaged and travelled had to be Ben Brooks, Brilliant Stages 52