‘Rainforest Reconnect’ was a live streamed well-being experience, featuring singers, yoga and narration live from the Rainforest Biome. The tracks utilised throughout were derived directly from stimuli from within the rainforest.
We worked with the Eden Project to help them deliver their first 360 degree immersive livestream. Our task was to provide; 360 degree lighting of their biomes in each camera position around the tropical biome, broadcast audio mixing for the livestream, show comms for all the crew members around the biomes and distributed audio for artist and talent monitoring.
“The biggest challenge for us was distributing cable into and around the biome for audio, lighting and video. There were 4 zones in the biome where scenes were taking place; each zone needed front light for the talent on camera, accent lighting of the area surrounding the cameras, monitoring for the crew as well as talent and audio inputs for the talent mics.” – Toby Bodman, Project Manager and Broadcast Audio Engineer
DMX cable distribution was done using wireless DMX transmitters placed in a central location in the biome allowing for quick and easy setup and connection. Audio distribution utilised a combination of Allen and Heath D-live, DX expanders as well as Sennheiser Radio Mic and IEM systems.
Due to the importance of background tracks to the program content we opted to deploy our dual redundant tracks rig. This rig runs two identical playback machines simultaneously with an instantaneous switch to the back-up machine when it senses an issue with the master machine. From this rig we can run up to 12 independent outputs giving the sound engineer the option for more granular control over track balancing.
Although this event was delivered to the audience entirely through the lens of a camera, lighting of each zone required a different approach to that of a typical piece to camera. Where you’d typically be lighting the scene for the specific framings set by the creative team, we had to consider the entire space interactable through the 360 stream. To cater to the extremely humid rainforest environment, and Eden’s automated watering schedule, all fixtures installed throughout had to have a suitable IP rating. Chauvet Ovation E910 FC IP units were used as the primary source of key light throughout. This provided us scope to intricately sculpt the light output, alleviating unwanted spill onto surrounding surfaces. E910’s fitted with gobos and rotators were also utilised alongside Look Solutions Unique 2.1 hazers to create breakup effects which shone through dense foliage, creating engaging effects which translated very well on camera. General foliage lighting was completed using a combination of Showtec Helix floods, and Hex LEDJ spectra pars of various sizes. This combination allowed us to effectively produce pastel colours which could be subtly changed throughout. Due to the style of the performance, and the nature in which the tracks were derived, heavily saturated colours did not suit this production hence the requirement for luminaires with accurate, extensive colour mixing capabilities.
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