Jase Bovaird of Moving Lights Productions recently designed the lighting for Mentone Girls Grammar School’s production of Fame – The Musical and a key factor was the Infinity S201 Spot from Highlite.
“We have an incredible partnership with Martin Bowman and John McKissock from their Australian distributor Clearlight Shows,” said Jase. “Their lighting equipment is faultless, clean, light and quick. The Infinity 201s are a fabulous light with rich colours and a gobo range that allowed us to provide a bold lighting design with sharp angles and particular use of gobos. Because I had already lit this show in January I wanted to utilise that lighting design and build on the design elements of the show. Fame has so many BIG musical theatre numbers and the lights allowed me to finish each number with a huge bold ending.”
As well as being extremely bright, Jase notes that the Infinity S201s are light which was important as they were rigging off ladders and they needed to be able to easily carry them.
“Not to mention the fact that the S201s, S401s and S601s all have the same gobos which are theatrical NOT a disco feel like other moving lights,” he added. “They have a great leaf breakup range and other patterns that allow you to texture scenery and stages. There are so many features that impress me in these lights. The colour wheel is not a wheel that is just any random colour, it has rich bold saturated colours, through to the CTO range that you require in a dramatic moment of the show.”
On LX 1, LX 2 and LX 3, Jase had 14 x S201s spread across the three bars allowing him to create depth. Many of his designs have a ‘V’ that allows him to deliver a 3D effect with the lights tapering outwards on the bars.
“The lights in the air allowed us to provide shape and colour on the stage and highlight the performers in musical theatre numbers and were used particularly in “special” dance routines,” explained Jase. “Fame is such a high energy choreographed show and many of the dancers in the show are renowned aerobics Australian champions and so many of the dance routines had specialised moments which needed highlighting.”
Jase says he has been using Clearlight Shows’ lights throughout his 25-year career and adds that their after-hours backup is second to none.
“A few weeks ago we had a different mover go down at Catholic Regional College in Caroline Springs and Martin got in his car late Friday night to drive to the venue and fix the issue,” he added. “The service is second to none not to mention they will also ask you if the quote fits in with the budget and they will make it work to suit your needs. Both John and Martin care about the industry and where it is at and we are now doing a lot more installs in schools and the Infinity range of moving lights is getting its first look before anything else.”
Jase reports that the Infinity S201s performed incredibly on Fame being quiet, quick and never breaking down.
Photography by Greg Ford
