Sleaze: Lights, Camera, Action (4/9/2003)

Punters at this year’s Sleaze 2003 may find themselves stars of an elaborate video display planned by lighting designer Hugh Taranto.

Taranto’s appointment was announced by New Mardi Gras this week, as well as news that new lighting and video technology would be employed at Fox Studios for the first time which might feature enthusiastic attendees.

You can manipulate the video live and take in live vision from cameras, Taranto told Sydney Star Observer. So what we can do is basically have images moving around the room of, for example, a dancer dancing around the room.

We’re also bringing in a new system -¦ that allows the lighting operator to trigger video through the lighting desk, Taranto said. It allows you to basically build a whole pile of different looks where the lighting and the vision are totally in sync.

Taranto also revealed a new product called a DL1 would be used for the first time in Australia at Sleaze. The DL1 is basically a moving video projector, which allows vision to be screened all over the pavilions, in sync with music and lighting.

Taranto has designed concerts for Silverchair and Mobile Home’s New Year’s Eve, and will work with Brad Wright, who will be lighting programmer and operator for the RHI.

Wright worked with Taranto on the Submission dance party and told the Star he can’t wait to get to work on Sleaze. Wright’s brief for the RHI is classic anthems to house, a departure from his previous experience at Sleaze in the now defunct Dome. A darker, harder music and lighting were planned for City Live, Wright said.

With DJs, partygoers and even lighting designers potentially lit dazzlingly, filmed and projected on a grand scale, what will the lighting crew be wearing?

Subdued professional blacks for Taranto, it seemed, though Wright was more excited. I’ve got to be showing a bit of flesh, don’t I? It depends what my boyfriend lets me get away with! Wright laughed.