2022 China Stage Film and Television Lighting Research and Analysis Report - Engineering Application

From September 2022 to March 2023, the Stage, Film and Television Lighting Professional Committee of the China Illuminating Society organized 40 industry experts, divided into 6 research groups, and went to 26 companies in Guangzhou, Taizhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Foshan and other places to conduct research. Among them, there are 6 companies related to engineering applications.

The companies involved in this survey include (in order of survey time): Guangdong Brilliance Film and Television Stage Professional Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Brilliance Film and Television), Jiangsu Jiansheng Film and Television Equipment Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Jiangsu Jiansheng), Zhejiang Dafeng Industrial Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Zhejiang Dafeng), Shanghai Huiyan Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Company (hereinafter referred to as: Shanghai Huiyan), Beijing Jindong Hi-Tech Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Jindong Hi-Tech), Beijing Beite Shengdi Technology Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Beite Shengdi) and other 6 companies, involving 9 performing arts engineering project application cases such as national large-scale event stage projects, studios, theaters, and iconic cultural tourism, see Table 1.

Performing arts engineering is the systematic application of various technologies and equipment. This article analyzes and summarizes the product development, engineering applications and technical highlights of the companies inspected by the research team.

Table 1 List of engineering projects

1 Stage machinery shines at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics

Stage machinery is an indispensable part of the performance. In recent years, Chinese stage machinery companies have developed rapidly in the design, R&D and production, system integration and control of stages and stage machinery devices, and their products are widely used in various performance projects. Especially in 2022, the application of stage machinery and other performance equipment at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which attracted worldwide attention, fully demonstrated the comprehensive capabilities and level of China's stage science and technology. Stage machinery companies such as Beite Shengdi, Jindong Hi-Tech, and Zhejiang Dafeng participated in the Olympic project and jointly undertook the design, development and installation of part of the ground center stage mechanical system, as well as ice waterfall large-scale performance machinery, main torch lifting and rotating machinery, ice cube and other special mechanical devices (excluding LED screens). The following introduces several representative application cases of stage mechanical device systems.

1.1 The huge "ice waterfall" with complex structure is real and shocking

At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, a drop of ink dripped from the "Ice Waterfall" large-scale performance device (hereinafter referred to as the "Ice Waterfall") on the east side of the venue, transforming into a surging atmosphere of "water from the Yellow River coming from the sky", pouring down; in an instant, the lower LED screen of the "Ice Waterfall" rose rapidly and transformed into the "China Gate", where athletes entered, becoming a highlight of the opening performance of the Winter Olympics, see Figure 1.

The structure and mechanical lifting system of "Ice Falls" were developed by Beite Shengdi. "Ice Falls" consists of a fixed display system, a lifting display system, a fixed ramp and a rear passage. Its main structure is 19.2 m long, 7.6 m wide, and 59.2 m high. It is high in height, occupies a small area, and has a slender shape. In order to improve the wind resistance of the structure, it is built with a steel structure and a load-bearing platform is set on the ground to ensure the stability of the main structure. A 14 m × 7 m liftable door is set in the middle of the front and bottom of the "Ice Falls". An LED display is arranged on the structure. Through the lifting action of the screen, relevant creative scenes can be switched. When the lift door is in the lower limit state, it visually forms an integrated screen with the fixed screen of the fixed display device and the ground screen of the fixed ramp to display creative video images. When the lifting door is raised to the highest position, the lower screen of the "Ice Falls" rises quickly and instantly transforms into a "Chinese Gate", fully presenting the fixed ramp on the ground and forming an entrance channel for athletes.

1.2 The huge "Ice Cube" interprets the birth of the "Five Rings"

The "Ice Cube" is the core performance equipment for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. It is the main equipment to display the "Five Rings of Ice and Snow". Its shape is a rectangular parallelepiped, and LED screens are installed on the top table and around it to create an ice surface effect. By cooperating with ground LED images, this device gives people an extremely real feeling, especially the descent process of the "Ice Cube" mechanical equipment is integrated with the broken ice image. The crystal clear "Five Rings of Ice and Snow" "break out of the ice" from the "Ice Cube" broken ice, reflecting the high-precision cooperation of the stage lifting machinery and video images, achieving the perfect combination of technology and art, and becoming another highlight of the opening ceremony of this Winter Olympics, see Figure 2.

The mechanical lifting system of "Ice Cube" was in-depth designed, developed and constructed by Jindong Hi-Tech. The "Ice Cube" structure is 22 m long, 7 m wide, has a lifting stroke of 10 m, and the fastest lifting speed can reach 0.42 m/s, which is 1.4 times the speed of ordinary lifting platforms. Due to technical difficulties such as the large size of the equipment, heavy load, high speed, and high requirements for the surrounding LED volume and integrity, the technical team used design modeling, finite element calculations, dynamic simulation, prototype testing and other solutions to optimize the equipment to ensure the perfect presentation of the "Ice Cube" in the opening ceremony.

1.3 The "big snowflake" of the main torch is the finishing touch for mechanical applications

The main torch system equipment includes a central lifting platform, a main torch ground device, a main torch platform, and an overhead main torch attitude adjustment actuator. The "Big Snowflake" of the torch is 15 meters in diameter and consists of 96 small snowflakes and 6 olive branches. Each small snowflake and each branch is equipped with a full-color LED direct display screen; the overall body is large, and the front tip cannot contact the ground during the lifting process.

The ground device is mainly composed of three parts: LED chassis, main torch auxiliary flip lifting device and step lifting device. The main torch is placed on the central lifting platform before being displayed. When the cover above the central lifting platform is opened, the main torch is lifted up to the stage and enters the "lighting ceremony" session. The driving system of the main torch flipping and lifting device designed and developed by Zhejiang Dafeng holds the "big snowflake" slowly rising. Subsequently, Beite Shengdi was responsible for the in-depth development of the main torch attitude adjustment actuator, driven by the wire car, moved from the preparation area on the north side of the performance area to the central lift platform. When the lowering steel cable, hydrogen pipe and cable were connected to the main torch, after the torch was ignited, the actuator lifted the main torch "big snowflake" into the air and rotated 360° to complete the attitude adjustment and display of the main torch, showing the whole picture to the rostrum and the world audience, showing Chinese romance. The main torch's "Big Snowflake", "Ice Falls", "Five Rings" and LED screen images together formed a beautiful stage image, becoming the highlight of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Heavy snowflakes rise and fall, see Figure 3.

It can be seen that in large-scale performance activities, in order to meet the needs of creative innovation, the scale and volume of stage machinery are developing towards super-large sizes. The structures of performing arts devices are becoming more complex and the degree of centralized control is becoming higher and higher. More and more stage machinery is equipped with LED screens, lamps and other visual effects equipment for combined movements.

2 Innovative applications of lifting equipment in performance venues

Stage trusses and booms are essential stage lifting facilities for performing arts projects such as studios and stadiums. In recent years, relevant companies have continued to develop and innovate. The boom has developed from a single lifting to rotation, lifting, translation, etc., and the performance truss has also been temporarily assembled. Developed into an overall combination of mother frame systems. The so-called mother frame system refers to the overall fixed truss assembly composed of trusses and control equipment. Lamps, speakers, screens, scenery, trusses, etc. can be hung below it to provide convenient and fast operation methods for performances and help performance safety.

2.1 The mother frame system is resident in the gymnasium

The temporary construction model for holding performances in stadiums not only has many safety hazards such as irregular points, easy damage to the grid structure of the venue, long time to splice the main frame, difficult safety inspection, and unsafe operation at high altitudes, etc. To this end, Shanghai Huiyan independently developed and produced mother frame system products, which include HAIC-LITE console, CNC electric hoist, hanging system control software, HCU-VS1 single-channel control cabinet, OXCELL load monitoring unit, and electric hoist control unit embedded software. It can meet the installation and construction needs of lighting, audio, video and other equipment for various activities, and realize difficult stage construction. This mother frame system has been successfully applied and fixedly installed in the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium project, as shown in Figure 4.

The main stage area of ​​the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Stadium uses 20 30 kN suspension points and 4 10 kN suspension points, and the surface light area uses 8 30kN suspension points. The weight of the mother frame in the main stage area is about 7950 kg. The truss specifications are main beam: 600 mm×1000 mm, auxiliary beam: 760 mm×520 mm, four-sided joints: 600 mm×600mm×1000 mm, and internal joints of the frame: 600 mm×1000 mm. The self-weight of the main frame in the surface light area is about 2546 kg. The truss specifications are as follows: main beam: 600 mm × 1 000 mm, and internal joints of the frame: 600 mm × 1 000 mm. The system is easy for performers and venues to safely use and manage, and helps improve venue utilization.

2.2 Rotating boom system has become the new favorite in studio engineering applications

The 600-square-meter studio hanging and lighting project of Guangzhou TV Station was completed by Brilliance Film and Television. The 600-square-meter studio is a full-featured studio that is mainly used for the production of various variety shows, award shows, artistic performances and interview programs. It can meet the recording requirements of high-definition programs or 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition programs. This project won the second prize of the China Illuminating Society Award for Performance Venue Lighting Engineering Design.

This project uses the digital three-dimensional boom innovatively developed by Brilliance Film and Television. The boom can be moved up and down, horizontally, and rotated to achieve three-dimensional lighting. It can also hang landscape films, LED screens, etc. Its control system adopts a 1-to-1 frequency conversion control method (each motor requires frequency conversion) and adopts the Ethernet industrial Ethernet communication protocol; it is equipped with an emergency stop button and is equipped with multiple protective measures such as radar anti-collision, laser ranging, emergency braking, mechanical anti-collision and precise position detection to ensure safe operation.

During this inspection, we learned that Jiangsu Jiansheng has also developed technologies such as digital three-dimensional lifting, rotation, and walking booms, and conducted relevant equipment demonstrations and application case introductions in its exhibition hall.

3 Performing arts equipment expands the space of theaters and arenas

With the development of science and technology, new technologies such as robotic arms are increasingly used in cultural and tourism activities, and professional equipment such as stage lighting are also used in arena venues, expanding the application space of performing arts equipment.

3.1 The robotic arm has become a magician that can flexibly transform the stage space

In recent years, the flexible changes of the robotic arm have provided combined platforms, segmented platforms, inclined platforms, waterfall platforms and projection performance platforms for performances. According to Jindong High-tech, the largest robotic arm lifting platform currently used was used in the Long March Grand Theater project it completed, which provided the greatest possible variety of stage space for stage performances like a magician.

The robotic arm lifting platform consists of 2 sets of robotic arms, which are arranged side by side in the performance area in front of the stage. Each set of robotic arm lifting platform has 6 motion axes. The motion axes are equipped with position monitoring, and the motion of each axis is synthesized to ensure that the various postures and positions of the table are accurate. The table size is 12.5 m×12 m, the table body is a double-layer lifting table, and the total moving load is 120 t. The robotic arm table has been specially treated so that it can be used as both a stage surface and a projection surface, and there is no gap between the two robotic arm table surfaces, as shown in Figure 6.

3.2 Stage lighting creates a mysterious space for sports venues

In the Hangzhou Asian Games E-sports Center project, Zhejiang Dafeng’s lighting system design focused on performing arts effects. More than 190 stage effect lamps that can rotate and lift were installed on the top of the venue. Therefore, different light colors can be used to divide the auditorium areas during competitions to achieve clear and intuitive effects for easy management; at the same time, according to the different competition content, lights can be used to create corresponding spatial environments, highlight the competition scenes, create a mysterious and tense atmosphere, and enhance emotional communication with the audience.

This project uses 66 units of 0.5 t and 12 units of 2 t electric chain hoists, as well as multiple sets of arc trusses arranged along the trajectory of the roof structural beams, which can hang lamps, speakers, LED screens, scenery films, etc. according to actual needs. The flexible layout of the mechanical truss system and the large stroke of 22 m can meet the needs of different usage modes such as e-sports competitions and indoor sports events. See Figure 7.

4 Application of dynamic sculptures in cultural tourism projects

Due to the development of mechanical control technology and the widespread application of dynamic sculpture matrices, dynamic sculptures have become an indispensable landscape in cities and cultural tourism places.

4.1 Nianhuawan Smile Square Dynamic Sculpture

The dynamic sculpture of Nianhuawan Smiling Square, like a hibiscus emerging from the water, has become the highlight of the square. She hovers on the water and is charming, like 8 young girls, and like 8 graceful trees. According to Zhejiang Dafeng, the dynamic sculpture mechanical water surface is 18.38 m high above the water surface and 2.5 m deep below the water surface. It matches the garden landscape of the square to create a modern aesthetic and picturesque artistic conception, see Figure 8.

4.2 "Light of the Holy Fire" dynamic sculpture

The "Light of the Holy Fire" dynamic sculpture is shaped like a burning torch and incorporates the forms of natural elements such as light and shadow, flowers, and water droplets. It uses light and color as brushes and light and shadow to convey meaning. The abstract flame material is made of mirror stainless steel. During the day, it can reflect the blue sky, white clouds and surrounding trees, integrating it with the environment. At night, it can match the light and color to present a night scene mode.

According to Beite Shengdi, the total height of this dynamic sculpture is 12 m, the diameter of the base cylinder is 1 m, and the thickest diameter at breast height is 3.6 m. It is composed of 36 layers of structure and can carry out ever-changing dynamic combinations. Each level is equipped with a built-in LED light set. The staggered gaps between the layers when rotating are used to match the lighting effects, emphasizing change and movement, showing the beauty of the rhythm of the flame, making the sculpture itself full of spirituality, see Figure 9.

5 Conclusion

my country's stage machinery technology and equipment have made great progress, and are widely used in theaters, studios, cultural and sports tourism and other places, and are used in large-scale national performance activities, competitive venues, and smart leisure projects; the scale and volume of performing arts equipment are developing towards super large; at the same time, mechanical equipment, as the carrier of other performance equipment, can switch different scenes or sound effects according to different performance needs. The combined movement of stage machinery and other equipment such as LED screens, lighting, and even sound has become a new feature of the development of stage equipment; more and more performing arts equipment is participating in performances. The creativity of performance art is unlimited, and technology and art are deeply integrated, which puts forward higher requirements for the accuracy and safety of equipment. It is expected that relevant companies will carry forward the spirit of craftsmanship, continue to innovate, develop more advanced products, and create better projects.