Singapore marked the country’s 50th Anniversary – SG50 – with huge pride, as
flamboyant celebrations erupted all across the island, culminating in a special
National Day Parade (NDP) in the Padang, right in the heart of the city. The NDP
show was attended by the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan,
several international heads of state, politicians, dignitaries, a host of VIPs plus
60,000 members of the public. It was also broadcast live on national TV, beamed
across Asia and streamed locally to giant LED screens in several key locations
around Singapore.

Spectacular lighting for the energetic multi-media SG50 NDP show directed by Dick
Lee was designed by Javier Tan, and the equipment – including the 350 x Robe
BMFL Blades – delivered by Showtec Communications Pte Ltd., which recently
purchased over 700 BMFL fixtures.

The BMFL Blades were positioned on all four sides of the NDP venue, constructed
specially for the SG50 event, rigged on the top rail of trussing gantries towering
above the back of the four grandstands. They were used for all the key lighting of
performers spread out across the 120 x 90 metre performance space which was
covered in Teraplast.

The throw distance was between 60 and 80 metres around the show ground, and
that’s why Javier needed the most powerful profile fixture currently available – to
have a real impact!

A 360 degree LED screen hung above the top layer of seating circling the arena also
produced a massive amount of ambient light through which the BMFL Blades had to
cut, a task which they managed effortlessly.

“There was no other fixture available with the brightness or the versatility and
amount of features,’ he commented, adding that he was delighted with the results.

To ensure that SG50 NDP ran as close to perfect as possible, plenty of time was
factored into the set-up schedule.

The majority of the intense lighting programming took place in the six weeks
immediately before the show, and by the time the big day arrived on August 9th,
they were well prepared with six full rehearsals and a public preview under their
belts.

This also meant that the kit had to stay in place for two months, dealing with the
heat, humidity and frequent tropical storms prevailing throughout the region. The
BMFLs – covered in rain jackets whilst not in use – held up to all these
environmental factors extremely well.

“They remained reliable and stable,’ says Javier, adding that he will be happy to
use them again on future work.

The visual integration of lighting and video content required meticulous thought and
planning to produce the best results and the co-operation of both departments. “The
collaboration necessary between both disciplines was really creative and
rewarding,’ comments Javier.

He programed and ran the show on a grandMA2 console, working closely with his
associates Joyce Goh and Clement Cheong.

Javier has lit the annual NDP for the last two years, and for the previous three,
worked with LD Mac Chan who designed this year’s SEA Games Opening and Closing
ceremonies also using large quantities of BMFLs supplied by Showtec.