Over 100 Robe moving lights including 40 x of the elegant new DL7S Profile “full
spectrum’ LED luminaires … joined the craziness and mayhem of the latest series of
“Professor Nicolai & Dr. Beckand’ a popular, hilarious mad science based TV quiz
show recorded in Aalsmeer studios in the Netherlands and broadcast on prime-time
Dutch national channel, RTL4.

The show was lit by Martin Beekhuizen of lighting and visual design practice Light-
H-Art, with lighting equipment supplied by Eventec, a company based at the studios
and a technical service provider for the majority of programmes created there. With
over 100 Robe fixtures in Eventec’s regular rental stock, shows will often feature
the brand’s moving lights!

Martin was asked to light the show by director Gerben van den Hoven – the two
have worked on previous projects – and again collaborated closely with set designer
Harrald Kassies.

The set was substantial and included several Heath-Robinson style machines and
props related to the games, all of which are vital to the visual identity of the
programme which involves a load of wacky experiments – cue bubbling beakers,
steaming test-tubes and frothing flasks – combined with quick-witted scientific
banter!

It was imperative that all these elements were well lit for the cameras to pull out
and accentuate all the detail … whilst also retaining the essential atmosphere in the
studio.

To keep these two requirements balanced, very precise lighting was needed and
this is why Martin chose the DL7Ss as the shutters gave him the flexibility to
concentrate light in specific areas creating plenty of depth for the cameras.

The DL7Ss – a fixture designed and built for theatre and television applications –
were dotted all over the studio rigged in the ceiling – and also used very effectively
to layer gobos and colour onto the set and floor.

It was his first time using DL7Ss which he had seen at PLASA last year, but it won’t
be the last! In fact, he was so pleased with the results that he immediately spec’d
them again for “Toppers’, a theatre show adapted for television playing there where
the fixtures provided key lighting for the orchestra for a special show in Amsterdam
Stadium Arena.

In addition to these, 36 x LEDWash 300s were utilized for general lighting and
highlighting the scenic “machinery’ of the Professor Nicolai set.

Sixty-four CycFX 8s dotted all over the lighting grid provided a favourite trick of
Martin’s for filling any potential holes in the low angled camera shots.

Martin, who has been involved in performance lighting all his life, starting with
school dramas and plays, first encountered Robe several years ago, but started
looking at the brand more closely about 4 years ago as he felt the product ranges
were really maturing and the quality and functionality was setting new standards of
excellence.