The MTV Europe Music Awards was held in Glasgow SSE Hydro and XL Videos was the supplier of the LED screens and projection system.
This year’s theme was ‘time machine’ and the LED was featured as a backdrop of the main circular stage that was surrounded by a series of elegant, curved metal ribs to form a vortex style structure, inspired by the show’s theme.
A total of 170 square metres of XL’s ROE Visual MC-7T LED screen was used. A 16-metre wide by 11-metre high section was positioned at the back of the main stage supported by a custom-built Stageco structure which tilted it slightly backwards.
Upstage centre on the presentation stage was a surface of ROE Visual MC-18T Hybrid LED which opened to allow presenter and performer access, and about a metre behind this, a small circular surface of MC-7T. This 1-metre diameter screen “covered’ the gap and was lined up exactly to fit into the back gap of the vortex, providing a hip shrinking perspective effect.
By far the most challenging video component for XL to install were the 8 500 or so Barco FLX 24 pixel strings – comprising of individual pixels – which were fitted into the metal hoops encircling the vortex. This painstakingly detailed and protracted task had to be done using cherry pickers and very patient crew.
XL’s overall technical project manager Steve Ackein was in constant communication with Wieder Designs, Ogle Hog, set builders Hollandse Handen, Blackout who supplied rigging services, draping and soft goods and MTV’s production during the preceding weeks which helped everything run smoothly on site.
Oliver D’Haene (Oli) XL’s in-house CAD specialist was another vital link in the production chain. He integrated the assorted vendor technical drawings with XL’s, another important contributing factor to getting it right first time. His meticulous advance work makes things infinitely smoother on the day of the event.
