Imagination turns the BT Tower into the world’s largest lightsaber for Star Wars Blu-ray release
Paul Milligan, September 20, 2011
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London’s BT Tower was transformed into the world’s largest lightsaber for one night only by Imagination, to celebrate the Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Lighting specialists from Imagination created the effect that transformed the London landmark, which stands at 189 metres tall.
The BT Tower was turned into the world's largest lightsaber
Darth Vader about to settle his phone bill in own own inimitable way..
The stunt was to promote Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray release.
On Thursday 15 September, from inside the launch party at the top of the BT Tower, Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels (C-3PO in all six episodes) pressed the button that lit up the London skyline for one night only as the Tower morphed into Obi-wan Kenobi’s weapon of choice, projecting a giant ‘blue ray’ of light from the top.
At around 8.30pm lighting transformed the BT Tower into a lightsaber projecting the beam of light 600m in the air.
Jonny Milmer, senior lighting designer at Imagination said access to the roof was the biggest challenge for the five-person team: “We accessed the roof through a small hatch so we were restricted with the type of equipment we could use. We went to the limit of what we could do to maximize the effect. It proves that with a resourceful, imaginative team you can achieve anything.”
The lighting equipment weighed almost 2 tonnes, and was controlled remotely through an iPad 530 meters away on the roof of the Imagination building.
Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO in all six Star Wars films, said on the night: “London played such a huge part in all six Star Wars films, so it’s fitting that we’re all here today to transform the London skyline and send a message to galaxies far, far away.”
Other Celebrities who attended on the night included other Star Wars actors Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Warwick Davis (Ewok ‘Wicket’) and Jerome Blake (who has played six characters across the SW films).
Technical equipment used to achieve the effect
16 x Zap technology BigLite 4.5 lamps on the roof of BT Tower
24 x MBI flood lamps on the dish level of BT Tower
20 x VL3500 wash lamps on the roofs of the buildings on the lower ground
The light show was programmed using a grandMA2 lighting desk, which was controlled remotely through an iPad 530 meters away on the roof of the Imagination building
The equipment weighed almost 2 tonnes, with each fixture weighing 124 kilos.
Electricity was sourced from different levels of the BT Tower to power the 600 meter high lighting effect.
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