The Australian technical and event production company Harry the Hirer Productions used 80 Robe iFORTE moving lights at a Telstra leadership conference held in the Grand Pavilion at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
The scope of a dynamic and flexible production lighting design included illuminating a large plenary area accommodating approximately 3,000 people, which transformed into a cocktail space with live music during the evening session, along with a lounge, mingling, and networking area in the other half of the space, as well as some outdoor areas.
The iFORTE fixtures were installed on 11 main trusses inside the Grand Pavilion and were used to light both main areas as part of a lighting scheme created by Oliver Pool. The luminaires are part of a recent investment by Harry the Hirer Productions and will move between their Melbourne headquarters and two other branches in Sydney and Brisbane as needed.
For this Telstra event, the iFORTE fixtures were distributed along the main trusses in both spaces and used for general lighting as well as key lighting for presenters during the day and performers at night, in addition to projecting gobos onto the roof skins and creating atmosphere in the lounge areas, demonstrating their versatility.
Brad Johnson served as Harry the Hirer’s production and site manager, responsible for coordinating more than 100 technicians and overseeing the technical departments —lighting, video, audio, and rigging/staging—. He ensured everything ran smoothly and on schedule, achieving, through strong teamwork, a successful event that met expectations.
The lighting designer Oliver Pool —also senior technician on this event— was excited to use iFORTE for the first time in one of his designs.
The fixtures are very versatile and powerful, they can be used for almost anything, perfect for this type of event. They also integrate well with much of our existing inventory, both from Robe and other brands.
These were the reasons why Harry the Hirer Productions decided to invest in this Robe luminaire.
Oliver needed the power of the iFORTE fixtures for this event, both to cover long distances and because, being close to summer, the conditions were effectively daylight. In addition, as the event was broadcast, it was essential that everything looked good on camera.
iFORTE provided a wide range of possibilities, from full stage coverage to facial lighting and additional ambient light across the venue, as the goal was to create a complete experience for attendees, not just focus on the stage.
When Oliver began working on the design two months before the event, he already knew he would have the iFORTE fixtures available, so he used them as the foundation of a creative, dynamic, and practical approach. He was particularly impressed with the zoom and beam capabilities of the iFORTE fixtures, which cut through daylight and haze to project gobos and textures onto the tented roof covering the space.
He has been a regular user of Robe products since early in his career, when he worked with classic fixtures such as the ColorSpot and ColorWash 1200, which helped establish the brand globally.
Since joining Harry the Hirer Productions four and a half years ago, he has further expanded his experience with the Robe range: “They are reliable and consistent fixtures, you always know what to expect, which is a great advantage”.
The Telstra event required a hybrid approach to lighting the different areas. Oliver also maximized the effects and speed of 40 MegaPointe units installed on the main room trusses, using them alongside the iFORTE fixtures and highlighting their strong compatibility.
He enjoyed lighting Phonehenge, a series of large scenic monoliths arranged in a circle at the center of the lounge and meeting area. Thanks to the zoom and shutters of the iFORTE fixtures, he was able to light these elements precisely from perimeter trusses, with throw distances ranging from 5 to 40 meters: “Being able to balance and complement the lighting on all sides using a single type of fixture was fantastic”.
The lighting was operated by regular freelancer Adam Leelasorn, also using iFORTE for the first time. He highlighted their output even when applying colors and two layers of gobos. He used them for spot lighting on stage as well as dynamic effects during the plenary session and fluid ceiling projections in Telstra’s corporate colors when the event shifted into party mode. He also noted their smooth integration with MegaPointe: “They are fast and provide smooth transitions between gobos and colors”.
Like Oliver, Adam has worked with Robe products for years, dating back to the 2500 E AT series early in his career. MegaPointe remains one of his favorite fixtures, particularly for its linear prism. He works on festivals and lighting programming, frequently using BMFL fixtures as well. He concludes: “It’s always a pleasure to work with Robe, the fixtures are solid, reliable, and offer great creative potential”.
From an overall project perspective, Brad noted that the iFORTE units performed well across multiple tasks:
They are lightweight, versatile, true all-round fixtures and ideal for much of our work in conventions, exhibitions, and events, as well as touring and concerts.
