Staging and lighting have become increasingly integrated for the past few decades, producing dynamic stage designs. Throughout the entire live entertainment spectrum, from giant awards shows to regional theater, you will find stage designs that utilize lighting technology.
If you look at any major awards show (Tony, Academy Awards and Grammys) you can also expect to see a very large set that’s usually made up of high-definition video screens, some with embedded stage lighting fixtures. It is not unusual to see large-scale theatrical presentations and rock tours incorporate automated trusses that fly in and out, many times on angles, loaded with high intensity moving lights that define the setting for the next artist. Video projection media servers controlled by IR transmitters placed on the set, as well as costumes, can instantly map out the content and project it correctly onto a moving piece of scenery or an actor.
Since all of this is now possible due to the easier access and greater affordability of advanced technology, stage designers are finding more flexibility by integrating lighting and staging into a unified design.
Design revolution
Many houses of worship are already utilizing this design approach—or are in the early stages of doing so. Since most houses of worship already use video technology for IMAG and pre-recorded content, instead of hanging plain video screens above the worship area, it is much more interesting to embed the video screens within the structure of the worship space.
For church tech teams wanting to really bend the technology curve of their houses of worship, it’s time to try video mapping. You can use pieces of the staging as video surfaces from a front or rear projector. This can be easily accomplished through video software like QLab from Figure 53 or Isadora from Troikatronix. Using these tools, you can literally map out sections of the stage (within the light field of the projector) so that you can have pieces of your video play on different surfaces. With careful control of the stage lighting, this can be a powerful way to integrate video (lighting) and staging. Depending on the throw distance of where the projectors must be (usually on the balcony rail or front of the balcony), anything from a 5,000- to 8,000-lumen projector(s) should suffice. Anything more powerful will necessitate loud fans, which could be disturbing to the congregation.
You could also mount a larger projector in a soundproof booth. Sometimes it’s better to go with one very large projector with a wide lens than multiple smaller and less powerful projectors. We do this in the theatre all the time. My best advice is to speak with an expert consultant to find the best solution for your particular space. Remember, every house of worship is different… there is no one perfect solution.
More options and ideas for churches
If you have even more money, you could forego the projectors and use LED tiles or Flex LED on the surface of the set walls. This offers you much more intensity at a greater price. LED tiles are relatively expensive, but nothing beats the intensity.
You can also hang large LED screens made of interlocking tiles behind the staging area, allowing a expansive and vibrant video presence. I have seen very large (and extremely heavy) LED screens made out of tiles. With new OLED technology these tiles are much lighter, making the screen much easier and safer to hang. Unfortunately, it also makes it much more expensive.
Many Broadway and Las Vegas shows are now using Real-Time Video Mapping. Companies like CAST have developed software and hardware to actively map video in real-time on top of moving objects. CAST uses a system called BlackTrax. This will enable video to be tracked via the position of small IR transmitters and cameras. This technology allows video to be instantly mapped and updated onto moving set pieces--or even onto moving people.
Trusses and pipe to unite staging and lighting
Another technique to integrate lighting and staging is through movable trusses and pipes. The standard way of achieving this has been using actual triangular or box truss attached to motors that raise and lower the trusses. This allows the designer to lower the trusses so that they actually penetrate visually into the stage area, or raise them to use the trusses as high lighting positions. It is wise to use moving lights on any lighting position like this. A new product that Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) has introduced is the Prodigy FlyPipe. This is a lightweight automated pipe that remotely raises and lowers. Several churches I have consulted with use this product for their basic lighting positions. The automated motors allow the designer to fly the pipe in and out--safely.
Many churches also embed small stage lighting and LED fixtures within the staging area to add both functionality and eye-candy to the overall design experience. One low cost way to do this is to purchase some LED tape and place it behind a translucent material to have your set glow. You can change the color of the tape from your lighting console with the proper power supply and interface. A similar effect was created for this past year’s Academy Awards show. However, I am sure it cost a lot more than what I am suggesting. A word of caution: Spend the few extra dollars on high quality LED tape with high quality control and power electronics. That way, you will get smooth dimming and consistent color mixing. And don’t forget that cheap LEDs will create video flicker. This is not attractive on your IMAG monitors.
A closer look at LED
LED technology has allowed engineers and designers to create some effective devices that can totally transform a space and become set pieces in their own right. One of my favorites is a kinetic lighting system from TAIT that incorporates individual LED tube sconces that vertically fly in and out, creating an ever-changing moving ceiling. These were used to great effect by lighting designer Scott Holthaus on the 2018 Red Hot Chili Peppers tour. Now, if you do not have a rock tour budget, you can utilize the same idea with alternative hanging fixtures. It may not be as dynamic as 1,200 individual sconces and motors, but hanging fixtures within the stage design has been integrating lighting and staging for centuries.
For those on a very restrictive budget, even if you only change out your house lighting with color changing LED fixtures, you have the ability to transform your church’s architecture through the use of color. Coloring the architecture will allow you to dynamically match the color environment of the service. This is one of the simplest and least expensive--not to mention environmentally green ways--to integrate lighting and staging.
Finally, to design your worship service as an integrated lighting and stage design, you should consider engaging a designer who is not necessarily a lighting or set design specialist. Many of my colleagues and I were trained to be scenographers. These are stage designers who are thoroughly trained in lighting, scenery, projection and costume design. The good news is that some university stage design programs still teach scenography. Thinking holistically about an environment allows designers to easily imagine ways that lighting and staging can be creatively and tastefully integrated, and use the synergy of this integration to support and enhance the power of your services.
