Challenge America, a national initiative to provide support to returning wounded military members, launched its initiative with a musical gala on June 8, 2009 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Concert Hall. With the help ofCreative Video andmany others, the night was an astounding success.
“In 15 years of coming to The Kennedy Center events, including the Kennedy Center honors, this event was the best one hands down,” one viewer explained. The gala, which was hosted by initiative founders Amy Grant and Vince Gill, also included such country stars as Darius Rucker,Mac McAnally, and Alison Kraus. The stars treated viewers to a “music in the round” performance during which each songwriter took turns performing selected music while the others joined in as well. Creative Video used its Broadcast Pix SDI based switcher to capture the night. The four camera switch was projected in 16x9 aspect ratio onto a 13’5”x24’ screen using overlapping Eiki XT4 12,000 ANSI projectors. The 24,000 ANSI image was projected from a distance of more than 150 feet. Technical Director Matthew Eidemiller used the Broadcast Pix to combine four 16x9 SDI camera sources, animated lower third graphics, and video clips played off of its dual DDR’s, to create a truly visual appealing show. Even the performers were impressed with the way the show looked. One of the country stars went so far as to comment, “I looked behind me while sitting on stage and thought WOW, it looks awesome up here, I can only imagine how it looks out in the audience.” The four cameras were manned by Cameron Bartlett, Joe Brown, Eric Bugash and Sean Hovan. Kathi Overton spent the evening along side Eidemiller as the video engineer, shading each camera to give it the optimum light output. For more information on the Broadcast Pix switcher, and how it can help transform your next event, please call a Creative Video representative today at 703-891-2620.