|
|
|||
|
The Disney Company called upon Design Partners for a highly specialized and creative lighting project and we fulfilled the work order to a “T”. Disney needed someone to light the grand re-opening of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland which coincided with the Disneyland premiere of the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.” One integral shot the producers needed was that of Johnny Depp and the other stars of the film riding through the refurbished Pirates attraction. As the Pirates attraction is what the industry calls a "dark ride", it fell to Design Partners lighting designer Lee Rose to come up with a plan to light it effectively. As always there was a catch, Disney did not want to change the "experience of our normal guests" of the newly refurbished Pirates attraction. Lee had to figure out a clever way to light the ride for taping the talent and then quickly removing the light for the next boatload of "guests".
Using some film and event production technology, Lee decided to use an internally illuminated 7' diameter helium balloons from Airstar to provide the overall ambience to the ride and to add some additional light to the darkest parts of the attraction. Lee floated the balloons up to the ceiling of the attraction and using light blue covers for the balloon Lee was able to simulate moonlight throughout the attraction. An additional balloon with an orange cover was used to add light level to the "burning city" scene in the attraction. By placing that balloon light on an effects generator, Lee was able to simulate the flames of the burning city. When a boatload of regular park guests went through the ride, a quick flip of a switch turned off the balloons and allowed the park guests the same experience the Disney Imagineers had intended.
Lee also used some new LED technology in the actual shooting boat. Using LitePanels © LED fixtures, Lee was able to light the talent in that boat unobtrusively. One small battery pack was all that was needed for the whole shoot schedule. Using the balloon lights also allowed for quick setup and strike time so that there would be minimal disturbance to the park operations.
|
|||
|
|
|||
