There is an almost mystical power to idioms. Like some secret shared within a tightly knit circle of friends, these impossible-to-translate words and phrases endow a language with its distinct character – one that only those immersed in its culture can fully appreciate.
“Popevka,” is such a word in Slovenian. A form of music interwoven tightly around this nation’s folk traditions; its deepest meaning evaporates once it’s decoupled from its cultural roots. Crt Birsa can’t translate the power of Popevka into words, but he did a brilliant job conveying it in light recently when he lit a TV program of that name using his ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 and a PC Wing, despite having to balance time and deadline issues.
Broadcast on Slovenia’s RTV network, the 44th annual Popevka song contest featured performances by 11 entrants, each one of them lit in a way that reflected its unique style and personality. “This is a very big event in Slovenia with deep cultural significance,” said Birsa, who used over 100 lighting fixtures in his seven-universe show. “We were dedicated to conveying the full passion of every performance.”
Birsa’s task of reflecting the nuances of Popevka was complicated by scheduling difficulties. With the show’s start delayed because of COVID safety concerns, he came to the studio to complete programming the lighting design late, because of a pervious touring commitment. This experience gave him a new appreciation for the flexibility of his ChamSys MagicQ Software.
“I actually had to start by using my PC Wing at load in before going to the MQ80,” recalled Birsa. “This year was challenging logistically for our company, Blackout Lighting Design, because of COVID. So many shows that were schedule earlier in the year were moved back because of safety concerns. Popevka was in this group. I was already committed to a tour when this project started, so we had to get creative.”
Although Birsa had designed the show earlier in the year, by the time of Popevka’s load in, he had to rely on his team mate Klemen Krajnc to start the process of setting things up. Using a ChamSys PC Wing and Extra Wing, Krajnc began the project on a Sunday, while Birsa was out on tour, and took the show’s set up through Wednesday.
“I landed at the airport in the middle of Wednesday,” said Birsa. “Then Klemen sent me the half-done show file and went on another project, while I was on my way from the airport going straight into the TV studio. I have just finished a short tour with Luka Sulic and have joined the TV studio just after lunch break. I came there with my MQ80 + Extra wing that I had with me on the tour. So I have continued the rehearsal day and finished all the programming that Klemen started until Friday.”
On Saturday, the live broadcast went off without a hitch,” a tribute to the ChamSys features like MagicVis software,” according to Birsa. “All the pieces fit together,” he said. “It is great that the show can be shared on different platforms. I have made the patch and prepared the show on a MacBook, then Klemen has made half of the show on a PC wing and I have finished it on a MQ80. The speed at editing cues with ChamSys also made it easy for me to make adjustments. In this industry, our workflow is never predictable, so a tool with the flexibility of ChamSys is invaluable.”
Those watching Popevka on TV could never have imagine the logistical challenges involved in the lighting the show, given how smooth and effortless it looked. Working closely with his frequent collaborator set designer Greta Godnic, Birsa positioned his fixtures to accentuate the depth of the 3D set design, which was characterized by curved scenic pieces and mirrored backgrounds.
He described the process of lighting the program inside RTV Studio 1. “It always takes a nuanced approach to position fixtures in this studio,” he said. “So the first challenge is to build the set design very accurately. The hard part is over when the fixtures are set up correctly due to the position of the set design. Then the most daunting part was not to blind the musicians in the live orchestra on our stage. In a project such as this, the XYZ Positioning feature of the MQ80 comes in very handy, not only by allowing precise fixture placement, but in terms of the time savings.
“Tracking is also very important in a TV show,” continue Birsa. “Programming a tracking show is very fast and easy on the MQ80. This feature was a big help in allowing us to give each contestant the best possible design for their particular song.”
It is this deeply personal quality that gives each song in the contest the power to move. At the heart of that power is the spirit of Popevka, an idiom that may be difficult to translate, but is very easy to love, especially when immersed in such evocative light.
