29.11.2016 | Tom Kenny Uses Elation ACL 360 Matrix in Massive MTV EMA Set

The MTV Europe Music Awards delivered another spectacular production November 6th at the Ahoy Rotterdam Arena in The Netherlands, where Europe’s favorite artists were honored and a star-studded line up of today’s hottest acts performed on a massive stage lit by top lighting designer Tom Kenny.

This year Kenny had an immense and extremely artful set to light designed by Julio Himende. Included in the correspondingly large visual package was Elation Professional ACL 360 Matrix™ LED moving head panels, which Kenny employed throughout the show.

As music awards shows go they don’t get much bigger than the MTV Awards. Hosted by Bebe Rexha, this year’s list of performers was impressive and included top acts Bruno Mars, Green Day, Afrojack, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd and others.

The MTV EMA’s has set a uniquely high standard of production, performance and excitement, both for the large crowd in attendance and those watching from home. It is a show that Kenny has been a part of for the past four years and one that he clearly relishes. “I enjoy the creative team and acts that perform on the show each year,” he says. “The audiences are always electric so that adds a fourth layer to the whole shebang.”

“We had 24 ACL 360 Matrix lamps and we spread them around and behind some structures within the set,” he said, for example as scenic behind the elevator for Afrojack’s performance. “I used the highest tech lighting fixtures on the show and the ACL 360 Matrix fit this request with flying and spinning colors. I needed a very powerful fixture as a major backlight gag. The spinning / rotation with shapeshifting LED chases gave us a very futuristic look.”

The ACL 360 Matrix has seen steady work on music festivals, tours and special events since debuting as part of Elation’s ACL Series™ in 2015. Using 25 individual 15W RGBW LEDs and with a tight 4-degree beam from each lens, the fixture’s continuous 360-degree movement and individual pixel control make a variety of dynamic effects possible.

“I always try and use the latest products in varied ways on all my shows and Elation has been ahead of the game with these fixtures and the rest of their product line,” Kenny says, adding that for this year’s MTV EMAs some amazing effects were pixel mapped into the fixtures by programmers Alex Passmore and Jonathan Rouse.

The ACL 360 Matrix panels were supplied for the show by PRG. “The fabulous PRG crew visiting creatives also enjoyed the look and brightness of the fixtures,” Kenny concludes.

Photo: Getty Images