Red Bull X-FIGHTERS Madrid, Spain
Freestyle Motocross Competition - Live TV and Sporting Event
Location: Madrid, Spain
Customer: Last Lap SL
Fotos: Joerg Mitter for Red Bull Content Pool
Project Background:
Since 2009 I‘ve been the lighting designer and director of photography in charge of lighting design and media footage for the world’s largest and most popular freestyle motocross tour. The world’s best riders show off their daredevil tricks on the biggest, toughest tracks - blowing their fans away with incredible shows in ever new and spectacular places around the world. The top stars of the scene literally line up to take part. They’ve entertained hundreds of thousands of fans in massive bullrings in Mexico City in Mexico and the Spanish city of Madrid. Further events have taken place under the gaze of the sphinx in Egypt and even Red Square in Moscow has played host to this spectacle. Record audiences have also been seen in the Brazilian capital Brasilia as well as in the Eternal City, Rome.
Conceptual Challenges:
The main challenge when developing individual lighting concepts for these unique locations is doing justice to the athletes as well as creating an exciting and unforgettable experience for both live and home viewers. Alongside the efficient use of resources and their skilful deployment, it’s essential to have a feeling for each particular place and show to bring out the full rush of the sporting event. To achieve this I research the cultural and architectonic qualities of any given location in depth. It’s only then that the entire package can be transported to the athletes and the viewers.
Technical Challenges:
This project requires the development of 100% dazzle-free sports lighting, which also has to cater for the technical requirements of a high-end HD TV multi-camera workflow. This all takes place in environments distinguished either by sheer size, topographical constraints, or by their iconographic, cultural or political significance. To meet this challenge, I use the most cutting edge, brightest and efficient lighting equipment on the market and multi-purpose each instrument in such a way that it covers several bases within the given lighting design and production. The calculation and simulation of lighting levels within 3-D space becomes paramount here, essentially determining the design direction.
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