Hippotizers at the Academy Awards

16 April 2009

USA - Hippotizer media servers delivered a variety of visual effects for the 81st Academy Awards Show, broadcast in February. The Hippotizer content delivery system was specified by designer Bob Dickinson and media programmer Jason Rudolph. VER supported the application, with Matt Waters as lead engineer.

Three active Hippotizer HD units were used within a networked system. One Hippotizer HD was used for pixel-mapping 1,036 Color Kinetics iColor Cove LED strips embedded in the stage floor. Alternating sunburst and other patterns created stunning effects for overhead shots. Two additional Hippotizer HDs drove hundreds of 1m length Element Labs Versa Tubes, which were used in every set-piece of the show and around the venue; mounted on the projection screen surrounds, orchestra band carts, audience handrails and the 'chandeliers' which were a striking visual feature of the show.

"Hippotizer HD's playback simultaneously produces enough layers to separate the multiple visual elements required for the array of Versa Tubes," says Jason Rudolph. "The Hippotizer was right for the job and I've always had great support from VER, Green Hippo, and Hippotizer distributor TMB."

(Jim Evans)