AGITO TRAX HAS BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE FOR ADELE’s ‘ONE NIGHT ONLY’ TV SPECIAL
AGITO TRAX HAS BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE FOR ADELE’s ‘ONE NIGHT ONLY’ TV SPECIAL
It’s been six years, but she’s taking the world by storm again starting with a very special performance – ADELE ‘One night only’, performed at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on October 24th and aired on CBS on Sunday, November 14th. This outstanding performance was captured in part by an AGITO Trax modular dolly system from John Perry in LA. Having the system right at the front of stage meant it was able to really show the emotion of the singer’s performances, captivating viewers for the entire two-hour CBS special. Being the first new material from the artist in a while, including three new songs from her album 30, It was important to have the right set-up in place to really enchant the audience and convey the magic of the evening on screen.
“This is the second time I’ve worked with Fulwell 73 Productions, the line producer and I have worked on numerous projects and awards shows over the years,” said Perry. “He knows I own three AGITOs, which have been a hit on many recent live shows. Due to the positive reputation of AGITO – along with our successful work history – he reached out to book AGITO for this show.”
Wrapped in secrecy, Adele ‘One night only’ at the iconic Griffiths Observatory in LA was sure to be a spectacular event. We are extremely proud that AGITO was the go to piece of kit to help produce the show for CBS. With Jeff Lee, Director of Education and Product Specialization at AbelCine, as AGITO technician and Dave Eastwood as AGITO pilot, camera and gimbal operator.
“Due to the inclement weather forecast in Los Angeles on the original concert date, we had a condensed schedule,” explained Lee. “That gave us Saturday for set up and rehearsal, with more rehearsal on Sunday and the performance that evening. This wasn’t an issue for the AGITO, as we’re able to set up quickly regardless of any scheduling pressure.”
To accommodate the special staging at the Griffith Observatory, a custom white curved track was built at the front apron. Allowing for seemingly invisible, precise, fluid movement around the entire front of the stage.
“Normally, the AGITO would use a tower, but with the placement of AGITO so close to the stage, we decided against using the tower so as not to obstruct the sightlines of the audience,” said Lee. “Since the camera crew, including Dave, had to be hidden from the other cameras, we utilized the mag-stop sensors so he could confidently navigate the entire length of the track even without ideal line of sight. He used the foot pedal controls so his hands were free to operate the gimbal, allowing him to focus on capturing the best angles of the performance without worrying about the specifics of the technology.”
“This is yet another example of how the AGITO can give directors another invaluable creative tool, that’s adaptability works brilliantly for live entertainment productions,” said Rob Drewett, CEO and Co-Founder of Motion Impossible
AGITO offers multiple configurations to suit your filming needs, it’s a swiss army knife for film-makers. When you add the Trax to the AGITO Core, your system becomes a remotely operated track dolly that is ideal for use in studios or venues where the safety of a pre-set path is required. The compact and low profile design means the camera becomes as invisible as possible in the environment.
