The latest series of “Take Me Out Mzanzi’ – aired on M-Net’s Mzanzi Magic network in
South Africa – was recorded over six weeks at Sasani Studios in
Johannesburg, featuring a lighting scheme designed by Rob Grobler, with equipment
supplied by rental specialist Gearhouse South Africa.

Produced by Rapid Blue, the show has a style book, and a specific look that has to be
followed explained Rob, who chose over 130 Robe fixtures to assist him in achieving
this task on the lighting side. The methodology by which the various creative
departments can arrive at these aesthetic conclusions is left entirely to the expertise
and imagination of the local production teams and professionals.

Beforehand, Rob received research material from Rapid Blue and watched numerous
YouTube videos of other editions before drawing up the lighting plot, which featured
Robe’s original DL range of LED moving lights, with 12 x DLS Profiles, 24 x DLX Spots
and 24 x DLF Washes.

These were joined by 14 x ColorSpot 700E ATs, 36 x Robe LEDForce LED PARs and 24
x Robe CityScape 48s.

The set was designed by Michael Gill and built for the show by Sets Drapes Screens
(SDS), from the Gearhouse Group of Companies, following the guidelines of UK
broadcaster ITV (Independent Television). The lighting was largely designed around
the set, and where possible, Rob and Michael made sure that the two visual elements
were harmonised and symbiotic.

The fixtures were positioned all over the trussing to give as much flexibility as
possible and make the lighting work for almost any challenge and from any position.

The 20 x DLX Spot and 10 x DLS Profile units lighting the panel members either
individually or as a group – depending on the state at the time – were grouped close
together … so much so that they had to be individually powered up to avoid bumping
into one another!

The DL series is a favourite of Rob’s, who has used them for a selection of different TV
shows over the last four years. “They are great fixtures for TV – they just work!’ he
states.

In his first DL experience back in 2013, the lights were straight off the container,
cross-loaded onto the lighting truck bound for “So You Think You Can Dance’when he
had no idea of what to expect.

“When you start understanding the colour mixing system and how differently the
lightsource works alongside the other fixture parameters … you start seeing how they
are perfect for these TV shows’.

Robert feels that Robe is currently pushing boundaries in terms of delivering cutting-
edge technology to the market. “They can certainly be proud of their products,’ he
confirms.

One of the challenges of lighting “Take Me Out Mzanzi’ is dealing with the camera
angles and the slightly idiosyncratic way in which it’s shot, especially when the host
starts moving in and around the 30-panel guests – with the cameras following him.

At this stage, Rob has to ensure the general light levels are correct as well as having
the flexibility to light each of the individual panel members who are over a large and
spread out area.

In addition to that, getting the light to where it was needed when obstructed by the
set also called for some thinking out of the box and, as a consequence, Rob has
already redesigned for the next season.

Rob has enjoyed working on the show. It has been different to other TV game shows
he’s worked on – the format is a single player introduced to 30 girls or boys, who
attempts to persuade them to keep their panel lights on, so they can choose one for a
potential date! It provides an entertaining mix of comedy, jeopardy, surprises and
possibly romance.

The show flow and operation was completely integrated. Once a panel member
decided they were not interested in the single person, they would buzz out, and that
one button push triggered several lighting and video effects/cues and sometimes also
audio triggers. A MIDI platform was used to make this work, linked to a piece of
custom software written especially for the game.

Rob used a grandMA2 console for control.