Capturing live performances at the O2 with AGITO

Capturing live performances at the O2 with AGITO

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Brie Clayton February 12, 2021

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2020 was a challenging year for the live performance industry, but two different gigs captured by camera mount specialists Cammotion at the O2 on AGITO bookend it superbly. They paint a fascinating picture of live life both before and during lockdown, as well as highlighting the versatility of the AGITO and how it helps performance's capture the moment in different ways.

The first took place at the end of October 2019 and saw the AGITO deployed at the last European date of Ariana Grande's Sweetener World Tour. Mixed with behind-the-scenes footage, the resulting concert film Excuse Me, I Love You was released to Grande's army of fans on Netflix in December 2020.

data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163717/Agito7_1200-1024x768.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2403598 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163717/Agito7_1200-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163717/Agito7_1200-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163717/Agito7_1200-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163717/Agito7_1200-624x468.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163717/Agito7_1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px />It's a high energy experience, featuring the sort of multimedia AV experience that only the very biggest touring productions can muster. Capturing the scale of the spectacle demands wide shots to be interleaved with the close-ups of the performers, and that is where the AGITO came in.

We used AGITO Trax for high wide-angle tracking shots right at the very, very top of the stadium, explains Matthew Gladstone, owner and operator at Cammotion. They'd built a scaffolding platform over the top two or three rows of seats, and we ran backwards and forwards on that for the whole show on around 15 meters of track.

data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163736/Agito5_1200-1024x768.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2403599 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163736/Agito5_1200-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163736/Agito5_1200-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163736/Agito5_1200-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163736/Agito5_1200-624x468.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163736/Agito5_1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px />Gladstone had taken delivery of the AGITO Tower just before the gig and used a combination of that with a Sony Venice, prime lens, and Shotover G1 gimbal. A fibre backline was used to transmit the video to the on-site OB truck.

It was a fairly simple job, but the pictures from that viewpoint looked stunning, especially when all the audience's LED rings were lit up as part of the show, says Gladstone. The big advantage we had was that the AGITO is modular and we could take it apart and reassemble it on the tracks, as getting to that location right at the top of the O2 was difficult.

data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163756/Agito3_1200-979x1024.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2403600 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163756/Agito3_1200-979x1024.jpg 979w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163756/Agito3_1200-287x300.jpg 287w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163756/Agito3_1200-768x803.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163756/Agito3_1200-624x653.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163756/Agito3_1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px />During lockdown at the O2 couldn't be more different, filming a socially distanced orchestra - Pete Tong, The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley to be exact - in the AGITO's Sports configuration for the Ibiza Classics O Come All Ye Ravers globally streamed event in December 2020.

This was filmed in the round' with Tong, Buckley, and the orchestra set up on the floor of the O2.

data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163809/Agito2_1200-1024x768.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2403601 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163809/Agito2_1200-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163809/Agito2_1200-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163809/Agito2_1200-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163809/Agito2_1200-624x468.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12163809/Agito2_1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px /> What they wanted was the ability to have a continuous shot going all the way around the orchestra, but because they were all socially distanced it had a radius of 17 or 18 meters, says Gladstone. Track would have been way too expensive and restrictive so we used the AGITO in its wheeled configuration and just drove over the cable ramps when we had to.

Shot wirelessly with the TOWER on an ARRI ALEXA Mini, the AGITO was chosen for its ability to circle the orchestra for the complete 90 minutes of the live stream, as well as maintain social distance while it was doing it.

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