Integrating Media and Light: Andreas Ohldieck’s Use of zactrack in Live Performances

May 28
2 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Production designer Andreas Ohldieck (Filament) chooses zactrack SMART for Astrid S’ live show in Oslo Spektrum arena.

Astrid S @ Oslo Spektrum: October 27, 2024, marked a special occasion for Norwegian singer-songwriter Astrid S and her fans. More than 10,000 people gathered at Oslo Spektrum Arena to celebrate her music, singing along to hits like "Hurts So Good," which has over 600 million streams on Spotify. Andreas Ohldieck, renowned for his innovative work in live entertainment and high-profile collaborations with artists like Alan Walker and Ary, led the production design for the show. SuperDiode AS supplied the zactrack system. Under the direction of creative director Jan Martin Svensson Vågen and zactrack specialist Marius Flatnes, the team successfully integrated a zactrack SMART system into the production.

Zactrack SMART supports videography during concert

Oslo Spektrum Arena has a seated capacity of approximately 10,000 and features an arena floor spanning about 5,000 square meters. For a solo artist performing in such a large space, finding effective ways to connect with the audience can be challenging. To address this, Andreas Ohldieck incorporated large live screens into the stage design, ensuring that even those seated in the back rows or upper levels could clearly see the performance.

“For Astrid S’ concert in Oslo Spektrum, we explored the full potential of zactrack to support a highly cinematic show concept,” explains Ohldieck. “A handheld camera operator captured live footage of the artist throughout the performance, which was projected on the LED screen in real time—blurring the lines between concert and music video.” To enable this dynamic visual experience, Ohldieck and Vågen (Diode) used the zactrack SMART system and 10 zactrack anchors, which were strategically positioned around the stage.

From Stage to Screen

To ensure the best on-screen visualisation possible, Ohldieck developed an innovative concept: “To achieve a clean, studio-like image on screen, we lit Astrid from 360 degrees, using only fixtures that actively tracked her position. Thanks to zactrack’s real-time tracking capabilities, we had precise control over angle, intensity, and shadows, without relying on fixed followspots or manual adjustments. This setup allowed the camera to move freely while the lighting remained perfectly in sync.”

With the increasing amount of medialisation of live concerts, videography in live entertainment is a trend that has come to stay. Innovative lighting concepts, such as this showcased at Astrid S’ concert in Oslo, will be key to enhancing the visual experience and boosting audience engagement. Automated tracking will serve as both the foundation and key tool in achieving this.

Details:

Production design – Filament v/ Andreas Ohldieck

Lighting design and operator – Filament v/ Håvard Sommernes

Content design – Drivwork v/ Joao Pereira

Production Manager - Thomas Melby

Stagemanager – System Tech Group v/Maja Eline Larsen

IMAG Producer – Erlend Jones

Laser – Diode AS v/ Jan Martin Svensson Vågen + Laserimage AB

Technical Supplier – Spectre + Diode AS v/ Jan Martin Vågen + Pixel

Carpenter and set-design production – Måneproduksjoner

SFX –Pyroteknikk v/ Gustaf Lindgren

Audio & backline – Sonic City