The folks at Omega Productions recently learned that satellite technology in South America and Mexico is far ahead of its US counterpart… and the magic number is four. Four pictures is the number of “simultaneous programs” the SKY Network is transmitting to homes all over the southern hemisphere. So when Televisa and SKY approached Paul Christensen and his wife Donna Christensen about shooting and uplinking a live music festival from the 65,000+ seat Texas Stadium in Irving, just outside Dallas, the project turned out to be anything but normal.
The special, titled Sin Fronteras, called for uplinking four different line cuts of a live concert featuring some of the biggest names in Latin music – Los Tigres del Norte, Banda El Recodo, Los Angeles de Charly, Mojado,Lupe Esparza and Priscila Y Sus Balas de Plata. Viewers who tuned in to watch the all-day festival of popular Fonovisa recording artists were able to use their remote controls to choose between eight camera angles featured on five picture feeds, including back backstage interviews… all this during the action on stage and between sets.
Since the home satellite industry in North America has yet to embrace the SKY technology known as multi-channel, Televisa sent one of their C-Band uplink trucks to Dallas for the show. However, the challenges posed by this innovative project were far from over. Due to the position of the SKY satellite which was located southeast and low in the sky over the Caribbean, the ideal parking spot for the uplink facility was more than 1000 feet from the video and audio trucks. maintaining the high quality necessary for a multi-channel satellite feed of twelve video and ten audio signals was accomplished with the assistance of Bexel Dallas through the use of fiber fiber-optic audio and video snakes. And the rest is history. Happy Networks. Happy Artists. Happy Home Viewers.
The concert, attended by a crowd of over 50,000, was the first large music show and celebration of Mexican Culture in the United States. It was of huge cultural impact for people of the Mexican community whether they reside in the US or other countries; but of special significance to Mexican Americans and those of Latin American descent, the event gave the message that music brings a community together. One of the groups, Los Tigres del Norte, which headlined the event, exemplifies the goal of bringing together the cultures of North and South America. Los Tigres has been around for 40 years, since 1969, and have the respect and admiration of the international public. Their songs are always on the Latin Billboard Charts, as they are also an institution in the marketplace. Their song, “Spirit of Hope,” has become a huge hit.
Miguel Rodriguez Mauri served as Executive Producer for SKY Network. Marco Flavio Cruz Produced and Directed for Televisa. Juan Lopez Hernandez was in charge of the large event project for Televisa, along with Antonino Munguia Gasque who was the Associate Producer. Mariana Cruz Padilla with Televisa, provided valuable assistance to the Producers as did Amado Rodriguez who assisted with arrangements for staging and sound.
Mireya Valero, Spanish Marketing, Inc., produced the live concert event in conjunction with Televisa, SKY, Fonovisa Records, and SFX Entertainment. SFX’s Gene Dibble provided assistance as did Carman Aguilera, General Manager of LA MEJOR – 104.9 FM Radio in Dallas, and Rosie Luna with Spanish Broadcasting. William Aguirre Ballesteros, Televisa’s Chief of Satellite Broadcasting, handled Satellite duties while Raul Gonzalez Biestro, Televisa’s Music Producer, directed the recording and mixing of the sound track. In addition, Gilbert Moreno, General Manager of Fonovisa Records, handled talent arrangements for the concert.
Omega brought in Mobile Production Services Unit 2, based in Columbus, OH, to handle the video chores, as well as Austin, Texas-based Reelsound Recording and Malcolm Harper, to mix and record the soundtrack. Omega’s crew consisted of Ruthel Flunder and Jan Sargent, both of whom handled talent and assisted Donna Christensen with crew support. Sel Warren, Omega’s project video engineer, handled technical duties, including the fiber optic feeds, as did MPS’s EIC, Mike Garner, and Dallas freelance engineer, Nick Javiland.
Dallas-based Audio Engineer Ron Ballentine served as A1, assisted by K. C. Hooks. David Daniel handled Video Tape Operations. Omega’s New Orleans-based Steadicam Operator and Director, Jerry Jacob, took care of Hand-Held Camera duties, as did Dallas-based Bruce Harmon. Don Warren, Omega’s Jib Operator, who is located in Jackson, MS, handled Jimmy Jib duties along with Dallas Jib Owner/Operator, Kenny Dezendorf. Omega also brought in Andrew Dean from Memphis, to shoot backstage action and interviews, which occurred during various performances on stage. Dean’s footage was switched live and added to the already existing four programs being sent to viewers at home. Rounding out the Omega crew on fixed camera were Dallas based Producer/Director Chris Brock, Omega’s Fixed Camera Operator, Steve Cobb, who hails from Anniston, AL, and Dallas-based Camera Operator, Jeff Cuales.
Sound reinforcement services for the concert were provided by Mike Pope’s Little Rock, AK stage and sound company, PM Productions. Generator power for the Satellite Facility was arranged for by Show Power, Dallas, and the company’s General Manager, Donnie Harris.
Special thanks go out to all who worked so hard to make this project such a success… especially the fine folks who always make our stay in Texas Stadium so pleasant – Bruce Hardy, Vice President of Texas Stadium Corporation, Susan Skaggs, Civic Affairs Director, Ron Underwood, Director of Operations, Glen Kimberlin, Assistant Director of Operations and Becky Elliott, Operations Administrative Assistant.
It took real teamwork and sacrifice to make this project happen! Thanks folks… from both of us.
