Tue 17th Apr 2012 | News
Tupac Hologram: AV Concepts brings late rapper onto stage at Coachella.
WATCH OUT: BAD LANGUAGE AHEAD.
A high definition 3D projection of deceased rapper Tupac Shakur was shown on stage with Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre at the Coachella 2012 music festival. This was a life size video, shown from four angles 'singing' one of his more famous ditties.
AV Concepts is the company behind the production of this particular piece of the show. In an interview with MTV, AV Concepts president Nick Smith said that his company worked meticulously with the project's mastermind, Dr. Dre. Everything about the hologram, from its movements to its clothing, was "recreated under the direction of Dre and his team," according to MTV. The Tupac hologram "was [Dr. Dre's] idea from the very beginning and we worked with him and his camp to utilize the technology to make it come to life," Smith told MTV.
The tech in question used the Musion Eyeliner system, the 30′ x 13′ screen was customized by AV Concepts to descend onto the stage in mere seconds between sets of the performance to bring the infamous, deceased singer back to life. The most critical technical element was AV Concepts’ proprietary Liquid Scenic server that delivered uncompressed media for 3 stacked 1920 x 1080 images, delivering 54,000 lumens of incredibly clear projected imagery that was described as breathtaking by numerous media sources. AV Concepts provided consultative support to award-winning visual production house Digital Domain who delivered the life-like imagery that was critical to the success and impact of the performance.
Unfortunately the technology doesn't exist to improve Tupac's tonal range or use of the f-bombs. In the past, AV concepts has brought the Gorillaz present themselves on holographic splendour in a performance a few years ago at a Grammy Awards show, dueting with Madonna.
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