Tackling acoustical challenges

The museum’s 325-seat theater was created through the extension of the wood HarborWalk material from the public grandstand into the interior of the building. The remaining walls are glazed in clear glass, allowing visitors to enjoy harbor views behind the 51-foot stage. While visually appealing, such a unique space can present acoustical challenges. Since the new ICA had expanded its mission to offer performing arts and film genres, they envisioned the room to serve as both a movie theatre and a live stage for dance, music, and theatrical performances.

A collaborative approach to audio, video, and film presentation systems

As a nationally recognized installer of audio, video and film presentation systems, Boston Light & Sound (BL&S) was chosen to implement the consultants’ audiovisual design, as well as design-build a motion picture film projection system. BL&S worked closely with the design team, installing a sound system to produce the highest quality audio for both live sound reinforcement and Dolby Digital 5.1 Cinema Sound. The BL&S team also consulted with the new ICA’s production staff throughout the build process, to ensure that the systems met their specific needs. This project was particularly complex, involving multiple consulting firms working in harmony with building trades to deliver a complete system under an uncompromising deadline.

Innovative film and video systems

To accommodate the multi-use nature of the space, BL&S implemented several innovative systems. The main projection screen and masking panels can easily be retracted and hidden when not in use. For film and video screenings, the sound system can be quickly set up in full surround sound mode, and then converted back to a front-of-house PA system with stereo effects channels for live performances. The video system has a full complement of source decks, but can also accommodate “guest” video decks from production companies using the facility for a specific event. The system was also designed with ease of use, flexibility, and expandability in mind.

In addition, a remotely controlled video camera captures live video of the performances, and distributes it to various locations throughout the facility. This feature enables the staff to zoom into an area on the stage, frame that picture, and broadcast that image to the dressing rooms, alerting performers to their cues.

The ICA has been delighted with the results, and continues to seek out BL&S to support special events.

BL&S’s relationship with George Eastman House began in 1983 with their production called “A Night of 100 Stars.” Six leading ladies of the 1930s, including Myrna Loy, Louise Brooks, and Margaret Sullivan, were presented with the prestigious George Eastman Award. BL&S principal Chapin Cutler was the technical director and stage manager for the event. “Because of the archival nature of the film clips, we could not cut the prints,” states Cutler. “We had to install six projectors in order to produce their show. It all worked flawlessly.”

In 2005, the museum trustees hired Boston Light & Sound to develop a state-of-the-art archival showplace in the museum’s historic Dryden Theatre. The BL&S team consulted on the theatre renovation, building a museum projection system for showcasing all formats of motion pictures, standard and high-definition video, analog, and digital audio for the current, classic, and silent motion picture exhibition.

In 2007, the upgrade began. New state of the art convertible Kinoton FP 38 projectors were installed to replace aging 16mm projectors. Additionally, BL&S integrated a new film sound system into the facility in anticipation of a future upgrade to 70mm. The facility will now be able to handle old silver tracks up to state of the art cyan tracks as well as Dolby Digital. Looking forward, the process will continue with a total architectural revamp of the facility as well as high definition video.

When the full renovation is complete, the Dryden Theatre will reopen with state-of-the-art electronic 16/35/70mm projection, which is also capable of running nitrate film and variable speed silent classics-and it will have a high-powered 6.1 Dolby Digital surround EX sound system of unsurpassed quality.

team installed a museum projection system incorporating a hard disk playback device as well as inputs for RGBHV, component, s-video, composite, and computer. All sources are played back on a Digital Projection Highlight 5000gv projector located in the projection booth. The team also interfaced Dolby AC-3 decoder and discrete inputs with the existing Dolby CP-panels in the booth and in the podium at the front of the theatre.

In addition, they installed an AMX system, programmed to automatically start the show using times that have been input by the theatre staff.

Each day, museum visitors watch the award-winning documentary produced by the extraordinary Charles Guggenheim*, Island of Hope, Island of Tears, a remarkable account of this passage to America. Told largely in the words of the extraordinary men, women, and children whose epic journey to America led them through the portals of Ellis Island, Island of Hope, Island of Tears shares a rich history of the hopes and dreams that helped to forge this country.

Further, BL&S designed and provided the equipment and technical services for the 2005 world premiere of Sony Picture Entertainment’s Hitch for one thousand patrons in a tent on Ellis Island — a notable coda to BL&S’s original work on the island more than twenty years ago.

*BL&S and Guggenheim Productions have worked together on many projects, including the Johnstown Flood Museum, the D-Day Museum, and the Norton Simon Museum.