Karate Combat is the world’s premier full-contact striking league which offers a unique blend of exciting live-action and full-contact Karate presented with immersive CGI environments. In partnership with Token 2049, Karate Combat 49 (KC49) debuted in Asia at Marina Bay, Singapore, broadcasting live to a vast global audience.
“Karate Combat 49 in Singapore marked a significant milestone for the league and the company as we expand our reach. After selling out shows across the U.S. and Middle East, this was our first time venturing into Asia, and we were excited to collaborate with a local production team to introduce our product to a new audience,” says producer Todd Ferrante.
Watch the full broadcast here:
“What sets Karate Combat apart from other fight leagues is our distinctive visual style. We use lighting to merge our virtual environment with the physical setting, achieving a seamless blend. When light flashes in the virtual world, the lighting on-set responds simultaneously. For instance, if the virtual sky is sunset pink, some audience members will also have that same pink hue cast on them,” continues Ferrante. “We also incorporate several lighting cues to create unique looks for fighter walkouts, which are a fan favorite.”
To make the ideal setup for their Asian debut, Karate Combat collaborated with Director of Photography Dániel Rácz, Lighting Director Attila Bilik ICLS, and Technical Director Boyd Yeo from Scuti 3. The venue was outfitted with 10 Orbiters, a variety of Fresnel and Projection Optics, and an impressive 47 SkyPanel S60-Cs, which were provided and installed by local rental house AVL Services.
Karate Combat setting up the Orbiters and SkyPanels before the event
“Tasked with creating a futuristic combination between live sports and virtual film production, we had to navigate the challenges to integrate the two worlds. On the one hand, we needed to build a tangible, physical set and on the other, an augmented-reality world with heavy VFX,” explains Rácz.
Upon receiving the set design, Rácz and Bilik recognized that a simple lighting setup would not be enough to achieve the intricate look of Karate Combat. “We were sure we needed to use LED lights for a smoother and more flexible control. All lights had to be controlled via DMX to synchronize well with the screens and live show elements,” says Rácz.
Get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the setup:
“Our plan was to start with ARRI SkyPanel S60-Cs, which I’ve used extensively in the past. We opted for CCT+RGB mode on all the lights to create a range of color shades that would harmonize well with the VFX-generated background. As we progressed, we realized we needed additional spot lamps, which is where the ARRI Orbiter, Projection Optics, and Fresnel Lens came into play,” explains Bilik. “The Orbiter and its accessories greatly enhanced the show and offered us a whole lot of possibilities. I particularly liked its high color rendition and the ability to control focus on DMX. It really helped us think creatively.”
Desk operator Nickolas Ipsen controlling ARRI Lights via DMX
With the expertise of the Karate Combat team and top-notch tools from ARRI, the show was stunning, just as envisioned. “Such a complex and unique live broadcast relies on the meticulous work of many individuals and the use of trustworthy products because the possibility of error must be reduced to zero. That’s what we got from ARRI,” says Rácz.
“This was a live sport and fighting event where both the fighters and the audience had to be clearly visible and appealing on screen. Having previously used SkyPanels, and as a service provider for broadcast events, I would confidently recommend ARRI as key lighting,” adds Yeo.
ARRI brings extensive value propositions for live entertainment with innovative products and solutions that span imaging, lighting, and stabilization. The ARRI portfolio has been designed to cater to a wide range of live events, including concerts, sports, esports, fashion shows, corporate events, talk shows, game shows, houses of worship, and more. Visit arri.com/live-entertainment and discover how you can make your live productions stand out.
