MANILA, PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 05, 2011: Imagine a skyscraper collapsing in front of your eyes, only to be rebuilt mere seconds later. Sounds impossible? Not with newly-launched 3D projection mapping firm Grupo Lumina and its newly acquired technology.
A first of its kind in the Philippines, Grupo Lumina introduces a projection science that can wrap and contour images, shows, or presentations onto any surface – and by any, it means bottles, cars, and even entire facades of buildings.
Tony Gloria (far right), Mart Miranda (second from right) with the Grupo Lumina team
The new company is a partnership between Optima Digital and Unitel Productions’ Tony Gloria and Video Sonic Corporate Communications’ Mart Miranda. Together, they brought the technology from Cologne, Germany to the Philippines. It has also started to turn heads in the Metro, especially after the much-hyped projection mapping during the opening of Kobe Bryant’s Take Every Advantage Tour 2011 in Manila a few weeks ago. “Even Kobe was impressed. ‘What the hell (is) this technology you have?’” Miranda quoted the basketball superstar.
Grupo Lumina was officially established in July. Despite its young age, clients have already expressed interest by inquiring about future projects. The response to the technology, said Miranda, has been “very, very positive.”
The video and graphics rendering and editing are done through the standard production computers and any projector can be used to display the final output. The magic happens through the Coolux Pandora’s Box, which literally maps the material onto the preferred surface, say for example, an inflatable exercise ball. “It is still design based. The technology is there to help you create it,” said Miranda.
The technology is relatively new in the region but is highly popular in western countries, particularly in Europe. Gloria, who initiated the partnership for Grupo Lumina, said that songstress Celine Dion has been using the machines during her concerts for years. Another remarkable use of this 3D mapping technology is Beyoncé’s live performance of “Run the World (Girls)” at the Battersea Power Station.
As of the moment, Grupo Lumina is the only company that offers 3D mapping technology, but they are aware of the competition that will eventually crop up. No worries for Miranda and Gloria though. “We always want to keep ourselves ahead. Not only one step, maybe even four steps ahead,” says Gloria.
