London, UK, 12 June 2013: Autoscript teleprompting systems and services were chosen to support broadcast coverage of the 2013 Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. Held at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, Tuesday 21 May through Saturday 25 May, the event was attended by 157,000 visitors and seen by millions on BBC Two television as well as online via BBC iPlayer.
“The Chelsea Flower Show is always a wonderful event to be a part of,” comments Charlotte Latham, Autoscript’s Head of Rentals. “Set-up and rehearsals commenced on the preceding Saturday, actual broadcasts being scheduled for transmission from 8 to 9 pm each evening of the entire five days. We had an operator and rigger on site throughout the production, moving around with the production crew and presenters, whatever the weather! Four Autoscript LED-8-TFT 8 inch on-camera units were supplied for portable use in and around the gardens. The LED-backlit panels are ideal for outdoor use due to their very high contrast and therefore ease of readability in all daylight situations.
“We were also asked to provide Anton Bauer Dionic HCX batteries in power-belt configuration for portable power in case required for some of the location shoots. For the on-site studio we provided three LED-15-TFT 15 inch on-camera units, plus an 8 inch TFT prompter mounted as a straight reader on a jib.”
Autoscript LED-15-TFT-Plus panels offer practically instant warm-up to full brightness, unlike cold cathode fluorescent tubes LCD panel backlights which take many minutes to reach full efficiency. Designed for use in news or studio based productions, the panels can be used with standard, wide-angle and extra-wide-angle hoods.
Like Autoscript’s studio size LED prompters, the compact LED-8-TFT has a built-in tally light, tally sensor input, an illuminated control panel for easy viewing, and a mount to incorporate accessories.
Established in 1862, the Chelsea Flower Show is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (www.rhs.org.uk), a charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. It is the most famous flower show in Britain, attracting visitors from many countries. The area of land devoted to show gardens increased steadily between 1970 and 2000. New plants are often launched at the show and the popularity of older varieties is revived.
Based in Twickenham near London’s Heathrow Airport, Autoscript’s hire division (www.autoscript.tv) offers a wide range of prompting systems including highly advanced lightweight flat-screen on-camera displays, wireless prompting, optical scroll controls with no potentiometer, and a unique dual-colour tally system. A full hire service is available for all types of studio, office, stage or outdoor teleprompter shoots, ranging from television shows and films to corporate productions, conferences and awards. Autoscript supplies all the equipment a client requires, a technician to set it up and an operator to input scripts, make changes, and control the speed of the words on the screen. Autoscript’s hire division maintains the UK’s largest team of teleprompter operators and riggers, plus a 24 hour booking and support line.