b'Event management is a little like interior design, onlyThe average interior designer, for example, with much shorter lead-in times and far less permanence,wouldnt be expected to kit-out and then according to Orange Productions company founder Stu Robertson. And on a slightly larger scale.pack-down six to 10 spaces in seven days.The average interior designer, for example, wouldnthandcraftthepropsandbackdropsthatbringevent be expected to kit-out and then pack-down six to 10concepts to life.spaces in seven days, but thats a typical working week for Orange Productions. Based in a 900sqm warehouseWhenthemovieCharlieandtheChocolateFactory in Onehunga, the company employs 12 full-time staff,opened here, Orange Productions was asked to create who manage every event detail, from sound checks toandexecutetheconceptforthepremiere.They circling helicopters. selectedthesceneofeverykidsdreamsand,using Resene paint and colours on carved polystyrene and One of the companys most elaborate events to date wasMDF backdrops, recreated Willy Wonkas confectionery the opening of the Lumley Centre on Shortland Streetland, complete with a chocolate river, candy-cane trees inAuckland.Anoldourmillhadbeentransformedand marshmallow mushrooms. Final touches included into a modern, high-rise ofce tower and the developerroamingOompaLoompas,achocolatescentbeing wanted to throw a party to celebrate. On the night, fourpumped throughout the venue and the handing around differentbandsandanendlessstreamofperformersof actual outsized confectionery.entertained the 350 invited guests, on a series of stages. Gourmetfoodandwineowed.Outside,stuntmenOther lm events include the local premiere of Whale scaled the building, while helicopters hovered overheadRider. This saw the team create a massive underwater with spotlights and cameras lming images of the guests,backdroponceagainusingResenepaintsandan which were then vision-mixed live on site and played backincredible amount of artistic talent.on massive plasma screens around the venue. The companys warehouse is overowing with hundreds of Forimpact,though,hoveringchoppersandhi-techother props ready to create just about any event concept screens pale next to some of the props that have beenimaginable. Massive cacti, logs and trees sit across from a created from scratch by the team at Orange Productions.towering paua and authentic ranch backdrops.Including a carpenter, a scenic artist and prop designer,We try to come up with original concepts and all the and a former Disney and Warner Brothers animator, theyprops to go with them, before theyre needed, because 36 |'