Bestsellery Empiku 2025 Gala
Date & Venue: February 24, 2026, Warsaw
Photography: Andrzej Skowroński / Muzyka i Technologia
Production
LIGHTUP
Lighting Designer: Artur Szyman
INTRODUCTION
Bestsellery Empiku 2025 is one of the key annual television productions in the Polish event calendar. This live, prime-time broadcast demands strict adherence to technical standards, particularly regarding on-camera performance. The primary objective of this year’s design was to seamlessly integrate high-brightness, large-format LED screens with the lighting system to achieve a visually rich and well-balanced broadcast frame.
The lighting design and execution for the gala were entrusted to Artur Szyman, who was tasked with ensuring exceptional light quality and optimal contrast during performances by artists such as Dawid Podsiadło, Kaśka Sochacka, Mrozu, Pezet, IGO, Zalia, and Piotr Rogucki.
Below, we present a detailed technical analysis of this production.
PROJECT BRIEF
Technical Specifications and Production Challenges.
Objectives and Operating Environment
The primary production objective was to create a precise, tonally balanced lighting design tailored for a multi-camera television broadcast. The enclosed stage layout—dominated by a large-format, high-intensity LED structure—presented the technical crew with rigorous optical demands. A critical design challenge was seamlessly integrating the lighting fixtures with the multimedia backdrop and eliminating any risk of underexposing the performers, all while maintaining deep contrast within the camera frame. The system had to guarantee flawless color consistency and operational stability while directly competing with the immense brightness of the LED walls.
THE CHALLENGE
- Broadcast Camera Dynamics: Unlike the human eye, television cameras respond differently to extreme contrast ratios between a high-brightness LED screen and the stage. To prevent blown-out highlights (clipping) or underexposing the performers, the lighting fixtures required exceptionally smooth low-end dimming curves and flawless color temperature consistency across all sources. Any spectral deviation in the white light or noticeable flickering would compromise strict broadcast image standards.
THE SOLUTION
Artur Szyman based the lighting design on Brighter Lighting’s X Series fixtures, creating a multi-layered system precisely integrated with the LED set design and fully optimized for camera performance.
Integration with Transparent LED (X-Dot Max)
The primary wash fixtures were installed directly behind the transparent sections of the LED video walls. In the initial phase, they functioned as a concealed light source, building depth of field and providing a background color wash. Once the screen was physically flown (lifted), the X-Dot Max IP transitioned into the main dynamic effect wash on stage, serving as a high-energy scenographic element in close proximity to the performers.
Framing and Visual Modeling (X-Profile IP)
To precisely separate the performers from the high-output LED backdrop without creating unwanted light spill on stage, the framing shutters of the profile moving heads were utilized. The X-Profile IP fixtures allowed for the surgical isolation of lighting zones, ensuring the correct contrast ratio required for the camera sensors.
Spatial Architecture (X-Beam IP)
To break up the flat plane of the LED screens, narrow, tight beams from the X-Beam IP fixtures were deployed. Thanks to their high intensity, these fixtures effortlessly cut through the ambient light generated by the LED walls, creating spatial axes and geometric structures in wide-angle shots.
Dynamics and High-Output Accents (X-Strobe IP)
The X-Strobe IP fixtures were responsible for dynamic climaxes, transitions, and musical accents during rock and hip-hop performances. Their massive output allowed them to instantly overpower the brightness of the entire stage during key arrangement cues that demanded an aggressive burst of light.
CONCLUSIONS
The successful execution of the Bestsellery Empiku 2025 gala confirmed that the X Series fixtures meet the stringent criteria required for advanced live TV productions.
Overcoming LED Luminance: The high output and optical efficiency of the entire rig successfully pierced the brightness barrier of large-format LED screens. The equipment proved its ability to maintain high contrast and clear background separation, even when the scenographic backdrop was operating at maximum output.
Flicker-Free Performance & Dimming: Adjustable PWM frequencies completely eliminated any fixture flicker in the camera lenses. Thanks to advanced 16-bit dimming circuitry and selectable dimming curves, the fixtures maintained a perfectly consistent color temperature across the entire dimming range.
Reliability under Live Broadcast Conditions: Zero technical failures or signal anomalies throughout hours of rehearsals and the live broadcast itself solidified the X Series’ status as a rock-solid, stable tool for the most demanding high-stakes productions.
