Joe GallopFor nearly two decades, LCI Productions has been a staple at Latitude Festival, where its water screen displays have become a popular element of Festival Republic’s 62,500-capacity event. As the use of these screens continues to grow in popularity, LCI design director Rob Paul sheds light on the evolving technology and the benefits it offers to live events, festivals and brand activations.
Alongside Latitude’s strong music and comedy lineup and its familiar flock of pink sheep, the water show has become a signature feature – drawing attendees’ attention as they cross the bridge at Henham Park with stunning visuals projected onto a curtain of water.
Rob Paul
Originally developed as a safety shield for firefighters, water screens have since been repurposed for dynamic visual displays. Using a Christie 20,000 lumen projector and MadMapper software, LCI’s installation shifts between abstract animations, kaleidoscope colour displays and powerful quotes using projection mapping techniques.
“It’s amazing how many people haven’t seen it or are amazed by this idea of having large images seeming to float on water,” says Paul. “You can easily get 5,000 people viewing this thing, and that’s quite rare for what is a relatively small footprint of technology.”
While Latitude has been a significant platform for LCI, the company’s expertise extends beyond the festival scene. Paul says these screens are increasingly being used for a variety of purposes, including brand and game launches, large-scale multimedia shows and winter light trails.
“We’re also using them within the new trend of light trails in the winter and also as a centrepiece of larger multimedia shows. The technology is incredibly versatile,” says Paul.
This versatility is one of the key reasons behind the growing popularity of water screens. Whether used as a standalone feature, as they are at Latitude, or as part of a more complex production involving lighting, lasers, and special effects, water screens offer organisers a dynamic medium that can be adapted to various settings.
The floating images, often 10 to 12 meters high, offer a striking contrast to other elements of an event. Paul highlights the impact this has on attendees: “It provides a bit of wonder because you’ve got these large images floating on water that might be important to you or convey a message. It’s just different from everything else you see at a festival.”
Beyond their visual appeal, water screens also offer environmental benefits as they allow for oxygen to get into the water, says Paul. Despite their benefits, water screens are not without challenges. Paul points out that the logistics of installing these systems can be complex, particularly in environments where water conditions or weather could affect performance.
“For example, at Latitude, we have to ensure the lake water is clear enough for the screen to run smoothly,” he says. “In other environments, like winter events, there’s a worry about the water freezing, though we’ve been pretty lucky so far. Coastal and river locations present their own issues, such as significant tides that move the screen, making it difficult to maintain alignment with the projection system.”
As water screen technology continues to evolve, Paul sees even greater potential for its use in live events. He says LCI is constantly refining its approach, improving image quality and integrating additional effects like fountains, lasers, flame effects and projection mapping.
Looking ahead, LCI is already working on new projects including IMG’s Windsor Great Park Illuminated, opening in November. “We should have a lot of new kit and techniques, as well as some new characters in that piece,” says Paul.