‘Vegas’ Deals Security Into America’s Living Rooms
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So production was moved to a giant sound stage in Los Angeles County. Chartier worked closely with production designer Peter Politanov to create facades based on Mandalay Bay, including a casino, a lounge/restaurant and a giant, futuristic surveillance control room, which is overlooked by Big Ed’s office and marked by floor-to-ceiling banks of DVRs and large-screen monitors.
Although the monitors in the control room seen on the show are real, they are fed images from another control room that serves as the brains of the operation, integrating electronic security with traditional TV production equipment. GE’s gear serves double duty as props on the set and behind the scenes to play back footage. For example, the 80 rack-mounted DVRs lining the fake, or “Hero,” control room are empty cases.
The installation, which was executed by GE Security’s own employees, includes 16 25x CyberDomes® permanently mounted over the casino set floor; four CyberDomes mounted on a mobile capture cart for location shooting away from the stages; a dozen other cameras; 30 DSR-2000E DVRs used to record and store data from the casino cameras; 32 MVC-14S 14-inch color monitors; 20 MVC-21S 21-inch color monitors; five 15-inch and five 18-inch LCD monitors; and six CBR-KB3/J remote keypads.
The Hero room also contains Pioneer plasma screens, while the actual control room includes fully operational VideoIQ™ and ClearCast™ systems. VideoIQ is an intelligent video system that recognizes people by how they behave as well as by shape and color.
While the show’s producers have reaped the benefits of GE Security’s equipment, GE has in turn seized the opportunity to try out new things in a controlled environment.
In addition to the aforementioned equipment, GE modules are linked together throughout the building to create a web that encompasses more than 38,000 feet of cabling in what is the largest video set ever assembled. Every camera coming back into the actual control room goes through a 256-point Knox Video Technologies routing switcher.
Equipment’s Ease of Use Makes It an In-Demand Attraction on the Set
As touched on earlier, there was much more than nepotism at work in the selection of the security equipment featured on “Las Vegas.” The gear’s capabilities and, in particular, simplicity of use, made it a slam-dunk.
The program is typically filmed about three weeks ahead of its airdate, with an eight-day production cycle. The security and control room portion of a given episode is the final stage because the footage to be used has to be accumulated during the previous shooting.
Product Managers Coach Writers About What Is and Is Not Possible
The relationship between the producers of “Las Vegas” and GE Security personnel has evolved into a true partnership. Although some creative license is to be expected, they work together closely to ensure the show is reasonably authentic and accurate.
“Obviously, it is a TV show, but we want it to
be as reality-based as possible,” says Chartier. “I would say we are fairly close to the real thing in terms of how the security devices and capabilities are depicted on the show. We are continually finding ways to use the equipment beyond its imagined functionality. I talk to GE engineers all the time and am always pushing the envelope.”
To that end, the show’s writers must especially have a good handle on the technology and keep up with all the latest developments.
“The writers get input from the GE crew so they know what they can write,” continues Chartier. “I sometimes laugh when I read the scripts because I can tell they were written with wording straight from the mouths of GE’s engineers. All the writers have to attend technical meetings.”
Nevertheless, seasoned security professionals are bound to have a field day nitpicking what is portrayed as factual in this fictional security world (see sidebar on page 74). With NBC having officially renewed the series for next season, Pinkert says GE is discussing what new offerings might be unveiled on the show down the line.
“We are looking at our new product introductions and what they might want to incorporate into the show’s second year,” he affirms. “We have been watching it with interest and continue to dialog with the writing and producing team in terms of the equipment’s capabilities.”
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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