A 58-year-old water tower in Quebec’s Eastern Townships received a makeover this week with the help of two projectors, a film director and a month of work.
Sébastien Croteau climbed onto the roof of the neighbouring building to set up the light display on Monday night. He only had 15 minutes until go-time.
“It’s creation, it’s technical and also it’s physical,” said Croteau with a chuckle.
“We have to wait [until] nightfall and be ready to project in 10 to 15 minutes, so I have to practise in my studio on a dummy projection.”
As the sun sets, starting at 6 p.m. and until 10 p.m. every night this week including Halloween, the top of the tower lights up bright orange as a projection of a smiling — or sometimes scowling — cartoon pumpkin gazes down on the suburbs of Sherbrooke.
“Even for me, it’s huge,” said Croteau.
“I had to combine the strength of two projectors to achieve it … to find a way to make a projection that was bright enough and contrast enough for people to see it from a far distance.”
Croteau, with the production company L’inconnu dans le noir, says these kinds of projects beautify municipalities with simple seasonal installations.
Although his background is in frame-by-frame film animation, for this project Croteau opted to have one solid graphic to ensure drivers on busy nearby intersections won’t be distracted.
When the clock strikes 8 p.m., the smiling, skeletal pumpkin changes into one with a menacing grin to thrill those with later bedtimes.
Croteau says he wants to make this kind of art more accessible.
“We work to create projects and technology that democratizes [projections] so it’s not too expensive for a little community,” said Croteau.
At bigger production companies, he says these sorts of projects can cost millions of dollars.
Éric Gauthier, a commercial development adviser with Entreprendre Sherbrooke, a business management consultant firm, called up Croteau to enlist his help with the project. He says the $4,000 invested in the project was worth it and was funded by local businesses and the city.
“It’s really an event that brings people together,” he said.
The results can be seen from Bourque Boulevard. He says it’s created a “big event” for the city.
“I think Halloween is the best way to just keep your childish spirit,” said Gauthier.
“We’re doing that obviously for the children, but, you know, some adults who [also] just love the Halloween thing.”
On Tuesday night he says he saw families driving to the tower to take selfies. He hopes to bring the project back for other holidays.
“We kind of have a little buzz right now,” said Croteau, who hopes to work on other projects for the city in the future.
“I went back yesterday just to be sure that the projections start at the right time and everything. And I was still amazed by the size.”
