In this video from England’s National Theatre, they explore the staging of Lucy Prebble’s critically acclaimed play The Effect, a bold new production directed by Jamie Lloyd. Scenic Designer Soutra Gilmour and Production Manager Heather Doole, along with Prebble’s take us through the reconfiguration of the space to create the unique stage space.
U2 surprised Las Vegas Fremont Street visitors on Saturday night with a pop-up concert performance including their new song “Atomic City”. According to Rolling Stone, the performance served as a music video shoot as well. This isn’t the first time U2 used Fremont Street for a video backdrop, back in 1987 they filmed “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” on the famous street. For this weekend’s impromptu concert, in front of the Plaza Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, the band performed on a flatbed truck stage which was provided by AG Productions Services with the audio handled by LMG Touring. U2 starts their residency, ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’, at the brand new Sphere on Sept. 29.
Achieving an even canvas of haze can be daunting, but the fx specialists at Master FX offer some advice in one of their FX Forum videos. Vince and Ryan cover the essential steps, tips, and techniques to create the perfect haze effect.
Sadly, Jimmy Buffett died Friday at the age of 76. All of us at PLSN offer our condolences to the production teams, crews and industry friends of Buffett who worked with him throughout the years helping to share the joy his music brought to the world. We share this CBS Sunday Morning video with contributor Bill Flanagan offering an appreciation of the “Margaritaville” singer-songwriter, a friend for whom everything was an adventure, and whose positive life force was directed towards giving his music fans a two-hour vacation at every concert.
PRG was trusted by Live Nation to support NYC Pride’s Pride Island and seven-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera’s headlining performance. As production partner for the event, PRG provided audio, lighting, video, and rigging. Here some of the team behind the event talk about the design and realization of the successful event, including Aquilera’s Lighting Designer/Programmer Cat West and Pride Island’s Lighting Designer Teddy Sosna.
Here is a behind-the-scenes conversation with Burna Boy Lighting Designer Anthony Hazelden discussing the design and CHAUVET gear choices to realize that design. Hazelden takes us through the setup for the concert at New York’s Citi Field. Burna Boy is an Afrobeats artist and as the designer notes, “the stage is a circus theme, so we’re trying to keep the colors to really rich reds, a lot of whites, yellows, trying to keep it all very vibrant with everything we do, all meant to be nice and bright…” Plus, there is also a bonus video looking at Hazelden’s use of Chamsys for control, specifically the ChamSys Stadium series.
Here Lies Love is a revolutionary new musical from David Byrne, Fatboy Slim, and Alex Timbers. In a Broadway first, this tale is illuminated by the talents of an all-Filipino cast. PRG provided audio, video, scenic, and automation solutions for the show that shatters traditional theater boundaries. The Broadway Theatre has been transformed into an intimate, 360° immersive dance club. This PRG Behind the Scenes video with Co-Sound Designer Cody Spencer and Production Video Engineer Asher Robinson looks at some of the craft and innovation of the production.
The entertainment technology and production industry is absolutely a team effort and concert touring is a segment that exemplifies this night after night, city after city. So, it is always nice to hear about the numerous artists that take care of, and show appreciation for the efforts of, their entire production team and crew. That said, Taylor Swift this past week truly putting her money where her mouth is to say thank you to her entire touring team. She gave out unprecedented bonuses. Her Eras Tour, which just wrapped its North American leg, has not only been lucrative for the artist, and her touring ‘family’, but has recorded massive economic benefits to every city it has played, breaking hotel occupancy records and packing restaurants across the country. That is certainly nothing to shake it off.
As we mark the passing of Sinéad O’Connor, who died at the age of 56 on July 26, 2023, we share this video of the first live performance many of us in U.S. saw of the incredibly talented artist. She performed “Mandinka” on the 1989 Grammy Awards, where she was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her 1987 debut album, The Lion and the Cobra. Her performance won the audience over, though she lost the award to the iconic Tina Turner.
Two videos that look at the physically built world of Barbie Land for the movie. It is a wonderful example that built scenery and hand painted backdrops still have a place in filmmaking today. First HGTV sat down with Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer, who walk us through Barbie Land’s intricate sets, sharing the renderings and concepts behind the design choices that brought the iconic Barbie Dreamhouses, and more to life. Then in a video from Architectural Digest, actor Margot Robbie tours Barbie’s house noting the design details, while director Greta Gerwig and Greenwood discuss the design choices while showing the crew shooting on the sets.
Among the nominees for the 2023 Creative Arts Emmy Awards is NBC’s ‘Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love’ for Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special recognizing Production Designer Tamlyn Wright and Art Director Travis Deck. Here is a clip showing some of their work for this special evening.
On July 4, the Sphere came to life with a captivating display of dynamic, animated content on the venue’s exterior – the Exosphere – transforming the Las Vegas skyline. As part of a special show to celebrate the Fourth of July, for the first time ever, Sphere’s 580,000 square foot fully-programmable LED exterior – the largest LED screen on earth – was completely illuminated. The show started with a welcome – “Hello World” – and was followed by fireworks and stars and stripes animations, before transitioning through a wide array of visual content, from vibrant underwater scenes to performances to vividly-textured lunar surfaces, putting on full display the versatility of this unparalleled canvas. Here’s some video of the Exosphere in operation:
Read More »The Sphere in Las Vegas Illuminates Entire Exterior For The First Time