Miami-based lighting and creative director Yamil Charif, who heads up design company YC3, delivered a high impact stage production for Pitbull’s recent I Feel Good tour, using 100 Robe moving lights as the backbone of the rig. For the last four years, Charif has worked with the artist as lighting and video director. For this one, he was offered the chance to work on the full production design, together with a team whose collaborative effort embraced all technical disciplines plus associated areas such as wardrobe and choreography. The result was a superlative live performance experience in 32 cities across the U.S., and a tight logistical operation under Production Manager Victor Martinez.
LPS Production, the tour’s lighting, video and rigging vendor, had Robe fixtures in stock, which Charif was happy to use. “Robe have been at the top of their game for the last few years and produced a steady stream of good and reliable products,” he commented. He has worked frequently with Robe products, especially over the last five years, and knew how to maximize the 66 MegaPointes and 34 BMFL WashBeams in the rig.
The BMFL WashBeams were used for all the key lighting and specials, while the MegaPointes–positioned in the overhead rig and on the floor–provided multiple effects, creating all the big, bold exciting looks and scenes that helped pump the atmosphere around Pitbull’s energetic and dynamic performance, always ensuring he remained the central focus.
“As the main fixtures of the light show, MegaPointes were chosen for their multifunctionality and scope as a creative tool,” Charif confirmed. The overhead MegaPointes were alternated with strobes that were also used for wash lighting. The stark contrast between the two light sources added to the general depth and texture in a swirl of razzmatazz and rawness, all achieved with an expedient number of lights.
Keeping the rig clean, streamlined and with no unnecessary resources on it was at the core of his concept design. “The show has to look good and be as sustainable as possible in terms of power consumption and other factors like being straight-forward to build,” which was essential for an amphitheater tour with multiple back-to-backs.
The physical starting point for the stage design was Pitbull’s ‘landing platform’–a triangular shaped drums/percussion riser from where he also enters and leaves the stage–and directly in front of this is a set of custom transparent steps. He was assisted in the scenic design by stage architect Gustavo Perez from Argentina.
On the video front, Charif worked closely with Jose Antonio Bermudez and his crew from Kyo Productions, who created the content and mood boards, interpreting Charif’s overall show script and directions, with the two constantly exchanging ideas throughout as the final video elements evolved. The lighting and video programming team was led by Charif’s brother Elian Charif together with Tomas Villanueva, who are both based in Argentina.
Charif explained how he and Elian work really intuitively together during this phase of preparing a show, “It’s almost like he knows how I am thinking and he’s programming the atmosphere and vibe of the look or scene as I am thinking it!” Initially, they worked in Capture using MVR files from Vectorworks. The show files were then transferred to the touring consoles ready for production rehearsals at Wastco Center Miami in August 2021 where the process was finalized. Rafael Imitola joined the show programming operation toward the end of production rehearsals and Charif’s younger brother, Khalil, served as lighting operator on the road for the whole tour, taking over when Yamil had to jump out to deal with other ongoing projects.
The LPS lighting crew comprised Master Electrician Sam Deshauteurs; Lighting Techs Deniel Castañeda and Santiago Sharry; Video Director Carlos Rojas; Video Techs Julio Cesar, Alejandro Rojas and Eduardo Villanueva; Camera Operator Luis Rodriguez and Head Rigger Manny Garcia.
About YC3
Yamil is based in Miami, FL where he moved as a teenager. He was inspired along with his brothers by two generations of their family to become the third involved in the entertainment industry, their passion and inspiration for it driven by father Daniel Charif–who was also a production coordinator for this Pitbull tour. In 2014, he founded YC3 as a fresh and innovative design house, interested in integrating and delivering all visual aspects of show production and direction. He says he is happily dedicated to working hard, continuing the family legacy and realizing his dreams.
