MSA Visuals produced and directed the visuals for the west-end street dance show Blaze, directed by Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia!, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar). Previews start 11th March 2009, after a 2 week run at the Peacock / Sadlers Wells in Holborn, London UK, it goes off on a tour of Holland and the UK. More info on the official site.

The project involves camera-tracking breakers, projection mapping onto an extremely intricate set designed by Es Devlin (Kanye West, Pet Shop Boys, Lady Gaga) - and it's a touring show - and no one from the MSA Visuals team is touring with it - and some shows are one night stands - and the set is projected on by two projectors at very close distance with extremely short throws and huge amounts of lens distortion. So the challenge was not only to create content for the show, but also devise a solution which would enable a tourable and quick and easy setup to calibrate, and still provide us the power to map the fine detail we desire. All powered by custom software of course made with openFrameworks, including a custom media server mapping the 3D content in realtime, controllable from front of house over wifi as well as synced to Midi Time Code to be driven by the existing show control system - QLab.

Visuals created in collaboration with Robin McNicholas from flat-e with additional design and illustrations by Jane Laurie. Huge thanks to the amazing production crew, super talented breakers and dancers, all the other creatives, and special thanks to Theo Watson and François Wunschel.

Reviews

The Times - "The aptly named Mega Super Awesome Visuals Company eventually makes selective use of every available surface as a screen upon which to project a dazzling variety of digital graphics, from animated landscapes and pulsating lights to oozing liquid and raging flames."

The Guardian - "Es Devlin's clever set, constructed from piles of boxes, cupboards, TV screens and doors, gives the dancers plenty of levels to move on, and, better still, functions as a three-dimensional screen on which the lighting and video team can project their most astonishing effects. A B-boy trio performing against images of melting snow acquire a rare luminous purity; Lizzie Gough (also a finalist from So You Think You Can Dance) becomes a fiercely demonic figure, conjuring a kaleidoscopic storm of flashing light."

Financial Times - "Here is the most blissfully energetic, sassy, to- hell-with-everything-except-street-dance show. And it is superbly designed by Es Devlin ... Devlin has, tremendously, placed the action against a wall of grey, office-equipment- suppliers’ drawers and the occasional ice-box and a single bath. These serve as background, exits, launching pads for dance. There is stunning lighting by Patrick Woodroffe and Adam Bassett, and amazing video projections."

Too Much Flavour - "the projection effects were sensational at extending the effect of the routines. Although the back wall of the theatre was an odd construction made up of what appeared to be stacks of drawers when lit fully, come time for those projections and the wall burst to life with action. Memo Akten and Robin McNicholas did an amazing job at putting it to use. One of its best uses was a solo from Lizzie Gough controlling a projected ball of light with her choreography making it a visual treat to watch."

The Arts Desk - "This is a show blazing with talent and young exuberance, and it will rejuvenate you faster than a Red Bull. "

Ballet.co.uk - "van Laast has the showman’s touch and ‘Blaze’ is brilliantly designed by Es Devlin with a backdrop of cases, trunks, storage boxes and even a fridge, apparently piled on top of each other from floor to ceiling and cleverly concealing platforms, a trampoline, and the potential for pools of light and access points. It also provided texture for the brilliant video design by the appropriately-named Mega Super Awesome Visuals Company – there’s no point in hiding your light under a bushel when you’re this good!"

Visuals Team

• Mehmet Akten: Direction, design, animation, software
• Robin McNicholas ( @ flat-e): Design, animation
• Jane Laurie: Design, Illustration

(partly) made with openFrameworks.