Green Hippo

DK Design creates explosive Lil Wayne world tour design

DK Design creates explosive Lil Wayne world tour design

Production designer Daunte Kenner, recently created an explosive show for Lil Wayne’s ‘I Am Music World Tour.’ A unique collaboration between Kenner and production manager Maceo Price – the brief was to achieve a concept never seen before in hip-hop.

Kenner explains: “We discussed conventional set styles but we agreed none were edgy enough. I proposed the idea of flying the entire five piece band - I thought a completely empty stage prior to Wayne’s appearance - would make for a dramatic intro. Maceo loved it, but still wanted to include a complementary basic static set.”

The finished product was five 8’x8’ risers with clear plexi bottoms flown by a computer controlled system with a stationary ground set to match. The dramatic moving design fabricated by BRS Rigging, incorporated intense flame effects that demanded an entirely grated stage – a rolling 60’ wide x 48’ long base stage. The set also features a pair of hydraulic lifts, one with 360° rotation supplied by Accurate Staging.

Kenner states: “Due to the mother grid supporting the set motors, the only air space for lighting was the stage perimeter and was designed appropriately. The rig consists of a downstage truss packed with Martin 2K washes, two 40’ long side trusses parallel to the stage featuring 16 ShowGuns, three 30’ tall vertically flown trusses upstage with a mixed arsenal of VL3000 spots and Mac 2K washes.

He continues: “Various other wash fixtures are scattered throughout the mother grid and beneath the set. There are plenty of Atomic strobes, and a combination of PixelLine 1044s, Color Blazes and PixelArcs outline the ground set, flying risers and to color the CO2 jet smoke.”

All the lighting is supplied by Performance Lighting Inc. and the video by Nocturn Productions. The video integrates with the set and lighting seamlessly. Four 13’x12’ panels flown upstage on motors fill the gaps between the vertical trusses and a video cube downstage. The 20mm V-lite system is bright, easy to assemble and an economical choice to display digital media as well as live shots from the show. The upstage panels display custom digital content, while the cube displays tight shots of Lil Wayne.

The show is programmed and controlled via the latest version Hippotizer media server. Kenner enthuses: “I’ve used several other media servers on past designs, but none are as robust, easy to teach and use as the Hippo. Green Hippo’s worldwide customer support is amazing! At the hint of any kind of software or hardware problems – I had 24 hour tech support options, as well as the support of Hippo UK and affiliates in the US that are willing to overnight a new unit to me at my request. And I can honestly say that I have not experienced this from any other servers!”

He continues: “When your production is compromised by a wrong choice of media server, and you experience upset clients that have paid a lot of money for your creative digital services and product selections – you tend use the best and ditch the rest!”

On the first leg of the tour the Hippo and was supplied by Nocturne and on the second leg by Dunaway Designs. Dunaway Designs specialises in the complexities of media servers and offers extensive management and 24 hour access to live tech support for on the road systems. Clients also have full access to a visualization studio (Digital Stage Chicago) where machines are ready to work with - any day of the week throughout the year.

Adam Dunaway states: “We started using Hippos on our own events back in the early v2 days. Mainly for corporate theater, where complete product understanding and knowledge of media server integration with video departments was key - considering the tremendous time constraints demanded from these types of events. By purchasing and owning our own Hippos, we learned the functionality and capability intricately - upgrading them to meet even more demanding needs. As word of mouth spread, designers such as Daunte sought us out for training, support and speciality touring racks for their shows.”

The constant movement of the flying risers is an audience delight. The effect is very tastefully used during the intro, tightly choreographed by Maceo Price – in which eerie sound-bites from the horror flick Saw 2 accompany the reveal of the cellist, descending onto a cloud of CO2 smoke lit with a single light from above – while playing to a background of video projected symphony orchestra. Each band member is introduced respectively to a UV saturated stage with accenting red LED lights and dramatic video content. The sequence ends with the DJ descending from the ceiling and Wayne popping up from a hydraulic lift downstage to the thunderous boom of Pyrotek’s stereo bomb tanks and multiple rolling fire balls. The show features many crowd pleasers and the large quantities of propane and CO2 add explosive eye candy to enigmatic show.

Kenner and Price collaborated to integrate a series of custom designed special effects. One recreates a gatling gun which acts as a flame thrower - shooting an explosive blaze of fire from the center of the stage. Lorenzo Cornacchia, Vice president of Pyrotek Special Effects Inc. explains: “You know this effect is a huge hit - as Wayne leaves the stage with a big smile on his face every night! I enjoy working with Daunte because he’s innovative and brings fresh ideas to the table.” Cornacchia was introduced to Kenner during the 2007 BET awards, where Cornacchia designed a barrage of custom flame effects, including a flaming mic stand for Lil Wayne’s performance.

Lighting director on the tour is Steve Beckenroot, lighting crew chief Mike ‘slim’ Howe and programmer Esteban Caracciolo. Lead rigger Gerald McDougal, rigging crew chief Steve Davidson and motion control programmer Richard Clarke. Video director is Nick Keiser, head carpenter Rodney ‘puff’ Camper and special FX shooters Gary Bishop and Tristan Ford. Content development by DK Production Design L.L.C.

DK Production Design L.L.C. is a Chicago based performance environment design company that frequently features the designs of creative designer Daunte Kenner.

www.DKdesign.us.com

Article written by Jane Monk

www.monkey.biz