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Super Show or Black Eye?
Never in the history of Super Bowl halftime shows has there ever been a more divisive show, judging by the number of tweets and FB posts. Hip hop music has that effect, usually dividing listeners along the lines of age and culture. Music aside, what did you think of the Super Bowl halftime show?
I'm very curious to know how all of the LED suits were controlled. Were they under wireless DMX control, pre-programmed, or randomly flashing? Same with the suits worn by the BEPs.
I'm also curious to know how many universes of DMX were used on the show. Was it close to the 37 universes used at the Beijing Olympics?
Anyone know who the designers, programmers, and directors were? I know Bruce Rogers of Tribe designed the set and Ricky Kirshner is the producer, which is why I tend to like what I saw (it's hard to separate friends from critical analysis of the technology).
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Thommy Hall on -
I did catch that the LED suits had black boxes on the front with colored buttons and I actually saw one of the performers pushing buttons to change colors. Great idea by the way !!
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Permalink Reply by Derek on -
I'd imaging Bobby Dickinson and his team at full flood designed the lighting. I know Dave Grill is one of the couple lighting directors. Not sure if any of BEPs design team, like marc Brickman was involved or not. Besides the few tech issues I think it looked great!
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Permalink Reply by Dan Mellitz on -
I found the show, other than what seemed to be serious sound mixing issues pretty boring. I am pretty sure the V in Love of the stage lights didn't work. The LEDs on the bodies was fun, but I wished if they wen't through all the trouble that they used them more than for 2 seconds of the show. They could have been way more creative with their human designs. The LEDS on the Black eyed peas seemed to flash randomly when they turned them on.
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Permalink Reply by Andrea "Sid" Curtis on -
I don't have any answers but I do have a question. Was there a cross-thread on a multi for the "V" or some other technical malfunction?
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Permalink Reply by Ford Sellers on
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From a Lighting standpoint...I thought it was Flippin' cool!!
Technical issues aside... One designer I know said "Not feeling the Love, as much as the lo\e"
It looked like the color of the suits (the white ones) was controlled by a box on their belts. My wife said she wants to copy that idea for her Oompa-Loompa's in the Middle School production that she's directing.
I am totally stoked at the way that designers in all priceranges are working with LEDs. Having a lightsource with that much visual impact, that can be powered by batteries, works at low voltage, and generates so little heat is allowing incredibly creative people to knock down the walls of what we previously thought was practically acheiveable.
To me, the "LED Revolution" (although it's been ongoin for at least 10 years) is as exciting as the "Moving Light Revolution" that preceded it.
The music?...I thought the GnR thing was pretty funny, and even moreso when my 14 year old daughter said, "Is that really Slash? I thought he was dead, or something." I kid you not.
Peace & Elbow Grease,
-Ford
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Permalink Reply by Richard Cadena on -
Slash is over 40 - might as well be dead to 14 year-olds. My daughter instantly recognized him, which caught me by surprise. How do they know?
I agree with your observations of the creative use of LEDs. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Ford Sellers said:From a Lighting standpoint...I thought it was Flippin' cool!!
Technical issues aside... One designer I know said "Not feeling the Love, as much as the lo\e"
It looked like the color of the suits (the white ones) was controlled by a box on their belts. My wife said she wants to copy that idea for her Oompa-Loompa's in the Middle School production that she's directing.
I am totally stoked at the way that designers in all priceranges are working with LEDs. Having a lightsource with that much visual impact, that can be powered by batteries, works at low voltage, and generates so little heat is allowing incredibly creative people to knock down the walls of what we previously thought was practically acheiveable.
To me, the "LED Revolution" (although it's been ongoin for at least 10 years) is as exciting as the "Moving Light Revolution" that preceded it.
The music?...I thought the GnR thing was pretty funny, and even moreso when my 14 year old daughter said, "Is that really Slash? I thought he was dead, or something." I kid you not.
Peace & Elbow Grease,
-Ford
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Permalink Reply by Keith Kankovsky on -
Richard Cadena said:I agree with your observations of the creative use of LEDs. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Ford Sellers said:I am totally stoked at the way that designers in all priceranges are working with LEDs. Having a lightsource with that much visual impact, that can be powered by batteries, works at low voltage, and generates so little heat is allowing incredibly creative people to knock down the walls of what we previously thought was practically acheiveable.
To me, the "LED Revolution" (although it's been ongoin for at least 10 years) is as exciting as the "Moving Light Revolution" that preceded it.
Yes. agreed. There is a great opportunity for LED enhanced scenery, costuming, and wireless control that is just around the bend- so to speak. I wasn't crazy about the music selection, but I guess my tastes are a little different than some. Nonetheless, the cool factor for future halftime shows is getting pushed each year- and for that I applaud!
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Permalink Reply by Dennis J Solomon on -
The Exploratorium in SF used wireless control of LED hats and armbands about 30 years ago - which coincided with the use of wireless LED 'Signs" on bus and other public transporation. There are about six firms which are integrating wireless DMX receivers and battery powered LED drivers. Most have user buttons as well.
Making the top talent a wireless DMX universe is a no-brainer with today's off-the-shelf devices.
At the Beijing Olympics, the flocks had low cost, headset receivers which broadcast commands.
There are multiple, practical, low cost strategies for pre-design global coordination of LEDs.
Dennis J. Solomon
LED Scientist - Jenny Holzer, LEDs at Lillehammer, Guggenheim, 1990-1996
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Permalink Reply by randy taylor on -
I do like the way they are pushing the design on the halftime shows. I really makes you appreciate what we do for a living.
Like the suits. If it was the same company whose electroluminescent strips were used on the suits in the new Tron, it was a company in Addison (Dallas) called Oryon Technologies.
I do have to sympathize with the issues of not all the stage getting hooked up and working correctly. I went through somewhat the same issue last month on the Orange Bowl halftime I designed with the Goo Goo Dolls. So many people trying to move out all the parts and pieces....and once the music starts no one can hear a thing.
Music wise, never been much of a fan of the BEP's, and this show didn't particularly change my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Cadena on
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I never liked any hip-hop until I was more or less forced to listen to it b/c my daughter listens all the time and I don't want to impose my tastes on her. Now there is some hip-hop that I think is very creative and pretty good. BEP has some good songs and some not-so-good. (Never thought I'd ever say that.)
randy taylor said:
I do like the way they are pushing the design on the halftime shows. I really makes you appreciate what we do for a living.
Like the suits. If it was the same company whose electroluminescent strips were used on the suits in the new Tron, it was a company in Addison (Dallas) called Oryon Technologies.
I do have to sympathize with the issues of not all the stage getting hooked up and working correctly. I went through somewhat the same issue last month on the Orange Bowl halftime I designed with the Goo Goo Dolls. So many people trying to move out all the parts and pieces....and once the music starts no one can hear a thing.
Music wise, never been much of a fan of the BEP's, and this show didn't particularly change my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Charlie Pike on -
I think the Black Eyed Pea's should stay in the studio. Seriously. I was so excited when Fergie's mic wasn't working on broadcast then sorely disappointed when they fixed it. They have to be the worst band live. And this goes on experience from their live shows. It should have been just Will.I.Am and Usher with Slash as a surprise. I would also like to thank Fergie for forever ruining "Sweet Child of Mine." Jesus coupon clipping Christ it was terrible. Usher was ehh, just like every one of his live performances. One thing was prevalent--autotune for everyone!
The mix was terrible. And you could hear the frantic fader jabs reminiscent of a teenage first time church sound technician during the broadcast. But I do think it definitely got better about halfway through it. It's hard to mix such a terrible live performance.
The lighting design was pretty awesome. I loved the animation wheel looking gobo effect starting in the middle of the stage then spreading out over the crowd as everyone got started. Loved the LED fixtures around the arena and the VL's were pretty cool. I think they should have used a 3-in-1 style LED fixture for the lights under the steps on the performance stages. Stuff like that annoys me to no end. The suits were cool but I think poorly executed. It was definitely user switched, no wireless used. You could see the performers (goddamn I am listening to the performance on another tab now and Fergie is just THE WORST) making the color changes. It would have been really cool if the suits were wireless video pixels. Maybe next year.
As for the V not working--bored. Shit happens. Aside from the BEP's being terrible and if that was the only problem then it was a lighting win. When they all were doing the running man it was cracking me up!
All in all, technically it looked good but last years was without question a better show. The design was cool and really well executed. I know if the BEP's came to audition at one of my shows, they probably wouldn't get through the first song without getting the boot.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Cherry on -
This show was no more than Tron meets auto tune .I predict Axel Rose sueing for butchering Gnr classic but I guess Slash had to play something everyone would know.The lighting was a joke really just flash and trash.Even with all the tech issues The black eyed pees prove ya can't polish a turd.Last year the Who Video stage was a very impressive thing to watch ,this year I was yelling more at the halftime show than the game LOL.I would sa 90% of the FB posts I saw were a big thumbs down
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