The Blog of Studio Fuse » Jessica

Do You Roller Derby?

Jessica — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 22:18:20 +0000

Last week, Jenn revealed her out-of-office alter ego and now it’s my turn to share. Four and a half years ago, I answered a Craigslist ad and showed up at a nondescript warehouse near downtown Los Angeles. Shady as this scene may seem, it was the beginning of my after-hours career as a member of the L.A. Derby Dolls. As a DIY endeavor, everyone has to pitch in and help the league function and I was able to lend my 9-to-5 talents to my 6-to-11-and-weekend hobby as the head of the Art Department. Over the course of two and a half years, I wrangled artists, sent files to print, soothed flustered department heads and massaged production schedules. I even managed to sneak in some of my own flyer art.

If you’d like to see actual real life roller derby, you’re in luck! Saturday, June 16, in an inter-league all-star event, the L.A. Ri-Ettes will take on the Rat City Roller Girls from Seattle, while on Sunday, June 17, our newest recruits get their turn on the track with a “Baby Doll Brawl”, featuring an exhibition Junior Derby Doll game during halftime. Get tickets here. @jes_fuse

Take a look at the flyers, and let me know what you think. >>

Tags: design flyer

Hello New Intern!

Jessica — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:09:25 +0000

While we were excited for our spring intern Melodie’s graduation, we were sad to say goodbye. With our 4-seater design pit back to being occupied by just Scott and I, we needed someone else to cut down our pun-to-person ratio. Fortunately for us, Grace will be starting as our summer intern next week. She took a break from getting settled in her new apartment to pop in to the office for the grand tour and get to know us a little better.

Fun Facts about Grace:

She’s on loan to Studio Fuse from Ringling College of Art and Design

Her favorite character is the interrobang‽ Yes!

This summer she hopes to get involved in the LA music scene.

She sports a button on her back pack that claims “I <3 FUN".

So do we, Grace. Here’s to a fun summer full of awesome work. @jes_fuse

Sparking our Creativity

Jessica — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:48:31 +0000

Do you ever feel that, some days, you just want to set everything on fire? I know! Me too! Fortunately for me, LA Opera was able to help me out and provide an outlet for my pyromaniacal tendencies.

While brainstorming the look for the fire-themed Opening Night gala, we knew we had to reference fire without getting too literal. We hit upon the idea of using the by-product of fire to create the event title and although we couldn’t get an invitation made out of smoke to work, what came out of that idea was, we think, even better.

With a direction in mind, I took the implements of destruction (a borrowed pink Bic lighter, a pad of white plain paper and a hose in case of emergency) and headed outside so as to not burn down our lovely new office.

Things that were learned during this experiment:

While you think alcohol would be flammable, it turns out that painting with 8 year old rubbing alcohol and trying to light it on fire only leads to a wet, blotchy piece of paper.

Despite our name, nobody at Studio Fuse carries a lighter. Our friendly neighborhood spa, Cote d’Azur, on the other hand, needs something to light all those aromatherapy candles and were happy to help us set things on fire.

Blowing gently helps the embers singe the paper better. Blowing a little harder makes for a full on conflagration.

Having access to an outdoor water source is good. Wearing close-toed shoes is better.

The results turned into an excellent starting point for an idea that we’re really proud of. The final version is still smoldering on our server, but we’ll be sure to update once the final invitation is hot off the presses. @jes_fuse

Note: Forgive us for the puns… but sometimes you’re just on fire.

Blowing gently helps the embers singe the paper better. Blowing a little harder makes for a full on conflagration.

Ballet Preljocaj Performs Snow White

Jessica — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:58:39 +0000

Full disclosure: I am not the dance lady at Studio Fuse. My brief flirtation with the dancy arts ended in the mid-90s, while Jenn continues to work tirelessly on her grand battements, both taking and teaching classes. Although I’ve long since traded in my tap shoes for roller skates, I appreciate athleticism, striking visuals and a good story. Fortunately for me (and you!), starting Friday, March 23, Ballet Preljocaj’s Snow White will be providing all three.

Drawing inspiration from the darker Brothers Grimm tale rather than the more modern, animated feature we’ve all come to know, Ballet Preljocaj’s Snow White can’t really fall into the typical “fairytale ballet” category of Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake or The Nutcracker. This more adult version of the story features costume design by Jean Paul Gautilier. If you are unfamiliar with the designer, I have three words for you: Madonna cone bra. The set design is minimalist but functional and surfaces are incorporated into the choreography, including a mine wall that spans the height of the proscenium. Rappelling equipment is involved and it is amazing. And at all times, even while suspended parallel to the stage, the dancers seem to always be in fluid, energetic motion. The endurance and control it must require to preform even one act of this ballet is pretty mind-bending.

Ballet Preljocaj, led by choreographer and artistic director Angelin Preljocaj performs the 2008 ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center March 23–25. @jes_fuse

Céline Galli and Lorena O’Neill; ©JC Carbonne

Fabrizio Clemente and Virginie Caussin; ©JC Carbonne

March 23–March 25
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets $28–$110 | More info

  Behind the scenes of Snow White

  Behind the scenes of the development of Snow White

“I wanted to do something completely different, write something very concrete and offer something magical…”

–Angelin Preljocaj, (excerpted from an interview with Agnès Freschel)

“I wanted to do something completely different, write something very concrete and offer something magical and enchanted…because, like everyone else, I love stories.”

–Angelin Preljocaj, (excerpted from an interview with Agnès Freschel, March 2008)

“I wanted to do something completely different, write something very concrete and offer something magical and enchanted…because, like everyone else, I love stories.”

–Angelin Preljocaj, (excerpted from an interview with Agnès Freschel, March 2008)

LACMA’s 2012 Young Directors Night

Jessica — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:21:33 +0000

Studio Fuse has developed creative materials for LACMA Muse’s Young Directors Night since its inception. This coming Saturday, we’re looking forward to checking out the year’s crop of short films competing for the Art of Film Award.

The films, all under thirty minutes, span genres and touch on a wide variety of themes including death and love, illness and hope, and sushi and zombies.

At 7:30pm in the Bing Theater, watch all seven entries followed by a Q&A with the directors and the host committee. Drinks, music and the announcement of the 2012 Art of Film award will take place starting at 10pm in the lobby of 5900 Wilshire.

Come show these up-and-coming L.A.-local directors some love. @jes_fuse

Young Directors Night 2012 Program

A Sushi Story
directed by Mike Blaney

Contra El Mar/Against The Sea
directed by Richard Parkin

 In Captivity
directed by Michael Koerbel

Snow
directed by Isaac Ergas

The Last Rites
directed by Namina Forna

 Thembi’s Diary
directed by Jisoo Kim

To Rest In Peace
directed by Fawaz Al-Matrouk

 In Captivity

Saturday, March 10,
at LACMA’s Bing Theater

Update: Event has sold out!

 To Rest In Peace

“This story shaped my view of human dignity, and I feel so fortunate now to be able to share it with the world.

—To Rest In Peace Director Fawaz Al-Matrouk