The Blog of Studio Fuse » The Music Center

Putting Baby Behind the Fence

Scott — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 01:06:25 +0000

It all started when we came across one of the last catless videos on the internet. It was a video about a technique called “ombro,” a pre-cinema method of animation that involves masking and revealing parts of an image with a “fence” to create the illusion of movement.

As a studio that’s known for its interactive print (at least in our minds), we immediately knew we’d use this technique for a project someday, even if it might be far off down the road.

As it happened, a few months after watching the video, we were gearing up to begin the Dance at The Music Center season brochure. To our delight, The Music Center wanted to try something different from the use of straight production photography—an approach they had used for the last few seasons. Ombro immediately sprang to mind as the perfect “something different.” What better way to express dance than through movement? Fortunately, The Music Center was as excited as we were about the prospect of an animated brochure.

Of course, the solution also had to work for cases where there would be no fence: ads, 3-sheets, postcards, etc. So we determined that we’d use a mix of moving dancers, and static dancers paired with moving type to be prepared for all scenarios.

Initially, we had simply planned to animate the word “moving” itself in a different way for each image. However, as we experimented, we realized the series of unfenced frames were like afterimages, or impressions. That led us to change “moving” to multiple adjectives describing the varied lasting impressions the viewer could be left with by experiencing the companies this season.

With the idea solidified, we worked out each page and built a digital demo to share them with The Music Center (You can still play with it here.) After a bit of back-and-forth involving changes to the color and a couple of new adjectives, the brochure was approved.

The only problem with a piece like this is, after working on it for so long, you begin to lose perspective; by the time it went to print, we weren’t sure if anyone would find it compelling. Thankfully, when it got into people’s hands, our fears were allayed. Indeed, the response was positive, and The Music Center saw an increase in subscriptions over last season. While we surely can’t take all of the credit, we’d like to think this novel delivery of dance captured some minds, and perhaps moved some people to hop over the fence and get closer to the stage. And for those who weren’t moved, well, here’s a cat video. @scottfuse

UPDATE: 9/18/13
We’re pleased to announce the brochure just garnered us a Gold Award in the Creativity 43rd Print & Packaging Awards!

A quick demo of the brochure.

A quick demonstration of the brochure, starring Aless’ hands.

Bolshoi’s Swan Lake at the Music Center

Jenn — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:38:25 +0000

The Bolshoi Ballet returns to the Music Center this week with their production of Swan Lake. This will be their first time on the Chandler stage since 2000.

Even if you’re not a bunhead or a balletphile, this is one to see. A familiar story yes, remounted time and time again and even Hollywood-ized in Black Swan, Yuri Grigorovich’s Swan Lake (revised from Marius Petipa’s choreography) is THE Swan Lake to see. The Bolshoi is unmatched in technical precision and performance quality and the sets and costumes are a testament to Russian elegance. Of course, I’d expect nothing less from a company with more than 200 years under their belt. @jennfuse

June 7–June 10
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets: $34–$125 | More Info

Thursday: June 7; 7:30 pm
Saturday: June 8; 7:30 pm
Friday: June 9; 2:00 pm
Saturday: June 9; 7:30 pm
Saturday: June 10; 2:00 pm

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets: $34–$125 | More Info

Anna Nikulina

“[Swan Lake is about] internal conflicts between ideal love, reality and the imperfections of human nature.”

–Sergei Filin, Bolshoi Ballet Artistic Director

  Photo by Damir Yusupov

  Maria Alexandrova as Odette. Photo by Damir Yusupov

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

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)