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This week in my series about eSports production values, I’m taking a look at the gom.tv Blizzard Cup.
The Blizzard Cup was a huge event—it was what I like to call a ”manicured” production—they had a huge budget and an extremely talented team. This is what it looks like to bring all of the elements of production to one single event: lighting design, set design, music, video, live camera direction, and stagecraft.
Because of the budget involved, I don’t expect us mere mortals to take much away from the scale and grandeur of this event. Instead, I want to focus on the attention to detail. I want to point out a few key things that most people probably saw but didn’t notice. The culmination of detail raises a production above the fray.
After running around the stage, seven things immediately stand out to me:
1. The huge LED backdrop
2. Intelligent lighting
3. Black Marley dance floor
4. Accent lighting everywhere
5. Every inch of the stage has set pieces
6. Subtle lighting
7. Giant Blizzard floor decal
Awesome floor:
I’ve talked about flooring before, and I honestly think it is one of the most underappreciated aspects of stagecraft. Dreamhack Winter had black carpet down, and by the end of the tournament, it just started looking a little blah. Marley floor is dance flooring that is easily rented, super easy to put down, and comes in black, white, and grey. It adds a nice sheen to your stage and, IMHO, is a nice bang for your buck.
Lighting designer and set painter:
If you are on the cheap, I would encourage everyone to hire a set painter (not a designer or carpenter) who has some design and carpentry skills. Then team that set painter up with a solid lighting designer. The combination of set painter and lighting designer will boost a production more than any other combination.
Best reveal evar!
I LOVE this player reveal. It is everything I love about big production stagecraft. Check out the video starting at 07:35 to watch me skweee like a girl as I watch it.
Two awesome, subtle details:
During the reveal and subsequent interviews, we see that the stage floor is actually two tiered; this is a great touch and allows the players to be ‟staged” for the reveal in a way that wouldn’t have been possible had they just been on the floor. Also, what I really loved was the caution tape. I know it is a silly thing to notice, but it is in line with my statement about details stacking on top of each other. No one will ever notice the caution tape, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see it. Small set dressing and stage design details go a long way.
Lighting:
In the video, I talk about three basic lighting setups. Here, they begin with red, heat-of-the-moment flashing lights prior to the reveal; then they transition into a more standard white, front lighting for the interviews; and finally, during the player transition, they shift the stage into a beautiful blue wash. Having moods or washes in lighting is an awesome way to really maximize the bang for your buck in a lighting system.
Design for your camera:
Something I don’t think anyone is doing but everyone should be doing: design your camera shots BEFORE you design your stage. In the video starting at 14:55, I discuss how Blizzard Cup did this.
Blizzard Cup had a huge budget, a huge crew, and lots of time—all things the average eSports event doesn’t have. However, if you break it down, Blizzard Cup is a layering of details and choreographed camera angles that focus on a detailed set that is wonderfully highlighted with both simple (red and blue washes) and complex (moving intelligent) lighting.
In my opinion, in terms of big budget eSports events for 2011, Blizzard Cup knocked it out of the park.
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GG,
Jason
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