The 2017 MTV Video Music Awards continued the bombastic, daring and headline-grabbing traditions of the show with design work that played to each performer’s strengths
The 2017 Video Music Awards was our third VMA design and our sixth collaboration with the MTV Network. This was the largest number of live performances that the VMAs have ever had; featuring 13 acts spread across various stages and over 5.4 million viewers. Like the performance, the set was a massive design, featuring a stage with floor to ceiling scenery, 2500m of LED lighting, multiple stages and a triangular canopy hanging over the audience. Shown live from The LA Forum, Inglewood, California to an audience of millions, and featuring Miley Cyrus, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and P!nk, this was a big show in every sense.
The design developed from the concept of creating a transformative and intimate environment in the Forum. By using metallic and mirrored surfaces, the set reflects and multiplies the performers and audience to create a continual visual language throughout the room. The set was 60m at its widest and 15m high, creating a landscape that expanded the full length of the arena, connecting all levels from the very top down into the bottom of the arena bowl. The multi-levelled silver textured set echoed a folded origami mirrored and metallic landscape.
It wrapped a series of catwalks and stages, merging the audience and talent together at every turn. To have more live music acts during the show, we created a series of stages for performances. There were six stages in total: two large main stages, two smaller performer stages and two catwalk stage areas. Each stage had its own identity, with different backgrounds, videos, scenes, floor finishes and lighting formation. The landscape of the room was delineated with a total of over 2500m of neon looking LED lines that created colour, texture and animation through the room.
Credits
Show Director Alex Rudzinski Creative Director Lee Lodge Producer MTV – Bruce Gillmer / Den Of Thieves – Jesse Ignjatovic / Melanie Block Production Manager Gary Lanvy, Gary Hood Art Directors Matt Steinbrenner, Kristen Merlino Lighting Design Bob Barnhart Staging Supplier Show FX, All Access, Scenic Route