Following the success of the ESC 2012 in Baku, Studio Hamburg completed a further prestigious international project by building the stage for the MTV EMAs in Frankfurt am Main.
This extraordinary Project saw a collaboration of industry experts. The design, a mixture of circus atmosphere and the Moulin Rouge, was created by Wieder Design, the Company of the internationally renowned stage designer Florian Wieder. The concept was made reality by Studio Hamburg under the supervision of Uwe Schröder. Studio Hamburg was responsible for the stage construction and Dressing.
The stage concept was based on three round platforms and a greenroom. A catwalk connected the main stage with one of the side stages, allowing the musicians the opportunity to present themselves. On a further stage the award winners were announced. The presenters entered the stage through a large ornate golden frame filled with LED modules which created a mirror effect. On two of the purpose-built stage wagons the LED wall could be divided in the middle, allowing the presenters to appear. The winners walked from the greenroom along the catwalk to receive their prize on the award stage.
Studio Hamburg built the stage and the greenroom so they appeared to be enormous gears. This was achieved by a three dimensional indented plastic cladding along the sides and by painting incorporated into the shiny floor.
These decorative elements were also picked up in the ceiling of the hall. Prints along the trusses were given a patina effect and lighting in order to appear authentic.
Hanging form the ceiling was a further head-turner in the form of an oversized fabric light bulb, which also illuminated the room. Studio Hamburg created another eye-catcher in the greenroom, where they built a bar resembling a laboratory, which contained interactive elements and was equipped with bubbling and steaming test tubes.
Stage planning for the MTV EMAs started in August 2012 although the actual production of the stage in all its detail started just three weeks before the award ceremony. The tight scheduling was kept by 14 Workshops specialists from the décor, carpentry, metalwork and painting departments. As only three days were allowed for the assembly in Frankfurt, 26 employees worked day and night shifts.
- Client: MTV
- Commissioned with: Stage and set construction
- Time Frame: August bis November 2012
- Project Manager: Uwe Schröder