Visiting the Nokia Theatre

July 1, 2008 at 2:52 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Tags: 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, AD Greenroom - Primetime Emmys, Add new tag, Architectural Digest, Art, Backstage, Design, Diamonds, Emmy Greenroom, Hearts On Fire, Los Angeles, Mark Boone, Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live, Pre-Construction

This year’s Primetime Emmy® Awards will be hosted at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live for the first time. The incredible new downtown Los Angeles complex sits adjacent to the Staples Center. Sleek and modern, the Nokia features state-of-the-art technology that I imagine could only add to the overall quality and performance of the first Emmys production at the new locale.

As I’d never been to the Nokia and certainly never backstage, we called for an on-site meeting to familiarize ourselves with the location and present my initial concepts to Emmy officials, production staff and our colleagues from Architectural Digest. I was led through a rear entrance and into the backstage door. What a rush to experience the expansive volume of space! The stage was virtually empty, save for heavy, giant black curtains lifted on all sides of the stage. I explained my design concept to the team with all of the plans, materials, finish samples and thumbnail sketches spread out directly on the stage floor. It was great to get spontaneous reactions from the team and then entertain more thoughtful dialogue regarding the realities of space and theatrical requirements.

We developed an overall size and height for the greenroom and discussed challenges of using certain materials—in this case my strong desire to mirror the walls in entirety from floor to ceiling. I thought it would enhance the “walking into a diamond” experience, add to the faceted architecture and create glamour and sparkle. However, the concerns were valid: how does a cameraman interview a celebrity without accidentally interviewing himself via reflection in the process?! My challenge was to somehow manipulate the material in such a way as to take away the negative properties while retaining the positive. It was time for some research.  More importantly, we scheduled a meeting in Boston with Hearts On Fire to discuss the room’s centerpiece: a truly one-of-a-kind diamond chandelier!

Here’s the team working at the Nokia Theatre: (Click to enlarge image.)