Eurovision

 Blog by Adrián Valiente (Spain) on December 29, 2016. esc-plus, MFCC Ta Qali.

This weekend, as everybody knows, the Malta Eurovision song contest was held. For me, the most important thing of The Eurovision is the voice, song and performance. It’s not about fashion, hair stylist or make up artist.
Another important thing for the viewer watching is the show. This consists of the stage, lighting, projection and obviously the singer.

As this semester we have a unit about stage design, my observation was enlightened while watching the Eurovision.

 Tvm site, Eurovision song contact 2017 MFCC Ta Qali

It appears that Malta is improving every year in the world of design. This year there were four thousand people that attended the Eurovision in the MFCC Ta Qali. Four thousand people for one show.  Quite a lot, especially for Malta, so the organisers had to keep the stage design aesthetically pleasing and use all the available space.

The shape of the stage was a diamond shape.  It created more connection with the audience… how? The diamond shaped stage has four flat sides, so the audience was placed on the left and the right sides of the stage. Because  of this the audience where really close to the singers, which created a better atmosphere. It even allowed for more audience space.

 Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

The back of the diamond shape had two triangular black screens for projection. Six long triangular strips where added to the design to help reflect the spot lights on the stage. 

Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

 Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

The singers and dancers were entering on stage from the middle. So I assumed the entrance was from behind the black screen to the middle of the stage.
Looking from the top view, I realised that there were two ramps on both sides of the stage. This was so that when the winner was called to join the presenters on stage to sing the winning song from the green room, entrance to the stage was via the ramps, also the other singers could join the winner.

Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina, MFCC Ta Qali, Eurovision song contest 2017.

Lights play an important role in the stage design industry. Lighting creates a certain atmosphere or mood. 

Every year there is something different in the Eurovision show. Because the technology is constantly changing they must keep up to date with this change to allow for a better performance.

Screenshots from Youtube, MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary), Mfcc Ta Qali,eurovisionfest, Published on Feb 18, 2017

These observations was made from looking at videos and from the watching the live performance on TV.   Therefore some things that were mentioned are my opinions from what I viewed.

Reference:

Eurovisionfest, 2017. MESC 2017 - Opening (30 year Anniversary). [video online] Available at: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i8Y6LbGZj8> [Accessed 19, February 2017].

Adrián Valiente (Spain) , esc-plus, 2016. Malta: PBS CEO John Bundy confirms winning song will not be changed, Available at: < http://www.esc-plus.com/malta-pbs-ceo-john-bundy-confirms-winning-song-will-not-changed/> [Accessed 19, February 2017].

timesofmalta, Mark Zammit Cordina, 2017. Malta selects its Eurovision song tonight Winner to be decided through a 100% televote, Available at: < http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170218/local/malta-votes-for-its-eurovision-song-tonight.639952 [Accessed 19, February 2017].