t-mac

Does anyone know what time ensemble starts/stops tonight (Thurs.)?

If I missed it, I apologize, but for me one that I haven't seen mentioned is SCV '88! OK, so the Phantom disappears on the last note (kinda expected that since I was familiar with the show), but then the WHOLE CORPS disappears...and then the Phantom RE-APPEARS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE FIELD!!! Look, I know they are simple "smoke and mirrors" tricks, but I can only imagine what that was like to experience it live for the first time.

Inspired by a comment on the "Crown 2015" thread, I got to wondering... What are some examples of shows that were "championship" level design but the performance just wasn't there. In other words...the garage members (design staff) had the car ready, but the driver (performance level) "missed a shift" and didn't quite pull out the win. Crown 2012 comes to mind. Conversely, what are some shows that you feel, from a design perspective, never really had a shot at winning regardless of how well it was performed?

Just out of curiosity, which show lately do you feel weren't of "championship" quality? I figure you're gonna say 2013, and I guess 2011 (although that was a REALLY fun show, and probably one of the most memorable). I'm pretty much of the mindset that any show that places in the top 3 or 4, with proper execution, has the potential to be a "championship" show (whether the performance is up to that level is for the judges to decide).

Anyone?...Anyone?....Bueller?

I have been thinking the same thing. I'm wondering if that may be a Finals week addition. That's something they could have actually put in early season and been practicing but just not doing to save it for the last week. who knows?

Ok, two things (small things really) that I'd like to see added, or added back in...After the drum feature at the beginning, just before the Dies Irae, when the hornline is on the ground...I LOVED the random arms reaching up during that moment, especially when paired with that haunting "scream" coming through the speakers at that moment. Not sure why that was taken out, but I thought it was really affective and hope they put it back in. Along the same lines, I really like the effect of the red scrim over the hornline and the movement of the horns underneath is a really cool effect. I'd love it if they would add random, individual hands reaching up against the scrim as though trying to claw their way out. LOVE this show!!

Also... Visual: SCV '88 (I liked this ending much better than '89) Star '91 (cross to cross) and '92 (some people think it was cheesy, but seeing it live the first time was one of the most amazing thing I'd ever seen). Musically: sorry, I'm gonna have to go with Devils "When a man loves a woman" '92. Made me stop being a hater.

Also... Visual: SCV '88 (I liked this ending much better than '89) Star '91 (cross to cross) and '92 (some people think it was cheesy, but seeing it live the first time was one of the most amazing thing I'd ever seen). Musically: sorry, I'm gonna have to go with Devils "When a man loves a woman" '92. Made me stop being a hater.

Mentioned in another topic, but I think the end of Crown 2011 was probably one of the best melding visual and music especially for the style of music.

I've spent a lot of time this week watching various clips of the end of Crown's 2011 Rachstar show. The ending they put n for finals is one of the most energetic and "Rockin'" endings I've ever seen. Some similar elements from earlier in the year (check out the ending from the WCU run-thru), but MUCH different feel to it. Plus, you gotta love the smashing guitar.

Crown reveals, not only the most amazing finals night surprise ever, but also changes the world by having the entire corps perform wearing the first fully functional ANTI-GRAVITY BOOTS! This, in conjunction with the unprecedented use of pyrotechnics during the "blastoff" section, propels (pun intended) crown to a repeat championship. Not because their scores jump that much but because the remaining corps aren't able to perform due to the unintended gravity well created by the mini black holes strewn around the field (residual from the anti gravity boots). Now we know what last year's show was REALLY all about.

Sorry, I meant to include this so you could see what I was talking about. And yes, I do realize this thread is almost a year old, but I never get tired of analyzing this sort of stuff.

The thing that I'm not sure everyone realizes in the Crown prism move, is that the MM's don't all stay in the same line throughout the move (and some are changing direction as the lines interact with each other). Check out the line in the middle of the prism that is horizontal as it starts to rotate. When that line meshes with the "angled" line(s) it picks up several more members in order to keep the perspective correct (starts with 8 and ends up with 12 or so). The fact that this happens while three lines converge on a slight diagonal, with not much in the way of visual "guides", all while playing...makes it pretty impressive.

3/4 of a mile from my house.... THIS WEEKEND!!!! Is it sad that this is my favorite time of the year?

This may have been asked and answered elsewhere and I've just missed it, but the guy who "transports" thru the worm whole, does he have a twin or was it just two guys made to look alike?

OK, the Star of Indiana topic spurred me to ask this... If you could assemble your "Super-Star" staff, who would you pull together from the current crop of designers and instructors? For Bonus fun, who would you want if you could pick from any time in DCI's history?

Who exactly made up the original staff for Star and what corps did they come from?

Does anyone know what the largest point spread is that was "made up" from semis to finals? Also, how many times has the eventual winner NOT been in first place after Semi's?

Saw about 5 minutes of Crown arcing up last night (were they getting ready to record?). I have a feeling that the 12 measures of running, stereophonic triplets at about 220 bpm (which goes on for about twice as long as you think they can possibly maintain it) followed by some patented "in your face" Crown power, will over shadow any concern over vocals.

OK, that's just SICK!!! I just found a new video to show to my band kids when they complain about how they can't make their dot and play at the same time. This is also eye-opening as to what goes on on the field that we in the stands don't necessarily know is going on.

I think they are referring to the Star that was said to be seen i the first two minutes of the drill, as well as the scalene triangle while playing the OMG trill and peel paint part towards the end. I have heard that second part mentioned as a Star refference, but is there any confirmation from the design staff that it is indeed an homage to Star?

I thought the beginning part was pretty cool (up to the five glowing rings in the sky) and the Rowan Atkinson bit with the orchestra was fun. The whole "pop culture" music video part was totally forgettable. I thought the lighting of the cauldron was OK but didn't like the multiple runners thing. For me, the highlight of the entire show was Bob Costas' comments during the entrance of the North Korean delegation. The reference to Kim Jong il's claim that he had 11 'hole-in-ones' in the first round of golf he ever played was priceless. "I'm sure the ones off the windmill and the clown's nose were especially impressive" Classic!

Off topic, but Bob Costas ROCKS! His comment about the holes in one off the windmill and the clown's nose was EPIC!