Back to the drawing board for . . .

[kdaddy]

16 minutes ago, NewArpege said:

Bluecoats and BAC used props. Bluecoats had about 30 blocks and BAC 50+ hoops. What I believe is meant is large props are going out of style for minimalist props that are used as extension of the field corp. 

I don't think we know this. Only SCV didn't have props. Indeed BAC took a minimalist approach. Bluecoats had little vertical to theirs, but those were p-r-o-p-s. Everybody else had varying levels of monstrosity. 

Why do we think that props are going out of style? I don't see a trend in that direction tbh.

[Vuitton]

4 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

Why do we think that props are going out of style? I don't see a trend in that direction tbh.

I think people tend to follow the leaders - the top corps. That's why I "think" big props are on their way out.

Look at 2016 - Bluecoats came out in non-traditional uniforms/costumes and changed/elevated the way props were used and so many followed suit the next year. This has happened throughout history. The top two corps this year used minimal props and opened up the field and they were heavily rewarded for that. That tends to move the activity in a different direction.

But, you're right - we don't know this. It's just my guess 

[NewArpege]

23 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

I don't think we know this. Only SCV didn't have props. Indeed BAC took a minimalist approach. Bluecoats had little vertical to theirs, but those were p-r-o-p-s. Everybody else had varying levels of monstrosity. 

Why do we think that props are going out of style? I don't see a trend in that direction tbh.

I don’t think props or large props or props are done. I think we are going to see favoring of the corp using props more….like BAC using hoops.  But it all depends on the show. 

[bullethead]

2 hours ago, 1992AllOverAgain said:

Troopers should do No Country for Old Men and have giant milkshakes as props

There isn't even a soundtrack for No Country for Old Men. There was no music in the entire film until the closing credits.

[1992AllOverAgain]

Would make it all the more compelling. I hear minimalism is in.

Edited August 12, 2024 by 1992AllOverAgain

[2muchcoffeeman]

2 hours ago, Vuitton said:

The top two corps (and Vanguard) shied away from large props and opened up the field, and they were incredibly successful doing it. Their approaches were fresh, crisp, clean and modern.

Maybe related to this ⬆️ idea:

My eye noticed a less complicated visual environment across the board. The Bluecoats field looked like it was populated with Legos, and only two brick colors. Boston was a rainbow, but a simple one -- the battery, uniform and instruments, were black -- and, of course, no props. Vanguard kept it simple with blue and red, making the big flags all the more striking when they were pulled out. The uniforms in those 3 corps were drawn with fat marker, not with fine paintbrushes. The visual effect was 2-D, chunky and vibrant, not layered, detailed and lush. Even Phantom leaned hard into its black/white palette, and the Mynd cages were nearly transparent. 

There were exceptions. BD wore velvet, or something that looked like it. Crown went big with props. Troopers turned props, and uniforms, up to 11. Blue Stars fell in the middle somewhere. Madison went full Broadway with its look. Colts had the left/right uniform thing going on.

So, maybe it wasn't a full-blown trend in 2024. But I do get the sense that the pendulum is swinging toward more of a bold-stroke, mass-effect look, and away from a million-details look.

 

Edited August 12, 2024 by 2muchcoffeeman

[tigers1212]

17 hours ago, BlueStainGlass said:

First year with a bunch of new staff. Let's see next year's result. 

Do you know where the staff from 2014-2019 went?

[BlueStainGlass]

7 minutes ago, tigers1212 said:

Do you know where the staff from 2014-2019 went?

A lot of the visual team doesn't teach. There were a lot of glassmen alum on that staff. 

[craiga]

Whether you like props or not, we all know one truism in our activity:

That which is rewarded  is perpetuated.

When I was watching BAC back in June, it dawned on me....they were using the entire field in MOST of their sets.   I wonder....which is more effective from an incredibly high GE box....hand painted mountains or closets or whatever, or 165 human performers spread consistently from the 10 to the 10?

When I posted about Boston from Vermont, I said something about this show being out of their comfort zone and thus being "risky" for them.  I think this has been borne out.

[Mello Dude]

3 hours ago, Vuitton said:

I think people tend to follow the leaders - the top corps. That's why I "think" big props are on their way out.

Look at 2016 - Bluecoats came out in non-traditional uniforms/costumes and changed/elevated the way props were used and so many followed suit the next year. This has happened throughout history. The top two corps this year used minimal props and opened up the field and they were heavily rewarded for that. That tends to move the activity in a different direction.

But, you're right - we don't know this. It's just my guess 

Bluecoats uniforms last year were terribad for field presence IMHO.