stage design
rainmaker entertainment: You don't play boxing
Rainmaker Entertainment was a leading producer of amateur boxing events in San Francisco, in collaboration with USA Boxing and the renowned San Francisco Golden Gloves tournament, to revive the vintage charm of amateur boxing events from the 1930s and beyond. These are the same tournaments that have produced legendary athletes like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and George Forman.
As the lead stage designer for four events, Marc played an integral role in bringing this vision to life, with three of these events being hosted by Comcast. The aim was to evoke powerful emotions in the audience and transport them to another world, rather than simply hosting them in a convention center. Marc's expertise in stage design, coupled with professional lighting, sound, and entertainment, resulted in an unforgettable experience that exceeded the expectations of all attendees.
Scope of work
Research
Conceptual Design
Proposal
Budget & Timeline Management
Team Management
Scale Mockups
Sculpting
Painting
3D Modeling
Production
Crew Management
Set Design & Construction
Software
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Autodesk Maya
Microsoft Powerpoint
Microsoft Excel
rainmaker entertainment: You don't play boxing
Rainmaker Entertainment was a leading producer of amateur boxing events in San Francisco, in collaboration with USA Boxing and the renowned San Francisco Golden Gloves tournament, to revive the vintage charm of amateur boxing events from the 1930s and beyond. These are the same tournaments that have produced legendary athletes like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and George Forman.
As the lead stage designer for four events, Marc played an integral role in bringing this vision to life, with three of these events being hosted by Comcast. The aim was to evoke powerful emotions in the audience and transport them to another world, rather than simply hosting them in a convention center. Marc's expertise in stage design, coupled with professional lighting, sound, and entertainment, resulted in an unforgettable experience that exceeded the expectations of all attendees.
scope of work
Research
Conceptual Design
Proposal
Budget & Timeline Management
Team Management
Scale Mockups
Sculpting
Painting
3D Modeling
Production
Crew Management
Set Design & Construction
Software
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Autodesk Maya
Microsoft Powerpoint
Microsoft Excel
San francisco golden gloves 75th anniversary
Marc faced a daunting challenge in designing the stage for the 75th San Francisco Golden Glove boxing event. He had to strike a balance between creating an impressive and grand stage that would fill the spacious Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, while staying within the tight budget and timeline of only two months. As the event featured amateur boxers from Northern California competing to become the Golden Gloves Champion and qualify for the Olympics, the stage had to be not only visually appealing but also functional for the boxers and the audience. Despite the pressure and constraints, Marc was determined to deliver a stage that would live up to the prestigious history of the San Francisco Golden Gloves.
The San Francisco Examiner's donation of their Golden Gloves photo archives allowed Rainmaker Entertainment to gather inspiration for the stage design. One iconic photo, featuring a young Muhammad Ali competing in the SF Golden Gloves as an amateur boxer, was particularly inspiring for Marc and played a major role in shaping the design.
Marc believes in the importance of communication and collaboration when it comes to creating a successful stage design. He starts the process by meeting with his team to discuss crucial factors such as the venue, space limitations, union regulations, budget, and overall theme. This allows him to create a stage plot, the initial blueprint of the design, and ensure that everyone is on the same page before moving forward with the project.
After getting approval for the stage plot, Marc moves on to propose a theme by creating environmental concept sketches. These sketches enable the show director and producers to visualize the stage design and determine if it aligns with the intended mood and atmosphere for the event.
Marc's next step is to create a 3D pre-visualization prototype of the stage design using Autodesk Maya, which is then reviewed and revised multiple times to fine-tune the details. This crucial step helps to ensure that the design is to scale, accounts for any potential space limitations, and allows for an accurate calculation of materials needed for the build.
The ultimate stage design featured a laser-cut foam trophy in the center, complemented by foam core, paper, and wooden-framed San Francisco skyscrapers. The iconic Golden Gate Bridge was crafted from two sturdy wooden bases and garden hoses of varying diameters.
During the week-long San Francisco Golden Gloves event, boxers battled it out while a Marc-designed stage served as an impressive background accent. The stage design paid homage to the classic Golden Gloves events of the past and set the mood for the occasion. To ensure the event's success, several teams, including the San Francisco Labor Union, Production Team, Michael Hall for lighting direction, and stage hands, worked together behind the scenes.
The road to Beijing
As the victors of the tournament would go on to compete for a chance to join the Beijing Olympics, the venue's stage design needed to reflect a Chinese theme. A prominent feature was the central archway, reminiscent of San Francisco's popular Dragon Gate in Chinatown. The stage was adorned with cascading war banners, setting the tone for the arrival of young warriors ready to battle it out in the ring. Marc faced the challenge of creating a design that required minimal construction work, while also providing ample space for martial arts performances. This meant incorporating wide open spaces and structures that could be easily secured in place in case a performer accidentally collided with them.
mexico vs usa
01. Presented by Comcast
On October 30th, 2005, Rainmaker Entertainment held a thrilling amateur boxing event in San Francisco, California. The event, which was televised, featured a talented lineup of athletes hailing from both Mexico and the USA. Spectators were treated to an exciting showcase of skill and sportsmanship, as these up-and-coming boxers battled it out in the ring.
02. Building
The stage design for this event showcased two ancient Aztec statues overlooking the stage, as well as a stone Aztec pyramid. Marc faced the challenge of creating realistic props that could be safely transported 75 miles away to San Francisco. To accomplish this, a foam construction method was utilized. Marc collaborated with a local construction company to have large foam blocks pre-cut based on his 3D model designs. He then meticulously sculpted and painted the finishing touches to create stunningly lifelike statues and props.
03. Rockwall
To construct the pyramid wall for this event, painted foam stones were affixed to wood paneling. This innovative design allowed the pyramid set to be easily broken down and transported, making setup and teardown a breeze. Because this stage was set to be seen in a wide concert venue, it was important to exaggerate some of the details, such as the chips in the stone and gaps between the stones. This ensured that the stage would be clearly visible to spectators seated far away from the stage.
04. Forced Perspective
Due to limited stage space, it was not possible to construct a to-scale grand staircase for this event. However, to create the illusion of a grand staircase, a forced perspective of the stairs was carved so that the angle of the stairs would be extremely shallow. This innovative design allowed performers to move around freely on stage, without the need for a cumbersome staircase that would take up valuable space. With this clever trick of forced perspective, the illusion of a grand staircase was created, adding a touch of elegance and grandeur to the event.
05. Paint
For this project, Marc used a black base paint and applied a gray dry brush stone technique to create a realistic stone texture. He recognized that a flat paint job was crucial to provide the lighting director with a clean slate for their creative vision. By adding accents of different colors, the stage design took on a life of its own, with its dynamic form commanding attention from the audience. Marc's attention to detail and skillful use of color made this stage design truly unforgettable.
06. A Life of It's Own
The Calpuli Tonalehqueh dance group played a vital role in bringing the story of the boxing event to life. Their mesmerizing drumming, captivating performance, and stunning costumes added a layer of depth and immersion to the event that made it truly unforgettable. The dance group's contribution was an integral part of tying the entire event together, and their presence on stage truly elevated the atmosphere of the venue.
07 . Team Effort
Marc thrives on being a part of a team that works together towards a common goal. For him, the feeling of accomplishment that comes from everyone's hard work falling into place is truly motivating. Collaborating with others and feeding off each other's creative energy is what fuels Marc's late night sprints to complete ambitious projects. Knowing that each person's contribution is integral to the success of the team is what drives him to push through and achieve great things.
