A wise man once said, “I’m the new Sinatra.” That man was Jay-Z, and he said it at the MTV 2009 Video Music Awards. While no one really knows how well he can croon, his accomplishments have certainly put him in the well-deserved spotlight. Creating the environmental graphics for Jay-Z’s VMA performance, we were tasked by event-graphics-producing guru and friend Lee Lodge with making Jay (and the whole of NYC) look good. Like, DeNiro-Yankees-Empire State Building good. Let’s hear it for New York.
We photographed a number of locations all around the city for Jay’s backdrop. When shot from the correct angle, it appeared that Jay had been comped into the scene.
“The Blueprint 3″’s logo also had its moments.
We also designed and animated the opening graphics for the host, British comedian Russell Brand.
/ LK
Elliott Chaffer – CD / Designer / Photographer
Melissa August – Senior Producer
Geoff Bailey – Senior Designer / Editor / Photographer
Seth Ricart – Designer / Animator
Chris Foster – Animator
Jean Delauney – Animator
Sébastien Larreur – Animator