Behind the Scenes of the LeBron James/Witness MVP Laser Lights
If you’re a reader of this site, there is a good chance that you were either at Game 1 between the Cavaliers and Hawks or were catching it on TNT with millions of other NBA fans. While they waited until about the third quarter to give it a full shot, the Nike Witness billboard that is placed along the side of the Sherwin Williams building on Ontario Street had a not-so-little addition: gold, orange and white laser lights that scribed the letters MVP along the full length of the sign.
While pictures of the banner were found on the Internet, what follows are what I hope are images that you haven’t seen just yet. They come directly from Lightwave International, the company that produced the concept and executed it flawlessly from a nearby parking lot. Check out their different angles after the jump, including the set-up from where the lasers were projected.
From Lightwave International:
We were very pleased with the results, and wanted to share these images with you. To achieve the new effect, we used multiple lasers instead of the initially planned single system designed for the crown concept. On our truck last night were the four largest entertainment lasers in the world, and it is my opinion that this could not have been achieved with anything less.
We projected two versions of the artwork: the gold/orange color and a brighter white version as well. We wanted to insure the networks had the opportunity to capture and broadcast what was best suited for their cameras. The use of multiple lasers guaranteed no flicker in the images — they appeared as installed neon, and photographed easily on cellphone cameras, etc, with no extra tricks or special photography knowledge.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Wow, great job Scott. I was wondering if there was any more information on this thing. I heard it was going to be up there, but outside of the Q-tube highlights, I didn’t see it at all.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I hope it’s there again tonight – I dont know what their plans are given all of the time it appears to take to get it done.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
are there high rez pictures of this anywhere I want this as my backround!
May 7th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
(was going to post exact same comment as #3)
May 7th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
That’s super cool. I was wondering how they made such a big billboard so fast… nice.
You should put up a picture of just the sign to see the difference.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
creative – email me and let me know which one. I had to shrink them down for the site.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I wonder what the people who’s office window is behind that thing think?
well thats if there actually are any offices in that building… it could just be empty like most of them downtown.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
This is the place where there used to be Industry…
May 7th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I like the fact that there are clouds in the sky, and it looks like LeBron clapped his hands and made the clouds out of chalk.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
What’s the link to that video? I am too lazy to look back and find it..
May 7th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Here are a few more pictures.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
“few more pictures” is a clickable link. Here is a description from their website:
Lightwave International uses 39W of full color lasers to honor NBA star LeBron James as MVP on a massive scale. With just 24 hours notice, Lightwave executed this spectacle for Nike on a 100′x212′ black banner draping a building adjacent to the arena.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Wait, I’m confused. During the Laker game last night the crowd was chanting “M-V-P.” Is LeBron the MVP and not Kobe?
May 7th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
thanks Scott, great info
May 7th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
The Lakers announcer also called Kobe the MVP when he made the layup after he tossed it to himself off the backboard. It makes me wonder what some people are on, maybe the news hasn’t hit L.A. yet.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
On the broadcast it looked like there were missing spots in the laser’s and it didn’t show the Chalk Toss, but that is freaking awesome. I want to set it as my background but I haven’t had any Cavs stuff all year because I am very superstitious, so let’s not start putting things there now.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Oppie. Only Kobe could find a way to finally pass the ball, and still score.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
That’s actually on the Sherwin Williams building… there are active offices behind it.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Awesome
May 7th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
LOL @ The Other Tim.
Though admittedly, that was a ridiculously smart play.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Sounds like some of the Hawks are still a little down about the opening game and their chances. From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
“We’ve got to be able to attack this team with all five guys on the floor at any one time,” Mo Evans said. “They’re attacking us with all of their guys. They insert guys into the game and immediately run a set for him. They’re coming at us in all kinds of ways, so we can’t just concentrate on LeBron [James]. They’re out there laughing and joking and having fun. And that in itself is demoralizing, when you have a team full of guys just playing together and picking you apart.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
[...] goes as no surprise that that most of Cleveland is excited about LeBron James’ first MVP trophy. We’ve all felt that he’s deserved one for [...]
November 19th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
[...] jersey. The first was of him dunking the basketball, the current of him in the midst of his famous “chalk” clap. But the city of Cleveland felt that Nike’s proposal of a shirtless James, with zero [...]