Bringing a Set Designer’s ‘Bold Vision’ to Life: Inside the Win Win Production

The Win Win Production: the most electrifying moments on television often rely on more than just the script or the talent; they depend on the world built around them. A truly spectacular set has the power to define a show, transforming a sterile studio into an immersive environment for the audience and the production team. It’s the scenic designer’s bold vision that first conjures this world, but it takes a special kind of engineering, artistry, and rapid coordination to turn those dream blueprints into physical reality.

For us at Scott Fleary Productions, that challenge is the best part of the job. We thrive at creative construction and scenic production.

The Blueprint of Imagination

Every successful set starts as a concept, the scenic designer’s initial vision of what the production needs to look and feel like. Designers like Julian Healy, who created the set for the Win Win production, are the ultimate storytellers, using architecture, materials, and light to establish the mood and support the narrative.

The vision for Win Win Production was a bold and immersive studio environment. Designing an experience that included raised audience stands with integrated features, a central focus like the presenter’s podium, and a luxurious area dubbed the “millionaires row” required a meticulous approach to both aesthetics and functionality. Careful planning was essential to ensure seamless audience flow, optimal sightlines, and the integration of advanced lighting and sound systems. Additionally, collaborating closely with architects and production teams, we struck a balance between visual impact and practical considerations, ultimately creating a dynamic space that elevated the show’s energy and provided an unforgettable experience for both participants and viewers.

More Than a Sketch Translation

Once the creative vision is established, the real technical work begins: translating those artistic concepts into practical, buildable structures. This stage is crucial because a sketch is abstract, but a set must adhere to the laws of physics and maintain structural integrity.

For Win Win, we had to plan how to physically construct elements that were both high spec and structurally sound. The “millionaires row” and the audience areas required raised carpeted platforms with velour seating. We had to determine the precise measurements to accommodate the integration of technology, such as the LED screens that flanked either side of the studio. Our planning ensures that every detail, down to the gold tape detailing that unified the floor and podium finishes, is accounted for before fabrication starts.

From Workshop to Studio Fabrication

It’s during the fabrication phase where the set pieces come to life. All scenic elements for the project were fabricated by Scott Fleary Productions. This is where the raw materials become the finished set components, meticulously crafted to a high spec.

We built all the key structures, including the raised structures, podiums, and seating areas. The raised audience stands featured integrated back projection screens. A crucial detail was the application of the unifying gold tape detailing to the floor and podium finishes. The team ensured these complex elements were finished to a high specification, including the velour upholstery and carpeted platforms. We also mounted the LED screens on either side of the studio.

The One Week Installation

A unique challenge in studio production is the extremely tight turnaround time required to get a huge, complex set onto the stage. The installation window is often measured in days, not weeks. For the Win Win production for Hello Dolly Limited, the set was installed at Elstree Studios (George Lucas Stage) and had to be completed within a one-week installation window.

This rapid schedule demanded military precision. Our team, led by Project Manager Matt Pavis, executed a full scenic build and installation process ahead of the deadline. The scope included the full fabrication and installation of all scenic elements. Our modular fabrication approach ensured that the move from our workshop to the George Lucas Stage was efficient, allowing us to hit that demanding one-week target.

Overcoming Challenges

No large-scale project is without its technical achievements, and for Win Win, one feature stood above the rest: the screens. A key technical achievement was the installation of two massive 15m x 3m back projection screens. These screens, which were positioned behind the audience stands, were the largest Scott Fleary had ever installed to date.

Getting these huge visual elements to look perfect required solving a lighting puzzle. We positioned light boxes in front of the screens to balance the depth and illumination. The sheer scale and integration of these back-projection screens, along with the audience seating, required incredibly precise coordination and planning. Furthermore, we had to maintain flexibility to handle several design changes and additions made during the build, which required close collaboration with the client and designer. Production Manager Emma Gratton from Hello Dolly Limited played a key part in this coordination.

The Finished Product

Ultimately, a set designer’s bold vision is only successful when the finished set fully realizes the creative intent. The final result for Win Win closely matched the creative vision, with both the designer, Julian Healy, and the client, Hello Dolly Limited, being extremely pleased.

They expressed strong satisfaction with the completed set, praising the quality of the build and the execution of the design vision. The high spec finishes, from the luxurious velour and carpeted platforms to the complex gold tape pattern, came together to create the immersive studio environment envisioned.

The project isn’t entirely over yet; the set is also planned to be reconfigured for the final recording phase. A successful scenic production like Win Win is a powerful reminder that behind every great show is a dedicated team translating imagination into impressive physical reality.

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