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Storyboard
Look Closer
Fannin Musical Productions Storyboard by Jason Shelby
[email protected] (270) 293-4106
Overview
Look Closer is a show about noticing the mathematical patterns that underlie the beautiful natural world
around us. First noticed by the ancient Greeks, this set of related numbers and patterns (the Fibonacci
sequence, the irrational number phi, the Golden Rectangle and Golden Spiral) occur again and again in
the natural world, from the nautilus shell to the seeds of a sunflower and even to the human face itself.
The show begins with the precision of pure numbers and evolves into a celebration of the natural
beauty that emerges from those numbers.
The show is designed to produce maximum effect for a smaller ensemble with limited instrumentation,
with a backfield ‘pit’ percussion placement to provide a steady pulse for groups without a drumline or
even a drum major. However, the musical and visual concepts here could easily be adapted for a larger
group and different instrumentation.
Set Design
Look Closer utilizes a large tarp depicting the Golden Spiral and the Fibonacci boxes which describe that
spiral. The grid serves not only an aesthetic purpose but also practical one: each box is 4 steps on a side
and the grid aligns with the yard lines beneath, greatly simplifying the learning and cleaning of drill.
Further, since the grid does align with the field markings, if extreme weather circumstances made using
a tarp impossible, the drill could still be performed with minimal difficulty for the students.
Two small platforms, one at the center of the spiral and the other at its far end, serve as staging points
for featured performers and soloists. A mic set up on the larger of the two allows for vocal effects using
in the 2nd movement.
Along the front and back edges of the tarp are several abstract ‘tree’ props. In the first few movements
they appear to simply be sticks of some sort, but during the more ‘natural’ later movements they rotate
up, cleverly opening to reveal an abstracted ‘tree’ form which radically alters the appearance of the set.
Full prop plans and build options available.
The show begins with a cool color palette evocative of blueprints or geometrical proofs, then gradually
introduces more earth tones to demonstrate the connection between mathematical concepts and our
more organic, natural beauty. This is accomplished not only through the silks themselves, but through
removal of the jacket to reveal a spring green top.
First Movement Effects
During the preshow, as the field is being set up, prerecorded voice begins to read out the numbers of
the Fibonacci sequence: ‘0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584…’ etc.
building interest and intrigue. As the show begins, a lone guard member on the Side A stage begins a
repetitive, simple bodywork passage which is passed from musician to musician along the Golden Spiral,
complementing the rhythmic motif in the pit percussion. Narration, either performed live by the guard
performer or prerecorded invites the audience to “Look closer…”
As the bodywork passage is passed sequentially around the spiral form, each musician repeats the
sequence a few times and then holds in a pose gesturing down the spiral. The sequence is timed out in
such a way that when the sequence reaches the center of the spiral, a soloist on the stage there turns
and enters musically. Sketched here as a trumpet, the solo could be rewritten to feature another
instrument.
As the soloist plays, the rest of the ensemble enters the drill moving towards the first musical impact.
Guard still on body/dance makes their way towards the front of the tarp where their first silk is set.
Then, impact.
After the first impact, musicians break away from the form sequentially, restaging for their next
entrance, moving in straight line paths with sharp, 90 degree turns to symbolize the mathematical,
geometric theme of this movement. While the percussion plays transitional material, further narration:
‘Look closer… see the patterns underlying all things…’
As the opener develops musically, the drill evolves subtly back towards the original spiral form, staging
for the first effect of Movement 2. Bodywork draws the eye back to the two small stages.
Movement 2 Effects
Opening narration: “…once you see the pattern, it’s inescapable… it’s everywhere…”
In the second movement, the primary effect is a fascinating vocal percussion feature based on the
numbers of the Fibonacci sequence. This could be performed in several ways, including as sequenced
vocals, but would be most effective performed live as illustrated here. Here illustrated as a guard
member and a musician [but conceivably whatever combination works best for your ensemble] two
vocal percussion soloists ‘battle.’ Additionally a beautiful, sung solo could be either performed live, or
sequenced through a keyboard depending on the needs and abilities of the ensemble.
The rhythmic nature of this movement makes it a natural fit for rifles or other weapons, or the guard
could remain on the opener silk as needed.
Movement 3 [Ballad] Effects
Opening Narration: ‘…out of these simplest of patterns, all of nature’s beauty grows.’
After an initial full-ensemble fanfare, a brief pit transition restages the musicians and guard and brings a
soloist to the microphone [sketched here as a clarinetist, the solo could be rescored to meet the needs
and strengths of your group]. Picking up on the theme suggested by the opening narration, the
musicians go to the ground and perform simple, repetitive bodywork which ripples out from the soloist,
framing and staging the guard as they introduce the ballad silk. Drill and music then build toward the
biggest musical movement of the music, with the form again making reference to the Golden Spiral.
After the ballad musical impact, horns follow the leader around the spiral drawing attention to the small
stage where guard member introduces the ballad silk while a narration plays out: ‘…once you look, you
see the beauty all around us… from distant galaxies, to the smallest flower…’
Closer Effects
As the final movement begins, the drill carries the horn line towards the back and front of the tarp, then
as a very ‘organic’ percussion feature begins, some horns unfold the ‘tree’ props while others pick up
various percussion instruments and move toward center stage. Narration: ‘…out of the numbers… out of
the patterns… nature blooms.’
Center stage horns then turn front field with various ‘organic,’ ethnic [and very visual] percussion
instruments. Sketched here as simple to build slapsticks, many wooden instruments could provide the
right mood. Those that unfolded the prop can drum on the frames of those props.
After the percussion feature, the horn line returns to their instruments and the drill becomes curvilinear,
showing the natural, organic beauty which has grown out of the original geometric, linear patterns.
After the final impact, a brief outro returns us to where we began: with the Fibonacci numbers, “0, 1, 1,
2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144…” The drill evolves towards a stylized flower with the guard using their
silks to form the bloom itself around the small stage. While the horn line goes to the ground, the final
narration: “It’s amazing what you can see… when you look closer.”