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We’re back with the latest Flash Photobition news to keep you satisfied.

Entertainment is certainly the theme in this edition. We profile projects completed for Mercedes Australian Fashion Week, Fishy Productions theatre company and hip-hop comedy duo Sista She. While the glamour and gloss of the entertainment world can be interesting, the practical side of staging performances can be difficult. Read on to find out about the interesting solutions and products Flash provided to contribute to making each show a success.

Don’t forget, there’s cold hard cash on offer for retail designers and visual merchandisers, plus we’ve got tickets to give away for Message Sticks - an Australian Indigenous Festival at the Sydney Opera House.

Regards,
Jacqueline Conway

Flash Photobition
Office: (02) 8594 3578
jacqueline.conway@flash.com.au
         
 

 

One Teaspoon makes a fashion statement

It’s well known that fashion is a cut-throat, ruthless industry where only the toughest survive. You would think it would be especially difficult for a group of young women starting up their own design label. But One Teaspoon took a plunge like J Lo’s neckline and it paid off. The company is making a huge impression on the Australian fashion market with their fresh and fun designs for young women. Outlets that stock the label across Australia include high profile retail chain General Pants as well as dozens of up to-the-minute boutiques across the country.

The approach

One Teaspoon approached Flash to produce 1200 self-standing life size model cuts outs to be distributed to retailers. When researching the project, Anne Hennessey from Flash had concerns regarding the quality of the print due to screen-printing as well as timing, packaging costs and an overall blow out of budget.

The outcome

Anne pitched the idea of mesh hanging banners, with black plastic clip system top and bottom to hang. The new idea was met with big air kisses from One Teaspoon.

“We were really happy with the vibrancy that the print could produce and the mesh material fitted perfectly with our look,” said One Teaspoon Director, Jamie Welsham.

The introduction of the new, easy snap-lock clipping system to hang the banners provided a cost effective solution. It helped alleviate expensive packaging and courier costs because the rolled banners can be distributed to the stores with new stock. Flash also suggested a monthly rollout of production allowing One Teaspoon to test the market and spread the costs. For more info on how we can tailor a Graphic Replacement Program for your business click here.

For your serving of information about this project, contact anne.hennessey@flash.com.au or call 0407 216 485. Click here for more information about Mesh Vutek.
 
   
 

Tsubi are well known for breaking the “rules” of fashion and are infamous for breaking the mould at Fashion Week, particularly their 2001 show in which they sent 1000 live rats down the catwalk.

Tsubi takes their show off the catwalk

This year the Tsubi crew decided to use images from their 2004/2005 calendar, featuring colour-saturated shots of semi-naked girls draped over slot cars at Eastern Creek raceway. Always daring to be different, this year Tsubi moved away from the catwalk and showcased these images and ultimately their brand at Ken Done’s gallery at The Rocks. Flash produced 13 light boxes at 1m x 1.2m in size, that were installed on the walls to provide these lush images with added intensity. Anne from Flash says that Tsubi were so impressed with the light boxes that they will soon reuse them in stores where the label is sold, providing a highly cost effective outcome.

To find out more about Flash’s Mercedes Australian Fashion Week projects, contact anne.hennessey@flash.com.au or call 0407 216 485.
   

There’s nothing fishy about Fishy Productions. The new theatre company made up of professional actors, directors, writers, and technicians, recently staged a production called Sixty-Six Minutes - Short Plays about a Big City, at Darlinghurst Theatre, featuring six actors in six short plays based in New York.
Sixty-Six Minutes in action

The approach

Previous productions of Sixty-Six Minutes had used a series of small black and white prints of New York street scenes. Their new performance space required larger images to create more of an impact.

The outcome

Rather than producing standard large prints of the black and white photos, Jacqueline suggested a more dramatic impact could be achieved using large format mesh banners. Fishy Productions were impressed by the mood and atmosphere that could be created by this option.

Theatregoers commented on the immediate impact of the backdrops when they entered the theatre. The large, bold images set the scene for the actors and became part of the set, not just backdrops, as the actors moved around and exited behind them. Their slight translucence created a layered effect that added dimension in an otherwise flat space. Fishy Productions were extremely pleased with the result, especially seeing the plays sold out almost every night.

To add some drama to your life with Mesh Vutek, call Jacqueline for more information on 02 8594 3578 or email jacqueline.conway@flash.com.au.

   

While the likes of “Eminem” and “P Diddy” are dominating the airwaves, two Aussie chicks from the suburbs are taking on the hip-hop world. They are Sista She, a hip-hop comedy act that is embarking on a national tour with “Inna Thigh- The Sista She Story”, playing full seasons at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, The Studio at the Sydney Opera House and The Brisbane Powerhouse.
Sista She in true hip hop style

The approach

The girls, described by the Sydney Morning Herald as “arguably the funniest and funkiest duo to hit the stage in Australia,” approached Flash to create a set that could be easily set up and packed away for transportation. Flexibility was the key because they required a set that could also be reduced for smaller venues and overseas festivals.

The outcome

Sista She originally wanted to produce cardboard cut outs featuring street-art style cartoon graphics. Jacqueline suggested that this would be difficult to transport and the products would be susceptible to damage. The solution developed was to print the graphics onto Ecotex banner material. The low glare nature of this product works well with stage lighting, and the flexible quality of Ecotex meant that the product could also be used for wrap-around graphics on the DJ tables, that form a central role in the performance.

Sista She was wrapped (or should we say rapped?) with the results. Their show at The Studio ran from June 18 to 22 with rave reviews. Next up they will be taking their unique form of “Big mama style” hip-hop comedy to the Brisbane Powerhouse in July.

To get the low-down on Ecotex (link to product fact sheet) or find out more about the Sista She project, call Jacqueline Conway on 02 8594 3578 or email jacqueline.conway@flash.com.au
   
Flash lights up at designEX

Once again designEX was an extremely busy but successful three days for Flash. Australia’s number one design event, from April 21 to 23, provided a great opportunity to showcase our products and services, catch up with clients and generally check out what is else happening in the industry.

We would like to send out a big thankyou to everyone who visited our stand. If there is anything that you saw or heard that you would like to know more about, drop us a line on 02 8594 3555 or visit our website www.flash.com.au.
   

Visual merchandisers and retail designers who have not yet entered the Flash Retail Display Awards must be crazy. All you need to do is enter your best creative work and you will be in the running to win 5000 big ones. Supported by the Institute of Store Planners, the award is for the 'best creative use of a retail space', and can be a window display or an entire store. The only guidelines are that the project has to be real and has to be installed within Australian States and Territories between 01/07/03 and 30/06/04. Entries close June 30, 2004. So what are you waiting for? For more information, submission requirements and application forms click here.
   
 

Our friends at the Sydney Opera House have kindly provided us passes for Friday June 4th to Ruby’s Story, a passionate and emotionally moving concert about stolen children and stolen water, sung and recounted by Ngarrindjeri woman Ruby Hunter and her partner Archie Roach.

The concert is part of Message Sticks, a three-week festival of contemporary Australian Indigenous arts at the “House”. Many of the program’s events are free and feature amazing experiences for everyone, including theatre, music, visual arts, films and forums. For a full festival program, go to www.sydneyoperahouse.com/messagesticks.

How to win:

To win, go to the Message Sticks website and answer the question,
“ Throughout Message Sticks the Opera Bar transforms into what?”
Email your answer to jacqueline.conway@flash.com.au
   
 

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www.sydneyoperahouse.com/thestudio
   

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