Omega produces live project for Detroit artist Lexi...
Paul Christensen and his wife Donna and their award-winning crew were recently in Detroit
to produce a live concert DVD and CD release for Real Deal Records' artist Lexi. The project, produced for Boxing Legend Evander  Holyfield's Atlanta based label, took place at the Millennium Center, a
performing arts venue in nearby Southfield. A turn away crowd of adoring Lexi fans packed the 800 seat auditorium to participate in an electrifying evening as the gifted performer, her talented
ensemble and able band, displayed  a spontaneous tapestry of tight rhythms and soaring vocals. Also appearing was Lexi's artistically creative husband, Mike Allen, who in addition to co-producing
the project with Lexi, also served as the producer for the music and CD, as well as music director for the band. Also participating were guest artists Kim Burrell and husband and wife team, Dave and
Nicole Binion.
Lexi has long been a favorite artist in the Detroit area, responsible for many memorable songs as well as unforgettable
concerts. She also enjoys a committed  following around the country and has garnered much respect from her peers in the music business. So this night was no exeption as Omega's award-winning Director
Don Moore and the Omega crew performed their usual magic to capture the charismatic evening. The stage was transformed into a spectacular wash of computerized lighting,
painted with laser assisted palettes of vibrant colors by Lighting Directors Tony Bures and Steve Anderson with CPX Concert Productions, Inc. of Little Rock
, AR, who provided the spectacular lighting and sound for the project.
Lexi and her husband Mike Allen served as Executive Producers. Omega's Ruthel Flunder
assisted the Christensens with talent and logistics.  Rounding out Omega's talented crew were Mike Filippi on Hand Held Camera, Andy Dean on Steadicam, David Cavanaugh on Jimmy Jib and
Steve Cobb and Leonard Thompson on Fixed Cameras. Theresa Maybee, General Manager of the Millennium Center and her assistant, Cindy Diakow, were
invaluable by assisting with scores of details from coordinating the venue schedule and crew labor to arranging for numerous "short term fixes" regarding production. Their
involvement insured the success of the project. In addition, Ruben Garza, Technical Director of the venue, and his crew were instrumental in handling scores of technical issues.
MPS (Mobile Production Services), Columbus, OH, provided Unit A, their 52 foot remote facility to originate the video, with
the assistance of Engineers Eric Riley and Mike Garner. Remote Recording Facilities were provided by Metro Mobile, Chicago, IL. Metro's owner and chief engineer,
Tim Powell provided the engineering expertise for the live CD, assisted by Michael "Skinner" Ways and Darren Styles. CPX Concert Production Services, Inc., Little Rock, served
as Sound Reinforcement vendor, with Jim Chambers handling Monitor Engineer duties and CPX's Steve Jackson providing the concert mix at the Front of House position, while Phil Spadero
served as Systems Tech. Other local companies and
individuals who assisted were Fernando Sharp, F-Sharp Musical Connections, Detroit, who provided backline equipment, Greg Blackburn, Dallas Stage and Scenery, Dallas, who designed
the Lexi stage backdrop, Nuvidia, LLC, Dallas and Overland Park, KS provided audio and video tape, while Charter Broadcast Systems, Dallas, provided wide angle lenses.
Having the opportunity to produce this project in Detroit was a great blessing. Our thanks and appreciation go out to Lexi
and Mike Allen, their singers, band and staff, as well as Theresa Maybee and all the folks at the Millennium Center for all their support and encouragement.
The Long Form Video will be edited by Nashville based, Perry Trest, POST DIGITAL, Inc., in Trest's AVID post suite
. The CD will be mixed at Detroit's Studio A. The Long Form Video, DVD and Live CD are slated for a Summer 2004 release and will be distributed by Real Deal Records, Atlanta.
|
