Stimulated, Inc.
Our First Five Years
August 2004
MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS
Robb Wagner was recruited by MTV to produce and direct the video screens at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards. The project was massive, with a 360-degree venue that included four stages. There were over 50 screens to feed during the live, three hour broadcast. He accomplished his mission with flying colors and the show was a success. But Wagner was left feeling underwhelmed by the video quality of the media servers used alongside higher quality video playback systems.
January 2005
STIMULATED IS FOUNDED ON A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AND ORIGINALITY
February 2005
77TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS “FLOOR” SCREEN
Robb Wagner was commissioned to design the ‘floor’ screen at the 77th Annual Academy Awards. This marked Wagner’s first collaboration with experimental video artists, as he reached deep into the local art community to find the right creative talent to execute his vision for the show. The ‘LED Floor’ was a success, thanks to Wagner’s vision and direction.
November 2005
HBO COMEDY FESTIVAL: EARTH TO AMERICA
Robb Wagner was sought out by global warming activist Laurie David to create the visuals for an HBO comedy special, with an environmental message. The televised special featuring a performance by Blue Man Group, taking place at Caesars Palace as part of the HBO Comedy Festival.
December 2005
VH1 BIG IN 2005
Wagner hired senior editor / compositer Annie Eifrig, who helped create video backgrounds for Def Leppard and INXS, both performing on VH1’s Big in 2005. This marked the beginning of a long-standing and loyal relationship between Stimulated and VH1.
Summer 2006
VH1 ROCK HONORS
Stimulated was recruited by VH1 to design the screens for its first annual VH1 Rock Honors. The tribute concert special featured performances by Foo Fighters, Queen, Kiss, Def Leppard, All American Rejects, and Godsmack.
Summer 2006
DEF LEPPARD “YEAH” CONCERT TOUR
Impressed by the work he had done on VH1 Big in 2005, and VH1 Rock Honors, Def Leppard called Robb Wagner to produce videos for their highly successful “Yeah” concert tour.
Frontman, Joe Elliot said:
When Robb Wagner was suggested for the “Yeah!” tour, we immediately said yes. He’d already impressed the hell out of us with his sterling work at the VH1 Rock Honors back in May. I sent him a ton of archive material. He & his team of willing workers weeded their way through it all. I think the true testament of what he did is that when we first saw what he’d done we didn’t change a thing !!!! I only saw it twice (from the stage during rehearsals) but I loved it. I spent the next six months taking all the compliments night after night from friends, colleagues & fans whose comments only cemented our beliefs that we’d done something really special. Thanx Robb, let’s do it again, only BIGGER !!!!!
Joe Elliott, Def Leppard
November 2006
GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Fall 2006 was a particularly busy stretch for Stimulated, as the growing company juggled projects and outgrew its creative space. The quarters were tight, but creativity was high. Stimulated blazed through back-to-back productions, including The 58th Annual Emmy Awards, and the Spike Scream Awards.
November 2006
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
Stimulated notched its first American Music Awards, creating screen looks for Beyonce, Fall Out Boy, Jamie Foxx, Barry Manilow, and Carrie Underwood among others. That same month, Disney called on Stimulated to work with Director, Kenny Ortega, on its blockbuster High School Musical: The Concert Tour.
November 2006
SPIKE VIDEO GAME AWARDS
A crowning achievement at the time, Stimulated was named to design the screens for production designer, Bruce Rodgers incredible Spike Video Game Awards stage. Every inch of the stage including the floor was video. Stimulated worked with Spike producers, AFI, Tenacious D, and Rodgers creating video looks that would resonate with the overly stimulated gamer audience.
December 2006
VH1 BIG IN 2006 AWARDS
Stimulated closed out 2006 working with VH1 on their Big in 2006 Awards. The year-end award fest featured performances by Fergie, Weird Al, and the Killers.
January 2007
NEW YEARS EVE DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS
Stimulated rang in the new year designing 8 city blocks of video for Channel 101’s New Years Eve: Downtown Las Vegas. The live concert special had stages at both ends of the massive Fremont street LED canopy.
Spring 2007
PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Stimulated began construction on its permanent home, in Burbank, CA.
Spring 2007
WORLD STUNT AWARDS
Stimulated worked with Red Bull on their World Stunt Awards. Robb Wagner served as a consulting producer to the show. The production included a fashion show conceived by Wagner, in which all of the runway models were on fire.
Spring 2007
FERGIE SOLO TOUR
Impressed by the work Stimulated had done at VH1’s Big in 2006, Fergie recruited Stimulated to create video projection for her solo tour. The “Glamorous” piece created by Stimulated was projected on a 100-foot wide LED screen at Wembley Stadium during the “Concert for Diana”.
Summer 2007
HANNAH MONTANA 3D CONCERT FILM
Stimulated Founder, Robb Wagner toured with Hannah Montana in preparation for the filming of Disney’s 3D concert film. Wagner worked alongside Director, Bruce Hendricks, helping him capture the critical 3D shots during the live concert performance.
Summer 2007
VH1 ROCK HONORS
Stimulated was called on by VH1 to design the screens for its next installment of Rock Honors. The concert special featured performances by Ozzy, Heart, Genesis, ZZ Top, Gretchen Wilson, Queens of the Stone Age and Alice In Chains.
July 2007
LIVE EARTH: THE CONCERTS FOR A CLIMATE IN CRISIS
Stimulated was selected to produce the video for US component of Live Earth, a worldwide event raising awareness of Global Warming. Stimulated worked with event organizers and performing artists to help Live Earth deliver their message to the world. Perfomers included Fall Out Boy, Bon Jovi, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Akon, Dave Matthews Band, Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Melissa Etheridge, Kanye West, Smashing Pumpkins, Rihanna, AFI and The Police.
September 2007
STIMULATED MOVES INTO ITS NEW STUDIO
Stimulated moved into its permanent home, in Burbank, CA. The brand new facility includes design and animation studios, editing rooms, and a technology lab.
November 2007
LAS VEGAS COMEDY FESTIVAL: ELLEN’S REALLY BIG SHOW
Stimulated was back at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, this time at Ellen’s Really Big Show. Stimulated designed video looks for host, Ellen DeGeneres, along with a long list of variety acts.
December 2007
MILEY CYRUS “I MISS YOU” GREEN SCREEN” VIDEO
Stimulated designed, edited and composited a green screen video for Miley Cyrus. The tribute to Miley’s lost Grandfather, “I Miss You” premiered on the Oprah Winfrey show.
January 2008
CELINE DION CONCERT SPECIAL
Stimulated was recruited to create video looks for Celine Dion, as she celebrated her much anticipated return to touring in a televised concert special.
January 2008
SUPER BOWL XLII HALF TIME SHOW
Stimulated worked with Super Bowl Half Time producers and Tom Petty, creating video looks for the most watched half time show on record.
January 2008
JOHN OLIVER SPECIAL
Stimulated designed screen looks for a stylistic political comedy performance hosted by John Oliver (the Daily Show). The Comedy Central special was shot at a theatre in New York, and was produced and directed by Troy Miller of Dakotah Films.
Spring 2008
ESPY AWARDS
Stimulated worked with ESPN designing its reinvented ESPY Awards. The sports award fest was hosted by Justin Timberlake, who performed in a multimedia rock opera.
Summer 2008
MTV MOVIE AWARDS – COLDPLAY & PUSSYCAT DOLLS
Stimulated proudly collaborated on MTV’s Movie Awards. This marked the first Movie Awards collaboration between Stimulated and the Movie Awards. Stimulated worked with Coldplay and Pussycat Dolls on their Movie Award performances.
July 2008
VH1 ROCK HONORS – THE WHO
Stimulated returned for its third VH1 Rock Honors. This installment featured live concert performances by Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, and The Who.
September 2008
60TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS
Stimulated participated in the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. This marked Stimulated’s second Emmys, and the first in which it provided both the creative and the technical screens operation.
November 2008
LAS VEGAS COMEDY FESTIVAL: ELLEN’S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW
Stimulated was back at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas for the third time. Stimulated worked with Ellen Show producers crafting the video looks for here second annual variety special at Caesars Palace Coliseum, which included a performance by Cirque du Soliel.
November 2008
CHEETAH GIRLS “ONE WORLD” CONCERT TOUR
Stimulated went on the road with Disney’s girl power group, Cheetah Girls. Touring on the heels of their “One World” feature film, Stimulated produced video looks for the Cheetah tour under the supervision of tour Director, Amy Tinkham.
November 2008
PUSSYCAT DOLLS “DOLL DOMINATION” WORLD TOUR
Stimulated began working with Pussycat Dolls on their Doll Domination world tour. Stimulated designed 25 original video looks for the tour, and produced an opening fantasy film in which the Dolls circle the planet on motorcycles, bedazzling famous locales along the way. The Stimulated team traveled with the Dolls to the UK at the beginning of 2009 to help launch the tour.
November 2008
KEYSHIA COLE CONCERT TOUR
In a third run of collaborations with female pop sensations, Stimulated worked with Keyshia Cole producing video looks for her US tour.
January 2009
JANUARY IN THE UK – PUSSYCAT DOLLS TOUR
Stimulated kicked off 2009 in the UK, helping the Pussycat Dolls launch their Doll Domination world tour.
January 2009
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION CONCERT
The Stimulated team was divided up between two continents to conquer its projects. The team rejoined in Washington DC for one of three official Presidential Inaugural events. “The Kids Inaugural” aired live on The Disney Channel, and featured Miley Cyrus, Jonas Bros, and Demi Lovato performing for an audience of military children. The sold-out audience also included the incoming first families.
February 2009
VH1 STORYTELLERS: KANYE WEST
Stimulated had the honor of working with Kanye West and his talented creative team on VH1 Storytellers. Stimulated created video looks that were projected into a 120-foot wide ribbon that surrounded the Storytellers stage.
Spring 2009
MTV MOVIE AWARDS & MICHAEL JACKSON THIS IS IT
Stimulated geared up for its second consecutive MTV Movie Awards. Meanwhile, Robb Wagner was called to a meeting with Kenny Ortega who introduced him to Michael Jackson. After an 11-hour initial meeting, Ortega and Jackson hired Stimulated to produce the film and video for Michael’s planned This Is It concert tour.
May 2009
MTV MOVIE AWARDS
Stimulated executed the highly rated MTV Movie Awards, which featured a comeback performance by Eminem.
June 2009
THE “DOME PROJECT” – SHOOTING FILMS FOR MICHAEL JACKSON
On the morning after the 2009 Movie Awards, Stimulated began principal photography on “The Dome Project”, which was the working title for short films and visual effects sequences we were producing for Michael Jackson’s planned “This Is It” concert tour. After months of planning, we shot state of the art films and visual effects sequences, over two weeks, on three sound stages in Culver City, CA. Michael Jackson’s vision for the films included 3D, which would have been a first-ever experience for concertgoers.
July 2009
A TRAGIC ENDING
Stimulated had spend much of the year working closely with Michael Jackson and his Co-Director, Kenny Ortega on Michael’s planned This Is It concert tour. We were in concert production rehearsal at the Staples Center when we suddenly and tragically lost our friend, colleague, and leader.
July 2009
IN HIS HONOR
We were proud and honored to help make Michael Jackson’s memorial service fitting and memorable tribute.
August 2009
MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT FEATURE FILM
In the weeks following Michael Jackson’s passing the fate of the “Dome Project” was uncertain. The films were incomplete, but we knew in our hearts Michael’s fans deserved to appreciate the work he wanted to put forth at his comeback tour. Michael’s Co-Director, Kenny Ortega felt the same way, and when Sony agreed to let him tell the story of “This Is It”, he made sure the Dome Project was part of the story.
Michael’s fans have now been treated to excerpts and behind the scenes footage from “The Dome Project” thanks to “This Is It.” How fans will be able to view the state of the art films in their entirety is still unknown. This work was intended to be part of one of the most exciting entertainment events possible, a Michael Jackson concert. The fans deserve their chance to appreciate The Dome Project, and we have no doubt that time will come.
November 2009
MICROSOFT DIGITAL SIGNAGE
After taking some necessary time to recover and regroup, Stimulated helped kick off the opening of the Microsoft retail stores. Stimulated partnered with Washington DC firm, Group Incorporated, creating digital signage media for display on 120 plasma screens lining each of the Microsoft stores. Our ability to present architectural 3D renderings assisted in our ability to realize Microsoft’s vision.
Stimulated continues to reach new heights year after year. We have built bonds that are irreplaceable through some truly groundbreaking efforts. We thank our friends, colleagues and collaborators for a memorable first five years, and we look forward to our work together in the future.
