Storyboard

Look Closer

Fannin Musical Productions Storyboard by Jason Shelby

jrolenshelby@gmail.com (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.

Colors, Costuming, Flags

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.”

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