igNIGHT Grand Finale

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

Hello,
I attended the igNIGHT Grand Finale commercial shoot today. We were finally let in a little bit late around 8:45 and they didn't start filming until even later. Filming concluded around 12:10. During the shoot we were given a styrofoam glow stick. The glow stick had a Six Flags Great America logo on it as well as the igNIGHT Grand Finale logo. I believe that they will sell these before each show. There were many cameras there, including one on a boom. They kept on videotaping the same scene over and over again. But then as a surprise, we got a treat from them. They performed the whole show for us. It lasted a little longer than 20 minutes. But they also didn't do any costume changes. Overall, I think the show is pretty good and I think the general public will love it. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. Some of the effects that they use in it is very cool, and the projections, lasers, lights, singing, and choreography is very well done. They even did some pyrotechnics for us. One of the fireworks ended up shooting out towards the crowd a bit and a part of one of them ended up landed on the Hometown Square bathrooms and then exploded on the roof of it. It was a really fun event and I want to thank Six Flags Great America for doing it. One thing that I noticed when I was leaving and that I thought was strange was that they drained Columbia Carousel's Pond. It was filled up when we all entered the park for the commercial shoot. So does anybody know why they did this? I have a video of the whole igNIGHT Grand Finale performance that I will hopefully post on YouTube later today. Thanks for reading.

[cliffhanger]

I agree, the show was very good. However, I thought the singing was a little off, but im guessing it was because they were all tired from the shoot. I can't wait to see the costume changes, I bet it will really enhance the show! BTW, do you think those glow sticks were just for the shoot? Or will they sell them at the park...

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

I believe that they will sell those at the park as I think they added to the show. I agree, because the performers began to show fatigue the longer and longer shoot went on for.

[cab0218]

Hello,
I attended the igNIGHT Grand Finale commercial shoot today. We were finally let in a little bit late around 8:45 and they didn't start filming until even later. Filming concluded around 12:10. During the shoot we were given a styrofoam glow stick. The glow stick had a Six Flags Great America logo on it as well as the igNIGHT Grand Finale logo. I believe that they will sell these before each show. There were many cameras there, including one on a boom. They kept on videotaping the same scene over and over again. But then as a surprise, we got a treat from them. They performed the whole show for us. It lasted a little longer than 20 minutes. But they also didn't do any costume changes. Overall, I think the show is pretty good and I think the general public will love it. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. Some of the effects that they use in it is very cool, and the projections, lasers, lights, singing, and choreography is very well done. They even did some pyrotechnics for us. One of the fireworks ended up shooting out towards the crowd a bit and a part of one of them ended up landed on the Hometown Square bathrooms and then exploded on the roof of it. It was a really fun event and I want to thank Six Flags Great America for doing it. One thing that I noticed when I was leaving and that I thought was strange was that they drained Columbia Carousel's Pond. It was filled up when we all entered the park for the commercial shoot. So does anybody know why they did this? I have a video of the whole igNIGHT Grand Finale performance that I will hopefully post on YouTube later today. Thanks for reading.

Sounds unsafe to me. Hopefully this does not happen when it actually starts. I still think this was a huge waste of money for the park.

[JimPanky]

I agree, the show was very good. However, I thought the singing was a little off, but im guessing it was because they were all tired from the shoot. I can't wait to see the costume changes, I bet it will really enhance the show! BTW, do you think those glow sticks were just for the shoot? Or will they sell them at the park...

The shoot would definitely tire them out. Doing the same thing over and over is extremely draining on a performer. Also, the show hasn't opened yet. You basically saw a dress rehearsal. I'm sure thing's will be better once the show opens (and after that it's always a work in progress).

[cliffhanger]

Here's a little video I put together of the event last night. The clips in the video is mostly what we saw all night. Well, except for the sneak preview. But i didnt record that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKmgezdWuvM

[T.K.]

Hello guys,
I was there too. It was an awesome experience. I was the guy in pink shirt and white shorts; with a girl in yellow shirt and white pants. We were standing by the "family" that was being filmed. Then after they were done with them, they filmed me and my friend. We had to hold a camera up and pretend we are making video, talk to each other and had to kiss her on a cheek. While everyone else was jumping and doing their stuff. So maybe I was easier to be spotted.

BTW Hahahaha anyone remember that lady shouting "SHUT UP" and we all got quiet and started to laugh.

[ChicagoCoasterGuy]

I was there too and I actually asked Brandon Bruce in the way out about the pond and he said it's done monthly for a cleaning overnight. Very interesting indeed!

[BBH]

I was there too and I actually asked Brandon Bruce in the way out about the pond and he said it's done monthly for a cleaning overnight. Very interesting indeed!

That would seem sensible.

I wasn't there, but from what I've been told the show isn't bad, but still, not something I'd go out of my way to see every time.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_A6HyzOPw
That is the complete and full showing of igNIGHT Grand Finale that the park did for us yesterday at the Commercial Shoot. I video taped and uploaded to YouTube today so people that weren't there can watch the whole show.

[Radical-Illusion]

Oh my...I didnt know I got my picture taken waiting to get in to the event. lol. Im in the yellow shirt in the first picture. Lol!!! And that lady was amusing when she did that.

[Stoogie]

So is the train station blocked? Can you access the station? Just curious.

[DejaVu2001]

^ No one knows what is going on with the train station. The recorded spiel on Railroad (which IS the 2013 recording) still says "our next stop is Hometown Square" so there must be some plan.

[DeathbyDinn]

Didn't they say at NCC that one of the wheelchair ramps would be the new main entrance and that you'd walk through the stage to get to the train?

[scott2608]

Making of igNIGHT Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpBNRleW7yc

If you missed Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUDxEne0qk

[Sporlo]

This seems neat to say the least, but my initial impression that I got when the show was announced was that it would feature plenty of pyrotechnics. Now it seems they are just an insignificant accessory. I personally think it would've been worth it for Six Flags to take the entire igNight budget and just dump it into as many fireworks as possible. Even if half the park had to be closed for safety regs, imagine riding Raging Bull after sunset with fireworks going off. I could care less about song & dance & a movie screen.

[cab0218]

Ya im not really impressed with it at all. The parks budget for this could have been used for more better things like maintaining rides. We can all agree that Eagles helix needs some work and that is putting it lightly. It could also use a paint job along with Superman.

[Ilovthevu']

The show is not bad, but I don't think it's worth whatever extravagant money they are putting into it - especially the white superman crystal looking thing in the back of the show. And yes, I know during the show it doesn't look white. It has the scenes. What I get from this show is that it's a little better than Pop Fusion. And the only reason I say that is because they are singing all of it - rather than pre-recorded background vocals for most of the songs which was a complaint for me, for Pop Fusion. However, I just see it as Pop Fusion - non recorded background vocals outside, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if I had to choose going SFGAm based on this show, or some other park that has a great ride coming in, I'm going to choose another park.

I did complain a little bit about that Glow in the Park parade awhile ago, but for me, the thing is that it might have not been worth 4 million dollars, but yet it was something more unique to the park. They just needed a little more to that parade to make it completely outstanding, and now I sort of miss that parade. Now, I wish they would bring that back, but get 4 more floats. Than it would have been a much better parade in my opinion. I guess the way I have to look at, is that the park has had those other parade floats for so long, and it was time to invest into more designs. I also think they needed the Glow in Park Parade to last longer during the summertime. It was such a short run. It seemed like it was late June to really early August only. Anyway, I rather see Glow in the Park Parade back than them spending the money on this when they could do this inside a theater, but add more floats to the Glow in the Park Parade.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

BTW, do you think those glow sticks were just for the shoot? Or will they sell them at the park...

I was at the park on Thursday and I went into Carousel Gifts and saw that they were selling the glow sticks for $5. They also have t-shirts that light up, pins, and a few other things that they are selling that have the igNIGHT Grand Fianle logo on them.

[cliffhanger]

Finally found a good quality video of IgNight on YouTube ( http://tinyurl.com/lq5akvf ) and let me say, this show is a lot better than I expected! When I saw the preview on the 6th, I thought it was MEH (mostly the singers) but they have definitely improved since then. I kind of wished there were more fireworks, but I know that its probably really expensive.

Looking at the video, I did notice something interesting. There must be at least two different projection videos for the show. I'm guessing a pyro and non-pyro version. The part that I noticed was during the "light up the sky" (DJ singer) sequence. There is a little special effect that makes it look like the projected fireworks explode into the real world, but this was not in the version i saw. Its nice to know they considered all the situations for the show. But looking at the two versions side by side, there were also other changes like projected "spotlights" and added/alternate video effects. Is there a chance for multiple "different" shows? It would be cool If they could mix up video segments to make every show unique, huh?
Here's the alternate version Im talking about : http://tinyurl.com/m2rjmqa

[Ace]

I saw the show last night and I have to say that it is a major upgrade for the entertainment department at Great America. I thought it was a very good show.

[Carlo]

I have seen the show two times and I can tell you it is not that great. It is an OK show but the shows with the Loony tuns where much better. The story line is hard to understand and the club scene last way too long. You start getting board of it. I have little kids and they were also board of it. I do not think the show is family show in any way. I think is geared more for teens. Also the VIP areas are terrible, basically the whole plaza is closed off for the VIP area.

[cliffhanger]

Then after they were done with them, they filmed me and my friend. We had to hold a camera up and pretend we are making video, talk to each other and had to kiss her on a cheek. While everyone else was jumping and doing their stuff. So maybe I was easier to be spotted.

Hey! It looks like you made the final cut! I just saw the commercial on TV, and you are in it, congrats! Hopefully you can catch it on TV, BC it int online anywhere yet...

[T.K.]

Yes, I have seen the commercial. Haha I was like No way! I can't believe I made it into the actual commercial

[Luxornv]

I didn't see the actual show last night, but I did see the pyrotechnics they use. I was expecting something between what Disney does, and what the park district does around here for a 4th of July show. I was disappointed to see it's not even close to that. I'll probably be back some other time to see the actual show. I'm a little interested in seeing it, but if I don't, I'm really not considering it a missed opportunity.