ANGEL CITY FC - LASER BANDING PORTRAITS
Setting the Stage
In 2023 Angel City FC (ACFC) prepared to launch its second season in the National Women’s Soccer League. The club wanted more than a typical player‑introduction video; it needed a piece of art that would capture Los Angeles’ creative energy, celebrate the players and reinforce ACFC’s reputation for redefining women’s sports. To achieve this, Belinski Media and ACFC’s Head of Content, Jennifer Pransky, enlisted PRECISION to develop a dramatic pre‑game opener and media‑day portrait session using Laser Banding, a technique that renders ribbons of lasers floating in space. The objective was to produce visuals that felt both cinematic and authentic — a true fusion of sport, entertainment and technology.
Design & Technique
The creative team’s vision was to surround each athlete with luminous shapes that moved with them. Laser Banding made this possible. In a darkened studio, high‑powered lasers, haze and a robot‑mounted camera formed configurable tunnels and planes of lasers, captured in real time with no CGI. The beams appeared as floating ribbons and bands on film, wrapping around players or slicing through the frame. The lasers were programmed to match ACFC’s color palette and arranged to accentuate the movement and silhouette of each player. Still photographs and motion sequences were captured concurrently so that the same design language could be used for portraits, digital graphics and in‑stadium videos.
Production
Filming took place ahead of the 2023 season at a studio in Los Angeles. Each player stepped into a set filled with haze and laser‑light structures that they could walk through or interact with. Director of Photography Jonathan Belinski and laser designer Adam LaBay choreographed camera movements and laser programs to create a constantly shifting environment around the athletes. The crew also captured high‑resolution stills of each player, ensuring that the dynamic Laser Banding look would extend to ACFC’s roster pages, press kits and social channels.
Release & Impact
The finished pieces debuted at Angel City’s home opener on March 26 2023 when the team hosted NJ/NY Gotham FC at BMO Stadium. The intro video played on the stadium jumbotron before kickoff, instantly setting an electrifying tone for the season. ACFC and its players shared snippets and portraits on social media, and the imagery appeared in promotional campaigns, ticket‑sales materials and broadcast packages. Fans responded enthusiastically to the futuristic look, often expressing surprise that the laser effects were captured live rather than generated digitally. The campaign reinforced ACFC’s reputation as a club that embraces Hollywood production values and elevated expectations for media‑day content across the league.
Results & Legacy
Angel City FC’s Laser Banding campaign proved that a sports club’s branding content can be both technically inventive and emotionally resonant. The project introduced a high‑tech visual language to the NWSL and demonstrated how lasers could be used as storytelling tools. For PRECISION, the collaboration showcased its versatility of the Laser Banding technique for athlete portraits and hype reels. For ACFC, the opener became a signature piece of the 2023 season and inspired other clubs to experiment with ambitious visual introductions.
Work With Us
Interested in bringing cinematic laser design to your project? PRECISION offers studio visits and creative consultations to explore how Laser Banding and other bespoke laser technologies can transform film shoots, live events and brand campaigns. Contact us to request a quote or schedule a demonstration, and discover how we can craft a one‑of‑a‑kind visual experience for your next endeavor.