Jennifer Lopez - MTV VIdeo Music Awards
Context
The MTV Video Music Awards are known for producing some of the most memorable live performances in pop culture. In 2018, Jennifer Lopez returned to the VMAs stage to accept the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, celebrating two decades of hit-making. To mark the moment, she delivered a high-energy medley of her biggest songs, designed to showcase both her legacy and her enduring stage presence.
Our Role
PRECISION was enlisted to design the laser environment that opened Lopez’s performance. We created a Laser Banding spotlight that surrounded her as she rose into the air, with cloud-like ribbons of beams swirling around her body. Behind her, an array of lasers formed a radiant wall that expanded the stage into a futuristic, otherworldly space. Every beam was programmed with precise timing to complement the music and the movement of the performance.
Why Laser Banding
Lopez began her medley with “Waiting for Tonight,” a song long associated with laser imagery from its iconic 1999 video. By using Laser Banding, the performance echoed that visual legacy while presenting it in a modern, reality-defying form. The floating beams captured on camera as suspended ribbons created an atmosphere of glamour and spectacle, reinforcing Lopez’s entrance as both nostalgic and groundbreaking.
Integration with the Performance
The laser sequence was the first impression of the medley, and it set the tone for what followed: a career-spanning showcase filled with choreography, set pieces, and cameos. From the laser-framed entrance to the subway car set for “Jenny from the Block” and the finale with Ja Rule and DJ Khaled, the lasers established the elevated scale of the performance and tied directly to Lopez’s musical history.
Reception
Press and fans alike highlighted the spectacle of Lopez’s Vanguard performance. Media outlets described the “retro-techno aesthetic” and noted how the lasers swirling around her opening entrance drew a direct connection to the visuals of “Waiting for Tonight.” Inside Radio City Music Hall, the crowd erupted in a standing ovation, while fans online called the show “out-of-this-world.” Within the production community, the VMAs performance was recognized as a striking application of Laser Banding on one of television’s largest live stages.
Outcome
Jennifer Lopez’s 2018 VMAs medley was celebrated as a career-defining showcase. The use of Laser Banding amplified her entrance, transforming it into a moment that felt both iconic and fresh. By surrounding her in sculptural beams of light, the performance underlined her superstar stature and delivered a visual statement worthy of the Video Vanguard Award.
SEE IT LIVE
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