OFFICIAL BID FOR WorldVision Song Contest: Special Edition | MARINA POINT, NEKONIKept you waiting, huh?When it comes to looking to the past in the 1980s, there is only one nation that should immediately come to mind. A nation that, thanks to an economic miracle, started the decade as a developing country, and ended it one of the world's global powerhouses, a major player willing to give just as well as it got in the big leagues. That name is Nekoni. We've proved time and time again that we can host a contest. Hell, the contest we put on back in WV80 was effectively a blueprint for this moment. The first ever 80s-styled WorldVision, and, indeed, who better to host it, than the one that has been attempting to embrace the decade that made them big?
We've been to Nekoni twice before in the contest. Our first foray was in the nation's capital in 64. Today, though, the entry comes from its second city, Marina Point. You loved it last time, but for those who haven't seen it for themselves, why is Marina Point the jewel in the crown of our country?
THE CITY
1.2 Nekonians can't be wrong. Our second-largest city, Marina Point, to excuse the wordplay, marks the very point where the new and the old meet. Running along the Canera sea to the country's northwest, Point Marine (as the locals call it) is home to two very distinct sides. The old town, nestled right in the centre of the city, is a cultural labyrinth, with its miles of cobbled streets hiding delicious food, craft stores and art houses wherever you may roam. The area was first designated as an area of cultural significance in 1986, and as part of a decades-long program to acknowledge its cultural heritage, it was fully pedestrianised in 2009 (to counteract the pollution that the once-standing motor racing circuit created just out of town), and with the weather seemingly being that much nicer on the coast, one could be forgiven for taking a quick stroll and accidentally making an entire day out of it.
The main city surrounding it, however, is as modern as they come. As a thriving port city for so many centuries, Mariners have been able to spend their wages on a massive array of amenities, especially along the star of the show: La Grande Plage - a 3-and-a-half kilometre stretch of pure white sandy beach along the sea. Whether your thing is a family attraction, an extreme-sport adventure, a party hotspot or an oasis of pure relaxation, you can be sure that there's some part of the beach just made for you. In fact, every year, conveniently when the WorldVision typically rolls around, there is the week long beachfront festival, Party Sur La Plage. Of course, in modern times, the beach has been waiting for a party for over a year, so they're more than willing to bring the event forward, and show the world just what it can do, one more time.
In fact, the area itself along the waterfront is absolutely the 1980s in a nutshell. As you drive along the Canera Expressway, taking in the city's first glimpses of the peaches and pinks of its beachfront cafés and hotels, it's hard to think you've entered through a wormhole and arrived in Miami Vice. The subcultures around the streets are as diverse and vibrant as they were back in the day, with street skaters, breakdancers and surfers all making this place their home to ply their crafts.
THE ARENAAs before, we head to the second city's premier arena, the NEXPRO Arena. Until 2016, it was the home of Nekonian motorsport, with its International Circuit greeting the global sporting elite, but now, Canera City Studios takes its place. The internationally renowned media metropolis is well known for providing world-class TV and film, but its greatest asset is the Arena. 19,000 strong, what it may lack in numbers compared to its contemporaries, it makes up for with ambition.
THE CONTESTAs we know running the WorldVision Song Contest before, the most important thing in staging is its simplicity. The idea is to give the performers the maximum potential to transform their entries into masterpieces, and why change a winning formula?
The main stage follows this design, with a large, raised rectangular stage at the back, two walkways, and a front, smaller stage with a raised plinth in the centre. This front piece will be where the majority of the hosting shall take place, with the voting and winner's trophy ceremony taking the brunt of it, however it may also be used during the performance. As expected, the usual mod cons are catered for, such as fog, dry ice, fire holographical effects and so on. The main stage has a long, curved LED wall for participant use, and for displaying of the results during voting. And, OF COURSE! We have the orchestral pit in the centre, with any backing accompaniment available, no job is to small for the NTR Philimarmonic. Maybe we might use it for more than just a sight gag with a tambourine this time!
What is new for a Nekoni bid, is that we are holding our cards fairly close to our chest regarding how the graphics are going to look. Depending on the number of entries, we may see a different style that accomodates the space better, but, assuming an entry count in the level of a modern WVSC, this is what the beta scoreboard will look like:
The design is a combination of the old and new, the bright colour backgrounds and the LCD-esque fonts of the 80s, have combined with the crystal-clear legibility of the modern day. Whilst this design may not be the one you see in the final cut, should we be selected, rest assured that the one you see will naturally be similar to this, with the high standard of graphics that Nekoni is famous for.
As for the postcards? Well...that would be telling...
And so, thus concludes our presentation. We hope you decide upon visiting Nekoni for the special edition of the WorldVision Song Contest! We hope to have shown you that we can capture the magic of the contest again in our wonderful city, and as always, façonner l'avenir en Pointe Marine!
Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 4:14 am
