CORPORATE CLIENT

This client came to us to plan their Mad Max-themed annual all-staff celebration. The theme was the biggest fear for them going into the project as it was something different than what they had done in previous years. BlackOak took the challenge head-on — taking something unusual and turning it into a fun and engaging event for the client and their guests. We got excited about the theme internally, spreading excitement to the client. We watched the movie and absorbed the world it’s a part of.

A production like this comes with its challenges. The event was initially scheduled to be held outside, but due to it being April in Chicago, we had to move the whole event inside 48 hours prior due to a rainy forecast. The hardest part of producing this event was getting the permits to put an 80-foot flame tower next to an active high voltage power station. It took months of coordination with the city, the venue, and our pyrotechnic team to make that happen, but everyone’s hard work paid off.

BlackOak was the right fit for this project because we brought in a team of producers who are fully committed to making this event happen no matter the obstacles. When it came to designing, the first step of the process was crafting the narrative and understanding the story so we could set the visuals. We worked hand in hand with KEHOE DESIGNS to create this fantastic visual direction which translated to what the guests saw that evening. We pulled out all the tricks with lighting, audio, video, staging, a scenic design show, polytechnics, and special effects. We even built a custom virtual reality video game that each guest got to experience. The result was an unforgettable night of entertainment and experiential moments for everyone involved.