The partnership between Music Xpress Light and CHAUVET Professional elevated the success of the 20th edition of the 2023 Premios de la Juventud. Broadcasting from the Isla del Encanto, the event was aired on Univision.
The Premios de la Juventud 2023 stand out as a landmark event that pays tribute to young talents and celebrates their valuable contributions to new generations. Music Xpress Light (MXL) played a crucial role in this prestigious project, thanks to the efforts of Barbara Aztiazarain, “crew chief,” and Rene García, lighting director for Univision.
In this year’s edition, Shakira emerged as the top winner, followed by Karol G, Peso Pluma, Bad Bunny, Bizzarap, and Rosalía.
The involvement of MXL was key in areas like the PJ Backlot at La Marqueta, where the specials presented on the main night were recorded, and the Red Carpet at the Puerto Rico Coliseum, José Miguel Agrelot, where the technical team set up impressive structures and the lighting platform.
Being part of an event of this magnitude was a great honor for MXL and CHAUVET Professional, strengthening ties with Puerto Rico and the Latin community in the United States.
Based in the Minillas Industrial Park in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Musique Xpress Lights has solidified its position as one of the prominent companies in the entertainment industry in the region. Their approximately 22,000 square feet facilities include loading and unloading areas, warehouse, conference rooms, programming rooms, and administrative offices.
The company was founded in 1988 as a result of the merger between Musique Xpress Dj’s, a company founded in 1979 by Enrique Núñez, and the incorporation of Eduardo Avilés, providing strong support for the new lighting area.
With a team of over 30 individuals, including 10 members in administrative and operational roles, MXL is known for its professionalism and commitment to event production. Their product portfolio features a wide and diverse inventory of lighting equipment and LED screens for concerts, television, corporate events, conventions, sports events, stages, structures, ceilings, and much more.
The relationship between Musique Xpress Lights and CHAUVET Professional dates back over 13 years. The company has found Chauvet to be a trusted brand for successfully executing large-scale projects.
Lara Alsina, Head of Marketing and Sales at MUSIC XPRESS, commented, “The Chauvet brand in Puerto Rico is one of those brands that starts strong, from CHAUVET DJ to its evolution into CHAUVET Professional. They are always at the forefront with their equipment. Paula Ortiz, our contact with the factory, is an excellent professional, always attentive to our needs, both in equipment and after-sales service.”
For the Premios de la Juventud event, the lighting designer and director, Rene García, selected an impressive array of CHAUVET Professional luminaires that delivered high-quality visual effects both at the PJ Backlot in La Marqueta and the Red Carpet at the Puerto Rico Coliseum.
For the outdoor waterfront setup at the PJ Backlot, lighting fixtures such as Rogue Outcast 1 BeamWash, Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash, Color Strike M, COLORado Solo 1, and Freedom Par Quad were used.
Similarly, at the Red Carpet event, which was also outdoors, lighting fixtures including COLORado Batten 72X, COLORado 1 Quad, Rogue Outcast 1 BeamWash, Color Strike M, Freedom Par, and On Air 1 panels were utilized.
“Our goal in designing this show was to maintain our overall stage setup while keeping it open to showcase the natural beauty and provide a variety of lighting effects for the broadcast”, noted Rene García. “Enrique Núñez and Eduardo Avilés, the owners of Musique Xpress, as well as our PM Lara Alsina, were excellent in helping us guide our vision. We placed most of the devices on the ground and only used four vertical trusses so that the cameras had good views of the ocean, palm trees, and beach environment. The producers wanted the viewers at home to feel the essence of Puerto Rico, and this location fit that objective well.”
Given Puerto Rico’s status as a tropical island with unpredictable weather, the MXL team faced the challenge of ensuring high-quality lighting that could withstand changing weather conditions. The decision to use Chauvet luminaires with an IP65 rating, water-resistant, proved to be a successful solution for the event’s success.
“We sought light with the right white balance for good transmission on television, colors, and effects such as beams and strobes to add more action and movement to the different shots,” explained Alsina. “We chose CHAUVET Professional not only for their exceptional quality but also for the advantage that the equipment used was entirely IP65, allowing us to ensure the success of the project in the face of potential adverse weather conditions. In addition to lighting, we must mention that aluminum structures and platforms from our inventory were also used.”
Reflecting on their participation in this important event for the Latin community, a shared sentiment from the MXL team, voiced by Lara Alsina, sums it up: “This event has been one of those projects that is a pleasure to work on, not only due to its significance but also because of the team that was involved. It gave us the opportunity to showcase a facet of the type of equipment we work with – rugged and perfect for our climate and outdoor work. MXL aims to cover those technical areas within the entertainment industry where our clients feel secure and confident in their projects.”
The soft white light of the onAir Panel significantly improved the on-camera appearance. While this luminaire ensured that different artists looked good on camera, a collection of COLORado 1 Quad lights combined with Rogue Outcast 1 BeamWash lights added depth to the various lighting touches that the production had chosen to emphasize each scene.
For the events at the PJ Backlot in La Marqueta, as well as at the Red Carpet at the Puerto Rico Coliseum, lighting designer and director Rene García was supported by Barbara Aztiazarain as the Team Leader and Supervisor. They were also supported by Thomas Mahler as the Structural Designer, Christopher Fernández as the Lighting Programmer, Iván Sánchez as the Master Electrician, and Bryan Morales and Gabriel Cruz as the Head Techs of Musique Xpress Lights.
“Working with the Musique Xpress Lights team for the past 13 years has been a great pleasure! Seeing the successes and growth of MXL in the region is a source of great pride for me, first as a Boricua, and then as an integral part of the significant market that Puerto Rico represents in the LATAM region for Chauvet,” stated Paula Ortiz, Business Development Manager of Chauvet for Latin America.
Through the colors delivered by Chauvet fixtures, Rene García from Univision and Musique Xpress Lights conveyed the different emotions experienced during the event. The color palette from CHAUVET Professional was a key element in the show’s development. The different looks achieved emphasized these emotions without letting the audience lose sight of what was happening on both the Red Carpet and the PJ Backlot at La Marqueta.
Without a doubt, it was a great team effort. Premios de la Juventud demonstrated that when two leading and responsible brands come together, incredible results can be achieved.
