The Lego Project
Water Ski Mini-Figure Costumes Made for Legoland Florida's New Park in Winter Haven.
The Lego Project is one of Yvette's personal favorites because of the many
construction challenges and design hurdles the project presented to us to solve.
The costumes had to withstand daily use not only in Florida's intense sun,
but also while wet with the water of natural lakes with no chemistry control.
They had to be worn by athletes water-skiing with their real faces completely
hidden. Only one set of show costumes was ordered for use of up to three
shows a day year round.
Another challenge was to realize Lego's prize minifigure in human
scale. The proportions had to be adjusted for wearing on the human body
in such a way as to not lose the overall look and feel of their tiny characters.
A prototype was created and tried out in Lake Eloise. The performer was
extremely
talented, and could do just about anything in the suit,
including a slolum ski that was raised in the air for tricks.
We felt we were headed in the right direction with the design.
Below: The cast tries out the costumes for the first time,
feeling out the best ways to leave the dock.
And off they go! This was a big victory for all.
The video below is from Orlando Attractions Magazine. They did this shooting
during a press day that was just prior to the Legoland Florida's
official opening in October of 2011.
It starts out with a wide shot
of the lake where the show "Brickbeard's Bounty" is performed.
The video seems a bit odd because there was not an audience
on this day as the park had not officially opened yet.
The new Legoland Florida was still in it's final construction stages.
Below: Another Cast member practices on the jet ski
Backstage, Brickbeard in process chats with another cast member.
We set up for final fittings at a nearby hotel. We told the cleaning maids
not to bother cleaning up fearing they might pass out upon arrival.
We did get fresh towels however...
These Minifigure faces were always keeping us cheered up.
Always smiling at us. They were always so excited!
Yvette Helin 1205 Manhattan Brooklyn NY 11222 yvette@yvettehelinstudio.com