1.3m views: capturing John Summit live at Madison Square Garden

Shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden are career defining. For Chicago born and raised DJ John Summit, his 2024 performance was also his first professionally-filmed live set.

So the pressure was on. Together with AEON Point, NOMOBO’s creative team was asked to capture the moment, perfectly framing a high-energy experience for a YouTube digital premiere.

And there was no room for error. The entire production, from set-up to removal, had to be in and out of the venue in less than 24 hours. Outstanding logistics and top-notch quality were both essential.

How preparation made the impossible possible

Our team arrived at Madison Square Garden at 6am on show day. Just 21 hours later, we left the building – having successfully set up, filmed, and de-rigged the entire production.

Working at that speed was possible thanks to several rehearsal days at Rock Lititz, PA and through the incredible collaboration with AEON Point, Heavy Global and John his production team.

During those rehearsals, camera placements were finalised and key moments were identified, all to be shot on:

• 4K Blackmagic URSA cameras with Fujinon Cabrio lenses
• 10 primary operated camera angles, supplemented by five additional angles (including gimbals in the crowd)
• Expertly-piloted drones for iconic aerial shots

Other processes helped to create a flawless edit, including a unified timecode for seamless footage integration.

A line cut from the live show was used as the edit’s foundation. Angles were specifically chosen to enhance the pacing and visual experience. Color grading was completed in DaVinci Resolve.