How Filipino artists turned SEVENTEEN’s ‘Follow to Bulacan’ stage into a super set

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) — Eagle-eyed fans of K-pop juggernaut SEVENTEEN have discovered that a team of Filipino artists were the hands behind the stage for the historic “Follow to Bulacan” two-day concert that concluded last weekend.

Gil Bien of HOTSET DSGN shared with CNN Philippines on Saturday the unique experience and challenges his team encountered in creating the stage that showcased the artistry of SEVENTEEN while ensuring the safety of the 11 members present — and even the staff behind the production.

He said the set design came from Live Nation Korea, but the challenge for the Filipino team was how to overcome design restrictions and optimize it for the stage of the Philippine Sports Stadium.

He shared that they started gathering materials on the first week of December 2023 — around a month and a half before the concert.

Although the design has been provided, Bien said they needed to make several changes based on the available materials since safety cannot be compromised for aesthetics.

“We had pictures and drawings sent by our client that we had to analyze and somewhat make more feasible, better, and safer for us, the staff and the performers. We actually kept working until the day before the first day of the concert,” he said. “Beauty and safety go hand in hand.”

Bien, a visual arts, industrial, and production designer who used to work for ABS-CBN, was joined by other experienced artists and staff in creating several stages during the “Follow to Bulacan” tour.

He shared one of the most challenging parts of the concert: creating the stage for the opening number of the hip-hop unit composed of Vernon, Mingyu, and Wonwoo during the two-day concert as sub-unit leader S.Coups is recuperating for his ACL surgery.

He said they have started coming up with a plan on how to incorporate the Hummer SUV for the explosive “Back It Up” track since November.

Bien said the actual vehicle weighed 1,800 kilograms without alteration. They had to add steps, handrails, ladders, foglight, and the supports, but they also took out unnecessary parts like the engine.

The massive wheels on the heavy-duty vehicle were another challenge, he said, adding they were asked to change the wheels to lighter ones days before the concert.

“We decided to use styrofoam to create the wheel so we began carving, sanding and then painting. We had to make sure it was as realistic as possible. It was lighter and better for those who would be pushing it,” he said. But then the styrofoam wheels cannot be used to move the heavy vehicle.

“Another challenge was distributing the weight of the vehicle since we would not be using the styrofoam wheels. We designed our own support that squares well with the base of the Hummer and lifts it, it’s bolted and welded with safety in mind.”

Despite the obstacles, HOTSET DSGN was able to mount the stage in the stadium — the first international and sold-out concert held in the venue — without major malfunctions that could’ve compromised the safety of the SEVENTEEN members and their staff.

“Working the set on an outdoor setting brings multiple concerns. The safety of your crew, such as the heat and the strong winds affected everyone and our decisions on setup. I’m just glad there were no heavy rains,” the artist said.

“I thank both my team and their team for giving the Carats one show they’ll never forget,” he added.