Hear Them Calling - Eurovision 2016 Televised Performance

Format: Live and Televised Performance

Role: Creative Director, Editor, Director of Photography

Duration: 3 minutes

Tools Used: Final Cut Pro

Director: Jonathan Duffy

Production Company: RÚV, Greta Salóme

Broadcaster / Platform: EBU, SVT, RÚV

Project Overview:
For Iceland’s 2016 Eurovision entry, I developed the visual concept and staging for Greta Salóme’s return to the competition. Working from her idea of “shadows” embodying negative influences, I storyboarded the interaction between performer and projections, directed motion recordings, and assembled the final shadow graphics. After winning the national final, I adapted the visuals for the LED architecture of Stockholm’s Globe Arena, negotiating technical constraints with SVT and refining graphics on-site until the live, televised performance.

Recognition :

“One of the strongest entries Iceland has entered in years… the staging elevates the song into something really magical.” — Wiwibloggs (2016)

My Contribution:

  • Led the visual and creative direction for Iceland’s Eurovision 2016 performance of Hear Them Calling.

  • Designed and produced the on-screen graphics, including the signature silhouetted smoke-trail moment, which became the defining visual of the performance.

  • Developed the overall dark, textured visual language to contrast the song’s folk-pop structure and create a stronger emotional impact on stage.

  • Collaborated closely with Greta Salóme to align the visuals with choreography, ensuring seamless interaction between performer and screen.

  • Delivered a complete visual package ready for the arena LED system and broadcast environment.

Creative / Technical Notes:

  • Built a full visual identity for the performance with a minimal production budget, requiring custom in-house techniques instead of outsourced animation.

  • Created all assets using a mix of practical lighting, live-action silhouette capture, and composited graphic elementsto achieve a cinematic look without high-cost VFX.

  • Developed the signature silhouette and shadow-trail sequence by combining controlled backlighting with layered smoke effects and post-production enhancement.

  • Designed visuals to work reliably on the Eurovision LED wall system, ensuring contrast, legibility, and sync precision during live broadcast.

  • Structured the performance around performer–screen interaction, requiring precise timing and tight coordination with Greta Salóme’s choreography.

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