Dallas’s storied Fair Park is home to the State Fair of Texas, art deco architecture and the Cotton Bowl – and last December, to a celebrity-encrusted haute couture rodeo staged by none other than Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld.

The Métiers d’Art event, showcasing the French fashion house’s 2014 pre-fall collection, was captured in a beautiful series of intriguing shorts directed by Byron Fitts (of The Department) and supported by MPS Studios, which provided lighting/grip/electric.

“Even though MPS has the honor of being selected for an array of interesting, high-profile projects each year, this Lagerfeld/Chanel shoot really stands out as something amazing,” said Brad Beasley, Vice President of MPS Studios.

“We knew that Byron had what it takes to pull it off, so we were impressed but not at all surprised when we saw the final result,” Beasley added.

The films offers both backstage and front row perspectives that capture the theatre and artistry of one of fashion’s premiere live events.  One of the night’s highlights was a “drive-in movie” showing of the Lagerfeld-helmed Chanel history short, THE RETURN, viewed in a setting where 1,000-plus international celebrities mingled among vintage American autos while sipping cherry lime-aid cocktails.

The movie was followed by followed by a dramatic entrance by Lagerfeld himself, who arrived with an entourage that included Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Then came the main event: the runway show held in Fair Park’s Centennial Hall, which was transformed with chandeliers of Texas, French flags and a saloon, the destination for the show’s after-party.

The new Lagerfeld line is rich with Western-themed motifs – pearls, denim and fringe – that serve dual nods to Lagerfeld’s sophisticated vision of Texas and Native American cultures, as well as Chanel’s historic connection with Dallas-based Neiman Marcus founder Stanley Marcus, who championed her 50s-era comeback.

The Paris-to-Texas themes are examined in one of Fitts’ vignettes  featuring interviews with Dakota Fanning, Zoe Kravitz, Lauren Hutton and Kristen Stewart, spokesperson for Chanel’s pre-fall line.

He described the no-second-takes project as a “completely different beast, completely different world.”

“You only got one shot, and couldn’t think twice, so there was a great sense of urgency,” he explained. “Some B roll could be done ahead of time, but most everything else – celebrity interviews, a runway fashion show, and crowd reactions – happened in one night.

“It needed to be a smooth shoot with no hiccups or surprises, which is why I chose MPS,” he went on. “I’ve worked with MPS since day one in this business, and I know that they can deliver. We have a great symbiotic relationship, and I’d rather work with them on just about any project I do.”

(Image courtesy of/property of Walter Films.)

About MPS Studios

For nearly 40 years, MPS Studios has provided the equipment and support services to production companies making movies, commercials, and television. A staff of highly specialized, factory trained, and industry-savvy technicians provide world-class service to clients around the corner and around the globe. The company offers cameras, lighting/grip/electric, sound stages, and complete post services through deliverables. Contact MPS Camera & Lighting Austin or MPS Studios Dallas location to have a rental package or post service customized for your next project. www.mpsfilm.com