Fernando Fernandes comments on his surprising participation in ‘The masked singer Brasil’: ‘It was very difficult’

The participation of Fernando Fernandes as the Circus of ‘The masked singer Brasil’ was the talk of the day. The presenter was unmasked last Sunday, the 13th, after losing the duel against the duo Romeo and Juliet. In reality, he performed singing hits by Belchior, Nara Leão and Los Hermanos. The costume was made by Globo’s visual effects department, together with the show’s costume designers. “Participating in the program was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I had to completely leave my comfort zone and throw myself to learn to sing, dance, and develop a chair that would allow me to do that. It was a passionate experience”, account.

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Technology for accessibility, enchantment and inclusion

A brightly colored circus tent, with the figure of the laughing sun on top, hiding the participant’s face. If the costume’s exterior promotes enchantment, the structure beneath the fabric is equally fascinating. Designed by Globo’s Special Effects team, the equipment consists of an electric motorized platform, a chair and an exclusive fixation system. The microphone is another key piece: a joystick, allowing the artist to perform all the movement on stage in a calm, comfortable and fluid way. Additionally, as a backup, Globo’s professionals developed a radio-control to carry out the back and forth movements remotely and in total safety.

“The embedded technology is simple; in this case, what is interesting is the development of the apparatus. In addition to the active participation of costume and prop designers, we had the support and collaboration of Fernando Fernandes, promoting an integrated multidisciplinary work”, comments João Rizzo, Special Effects manager at Globo. “Working together, we were able to solve a challenge that the artistic direction of the ‘The masked singer’ brought us: preventing the public from suspecting that he was a wheelchair user, preserving his identity, in line with the program’s magic. Technology made accessibility possible and promoted the public’s enchantment”, he completes.

Interview with Fernando Fernandes

How was the experience of participating in the program?

Participating in the program was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I had to totally leave my comfort zone and throw myself into learning to sing, dance, and develop a chair that would allow me to do that. It was a passionate experience.

What is the hardest part of this challenge?

All, from the moment I said yes and accepted the challenge. I think the easiest part was saying yes, the hardest came later (laughs), in the attempts to make that “yes” possible in an intense, strong, quality way. The whole process was very difficult and very pleasant.

Did you participate in the costume making process? How it was?

I participated in the whole process. The chair was already made, but I suggested that we take a little iron out of it to make it feel more natural on my body, so that the costume would have a little more swing and not be stuck in the hardware. This was a decisive point for people not to realize that there was a wheelchair user behind there. I even released a video on my networks of my backstage, with the chair full of iron, then we took all that iron out and the costume was very loose, looking like an Olinda doll. Something very organic, very natural. This exchange with everyone was very important.

You’ve played several sports. But what was it like singing on a TV show?

The hardest sport in my life was singing in an adapted and electronic chair in The Masked Singer (laughs). Skydiving is easy compared to everything I experienced there.

What was it like to be unmasked and see the judges’ reaction?

I was sure everyone was going to be very surprised because we were very careful to keep it confidential. Even though I was in a wheelchair during rehearsals, we used crutches, a little boot on my foot, as if I were a person with a broken foot. We were very careful in disguising the way we walked with the chair, so that nobody would notice. It was all very careful, pleasurable. I think we managed to convey that.

And after the program, how has the repercussion been for you?

The repercussions have been incredible. You know that feeling of accomplishment, of thinking we reached our goal? It goes far beyond being on a TV show, this is true inclusion, being where people don’t expect you to be. Occupy spaces that people doubt you have the ability to occupy. It was a sense of accomplishment, of showing people that we are all capable of whatever we want, we just have to create in our own way and in our own way.

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