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VMA 2004
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Behind The Scenes
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With the aid of a copier and a little gaffer's tape, foreign territory quickly becomes home.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The "TRL" staff moves into temporary digs behind the American Airlines Arena.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Construction begins on the dock where stars and their yachts will arrive.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The stage where Ashlee Simpson, Jadakiss, and New Found Glory will perform during the pre-show starts to take shape.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Inside the arena, work is well underway on the VMA set.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The VMA crew tests video screen for the big show.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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A VMA flag is hoisted high in front of the arena (next to the U.S. flag and the Florida state flag).
Photo Credit: MTV News
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A three-story Moonman is erected in front of the arena (in case anyone was unclear about what was going on in the venue that week).
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Work is almost complete on the stage and set for the VMAs.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Presumably to prevent Jada from getting heatstroke, a roof is placed over the pre-show performance stage.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The pre-show crew begins to rehearse camera movements to get a sense of how the performances will look.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The red carpet. Looks a lot less glamorous this way, doesn't it?
Photo Credit: MTV News
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See, now this is what red carpet is supposed to look like.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The pristine nature of the plush new carpet must be maintained until it can be properly trampled by celebs, publicists, managers, assistants, wranglers and hangers-on.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The carpet's in place, and finishing touches are made on the gauntlet the stars will run on their way into the show.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Ashlee Simpson and her on-site trailer (undoubtedly the finest motor coach in all of Dade County).
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Instead of maps, we use this to get around inside the arena.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Gear is color coded to help the crew know what to move when (Hoobastank fans, please do not take offense to the spelling of that band's name).
Photo Credit: MTV News
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The dock is finally set and ready for hot yacht action.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Sway runs through rehearsals early on the day of the show.
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Pitbull rehearses as the pre-show's "house band."
Photo Credit: MTV News
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Diddy, Mase, Bruce Willis and a small army arrive at the dock.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
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Carmen Electra works the crowd as she hits the entrance to the red carpet.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
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Suchin Pak greets Fat Joe and Tony Sunshine at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
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Nelly, Kurt Loder and VMA week's busiest man, Fat Joe, hang at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
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Paris Hilton mingles with Benji, Billy and Joel from Good Charlotte at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
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Nelly and Jay-Z share a moment on the red carpet.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
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MTV News' Gideon Yago sails into the sunset, literally.
Photo Credit: Matt Paco/MTV News
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The sun sets on the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo Credit: Matt Paco/MTV News
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