Behind The Scenes

With the aid of a copier and a little gaffer's tape, foreign territory quickly becomes home.
The "TRL" staff moves into temporary digs behind the American Airlines Arena.
Construction begins on the dock where stars and their yachts will arrive.
The stage where Ashlee Simpson, Jadakiss, and New Found Glory will perform during the pre-show starts to take shape.
Inside the arena, work is well underway on the VMA set.
The VMA crew tests video screen for the big show.
A VMA flag is hoisted high in front of the arena (next to the U.S. flag and the Florida state flag).
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).
Work is almost complete on the stage and set for the VMAs.
Presumably to prevent Jada from getting heatstroke, a roof is placed over the pre-show performance stage.
The pre-show crew begins to rehearse camera movements to get a sense of how the performances will look.
The red carpet. Looks a lot less glamorous this way, doesn't it?
See, now <I>this</I> is what red carpet is supposed to look like.
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.
The carpet's in place, and finishing touches are made on the gauntlet the stars will run on their way into the show.
Ashlee Simpson and her on-site trailer (undoubtedly the finest motor coach in all of Dade County).
Instead of maps, we use this to get around inside the arena.
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).
The dock is finally set and ready for hot yacht action.
Sway runs through rehearsals early on the day of the show.
Diddy, Mase, Bruce Willis and a small army arrive at the dock.
Carmen Electra works the crowd as she hits the entrance to the red carpet.
Suchin Pak greets Fat Joe and Tony Sunshine at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Nelly, Kurt Loder and VMA week's busiest man, Fat Joe, hang at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Paris Hilton mingles with Benji, Billy and Joel from Good Charlotte at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Nelly and Jay-Z share a moment on the red carpet.
MTV News' Gideon Yago sails into the sunset, literally.
The sun sets on the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.