Stephen Gudis is one of those select people in Nashville that you can truly call a “Man about Town.” There’s nobody that’s been in the live event biz around Nashville for any length of time who hasn’t crossed paths with this guy. While the same can be said about most seasoned touring veterans on the music scene, one thing that sets “Gudis,” as he’s affectionately referred to, apart is that he’s worn just about all the hats…
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Often, you hear that the gear on stage is only as good as the crew who’s working with it. This is gospel in the live… Read More »Nashville-Based Production and Stage Managers
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Orlando, Florida is a town built on crowds, a sea of humanity in juxtaposition with what would otherwise be a lush Jurassic world. Considered the “theme park capital of the world,” the area is home to such family-friendly attractions as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. It’s also home to the mammoth campus of the University of Central Florida and is an outpost of the ever-expanding Electric Daisy Carnival empire. The area also has the less-inviting distinction of being the “lightning capital of the United States,” with an astounding 1.4 million lightning strikes resulting in an average of 10 deaths and 30 injuries annually.
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Production truck company TNDV is making television happen in Music City and beyond.
When people think of Nashville, they think of star-studded country music entertainment, like the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Awards, ABC’s Nashville and the Americana Music Awards. But many are unaware that behind these glitzy events — and other awards shows, Red Carpets, TV shows, concerts and sporting events — is TNDV: Television, a Nashville-based mobile video production company. With its penchant for pushing the envelope, TNDV has become an industry go-to for live, mobile, multi-camera HDTV production.
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So-called digital lights have long tantalized both gear manufacturers and designers alike. The allure of being able to project any image, media clip, text, or anything else designers dream up is a powerful one, as it represents a design tool of immense potential. The technology has proved stubbornly elusive to get right however, with efforts hampered by expense and thermal management issues. With the new eMotion, Elation Professional takes on these hurdles in a compact and efficient moving head package aimed at the corporate AV, exhibition, theatrical, house of worship and club market.
Astera has been in the wireless LED luminaire market for some time now, starting when they released their first light in 2007. Today, their main offering — the AX line of lights — consists of a trio of battery-powered LED accent and wash lights aimed at the event production market — weddings, corporate events, any sort of production that needs a multitude of lights that need to be able to deploy quickly.
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The reputable haze and fog manufacturer, Look Solutions, has created a new category in atmospheric effect products. Foggers are readily accessible and used on most shows, events and effects. Low smoke is a bit more complicated and typically uses one of the following methods: dry ice, liquid CO2, or a refrigeration system. Until now, you would need two discrete units for each of the two effects. Let’s have a closer look at this unique device.
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The director of an event held annually in Las Vegas on New Years Eve asked for help mapping video onto some costumes that would be onstage for about 30 minutes during the opening walk-in numbers. After assessing projection angles and maximum effectiveness for stage lighting, I convinced him to position a performer on the top center platform of the stage so that I could project in 360° onto the performer’s dress, something visually exciting and unique for the guests.
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Automated lighting programmers depend on many longstanding processes and procedures, but one of the most important concepts that must be mastered is called tracking. This concept is essential for programming multi-parameter fixtures and is also very useful for the most basic dimmer or desk channels. Without a good understanding of how tracking works, how it affects playback and how to maximize the usage, a programmer will have a tough time with automated lighting fixtures. I often describe tracking as the most difficult concept to understand, but also the most important to understand. Luckily, with some knowledge and practice, most any programmer can master tracking and make use of its benefits during every programming session.
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Is Flying Drone Tech the new crew position in production? LD Chris Medvitz of Lightswitch would agree. He has four cities of auto shows on his agenda. But it was his involvement in the Infiniti exhibit and press events at the Los Angeles Auto Show that pointed toward the future.
Q: What’s the difference between a Lighting Designer and a Lighting Director?
A: About $20,000…
As a touring lighting director, I get asked this a lot — and the reality is few people outside the industry really understand it. The roles are similar, but the responsibilities are vastly different. The lighting designer is responsible for pitching, selling, and securing their visual concept for the show to their client. The lighting director is responsible for implementing the design and making sure its vision remains intact for the duration of the tour.
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