Welcome to our annual issue focused on television and film lighting. Not only do we have a myriad of products to show off in our Film/TV Gear Guide (p.24), but we're also showcasing some interesting projects, from Paul McCartney's stellar performance at the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show (p.30) — already ranking as a highlight for 2005, as far as I'm concerned — to filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's latest visual masterpiece, Sin City (p.36).
Ellen Lampert-Gréaux discovers a youthful talent show, looking at Michael R. Veerkamp's work on America's Most Talented Kids II (p.40). Lighting designer Jeff Ravitz takes us on his own journey to light Jimmy Buffet for television (p.53), simulcast to an astounding 50 theatres nationally.
On the theatre side of life, Mark A. Newman explores Ken Posner's design of the hilarious Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (p.44). This extremely entertaining version of the film is definitely worth seeing.
And here on the home front in publishing world, Lighting Dimensions and sister publication Entertainment Design have revamped the annual Broadway Lighting Master Classes and Broadway Sound Master Classes, adding a projection component. The newly named Entertainment Design Master Classes will maintain distinct areas of study for lighting, projection, and sound under the umbrella of a week of events in June. For details, check out the full news story in our Front of House section.
And speaking of the Master Classes, congratulations go to EDDY winners for outstanding lighting products in the following categories:
- Light Curtain: G-LEC LightFrame
- Testing Device: Robert Juliat Espion II
- Luminaire: Selecon HUI Cyc
- Ethernet Interface: Sunlite Easy Stand Alone (IP Version)
- Automated Luminaire: The VARI*LITE VL2500™ Wash
In people news, we were pleased to see our good friend Sonny Sonnenfeld get back in the sales game by rejoining Strand Lighting. For those of you who know Sonny, you know there's really no keeping him retired. And some familiar faces have turned up to restructure Coemar USA. Nick Freed and Gary Mass — both from PRG — and Noel Duncan and Lewis Long — from Martin — represent the new team in a new office in Florida.
Next month, we'll be bringing you a theatre focused issue featuring more of the latest shows and gear, as well as any news from the USITT show in Toronto. In fact, that's where we're headed right now.
Stay tuned…