Letters To The Editor

Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

Most of you know me as Frances Thompson from Thomas Engineering, Tomcat, and now ESTA, but I am also known as She-Rock, wife of Eroc. My husband is Eric Shafferman, a long time employee of Bandit Lites and, as such, has evolved from roadie to touring lighting technician. A long time ago while walking a truss, Eric became a conduit between a live feed and a steel beam and had the presence of mind to throw himself off the truss. He broke the stage floor and opened his noggin from ear to ear, because back in the day nobody wore (or even thought about) fall arrest equipment. He was lucky, and he still has a full head of hair to cover the scar.

Well we all have a story, and the reason I'm writing this one is to ask you for money. For the second time, Eric and I are writing a check to the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP). It is not a large check, but that doesn't matter. It is coming straight out of our personal checking account. See, I want to make my husband's life as safe as possible and keep him around for a long time. In our home we change the batteries in the smoke alarms. We buckle up. He works out obsessively and we try to eat balanced meals. We take our vitamins. It just makes sense to me that whether he is on a truss or under it, focusing lights or loading out, that we do what we can to improve his work environment.

Corporately this has made sense to a lot of organizations — just look at the list at www.etcp.esta.org/InvInSafety/contributors.html. If you really look, you will notice an array of individuals who believe, as we do, that this program is more than worthwhile. ETCP has almost reached its fundraising goal and testing is scheduled to commence this fall. We all have a connection to live entertainment whether it's you, your spouse, or a good buddy. If enough of us will write a small check — I figure Eric and I can pass on a couple of evenings out — ETCP will be that much closer to being in the black. And the world will be a little safer for the Erocs out there.
Frances Thompson

Educational ED

I would just like to pass on my appreciation of Entertainment Design magazine. I am studying for a BA in lighting design at Rose Bruford College in London and currently writing my dissertation on the role of video projection within performance. Your journal has provided much help in the research of this topic, in particular the January 2005 edition; the interview with Malcolm Mellows was excellent. Please keep writing more articles!
Tim Perrett, Rose Bruford College
London, UK

Resources From La-La Land

I am a subscriber to Entertainment Design and also a costume designer in Los Angeles. I was perusing the article “LA Story” by Davi Napoleon (January 2005) and was surprised it didn't mention two sourcebooks that are LA-based and are staples in the film and theatre communities here.

Shopping LA: The Insiders' Sourcebook for Film & Fashion (www.shoppingla.net or 818-469-2477…Okay, okay, I'm one of the authors, but ask anyone working out here about it and they'll agree) is aimed at costume designers and costumers, but also used by set dressers, designers, and prop folk. It is 582 pages long, has categories from academic to western wear, malls, research, catalogs, etc., of companies from LA to around the world, and is purchased internationally.

The Acme (www.theacme.com) is a prop book used by the same design community as Shopping LA, is 200 pages with categories from acrylic products to window treatments and magnificent maps of the neighborhoods (that include coffee shops!). Both books are spiral bound and have been flung around cars and sets for 10 years now. Ask around, but I think your readers would like to know about these incredible resources.
Marcy Froehlich