Fresh from the Grammys, LD Bob Dickinson used a large Vari*Lite(R) system programmed by John Morgan and Andy O'Reilly for the 69th Annual Academy Awards, broadcast March 24... A British TV program, Whatever You Want, marked the debut of the Vari*Lite C3(TM) constant current control dimmer module, which is used to control incandescent lamps, fits into the Modular distribution rack, and is interchangeable with existing APS6(TM) units...UL-listed entertainment cables from American Insulated Wire Corp. (AIW) are being used by film equipment rental house Paris Studios Ltd of New York, to comply with the National Electric Code and electrical equipment standards. Equipment AIW distributor Lex Products supplied to Paris Studios includes Type SC Stage & Lighting single-conductor #6-4/0 AWG portable power feeder cable and American Mustang SOOW-A size#12, three-conductor premium portable cord...As systems integrator/general contractor, Production Arts Lighting is renovating two NBC Studios, including the home of Saturday Night Live, with new racks of ETC Sensor dimmers. New rigging from J.R. Clancy, an Intelligent Power System rig from Rosco/Entertainment Technology, a data network driven by a Gray Interfaces "Pathfinder" DMX Crosspoint Router and ETC Insight 2X consoles are also part of the redo...Fiber-optic lighting systems maker Remote Source Lighting International has purchased Poly-Optical Products Inc. from its parent company, Trimedyne Inc. Poly-Optical makes plastic fiber-optic devices used for light, image, and data transmission in the automotive, industrial, and medical fields...Liechtenstein-based Balzers Thin Films Inc., which makes optical thin film components, has opened its first US manufacturing operation, in Golden, CO. The 20,000-sq.-ft. (1,800-sq.-m) facility includes a Class 1000 clean room...Le Maitre Special Effects Inc. has introduced Genesis Steam Technology, which is currently being used on the King Kong and Jurassic Park attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood...Control and automation systems maker AMX Corporation is celebrating its 15th year of operation. Gary Kayye has joined the firm as its vice president of sales and marketing...Michael Connell has been named Rosco Laboratories' new vice president of sales, and Alan Kibbe the firm's sales manager. Connell will continue to direct sales at Rosco/Entertainment Technology...Production Resource Group member Cinema Services has hired Mark Hrabely as its engineering services manager. Hrabely, formerly Ballys Las Vegas' communications and electronics manager, has an extensive background in lighting...Christina Mazzawi has been appointed national sales manager for Illuminating Experiences. Mazzawi has 12 years experience in the lighting industry, with a focus on Italian lighting. She comes to the company from Leucos USA and IPI Lighting...Steven Mesh, IALD, IES, has joined Edison Price Lighting in New York as director of lighting applications...Lexel Laser Inc. has announced a system integrator program, to support system integrators in the light show industry and provide new laser systems at competitive prices. For more information, call program manager Mike Baker at 510/770-0800 ext. 3002...Mexico's best-known cinematographer, Gabriel Figueroa, died April 27, at age 90. An Oscar nominee for The Night of the Iguana (1964), Figueroa shot more than 100 films, including several for director Luis Bunuel.