Streetlight

As I'm preparing for the Technology and Design Expo at Region V of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, I cropped a show photo to display next to my research photo of the mercury-vapor yard light to show how where I came up with the color.  Not only is it accurate to the period, but it adds to the 'eeriness' of the show as well:

Show Photo:
   

Research Image:

'RENT' among top 11 of 2011 according to Fargo Forum

"...the Broadway Lights summer program and its troupe of teens transformed the Stage at Island Park into the tenement setting for the contemporary bohemian musical, Rent. The result was a moving production with a message that still left you humming a few tunes."
– John Lamb

Read the rest of the article here

I am so blessed that I was able to work with the talented production team and actors on this production, among many others in the Fargo/Moorhead community.  Fargo/Moorhead is an amazing oasis of art in the upper mid-west, and every show I've had the privilege to work on; RENT, A Dzsungle Könyve, Chicago, Pinafore Pirates, and Cinderella: The World's Favorite Fairytale; all serve to prove that.

Photo Credit: Robby Njos, Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

Fargo Forum artical about Jim Cermak

IN-FORUM: A final bow: After 40 years, Concordia drama teacher stepping down

I've worked with Jim as a designer on four shows at Concorida and Gooseberry Park Players now. From 122 to designing for Jim on a world premier production Jim has influenced my life in so many ways starting with convincing my parents that being a theatre major was 'acceptable' when I was still deciding which school to go to.  Concordia will sorely miss you Jim.

WYSIWYG vs Reality

Photo of Wait Until Dark taken during photo call:

WYSIWYG rendering made before the set was up or any lights hung.

Using WYSIWYG to render what a show will look like ahead of time really cuts down on time adding or re-focusing or changing gels in lights.  Of course virtual will never quite be able to predict everything that shows up in reality, but its pretty close.  For Wait Until Dark WYSIWYG allowed me to experiment before I ever got into the space with how shadows would work on stage, as well as show the scenic designer what his wallpaper design might look like with different lighting and contrasts.  It also allowed me to communicate ideas with the director that other photos and/or verbal descriptions just wouldn't have worked for.

This rendering was done in WYSIWYG R26 using the shaded view and not the actual rendering wizard, which seemed to not be different enough to warrant the extra time it takes to complete.  Some shows this won't work on though, such as sets with shiny surfaces, transparent surfaces, mirrors, etc..  With Cinderella: The World's Favorite Fairytale, which I designed this summer, there were mirrors on stage which necessitated using the render wizard (see example here).

RENT Photo featured on JimOnLight's Blog

A photo of RENT at The Stage at Island Park (formerly Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre) was featured on JimOnLight's most recent Sunday Flickr Post.

Light Plot for Wait Until Dark

Click here to view larger.

Newer Rendering for Wait Until Dark

Here's a teaser of what the lighting design for Wait Until Dark will look like.  I've seen it in rehearsal a few times now, and can tell you that this rendering is really close to what it actually looks like.  Once I'm out of tech I'll post this alongside a photo from the same angle.