Lighting for Retail & Special Events

I've always had an interest in Stage Lighting and working in Manhattan

I had the opportunity to work creatively with Ira Levy of Levy Lighting Inc. I started out laying cables and setting up lights then added on the promotional side of things since at that time there wasn't anything he was using to showcase and succinctly explain our projects. He liked gadgets, and in 1999 he introduced me to the Nikon CoolPix 950, and I organized our projects into informational sell sheets. Other items were business cards, ads and copywriting.

This is where I started my digital photography.

We worked on numerous shows and events indoors and outside. The last project I worked on was in Sao Paulo Brazil (early 2000) where I also played bass on stage with Pietro and Dok Gregory.

Graphic Artist, Digital Photography and Lighting Installations

Presentations for Movie Premieres, Fashion Shows and Retail Displays. Created a visual biography of the many lighting installation projects that were featured as informational sell sheets and full size booklets to attract new clients. The above image is from their website that featured my photos for close to 10 years before the website was updated with a new look.

levy lighting nyc, custom light products

The 1st phase of the project and products booklet was in a portrait format. These 2 pages are from the 2nd phase of the booklet that was in a landscape format with background graphics and the tagline I came up with, "Endless Lighting Possibilities".

Photography, Typography, Copywriting, Page Template Development for Marketing Materials such as Booklets, Sell Sheets, Post Cards and Business Cards.

Lighting & set design

How did this happen?

This actually branches off from two different jobs: NY Casting & SLD Lighting which both introduced me to acting and acting techniques such as the Meisner, Method Acting, The Alexander Technique for body movement, stage lighting and set design.

John Bale (collar shirt with a sweater vest)- Actor, Writer - I met him at my job at SLD Lighting on 49th St. when he was buying color gels for the par cans at the theater. After watching the show, he asked me if I would like to do Lighting , Set Design and work the sound board for the shows. Luckily, the controls were all together in a compact control booth. Stage lights are all LED now and can be programmed to change without the use of hot bulbs and hot Fresnel Lanterns and Par Lamps.

I believe the house manager was an older gentleman named "Henry". Sadly, this Midtown building was torn down years ago.

The Producer (in the white shirt) and I got into an heated argument after a show and I left the production. I decided not to worry about the theater side of things and focused on the painting and music that I was creating then.

Alexi Alfonin (in the blue sweatshirt) -We got along well and he later hooked me up with a temp job, page layout assistant role for Fashion Market and 1411 magazines after I left SLD Lighting.

Black Box Theater

A black box theater is a simple performance space, that varies in size, and is usually a square room with black walls and a flat floor.

The simplicity of the space is used to create a flexible stage and audience interaction.

The challenge is to create multiple scenes through the use of precise placement of props and lighting effects along with the actors giving a strong performance.

PERFORMANCES

Performing in Public...

I'm one of the most introverted people around. Painting is a solitary craft. I do not have fears of speaking in public, when it's something I'm passionate about. I used face paint or masks to let myself go and relax. Plus I was inspired by Funkadelic, David Bowie and Genesis era Peter Gabriel and how they incorporated face paint into their performances.

Performing was also a way for me to try out some of the things I had learned from Lynette Sheldon Actors Studio and my time earlier with my friends the French dancers Dr. Noyale Colin, Noémie Lafrance and The World Famous Pontani Sisters.

DrewKidd.com