Working as a freelancer and also as a PM for BMLS in NYC, almost all of the Fashion/Runway shows that I've worked on have been related in some way or other to NY Fashion Week. As a PM for BMLS from 2003 - 2006 I got to work on many shows that came into venues where BMLS held the lighting contract, working either as a PM and/or programmer on shows where the client brought in their own designer, or as an LD myself when that was not the case.
As a PM and programmer, one of the most prominent shows I worked on was Ralph Lauren, which I PM'ed and programmed for several seasons for LD Jan Kroeze of JKLD, Inc. I found this a very valuable learning experience, as in addition to being a highly respected LD for fashion, Jan is a lovely person, and very willing to explain his methods. I learned a lot about lighting runways for film and camera from a number of early shows with LDs like Jan Kroeze, and also Thierry Dreyfus, and Gordon Link, amongst others.
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Catherine Malandrino (Fall 2005) -
Cynthia Rowley (Spring 2005) -
Baby Phat (Fall 2004) -
Heatherette (Sprinng 2008)
Besides Fashion, most of my experience lighting for camera has been either in TV, or for shows or events with a camera broadcast element (such as press events, or shows with a significant I-Mag element). However, some of my first experiences in this area actually came in Feature Films. I should note, however, that all of my Feature Film lighting experience has been with scenic or atmospheric lighting, whilst a far more experienced cinematographer dealt with the lighting specifically for camera. In this way I helped design and operate the venue lighting for a few scenes in the 2007 film "Perfect Strangers" staring Bruce Willis and Halle Berry, and filmed by cinematographer Anastas Michos. I also helped design and operate the background/scenic lighting for several scenes for the 2005 sfilm "Carlito's Way: Rise to Power" which was shot by DP Adam Holender, and working for LD Mike Appel, I programmed and operated the stage lights for a number of the performance scenes in the Marc Anthony starring biopic of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, "El Cantante" (2006)
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Sean Kingston on TRL (2006) -
Il Divo - Live @ Gotham Hall (2004) -
Mary J Blige @ Wall Street Concert Series (2005)
I've also worked on a number of filmed performances with artists that I've toured with over the years, including the live concert films of James Taylor's One Man Band tour (where I consulted with Lighting Designer Bob Dickinson) in 2007. I designed the lighting and staging for Howard Jones' 30th anniversary concert tour, that was filmed at Epic Studios in the UK in 2013, and designed the stage lighting for the Pretenders' 2017 appearance on Austin City Limits.
I also designed and operated the lighting for the James Taylor, Carole King and Jimmy Buffet performances at the televised Boston Strong show to benefit the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 (using a rig designed by LD Cosmo Wilson).
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Roc Nation's "Throne Boxing" on ESPN (2013) -
Viva Don King (2011)
I got to use the skills I learned while PM'ing, focusing and operating other LD's shows for myself as a PM and designer for BMLS, inc, as we were also hired to light many shows ourselves. Highlights for me included runway shows for Catherine Malandrino and Cynthia Rowley.
One of the challenges I most enjoy about lighting fashion is the need to balance the specific technical requirements to light the runway accurately for still and video cameras, while also creating mood and emotion with light, which can often seem to be conflicting ideals.
Learning how to light runways for camera is also where I began to really learn more about the technical side of lighting for camera in general. Learning about color temperature balancing and f-stops in order to create evenly lit runways for camera exposure turned out to be very similar to the skills needed to light for camera in film, TV, and on stage for I-Mag cameras.
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"El Cantante" (2006) -
"Carlito's Way: Rise to Power" (2005) -
"Perfect Strager" (2005)
Though I've done a little freelance work as a Programmer on episodes of TV shows from Law & Order to Rachael Ray to All My Children, most of my work lighting for TV has been either for musical performances or for sporting events.
Some of my first experiences lighting music for camera came from lighting performances at special events that were also broadcast or streamed, such as the Cipriani Wall Street Concert Series, or the 2006 Grammy Nominations Press Conference. Another early TV gig was when I was hired to light the performer Sean Kingston for a number of TV performances as part of his NYC press tour, promoting his first album. This included performances at the Today Show on NBC, East 108 on BET, and TRL on MTV, and I lit Josh Rouse for the Ovation series Tales from the Road: Live at the Bonefish Grill. I also lit performances filmed to be used as PR and press materials for bands including Il Divo, and Gnarls Barkley.
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Pretenders @ Austin City Limits (2017) -
Howard Jones 30th Anniversary Concert (2013) -
James Taylor - One Man Band (2007) -
James Taylor @ Boston Strong Benefit (2013)
In addition to lighting music for TV, I also have some experience lighting televised sport, including Boxing and MMA. Working mostly with LD David Zeffren and with Frank Gatto Productions, I've worked as lighting director and operator for numerous episodes of Bellator MMA fights, and Viva Don King, and PBC boxing matches on FS-1, Spike, ESPN, NBC Sports, and Showtime PPV. In 2013 I got to combine my boxing and music experience for the premiere of Roc Nation's Throne Boxing at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, which intermixed boxing matches with live performances from Fabolous and DJ Mustard.