News From
Sustaining Members
Emerson College Dept. of Performing Arts: Upgrades Membership
Emerson College Department of Performing Arts has upgraded its level of support for the Institute and is now a Sustaining member.
Emerson College, based in Boston, Massachusetts is vital contributor to the vibrant performing arts community in that city. To learn more, visit www.emerson.edu.
Staging Concepts, Inc.: Company Announces New Brand
Staging Concepts recently launched its new brand – SC Railing Company. SC Railing Company will offer custom railing solutions and modular railing systems.
Expect to hear more news in August when SC Railing Company announces its first new product: ArchitectuRAIL – a highly engineered modular railing system. The company delivers exceptional railing systems to stadiums, arenas, convention centers, theatres, hotels, and educational facilities. For more information please visit SC Railing Company at www.sc-railing.com.
Sapsis Rigging, Inc.: Provides Fall Arrest Systems for Two College Theatres
With the goal of protecting students and staff members working in potentially hazardous locations, Sapsis Rigging, Inc., has provided fall arrest systems for the Philip Chosky Theater at Carnegie Mellon University and the John C. Borden Auditorium at the Manhattan School of Music.
The system in the Chosky Theater protects technicians using the loading bridge to operate the counterweight rigging system with a series of permanently installed horizontal lifelines, as well as mini self-retracting lifelines to connect technicians to the horizontal lifeline.
At the Manhattan School of Music, technicians use the organ loft in the ceiling at the back of the auditorium as a lighting position. Sapsis installed horizontal lifelines and site-specific lanyards to significantly limit the potential fall distance.
More information on Sapsis Rigging, Inc. is available at www.sapsis-rigging.com.
IATSE: Members Ratify Agreement
The 14 Hollywood-based locals representing over 38,000 IATSE members working in motion picture and television production have ratified the new Hollywood Basic Agreement with the AMPTP. The three-year contract, which will go into effect August 1, is the result of negotiations that began March 7 and concluded April 12.
On, June 29, the IATSE alerted the studio facility, where the non-union dating show "Ready for Love" had rented a sound stage, that a picket line would be forming outside the studio gate early the next morning before crew members were to report to work. Within a few hours, the IA and Ticking Time Productions, Inc. were negotiating to avoid a shutdown. By Thursday evening, the crew of around 100 had health and pension benefits retroactive to date of hire as well as full wages, working conditions, and benefits of the Videotape One-Hour Non-Dramatic agreement. This contract covers both the sizable stage and reality components, about 100 crew members total. The "Ready for Love" crew will also have a 10 hour turnaround and a weekend turnaround of 32 hours for a five-day week and 52 hours for a six-day week.
The IATSE Local Union Business Agents and IA International Union Representatives spent Friday morning on set informing members and answering questions about the particulars of the new agreement. International Representative Lyle Trachtenberg spearheaded the organizing effort for the IATSE.
The IATSE is an international union that represents members employed in the stagecraft, motion picture and television production, and trade show industries throughout the United States, its Territories, and Canada. For more information, visit www.iatse-intl.org.
TMB: LumenRadio Brightens Indianapolis Skyline
Those lucky enough to get tickets to the Super Bowl this year might have walked past the landmark Nordyke & Marmon building complex on West Morris St., now home for a global pharmaceutical company. Yes, things looked brilliant for Giants fans this year, including the new eye-catching makeover to the 111-acre West Morris St. complex that incorporates a fountain and the main headquarters building. Brought to life by Associated Controls + Design (ACD) of Indianapolis, LumenRadio CRMX wireless lighting control, exclusively distributed by TMB, was critical to the project's success.
Associated Controls + Design is based in Indianapolis and has specialized in integrating architectural lighting, theatrical lighting and theatrical design since 1999. Find out more about ACD at www.acdtheatrical.com. For more information about LumenRadio visit www.tmb.com/lumenradio. Learn about other exciting products from TMB at www.tmb.com.
Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas: Packing Activities into Week-long Sessions
Students at Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas work through different courses in weekly segments.
For example, the rigging class began at Silver State Wire Rope working with Andrew Rogers and Peter Rogers. Students spent the rest of the week at Flying By Foy putting their rigging skills to the test. Participants worked with Johnny O. Pickett, Matt Bevacqua, David Shamberger, Brad Allen, and Jim Hansen. Five SILV students took the CM Hoist Certification Exam through Silver State Wire Rope. Seventeen-year-old Jeff Beyer earned the title of Youngest Ever to Achieve CM Hoist Certification.
Other activities included discussions with SILV staff member Danny Colosky and Jason Duke, head of design carpentry at LOVE; a workshop session in the breakfast room of the Extended Stay, where students practiced hand drafting and Draftsight; and a benefit performance of Big River at the LV Academy.
The sound session was at the Cirque du Soleil Training Studio all week under the guidance of Peter Nordyke complemented by David Cheetham. Hands-on training in the Meyer lab was directed by Martin Carrillo. Al Siniscal arranged a tour and talk back with the Planet Hollywood Theatre sound crew.
In the world of SFX, students spent time with Advanced Entertainment Services and worked with Matt Dillingham on all things special effects with fire, confetti, and smoke. Students then had the opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil LOVE with the re-set at the beginning hosted by Leu Strope.
SFX joined Sound at the Cirque Studio and welcomed Brooke Wheeler from Smooth-on doing hands-on demonstrations with his materials. Special guest and alumni Bryan Johnson, from Blue Man Group, gave a short presentation. Students learned how to make molds of their thumbs, make scars, and more. Thanks to Bob Sanden, groups of students had an opportunity to see Celine Dion this week at the Coliseum. Peter Monahan of Rose Brand led a day about scenic fabrics.
