Light Talk with The Lumen Brothers

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Improvisational Lighting Designers, to Loving an Ugly Preset. Join Cory, Ellen, David, and Dennis, as they discuss: Developing "Spot-On"; Designing a Disney/Pixar theatrical show; "Light Humor"; Developing the Podcast "In-One"; Broadcasting during Covid; When to reveal "lighting tricks"; Talking through the lighti...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Tearing Down the Kennedy Center to Dennis' Alimony Payments. Join Ellen, Steve, Zak, David, and Dennis, as they discuss: The "Emotional Arc" of light; A high school student pursuing lighting as a career;  Learning how to be a Human Being; Looking for financial and health security in our profession; Advice and help...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from numbering fixtures to watching the mansions float away. Join Ellen, Steve, David, and Dennis, as they discuss: Ben Green's Emmy; The "9/11 Tribute" in NYC; "Space Cannons"; Don't Knock Miss Piggy!; Researching iconic lighting designs from the 70's and 80's; "Qello.com" and "Nugs.net" for old concert recordings; "T...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Designer Chris Medvitz. Join Chris, Ellen, David, and Dennis, as they discuss: Growing up in Belmont Shore; The Guess Who Tour; Planning the Show Design; Considering " The Throwback Heritage Experience" when Designing a show; The process of finding the right setlist to support the emotional journey of the performance;...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview esteemed Broadcast Lighting Designer, Ben Green. Join Ben, Ellen, Steve, and Dennis, as they discuss: Planes vs. Yachts; Working with Al Gurden on Jesus Christ Superstar; Calling 12 followspots; The importance of supportive parents; Working on the Super Bowl; Live testing of new equipment on shows; Working with Kamala Harris; B...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview esteemed broadcast Lighting Designer, Geoff Amoral. Join Geoff, Ellen, David, Steve, and Dennis, as they discuss: Getting started in broadcast lighting; Geoff's many years at Saturday Night Live; A typical weekly production schedule for SNL; Lighting the musical guests; Working with the other great Broadcast LD's on SNL; "Trust...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Sisters present their first in a series of special round table discussions exploring Women in Lighting. This episode brings together veteran women Broadway lighting designers, along with young professionals who have recently entered the lighting community. Join Christina, Dawn, Elena, Kelsey, and Ellen, as they discuss: Challenges for women in the industry;...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview the Director of German Lighting Products, Mark Ravenhill. Join Mark, Ellen, David, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: The "EVEN" program; Flashbacks to days in Ft. Lauderdale with Martin Professional; David reminses about working with Gary Mass and Jorge Valdez; What technology will be driving new lighting fixtures; The story...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview renowned lighting designer Tom Kenny. Join Tom, Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: Skipping classes to work for The Police; Early days designing for U2 in Ireland; Focusing 400 Par Cans for Eric Clapton; Tom's "Super-power"; What qualities Tom looks for in a programmer; How to get a gig with The Who; Getting jobs from I...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Starting a Career as an Educator to the "Margarita-To-Go Man". Join Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: How can you be assured that the CRI rating in LED's will produce an accurate color; Designing the "Perfect Light"; TM-30 vs. CRI; How to market yourself as a programmer; The skills that separate the great...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Pre-Viz, to The Temptation of Total Administrative Power. Join Ellen, David, and Steve, as they discuss: David's birthday discounts; Using Pre-visualization programs for productions; Vision, Capture, and Carbon; A (not so) tempting opportunity to become Chair of your department; Drunken Tattoo Nights; The qualitie...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Leaving a Production to Suing Backstage Coffee. Join Ellen, Dennis, David, and Steve, as they discuss: Madness at MSG; Max Keller's new book; 4th of July shenanigans; Repurposing your light cues from production to production; Is it really possible to work with a lot of directors over your career?; What to do when...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Meetings with the Director, to Cringe-Worthy Concert Light Cues. Join Ellen, Dennis, David, and Steve, as they discuss: Trump's "Great American Fair"; Advice on using followspots in operas; How to make inital meetings with Directors less stressful; Annoying, over-used concert lighting cues that we hate; Your first...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Designer David Grill. Join David, Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss:  Finding your first job; Why it took 37 years to get to Broadway; Working at Radio City; Working with Ken; Getting into Dance; "My Son is a Lighting Designer!"; Choreographing with Light; Stories from Designing the Superbowl Halftime Show; Sle...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Rowing your Boat, to Becoming a Visual Storyteller. Join Ellen, Steve, and Dennis, as they discuss: Visiting the Asolo Theater; Dinner with Brother Stan; The Coxwain; LDI moving to New Orleans; The Four "C's" of lighting; How to survive a Lighting MFA program; The most important skill to have to be a successful pr...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Broadway Lighting Designer Isabella Byrd. Join Isabella, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David, as they discuss:  Attending this year's Tony Awards Show; Jules Fischer's Lifetime Achievement Award;  Historic Firsts; "No Boys Allowed"; Qween Jean; Lighting Theatre in the Round; Lighting "Caberet"; The story of DOTS; How union contract...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Wisconsin Shot Glasses, to "Breaking Up is Hard to Do". Join Ellen, Steve, David, and Guest co-host Drew Bielinski, as they discuss:  What to do with crappy Light Talk swag; Slumming it in the ETC Lounge; Do you really need a degree to do this?; The Seven-Year Plan; John Haupt; Should you be in this business if yo...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Designer Jen Schriever. Join Jen, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, Zac, and David, as they discuss: Everything you ever wanted to know about lighting "The Lost Boys"; Straight onto Broadway; Lighting flying Vampires; Longing for "Luma-Suck"; Co-designing with the Director; Tech table madness; The beauty of slow cues; Being a part...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Director and Director of Photography, Bruce Aleksander. Join Bruce, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David, as they discuss: Getting started in lighting in the 2nd grade; Theatre summer camp; Finding the way into television studios; Learning by working with the studio crews; "Signing with Cindy"; Renovating studios; Designing...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Director and Programmer Chris Lose. Join Chris, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David, as they discuss: A tribute to David Goodman; Coming up... The National Design Portfolio Review and Design Showcase West; Falling for the pretty girl in High School; Getting started with "The Carnival of Wonders"; Working at Varilite; The b...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Reimagining the Tony Design Award Categories, to "Total Hackdom". Join Ellen, David, and Steve, as they discuss:  The St. Barts Film Festival; Ellen in her Bonnet; The Tony nominations; Why the Tony Committee does not have Projections Design as its own design category; Watching videos of previous productions of...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Laughing at Your Mistakes, to Hanging Out in the Hyperbaric Chamber. Join David, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss:  Zac's new gig; David's Drone Focus Deluxe dream can now come true; Dealing with balancing the light from outdoor windows that are behind the talent; Crazy theatre nightmares; Trapped inside Vectorworks; "T...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from The inaccuracy of lighting console color pickers, to Celebrating the Invention of the Zipper! Join Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss:   Buying Manhattan for $24; The NAB Convention; Concerns about AI in the lighting industry; Dennis' lighting award for the Presidential Debate; How television lighting ha...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Dining with Bobby Harrell to "The Muse is Out to Lunch!" Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David, as they discuss: The Bruce Rodgers episode; "Designer's Block"; How to design a "Black and White Show"; What the color of moonlight really is; David Waxing Poetic; How to get great lighting reviews; "Tales from Texas"...

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview esteemed production designer Bruce Rodgers. Join Bruce, Ellen, Dennis, and David, as they discuss: Bruce's genesis in the  entertainment business; The beginning of Tribe Inc; Working with Bobby Dickenson; Challenging moments from 20 Years of Superbowl halftime shows; Conquring the design challenges for Prince, The Who, Bad Bunn...