
Light Talk with The Lumen Brothers
476 episodes — Page 1 of 10
LIGHT TALK Episode 475 - "Why Not 'Best Production Design'?"
LIGHT TALK Episode 474 - "Entertainment Capital of the World?… I Think Not!"
LIGHT TALK Episode 472 - "Magic Fingers at The Homewood Suites"
S10 Ep 471LIGHT TALK Episode 471 - "Landman - Our Conversation with Bruce Rodgers"
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 Bunny, and Kendrick Lamar; "Let's go to Plan C"; "390 connections in 8 minutes!"; Working with the artists' creative teams; Developing the idea of "The Grass People"; More sophisticated audiences; and Advice for students of Production Design. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
LIGHT TALK Episode 474 - "The Entertainment Capital of the World?... I Think Not!"
S10 Ep 470LIGHT TALK Episode 470 - "Auto-Mark is for Beginners - Our Conversation With Kat Morrill"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Broadway lighting designer Kat Morrill. As part of Light Talk's Young Designers Series, and to begin our 10th Season of LIGHT TALK, join Kat, Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: Playing in the Pit; What is easy and what is difficult; Pretty Big on Punctuation; Getting started at Brooklyn College; How music came into Kat's life; Kat's process when working with a new director; Designing for cruise ship shows; Working at the SoHo Playhouse; Running Showtrax for "O"; Staying up to date with the latest technology; Teaching programming; The relationship between the designer and the programmer; The future of programming and AI; Arts and the St. Regis Mojawk Tribe; and Advice for young designers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
LIGHT TALK Episode 473 - "The Most Wasted Bit of Space on the Console!"
S9 Ep 469LIGHT TALK Episode 469 - "We Better Edit That Shit Out! - Our 9th Season Anniversary Show!"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from The Bupkis Awards, to "Kaye is Yiddish for Trebek". Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, David, Stan, Brackley, and Zac, as they celebrate and discuss all the insanity from the 9th Season of Light Talk. They comment about the past year, the future years, and finish off with a hilarious game of "Light Talk Jeopardy". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 468LIGHT TALK Episode 468 - "Every Pixel in Hollywood!"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from "And the winner is..." to Girl Scout Cookies. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and Zac, as they discuss: The Academy Awards Show; The Penultimate Episode of Season 9; Recomended texts about Broadcast Lighting; What is the best way to prepare to show your video projection portfolio; Zac and Wendel on "Artistic Finance"; The pleasures of working with Slide and Pani projectors; Video cues run by MIDI trigger or manually?; Merit badges for stagehands; How to stay inspired; and More of the most common mistakes that young designers make. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 467LIGHT TALK Episode 467 - "Trust The Process - Our Conversation with Creative Director Melody Tsang and Lighting Designer/Programmer Caleb Franke"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome Creative Director Melody Tsang and Lighting Designer/Programmer Caleb Franke to the show! Join Caleb, Melody, Ellen, Zac, Steve, and David, as they discuss: The creative and production process for the Elation Lighting Booth show at LDI 2025; Winning the LDI Award; Learning and Programming the Obsidian lighting console; Preparing for "Plan B" changes; A 14 year-old touring with "Thorn"; Learning creative direction at the Parsons School; The new Elation automated lighting fixtures; LILI laser technology; The future of AI in lighting and creative direction; and Wise words of advice for young lighting artists and creative directors. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 466LIGHT TALK Episode 466 - "WE LOVE DOGS (we swear)!!!"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister "Breaks Out the Bucket" to answer unanswered questions from the 2025 Light Talk at LDI Show, and discusses the Merger of Tait and Silent House. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, Zac, and David as they discuss: Rolling or folding light plots; What are the most common mistakes young designers make; What the differences are between your relationship with the Lighting Supervisor vs. your relationships with the Associate and Assistant Lighting Designers; When programming your own show, how to make sure that programming does not affect your creativity; A shout-out to Andy Fig; Lighting a Rodeo; The mega-merger of Tait and Silent house; and, The craziest things that we have seen in the theater. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 465LIGHT TALK Episode 465 - "All That Jazz! - Our Conversation with Broadway Lighting Designer Ben Stanton"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome acclaimed lighting designer Ben Stanton to the show! Join Ben, Ellen, Zac, Steve, and David, as they discuss: Shoverling snow; Early days at UMASS as a jazz drummer; Teaching at Brooklyn College; Early inspirations; Beyond Synergy; Discovering lighting from music; How drumming connects with the creative process of lighting design; The connection of jazz and lighting improvisation; The process behind "Maybe Happy Ending"; Using Lightstrike; "A Strong, single gesture..."; The process behind "Fun Home"; Living and working with a video designer, and raising children when both parents are working on the same production; Relying on our programmers; How to prepare students for their future in the profession; Finding and choosing a mentor; and What makes YOU unique. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 464LIGHT TALK Episode 464 - "Put a Baby on that Pigeon! - Our Conversation with Eric Siegel"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome Award Winning Director and Production Designer Eric Siegel to the show! Join Eric, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David, as they discuss: Nautical navigation; Getting started in TV Direction and Production Design; Studying at NYU; Focusing on story and concept; Professional Internships; Discovering directing; Working at "Good Morning America"; Working with Lighting Designers on Film, Theatre, and TV; Creating with Cinema 4D; The Future of Drone cameras in television and film; The Evolution of the TV Director's Role working with New Technology; The Most Challenging Projects; A Papal Mass vs. Diana Rigg; Dealing with security requirements; and Great advice for young designers and directors. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 463LIGHT TALK Episode 463 - "The Red Dress - Our Reviews of the 2026 Grammy Awards Show, Super Bowl Halftime Show, and Olympic Opening Ceremonies"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister review the 2026 Grammy Awards Show, Super Bowl Halftime Show, and The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Join Dennis, Steve, Zac, David, and Guest Lumen Sister Hannah Kerman, as they discuss these three epic events and their lighting and stage designs. Backstage during the lighting process of the Grammys; The incredible New Artists sequence; Working with previz on the show; Dennis' obsession with red dresses; How they lit Lady Gaga; Politics be damned, they also discuss how they really feel about Bad Bunny, and the MAGA Alternative Halftime Show; and Lighting a daylight halftime show. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 462LIGHT TALK Episode 462 - "Respecting the Moment - Our Conversation with Bob Dickinson - Part 2"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister continue their interview with Legend of Light, Bob Dickinson. Join Bob, Ellen, Dennis, Steve and David as they discuss: The future of AI in broadcast lighting; The development of broadcast lighting following camera technology; Lighting Elizabeth Taylor; Using multiple angles to build in flexibility; Considering color temperature in lighting for live and broadcast; Working with content creators; Lighting in front of video walls; Issues with virtual lighting content; Being disciplined with color and cues; The Athens Olympics; The future of Full Flood; Noah Mitz; and Wise words for students of lighting design. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 461LIGHT TALK Episode 461 - "Feeling, Listening, and Supporting the Content - Our Conversation with Bob Dickinson - Part 1"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Legend of Light, Bob Dickinson. Join Bob, Ellen, Dennis, Steve and David as they discuss: Yacht and other small boat ownership; Going with your instinct; Getting started in Broadcast Lighting; Solid Gold; Working on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert; Discovering moving lights and moving them to broadcast; Bob's first (and almost last) Oscar gig; Working with "assholes"; The importance of learning how to manage Divas; Designing the Tony Awards; and Working with programmers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 460LIGHT TALK Episode 460 - "Women in Lighting - Our Conversation with Aria Hailey and Erica D. Hayes"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Sisters interview lighting designers/programmers, Aria Hailey and Erica D. Hayes. Join Aria, Erica, Kelsey, and Ellen as they discuss: The challenges of being a woman in the industry; What its like to be the only woman on the bus; Opening doors; Great women designers working in theatre and the concert industries; New pathways; How to get the courage to step in; Being mistaken for another person on the show; Is it important to bring a women's perspective to lighting art?; Working with advocates; "Women in Lighting" LDI panels; Networking connections; Teaching overseas; The future of AI in programming; Dream AI tools; "Claude"... Making a programmer's life easier; Dream jobs; and Advice for the next generation of women in lighting design. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense
S9 Ep 459LIGHT TALK Episode 459 - "Be Tenacious and Nice - Our Conversation with Jeff Nellis"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview renowned lighting designer, Jeff Nellis. In this episode, Jeff, Ellen, Steve, and Dennis discuss: Getting into the business; Early High School lighting connections; Working in the Sphere; Using Virtual Lighting; Williamstown Theatre Festival; Working with "Screamers"; Working in Ken Billington's studio; Aqua-Marine and Salmon; Tales from "The Wall of Flops"; Jeff's first Broadway show, "Primate"; UVLD, Industrials, and the corporate world; "Dramatic Design Without the Drama"; Choosing color temnperature for corporate branding; and IMAG; and Advice for young designers wanting to get into the corporate lighting world. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 458LIGHT TALK Episode 458 - "Lighting, Art, and Pizza - Our Conversation with Elena Hewett and Darius Knight Evans"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, as part of our Young Designers Series, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview USITT PAT MacKay Diversity in Design Scholarship Winners Darius Knight Evans and Elena Hewett. In this episode, Elena, Darius, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: How young designers find the right education; Different paths in discovering lighting design careers; Connecting with the right people in the industry; This years' interesting LDI presentations, panels and products; Exciting innovations; New ideas for post-graduate education; Suggestions for future LDI conferences; The next steps; How young designers are using and dealing with AI and AGI; Coping with stress; and Words of wisdom for other young designers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 457LIGHT TALK Episode 457 - "Come on Down to LDIsland - Our 2026 NEW YEARS EXTRAVAGANZA!"
In this 2026 New Years Extravaganza, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: What we did last night; Swag Complaints; Comfy Socks; Lighting "Rockin' New Years Eve with Dick Clark"; Where broadcast lighting designers dock their yachts; Video quality in movie theaters; Outstanding art direction on Apple TV; The future of projections; Fake theatrical lights in projectipon content; "Maybe Happy Ending"; The brilliance of Vince Gilligan; Why lighting designers wear Cowboy hats; Things we want to see in 2026; Heathkit light organs; Alexa horror stories; and our New Years resolutions. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 456LIGHT TALK Episode 456 - "The Best of LIGHT TALK - Circumcising Squirrels"
In this episode of THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister celebrate the holidays with this 2020 recording of that year's Lumen Holiday Extravaganza! Join Ellen, Steve, Brackley, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Favorite Holiday Songs; Lighting devices for our stockings; Stan's new eyeballs; Brackley's drug store glasses; Rudolph's gender identity; What do Jews do for Christmas?; Yiddish Fiddler; The Perfect Storm of guilt; How many Xmas lights can you plug into one wall outlet?; Red and Green cookies; Electric menorahs; Techniques for exterior landscape holiday lighting; Theatrical Epicurean Delights' 2020 Stagehand Friendly Fruitcakes; "It's a Wonderful Life" or "A Christmas Story"?; Are drones a good Christmas gift?; Our favorite holiday drinks; "Why are there two fuses in Xmas lights?"; the Barreca Family German Christmas Party; How to make fake snow; The deadly combination of eggnog and fruitcake; Our Christmas wishes; and Santa Stan's true meaning of the spirit of Christmas. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 455LIGHT TALK Episode 455 - "Welcome Carol - Our 2025 LDI Show Review"
In this 2025 LDI Review Episode, Kelsey, Steve, Dennis, Brackley and David discuss: Our Light Talk live show; Impressive new products; What we wanted to see but didn't; Our favorite booths; Our favorite demos/shows; Our favorite circle bar drinks; Battle of the busk; Our favorite swag; LDI Awards; and Our favorite Viva Las Vegas moments! Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 454LIGHT TALK Episode 454 - "We Are All Lumen Brothers and Sisters! - Our 2025 LIGHT TALK LIVE AT LDI SHOW!"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister present their LIVE AT LDI IN LAS VEGAS show presented on December 7, 2025. In this episode, Ellen, Zac, Steve, Dennis, Brackley, David, and Snoot answer live audience questions about: Why we hate and love Followspots, What are the next big advances in lighting fixtures; The most fun lighting jobs we have done; Why the A-Frame ladder is better than a Genie lift; How the relationship between the designer and programmer changes when the designer knows how to program; What do you do when you demo a fixture on the convention floor; and What new lighting technologies have been introduced into the industry over the last 20 years? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 453LIGHT TALK Episode 453 - "Backstage Franks at LDI!"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers pontificate about everything from What We Hope to See at LDI, to 1960's Flashbacks. In this episode, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: LDI Excitement!; Transferring a production from a proscenium stage to an arena stage; Site Surveys; Feeling the "Vive of the Space"; Finding a path out of the womb; Dancing Mirror Balls; Honey Badgers; New products that we want to see at LDI; "Smaller is Better"; and Listing your references on your resume'. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 452LIGHT TALK Episode 452 - "A Certified Banger! - Our Conversation with Rane Renshaw"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our Young Designers Series, interviews lighting designer and Programmer, Rane Renshaw. In this episode, Rane, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: Brackley's Legendary X-Rated Pool Party; Light Talk at LDI Surprise SWAG; The Village People; Designing at the huge nightclubs in Vegas; Rane's beginning his career at the church; The bridge between houses of worship and nightclubs; School days at CMU; "Bob Marley Hope Road" project at The Vanetian; Rane's "The Art of Programming" panels at LDI; "Limelight Wired" education programs; The "Alexa Console"; AI and the future of programing; Are Designer/Programmers the future of lighting?; and "Being Around". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 451LIGHT TALK Episode 451 - "Escape to Cafe Brasil - Our Conversation with Hannah Kerman"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our Young Designers Series, the Lumen family interviews lighting designer and Emmy Award winner, Hannah Kerman. In this episode, Hannah, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and Brackly discuss: Early days in Dallas; Hannah's early years at Carnegie Mellon; Skipping grad school for real-world training in the industry; Cold-Emailing designers; A typical production week at "America's Got Talent"; Working on the Grammy's; How many Followspots?; Broadcast lighting's top choices in followspots; and Longing for The Dallas Theatre Center. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 450LIGHT TALK Episode 450 - "The Best of Light Talk" - Last Year's LDI Live Show
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, From "The Best of Light Talk", we revisit last year's 7th Annual LIGHT TALK LIVE show from LDI! The Lumen Family talks about everything from AI Madness to Our Favorite Sandwiches. Join Anne, Steve, Brackley, Zak, Stan, Snoot, and David as they pontificate about: The future of AI in our industry; What will be the relationshop of lighting and video sources in the future regarding output and control; Chapter 7 of "Bobby Danger... The Lighting Guy"; Our favorite lighting fixtures; Our favorite Vegas lighting displays; Zac's Casino heritage; The Neon Museum; Who thought that a Podcast was a good idea; and How do you tell an actor that they continually miss their spike mark? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 449LIGHT TALK EPISODE 449 - "Video Killed the Radio Star - Our Conversation with Leo Lei and Sam Molitoriss
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen family interviews lighting designers Leo Lei and Sam Molitoriss. In this episode, Leo, Sam, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: The future of integrating the various lighting CAD and database programs to an all-in-one software; Consolidation vs. Fragmentation; When will AI make all this moot?; Should academic institutions focus more on teaching 3-D lighting programs and work-flow instead of 2D?; "Hog Factor" and Pre-viz; and The drones are coming! Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 448LIGHT TALK Episode 448 - "Keep It at The Museum!"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Lighting challenging faces on television to Unfortunate news about your design fee. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Recapping our interview with Justin Townsend; The Daytime Emmy Awards for Lighting; Gobo sizing; Clever uplight solutions; Chin and Catch Lights; What happens when the theatre company can't pay your fee, Rembrandt Lighting; and Pissing off the Stage Manager. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 447LIGHT TALK Episode 447 - "The Joy of Storytelling - Our Conversation with Justin Townsend"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen family interviews Broadway lighting designer Justin Townsend. In this episode, Justin, Ellen, Steve, and Dennis discuss: Justin's journey as a lighting designer; Teaching hand drafting; Working with Jonathan Groff and Alex Timbers; A trip to Home Depot for Mini 10's; "Bat Boy"; Teaching at NYU; "Here Lies Love"; Collaborating artistically with associates and programmers; Growing up with opera in the house; Playing with light; Staying Dangerous; Being ready to pivot; 48 Dimmers in a Basement; Learning how to work with a large team; Justin's panel at LDI; Challenges of mixing family life with work; and Lessons for young lighting designers of today. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 446LIGHT TALK Episode 446 - "T.P. in My Palm Trees - Our Halloween Extravaganza Show"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister present their annual Halloween Spectacular! Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: What to feed the kiddies; Annoying your neighbors; Planning your display with the right design apporach; What to do when kids start talking to inflatables; Halloween ghosts projections; Bats in the Belfry; Using haze, smoke, and strobes for maximum effect; The scary power of the Hammond organ; A ladle of seeds; Scary "Tales from Texas"; Being able to afford a Halloween display; and New ideas for LDI swag. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 455LIGHT TALK Episode 445 - "Ooh...La...La..."
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Cue Server to Director Talk. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and Stan as they pontificate about: News from Dallas and Bobby Hale; The futility of lighting black drapes; The production design of "The Studio"; What Ozzy really thought of Spinal Tap; Apple's "For All Mankind"; How to understand "Director Speak"; Working with Interactive Technologies' "Cue Server"; and What in the world is a "French Scene"? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 444LIGHT TALK Episode 444 "Shoot for the Stars - Our Conversation with Cort Lawrence"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our "Young Designers Series", the Lumen Family interviews Production and Concert Touring Designer Cort Lawrence. In this episode, Cort, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, Zac, and David discuss: Working with immersive video screens in design; Using AI in design development; Programmers and designers using AI to scan audio tracks to find compositional elements in a song; Human intervention for safety issues in design; Cooperation vs. Collaboration; Creatives acting as translators; Protecting your intellectual propery in an AI world; How being a student of history informs your design; Self-training on Cinema 4D in high school; Raw Cereal; and Advice for young production designers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 443LIGHT TALK Episode 443 - "A Giant Bird Musical! - Our Discussion with Colleen Doherty"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our "Emerging Young Artists Series", the Lumen Family interviews Broadway Lighting Designer Colleen Doherty. In this episode, Colleen, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: The Prime Time Emmy cinematography and lighting winners; Trump's Emmy; Starting as a performer in Florida; Undergrad and Graduate School Days; Getting a foothold in New York; Designing "The Twelfth Night Show" and "The Great Emu Wars"; Reliving sleepy productions; Having Don Holder as a mentor; Making the jump to Broadway; Dealing with competition and jealosy; "Comparison is the Death of Joy"; Working with Justin Townsend; Cold-Calling; Working in LORT theatres; Dealing with low fees; The right time to find an agent; Learning how to budget for a freelance career; Colleen's LDI panels; and Advice for young designers heading into the profession. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 442LIGHT TALK Episode 442 - "The $32,000 Bar Tab - Our Discussion with Marcel Fairbairn"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen Family interviews Lighting Entrepreneur and "Geezers of Gear" podcaster Marcel Fairbairn. In this episode, Marcel, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: Being the Poorest guy in Wellington; GearSource; Musical roots; The "Rock Mass"; Early days at Martin; Crazy parties; PAL 1200 and RoboScan stories; Ticket Bots; Dining with Dinosaurs at LDI; Sin City Sessions; GearShare, Solving cross-rental gear problems with AI; X-Live; Know Your Customer; Marcel's pandemic Zoom Happy Hours; Are we close to an AI Lighting Console?; and Words of wisdom for young lighting entrepreneurs. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

S9 Ep 441LIGHT TALK Episode 441 - "Lighting is Never Finished, It's Just Abandoned"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Mystery Budgets to Missing Professors. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Vectorworks says: "Thanks for the invite... but...."; The differences between an Assistant and Associate Lighting Designer; What do you do when your Superstar lighting professor is rarely at school; Knowing what your production budget is; Great Shakespeare come-backs; Why are some TV shows so dark; and When to freeze an academic show. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 440LIGHT TALK Episode 440 - "A Deep Fried Ring of Disappointment"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Rising Vectorworks Prices to Dennis' Lighting Injustices. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Dancing in the Dark; The new Sphere Wizard of Oz show; Extensive uses of Gobos; Creating a stained glass look on a window; Paying attention to the playwrights' lighting notes; Designing the black before you design the light; Our most powerful blackouts; The new inflation barometer; Dennis' strange Dunkin Donuts encounter at LDI; Are software subscriptions here to stay?; Vectorworks' new pricing strategy; Kit fees; and Wasting time at technical rehearsals. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 439LIGHT TALK Episode 439 - "Unfiltered Brain Juice"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Being Attracted to Triangles to The Village People. Join Ellen, Zac, and David as they pontificate about: New time for "Light Talk at LDI"; Zac's new appointment as one of USITT's Digital Media Commissioners; Making the world safer for projections; Lighting Zones; Odds vs. Evens; Striving for a "Hot Center"; Designing for heat and hail storms at summer festivals; "The HAL 2001 AI Lighting Console"; Can the design process be standardized?; Favored Nations and negotiating design fees; Having the flexibility to adhere to other artists' standards; "Test and Adjust"; The "Zac-App"; David's Memoirs; and "Freezing" Shows. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 438LIGHT TALK Episode 438 - "Focusing ParCans at Sphere - Our Discussion with Matt Schiller"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen Family interviews Lighting Programmer/Designer and Tech, Matt Schiller. In this installment of our "Young Designers' Series", Matt, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: Getting started right out of high school; Telling Mom and Dad that you are going on the road; Doing the PRG Internship; Touring with Diddy; Safety issues when touring; Moving to Las Vegas; Sphere Stories; Working with "Dead and Company," and "The Backstreet Boys"; Dead and Company's Par Cans; "Lighting Up" at The Dead shows; Road Stories; Are Followspots dead?; Setting up your console; Advantages and disadvantages of being on the road vs. a residency; Dealing with different levels of competency; The future of AI in console development; Changing things that your dad complained about; and Advice to young designers and techs who want to work in Las Vegas. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 437LIGHT TALK Episode 437 - "Do Not Be Afraid... Be BOLD! - Our Conversation with Mextly Couzin"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen Family interviews Lighting Designer Mextly Couzin. In another installment of our "Young Designers' Series", Mextly, Ellen, Dennis, and David discuss Mextly's amazing and meteoric career. Mextly describes her fearless journey from earning a Pure Mathematics degree to designing her first Broadway show. Tons of wise words and advice on many issues, including: Making connections; The story of "JOB"; Being proactive; Safety issues at summer theatres; Discovering "painting" with light; Things that need to be changed; Will AI take over our jobs?; and How to survive and succeed, at such a young age. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 436LIGHT TALK Episode 436 - "Theatre-Makers, New Challenges in Theatre Education - Our Conversation with Michael Schweikardt"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk with stage designer and Professor of Scenic Design at San Francisco State University, Michael Schweikardt. Join Michael, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they discuss the Passing of Legendary Theatre Artist Robert Wilson; and The ever-changing landscape of budget, enrollment, workload, and expectations that are affecting the future of university theatre programs. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 435LIGHT TALK Episode 435 - "A Big Fan of Moles"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from The "Ellipsoidal of Death" to Poking Pigs. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Upcoming deadlines; The Billy Joel documentary; How should a resident lighting designer or assistant prepare for a visiting guest designer; Our favorite lighting fixture; "Shower Curtains Can Be Your Best Friend"; Do people still use Fresnels?; The affects of working in a dark theatre for 18 hours a day; "The Rookie's Guide to Selecting Color"; "Disco Inferno"; Are organized labor unions becoming obsolete?; and Lighting an unpainted set. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 434LIGHT TALK Episode 434 - "Ozzy"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Creating the Illusion to Remembering Ozzy Osbourne. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David and Snoot's wedding report; Our memories of Ozzy; Royal Castle burgers in a box; Tomorrowland fire; How to choose your colors while using subtractive and additive mixing; Remounting shows and matching color using different sources; How to create an effect of light coming through a slit in the wall of the set; What to do when your plot, paperwork and backups are stolen; Total Bastard's "Eternal Roll of Gaffer's Tape"; and How much pre-production decision-making is necessary. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 433LIGHT TALK Episode 433 - "Orange Lobsters"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Facebook Lighting Group Wars to Getting Drunk in Catalina. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David's upcoming wedding; The Brouhaha occuring with lighting groups on Facebook; How to get more attention from your lighting professor; Undergraduate students in graduate classes; "Extra Credit"; Tales From the American Stage"; How to tell your director that part of the show is not working; and Are swatchbooks really obsolete? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 432LIGHT TALK Episode 432 - "Daddy Lights - Our Conversation with Brad Schiller"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk with lighting designer and author Brad Schiller. Join Brad, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David and Snoot's European Adventure; The Virgin cruising experience; Studio School of Design's live classes; Brad's first experiences with light; Brad's new position at GLP; Brad's Showlight lecture; Sticking light bulbs up your nose; Finding gigs early in your career; Future unique products at GLP; The "Mad Max"; The GLP Road Show; Brad's books; "GDTF" and "MVR"; and Advice for young designers and technicians. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 431LIGHT TALK Episode 431 - "THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK - Our Conversation with Paule Constable"
In this episode of THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome lighting designer Paule Constable to the show. Join Paule, Anne, Steve, and David, as they discuss: The challenges to having a career and a family, Paule taking her flatmate's followspot job, The continuing fight for gender equality in the lighting industry, Superman's telephone box, Renewing your spirit, The hubris of youth, Being the first woman who lit a show at the National Theatre, Being bold and asking for jobs, Embracing Complexity and Risk, Unconscious sexism, Gender balanced production teams, Being involved early in the process, What is the light doing in the room?, Articulating space with light, The intimacy of WarHorse, Our responsibility for sustainability in the arts, Fiddling while Rome burns, Time for zero-carbon festivals, and Don't use light for light's sake. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 430LIGHT TALK Episode 430 - "THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK - Our Conversation with Wendall Harrington"
In this episode of THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers interview "The Godmother of Projection Design", Wendall Harrington. Join Wendall, Zak, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Being the first projection designer on Broadway; "Stop Making Sense"; Trailblazing gender rights in the theatre; "They're Playing Our Song"; Video vs. Slide Projectors; Loving and missing Pani's; "The Who's Tommy"... behind the scenes; 2000 slides in 54 slide projectors; Balancing family and professional lives; Getting robbed of your femininity; Inspired mentors; Wise words from Sondheim; "The Wendall School"; Heading the Video Projection concentration at Yale; Visual story-telling; Theatre is afraid of the internet; Elevating the actor in a flat medium; and Do you really need projections in your show? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense
S9 Ep 429LIGHT TALK Episode 429 - "The Newlywed Game - Our Discussion with Paul Radasseo"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, as part of our "Young Designers Series", The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk with lighting designer Paul Radasseo. Join Paul, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Wedding ideas; Favorite TV shows for lighting design; What Paul learned at Ithaca College; The decision to pursue broadcast lighting design; Getting into the business in NYC; First projects at LDG; The decision whether or not to go to graduate school; The beauty of Gothic architecture; First few years surviving in NYC; "Cold E-mailing" designers and pick-up gigs; The importance of hand-drafting; How to deal with different types of stress; Working on tour-productions; Advice on maintaining a work/life balance; and "Dream Jobs". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 428LIGHT TALK Episode 428 - "Stinky Cheese"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from The Tony Awards to Stinky Cheese. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Welcome back Ellen!; Report from Design Showcase West; Report from Showlight; Join the Club! Dennis makes a mistake!; Out of control submasters in broadcast lighting; External Validation; Comments on The Tony Awards; and How to successfully light over rehearsals and runs. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
S9 Ep 427LIGHT TALK Episode 427 - "A Leap of Faith - Our discussion with Kelsey Araghi and Keegan Webber"
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister kick off their "Young Designers Series", focusing on the challenges that young designers face when starting their careers. Today they talk with lighting designers Kelsey Araghi and Keegan Webber about starting their challenges and successes in starting their careers in professional lighting design. Join Kelsey, Keegan, Dennis, Zak, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: How important was their training in becoming lighting designers; Choosing the right university; BA or BFA?; The choice of not attending graduate school; How important is theatrical experience before attending school; Studying Stage Management; What training did they hope to receive at school, but didn't get; Achieving "Work/Life Balance"; Being the youngest person in the room; Finding jobs after graduating; Kelsey taking the bold step of contacting David; Knowing when to say "yes" or "no" to a job; The advantages of being partners; Working with LumaLux and Early Bird Visual; Blown New Year's Resolutions; Keeping up with technology with little funding to do it; Dreams; and Advice for young designers and programmers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.