A Disneyphile's View of the New Walt Disney Family Museum

Ok. I realize that at 44 I am a little old to be quite so obsessed with everything Disney. Since I have no children of my own, the annual journeys to Disneyland may seem a little excessive to the casual observer. Also, I have always held Walt Disney to be a role model for me as a theatre artist. Whenever I am stuck with a problem of budget versus design criteria, I always ask myself, "What would Walt Disney Do?" Never was there a better example of a perfectionist with a budget problem then when Walt was building Disneyland.

So imagine my joy in learning that the Disney family had selected a location for the new Walt Disney Family Museum so close to my home town. The new facility in the Presidio of San Francisco opened on October 1st, 2009. But since Musson was awarded the drapery package installation for the theatre portion of the project, I got to have a little sneak peak of the museum before the general public. The following are my observations of the facility, keeping in mind that they made us wear cocktail attire, and I had to traverse all 19,000 square feet and nine galleries in high heels. Also, they wouldn't let us take any pictures, so, except for what I was able to borrow from the internet, I don't have much visual reinforcement. (Thanks SFGate!)

The museum takes you on the journey of Walt's life. It begins in the lobby, which is filled with awards, certificates, and honorary degrees. This truly sets the tone for what will be a somewhat one-sided journey through Walt's sometimes controversial life. But as a Walt fan, I don't really mind. The next few galleries are filled with photos and memorabilia beginning with his ancestors and gives you a good sense of what life was like for young Walter. You follow Walt through his teen years and his dubious beginnings as an animator. Next you wind through Walt's career in Hollywood and the development of Walt Disney Studios. As you leave this gallery, you are ushered down a hallway made of glass that overlooks the San Francisco bay. When you emerge, you begin a descent down a circular ramp that surrounds a simply gorgeous model of Disneyland circa about 1965. On the outside of the circle is the track and cars from the Lillybelle, the working train Walt had installed in his back yard. As you exit this area, you enter into a display of the Disney Corporation's contribution to the the 1965 world's fair. And finally, as you exit, you are surrounded with the media's response to Walt's death in 1966. There was not a dry eye in the house as we passed through to the final room, which is a video montage of people today still enjoying the Walt Disney legacy.

The most striking thing about the museum, in my opinion, is the use of innovative exhibit design. Sadly for us here at Musson, there is little, if any, theatrical equipment used in the facility. What is striking is the use of video projection, and its associated ambient light, to create the atmosphere in many of the exhibits. Early in the museum is a wall entirely of sketches. It takes a few moments to realize that some of the "papers" are not papers at all, but video screens with the images animated.

The installation of the glass hallway between the motion picture portion of the museum and the Disneyland portion of the museum is a nifty trick in misdirection. It takes you momentarily back to the real world before submerging you the glory that is Disneyland. It is rather like sitting in the submarine on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or Finding Nemo (depending on how old you are) just before you are "submerged" into the world under the surface of the sea. In my opinion, they use this trick to direct your attention from the fact that little is said about the struggle to get Disneyland built, or the contribution of time and energy by Walt's brother, Roy, without which there would have been no Disneyland. While they can't fool a Disneyphile like me, they will most effectively put one over on the rest of the "normal" populous. I, for one, was disappointed to leave the final exhibit area next to the gift shop, and not directly INTO the gift shop. But then it's not the Michael Eisner Family Museum, is it?

Entertainment technology professionals of all ages will enjoy this experience immensely, even if they are not huge Disney fans. There is some terrific technology to observe and ponder. I do not recommend this experience the little one's however. There is only one truly interactive exhibit that I could find. The rest is walking and looking and reading and under no circumstances touching. The museum is most like Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Relax and enjoy, but don't look too closely or you'll ruin the illusion.

USITT Update - Sort Of

I have recently returned from USITT. For those of you not in the know, that is the national conference for the United States Institute of Theatre Technology. This year, it was held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Each year, I complain bitterly about the location of the conference. It is always some town I have no real desire to see - Louisville, Phoenix, Houston, Wichita (seriously), and now Cincinnati. Why can't we have USITT Hawaii or USITT Virgin Islands? This year was not different. I whined and complained right up until I stepped in to the Cincinnati Hilton Netherlands Plaza Hotel. And then I shut up!

The conference itself was fine. My USITT chapter meeting involved an interesting discussion on how the economy is impacting education. My ESTA meetings were centered around strategic planning for the association and offered in-depth analysis of the importance of ESTA and its programs. The exhibits were great and I got a chance to spend some time learning about wireless DMX from Andrew at City Theatrical and playing with the long-awaited new Element Control Console from ETC. A typical USITT.

A typical report from a USITT would include a detailed description of the new equipment offerings and how they can better your facilities. This will not be a typical report. You don't need me to tell you all about the new Element Control Console, you have already seen 9 press releases about it and visited the ETC website. Instead, I am going to tell you about the hotel.

As artists, we all want to be inspired. I find as I get older, that I am less and less easily inspired. Everything seems mundane and dim and industrial. Architecture and interior design has devolved to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Structure and color have become anticipatory to me. I can walk up to a building and tell you exactly what it will look like inside. But not the Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel!

This hotel was completed in 1931 by a gentleman who cleverly pulled is money out of the stock market moments before it crashed. As a result, he was able to complete his project, and employ a great number of people, at a time of great despair for many others. This hotel is a model of Art Deco splendor that makes the Empire State Building look like a shack. What was once the lobby of the hotel is now the Palms Court Restaurant and Bar, which is the picture at top. Lined in Brazilian Rosewood, it features glorious wall sconces, remarkable scroll work, and lovely paintings (sadly lit with Par 46 cans - one of which I was forced to adjust slightly because I couldn't stand it anymore). At the far end is a zigguraut-shapped fountain with a rams head. From the Mezanine level, you can look down at all this splendor, and up at some more, as there are brilliant chandeliers and luscious murals on the ceiling of Apollo and Diana.

We decided to take a walking tour of the entire hotel. Guests are permitted to wander in and out of ballrooms and meeting rooms. Each one more amazing than the next. The USITT Banquet was held in the Hall of Mirrors on the third floor. Originally designed to look like a theatre, the room features a majestic staircase, jaded green grille work, and painted draperies. The main feature of the room was, of course, the mirrors, which reflect warm shimmering light from every angle of the room.
Beneath the hotel is a breezeway that connects the hotel to Carew Tower and to the above street-level walkway to the convention center. Even the breezeway is an example of Art Deco splendor. Chrome and lavander decor with remarkable marble pillars. The lighting overhead seems natural instead of being underneath 27 stories of over 600 guest rooms.

Every room we visited brought new joys and surprises. Murals, chandeliers, scroll work, grilles, scuplture, and sconces. All of it designed to transport the visitor to a time and place of opulence and romance. Colors, textiles, metals, woods, and furnishings all selected with the one goal of human inspiration. I would be pleased to return to Cincinnati for any reason, so long as I could spend 2 hours basking in the glory of this delicious hotel.

That being said, next year USITT will be held in Kansas City, Mo. NOT Hawaii, as I requested for the 15th year in a row. The best I can hope for is to be once again surprised and inspired by the ingenuity of man and power of really good art.

Rotating Pastel Lights Win the Day!

Hey Everyone! Great Work! We Won!! Americans for the Arts Reports... "Just moments ago, the U.S. House of Representatives approved their final version of the Economic Recovery bill by a vote of 246-183. We can now confirm that the package DOES include $50 million in direct support for arts jobs through National Endowment for the Arts grants. We are also happy to report that the exclusionary Coburn Amendment language banning certain arts groups from receiving any other economic recovery funds has also been successfully removed. Tonight the Senate is scheduled to have their final vote, and President Obama plans to sign the bill on Monday - President's Day!"
Way to go Arts Community! Your voice was heard.

No Bailout for Rotating Pastel Lights!

It has been brought to my attention that one Republican Senator from Oklahoma has introduced an amendment to the Economic Stimulus package. His Amendment #175 to the Federal Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, says, "None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas."

I agree with Senator Coburn on one point. Rotating pastel lights, improperly applied, can be tacky. Moreover, rotating pastel lights employ fewer than 100 people nationally. Let the Chinese corner the market on rotating pastel lights. As Americans, we should be spending our tax dollars responsibly on rotating lights in saturated colors.

On all other points, I will have to agree to disagree with Senator Coburn.

The National Endowment for the Arts is slated to receive $50 million as part of the Economic Stimulus Package. Even if one million of that were to somehow end up in the hands of people making or using rotating pastel lights, that would still leave $49 million dollars to be distributed to arts groups and individual artists spanning the entire country.

The arts are an important component of a healthy economy and social ecosystem. I am not sure how Senator Coburn missed the memo on this. I have emailed him a copy of the report created by the Arts Council Silicon Valley in 2007 called Arts and Economic Prosperity III to help the guy out. If you would like to read it for yourself, you can download it here. It is admittedly a dry read, so let me sum it up for you. Arts = jobs and revenue. The End. In 2007, arts and culture organizations who participated in the study were responsible for almost 4,000 jobs and $166 million in economic activity. Admittedly, very few of these organizations were employing rotating pastel lights.

Under most circumstances, I am not a very political person. I tend to glaze over when people use words like Economic Stimulus, and Federal Recovery and Reinvestment. But come on. Am I really supposed to sit here and let this gentleman from Oklahoma attack my entire industry? I am calling my perfectly sane Senator and asking her to vote no on this absurd proposition. I encourage you to do the same.

In the mean time, I intend to get in my vehicle and try and navigate the luxuriously beautiful road to my home where I can enjoy my big screen TV in my Zero Gravity chair. But what I really need is a big glass of Pinot Grigio and a dry heat sauna!

There's No Such Thing as Blacklight Gel

This is the time of year when I get a great many calls asking for a black light gel. People want to create spectacular black light effects for parties and events without the expense of real black light. I hear you. I totally do. The thing is, there really is no such thing as a black light gel. (Actually, in 2008, there is no such thing as "gel" but that's a whole other blog.)

Our eyes detect visible light in a spectrum ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. Roscolux #59 Indigo is a very deep purple with a transmission value of only 2%. In a pinch, and under just the right circumstances, you can use this filter to simulate black light. But in truth, it is really just a violet color dense enough to begin to border on ultraviolet.

Beyond violet light is ultraviolet light, which we cannot see. Ultraviolet light picks up phosphors. A phosphor is any substance that emits visible light in response to radiation. A phosphor converts the energy in the UV radiation from a black light into visible light. What you are seeing when you use a "black light gel" is the few phosphors that are able to be detected with the little tiny bit of ultraviolet light escaping through the filter.

To create a true black light effect, you will want to use a fixture that actually emits ultraviolet light. Fluorescent tubes have a bit of mercury in them (which is why we can't just toss them in the trash). Mercury gas gives off green, blue, and UV light. Black Light Fluorescents are coated with a purple dye to keep the blue and green light from passing through, thereby letting just the UV light pass. Fluorescent Black Light lamps are good for short range applications and low budget, low impact effects.

For better effects, I recommend the new UV LED PAR from American DJ. LED's generate very little heat and this one has 151 LED's for a nice, even field of light. This is a big step up from fluorescents, but due to the nature of LED's these are best for medium throw, medium budget, medium impact effects.

For really great effects, you need to get out the big guns. Most manufacturers of black lights use mercury vapor or metal halide lamps. Wildfire makes a long throw, maximum impact fixture that uses an Iron Arc Metal Halide lamps specifically designed for black light emission. It peaks at about 365 nanometers for a truly stunning black light effect.

But remember, you get what you pay for. A sheet of Roscolux #59 is $6.75. An inexpensive 4' Fluorescent Black Light fixture runs about $50.00. The American DJ UV LED PAR will cost about $240.00. And the Wildfire fixtures range from $1,300.00 to $3,200.00.

So while there is no such thing as a true black light gel, there are many ways to create stunning black light effects. Give me a call at Musson and I will find the product that is just right for your budget and your effect.

The Worst Day at the Best Job in the World

I love my job. Love it. Even after more than 19 years, I get up happy to go to work every morning. I have the glorious distinction of being able to make my living in the industry that I love, helping artists create great theatre, restoring forgotten palaces of entertainment, making schools better environments for learning in the arts, and building communities through cultural participation. Yea for me!

Today, I hate my job. Hate it. Today I had my third site visit to Diablo Vista Middle School in Danville. It is a simple project; an upgrade to an existing Strand dimmer rack, adding a few surface mounted circuit boxes, and increasing the client's inventory of lighting fixtures to be focused into a useful repertory light plot. David Lindberg, my Audio Specialist, has designed a very nice sound reinforcement system for the music department to complement the lighting upgrade. The customer, the San Ramon Unified School District, is a dream to work with. So why is this the third time I have left this building running to my car in tears?

Let me tell you the story of Devon Marvin. A lovely child of 13 and a half years with gentle nature, quick wit, great smile, and loving personality. An honor roll student, Devon had an affinity for music and literature and a great love for animals - even snails. How do I know Devon? I don't. I can't. She decided to leave this world of her own accord and on her own terms on February 9th of 2008. Why a little peanut with the whole world in front of her would take her own life is absolutely mysterious to me. And since she left no note, it will always be a mystery to all of us. You can see her obituary and sign her guest book here.

Her parents, Scott and Jane, have decided that a proper memorial for Devon is to upgrade the stage on which she used to perform as second violinist at the middle school she attended. I see Scott Marvin at every site meeting. His pain is palpable, and each time he visits the school it is a cruel reminder that he will never again sit in an uncomfortable metal chair, in an acoustically inappropriate room, drink weak coffee, and joyfully listen to his tiny daughter create beautiful music. Scott is often on the verge of tears when I see him and, like Truvy in Steel Magnolias, I have a strict rule that no one cries alone in my presence. Today is the worst day at the best job in the world.

This is not the first loss of a young person to suicide I have encountered this year. My friend Bill Groener, who you may know from PRG and ESTA, recently lost his son, Chris, a mere 19 years old. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those 15-24 years old. Bill raised over $17,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide prevention on June 7th at the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk-A-Thon in New York City. If you would like to learn more about suicide prevention, you can visit the AFSP website.

The Diablo Vista Middle School Project, which has understandably become dear to my heart, is being funded by a memorial fund. Contributions can be made to:

Devon Marvin Memorial Fund
c/o Silicon Valley Community Foundation
attn: Gift Administration,
2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 450-5400

I am headed home now to a glass of old vine Zinfandel, which I will raise to a better tomorrow - for all of us.

There Is No Such Thing As An Intelligent Light

I have long been of the opinion that there is no such thing as an intelligent light. There are certainly automated lights, and motorized lights, and even robotic lights. But lighting is not intelligent. Lighting designers and programmers are intelligent, and that can be hotly debated in certain circumstances.

Merriam-Webster defines intelligence as follows...

(1): the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations
(2): the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria

If there is a manufacturer currently producing a lighting fixture that has the capacity to think abstractly, I would like a demo in my show room ASAP!

However, Merriam-Webster defines intelligent as follows...

(1): having or indicating a high or satisfactory degree of intelligence and mental capacity b: revealing or reflecting good judgment or sound thought : skillful
(2): possessing intelligence b: guided or directed by intellect : rational
(3): guided or controlled by a computer; especially : using a built-in microprocessor for automatic operation, for processing of data, or for achieving greater versatility

Now, it is #3 that obviously gets me. Is this what we now consider intelligence? Is it possible that concept of intelligence is no longer the private domain of living, sentient creatures but rather easily replaced by a built-in microprocessor?

I reject this last definition. I choose to cling to my belief that intelligence cannot be manufactured less expensively in China. It is at the core of the human spirit and innovation. Technology is all well and good. I need it. I like it. I sell a ton of it. But as a theatre artist, I will take one truly intelligent lighting designer with a current swatchbook and pattern catalog over 50 "intelligent lights" any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Don't mistake - I love automated lighting. Used properly in the right circumstances, automated lighting can make a production or environment really pop. There are plenty of great lights on the market, each with its own set of features and attributes. Give me a call any time and I will gladly share my intelligence with you about the various options in automated lighting. Just don't ask for an intelligent light! As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing.