Featured Project: 2008 Presidential & Vice-Presidential Debates

The lighting of the 2008 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates proved to be another challenge-packed assignment for Jim Tetlow of Nautilus Entertainment Design with four different locations, three different staging formats and for the first time, the debates were broadcast in high-definition. Produced by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, this is the third Presidential election in a row that Tetlow has been tapped as Lighting Designer.

All debate venues were located at universities chosen through a several year process by the Commission.  The debates are typically staged in a field house or gymnasium; however the Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi was the setting for this year’s first Presidential Debate. Although one would think that it would be easier to stage the debate in a theatre, this site proved to be a bigger challenge than the others due to the lack of rigging points over the apron and the audience.

“Ultimately, the debates are like classic ‘talking head’ interview shows, where you use portrait lighting for each speaker,” says Tetlow. “In a television studio, this typically means using some sort of soft fill light, whether they are halogen, fluorescent or LED sources. However, what makes the debates unique is creating portrait lighting from 55 feet way instead of the typical 8 to 10 feet in a broadcast studio.  It’s the wide shot that defines the height and distance of the lighting fixtures and, in the case of the debates, that means a wide shot of the set, which was over 40 feet wide.  To work at these long distances, ETC Source 4 ellipsoidals were used for the portrait lighting of the candidates and the moderator, while more general stage lighting for the candidate’s entrances was done with Arri 5Kw fresnels, and PAR 64s.  The background of the candidates’ close-up shot was a lightbox of text from the Constitution.”

All of the venues had their own special challenges based on the debate formats—podium-style (where the candidates had lecterns as their home base), a town hall-style (that allowed the candidates to walk freely around the set and speak directly with the live studio audience), and a large interview-style desk (where the candidates and moderator were seated). “One of the advantages of portrait lighting,” Tetlow states, “is that it allows the lighting designer the flexibility to independently balance the lighting of each candidate, the moderator and the set.” This worked well for all of the debates except the "Town Hall" meeting, which was staged in the round.  It was impossible to isolate the candidates as they continually moved around the stage and were surrounded by a live studio audience.  The solution was to create an evenly illuminated, 360 degree environment in which the candidates could work comfortably.”

Awards

Credits: Political Events

2009 Presidential Inaugural Balls and Candlelight Dinners

2004 & 2008 Presidential Debates - Ligthting Designer & Master Electrian Services
Responsible for television lighting and master electrian services for this event

2000 Presidential Debates - Lighting Designer
Responsible for television lighting for this event

1999 Macau Handover Ceremony - Lighting Designer
Responsible for television, live stage lighting, and building's architectural lighting for this event. (shown at right)

1997 Official Hong Kong Handover Ceremony - Lighting Designer
Responsible for television and live lighting of both stage and convention hall for this historic event in Hong Kong Harbor

1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego, CA - Senior Lighting Designer
Responsible for entire convention lighting design including the speaker's rostrum, performance area, delegate, audience, and press areas

1993, 1989, 1985, 1981 Presidential Inaugural Balls in Washington D.C. - Production Lighting Designer
Responsible for conceptual lighting design and supervision of the lighting for all fifteen inaugural balls and dinners in eleven different locations

1992 Democratic National Convention in Madison Square Garden, New York - Lighting Designer
Responsible for entire convention lighting design including the speaker's rostrum, performance area, delegate, audience, and press areas.

1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans, LA Super Dome - Lighting Designer
Responsible for entire convention lighting design including the speaker's rostrum, performance area, delegate, audience, and press areas

1984 Republican National Conventions in Dallas, TX - Lighting Designer
Responsible for entire convention lighting design including the speaker's rostrum, performance area, delegate, audience, and press areas

Singapore Silver Jubilee Spectacular at National Stadium in Singapore - Lighting Designer
This show, commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Singaporean independence, featured a cast of 15,000 in a stadium mega event

Awards Ceremonies

NASCAR Awards (ESPN) 1994-99

Daytime Emmy Awards (NBC, CBS, ABC) 1986, 1988-90, 1993-94

Heisman Trophy Award (ABC, NBC) 1982-84

Special Events

1993 World University Games Opening Ceremonies in Buffalo, New York
Large Stadium show to celebrate the opening of this international sports competition

1992 NBC Broadcast Facilities Summer Olympics in Barcelona - Lighting Consultant

100th Anniversary of Stanford University at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA
Large stadium event with three stages and full field production numbers

Singapore Jubilee New Year's Show at National Indoor Stadium in Singapore with live broadcast to all Southeast Asia

50th Anniversary of the Polaroid Corporation at Boston College Stadium

Pageants

Concerts & Comedy Specials

Paul Sorvino in Concert (PBS)

Andrew Lloyd Webber's REQUIEM (BBC/PBS)

Harry Chapin Tribute at Carnegie Hall (PBS)

Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular (HBO)

Robert Klein on Broadway (Joe Cates Prod./ HBO)

NBC Super Star Comedy Special (NBC Productions)

The Best of Comic Relief (Moffitt-Lee/ HBO)

Tim Allen - Men are Pigs Tour (Showtime)

Tim Allen - Rewires America (Showtime)

John Mendoza Comedy Special (Showtime)

Luciano Pavarotti Special (NY Locations-Smith Hemion Prod)

I'm Gonna Always Love You, Muppet Music Video (MTV)

Frank Zappa at the Palladium (MTV)

Mink DeVille at the Savoy (MTV)

Ian Hunter in Concert (MTV)

Garrison Keillor 2nd Annual Farewell Special (Disney)

Letterman's Late Night 6th Anniversary Special (NBC)

Live at Dangerfield's (HBO)

Miscellaneous Specials

Gullah Heritage (PBS musical and drama special)

Barbara Walters Special (BarWal Productions)

Life Magazine's 50th Anniversary Special (ABC)

Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (PBS)

Cerebral Palsy Telethon (Pasetta Prod./CBS)

Legend of the American Cowboy (Steve Binder Prod.)

Television Series

Government Facilities

• House Ways and Means Committee Room, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
  • 2003 feasibility study for adding proper television lighting with minimal impact to the historic architecture of the space. James Posey and Associates, Architects.
    
    
• Senate Chamber, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
  • 2003 feasibility study for re-design of the architectural and television lighting, including new cove lighting. The new system will result in a dramatic reduction in power consumption while providing increased illumination with color balance for television. Beyer, Blinder, Belle, Architects.
    
    
  • 2002 oculus lighting upgrade. Architect of the Capitol.
    
    
  • 1998 feasibility study for re-design of the architectural and television lighting. Architect of the Capitol.
    
    
• House of Representatives Chamber, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
  • 2003 feasibility study for a historic restoration, incorporating new architectural and television lighting for both daily use and broadcasted events. Beyer, Blinder, Belle, Architects.
    
    
  • 2003 feasibility study for updating architectural and television lighting. Architect of the Capitol.