Showlight Announces Virtual Event – Save the Date!
Julie Harper • February 5, 2021
Virtual Showlight 2021 - Save the Date!
Date: Tuesday 25 May 2021
Time: 15.00 – 23.00 BST
Location: The Comfort of Your Own Home!
Following the postponement of Showlight 2021, Showlight is delighted to announce that a one-day Virtual Showlight will be held in its place as a temporary interlude. The live online event will take place on Tuesday 25 May 2021 between the hours of 15.00 – 23.00 BST.
The date coincides with the final day of the original event and the time has been chosen to best accommodate USA and European delegates, the night owls further east, and (with apologies!) the sleepless in Australia and New Zealand!
Virtual Showlight will host an online presentation of papers, each up to 30 minutes in length, from international keynote speakers, plus a live Panel Discussion. Q&A sessions will follow each paper with delegates able to message their questions via the chairperson.
The remainder of the time will stay true to the spirit of Showlight with scheduled breaks between sessions providing opportunities for delegates, speakers and sponsors to network in ‘breakout rooms’ where they can spend the time mixing and mingling with others, both socially and within interest groups, in a virtual way.
Virtual Speakers Wanted!
To coincide with this announcement, Showlight is issuing a fresh Call for Speakers to enrich the Virtual Showlight programme and make the most of the opportunities presented by the virtual format. We envisage this will be especially appealing for those speakers whose commitments usually prevent them from speaking at a full Showlight event. Don’t worry, technical support will be available for those that might require it!
Showlight is always on the look out for new speakers, so if you prefer to submit your ideas for the full event, we are also happy to hear these – just specify on your submission if you are applying for Virtual Showlight or Full Showlight. All ideas to be submitted to papers@showlight.org
Virtual Sponsors Wanted!
Sponsorship opportunities are available to facilitate this unique online event with the chance to host your own breakout room between papers sessions. Please email sponsorship@showlight.org for more details.
We are grateful to those sponsors who have already signed up early in support of Virtual Showlight: Robert Juliat as headline sponsor, ACT Lighting, Inc., Altman, Ayrton, ETC and Robe. Virtual Showlight is also kindly supported by our media partners, LSi, and by LSA.
Tickets by voluntary donation
Tickets for Virtual Showlight will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Announcements will appear in the press and the Showlight mailing list as soon as the ticket desk opens. In the current climate, Showlight has chosen not to charge for tickets but to leave it to the discretion of the delegates to add voluntary donations, with all proceeds going directly to selected industry charities, including Backup and Behind the Scenes.
Full Showlight will return!
Virtual Showlight has been planned as an enjoyable day to touch base with colleagues and celebrate the lighting industry that we love. However, Showlight also confirms, Virtual Showlight is a temporary solution only, and the full Showlight event will return as soon as possible.
“While a virtual event cannot match the magic of the original gathering planned for Fontainebleau, we are determined to maintain the spirit of this unique colloquium until that happy time when we can gather together safely in person,” says Showlight Chairman, John Allen. “Virtual Showlight is a temporary, yet ingenious and enjoyable, solution to the restrictions caused by the COVID pandemic which also gives us the opportunity to raise money for our industry charities. Be assured Showlight will return as a live event in its full and wonderful form once it is safe and practical to do so. Until then, we look forward to seeing you online on 25 May 2021.”
Don’t forget to sign up to the Showlight Mailing List
, Facebook
and Twitter
pages to keep up to date with developments and be the first to hear when speakers are announced and tickets become available.
You might also like
Showlight 2025 has produced a programme full of treats for its delegates with over 30 speakers lined up to bring their expertise to Dijon this May. Tickets are selling fast so don’t delay in securing yours today! Here’s our latest offerings from the worlds of film, live events, large scale art installations and illuminated fashion design! Schrödinger’s Dimmer; controlling the uncontrollable Award-winning lighting designer, cinematographer, writer and director, and fellow of Rose Bruford college, Roger Simonsz , will discuss how difficult it is to achieve the kind of slow lighting changes so easily performed in theatre within the film environment. Using examples from “Engrenages/Spiral” as well as the recent “Piper” his paper explores how to achieve control on location, in daylight, while cueing the sun, with the help of Schrödinger’s dimmer. The Maiden Tower Istanbul - Lighting and Beyond. The iconic Maiden Tower in Istanbul - a symbol of 2,500 years of history - was brought to life through a large-scale immersive outdoor installation, featuring dynamic lighting, lasers, projections, and audio, by German lighting designer, Martin Kuhn . Kuhn’s extensive experience on a wide range of global projects, from concerts and events to museums and architectural lighting, plays into this captivating experience which reimagines the Tower’s legacy with innovative and inspiring storytelling and cutting-edge technology. Beyond Illumination: The Experimental Language of Light in Performance and Public Space Known for his experimental yet assured approach, Jesper Kongshaug has created evocative theatrical landscapes for over 25 years. At Showlight, he will present key examples from his work designing lighting and stage visuals for internationally renowned performance group Hotel Pro Forma , showcasing his innovative approach to theatrical lighting. He will also introduce the Copenhagen Light Festival, which he curates. Reveal the Invisible Reveal the Invisible examines the work of fashion designer/artist Clara Daguin through several projects, collections and collaborations. Clara, whose collaborations with artists, researchers and institutions include Google, Baccarat, Nike, will focus on the process behind the creation of her illuminated silhouettes and the evolution of her work over the past few years. Utilising Local Resources to Benefit Filmmaking Speaking in his native French (with simultaneous translation available in four languages), director of photography Thierry Goron will share insights on leveraging local knowledge and resources to establish a sustainable film industry in emerging countries. He will explore the "can-do" spirit required on set, especially when working in challenging conditions, such as fixing broken lights, cameras, and essential equipment, becomes part of the process. Over time, this necessity fosters a resourceful approach, leading to the development of locally built equipment using available materials and expertise. A Solstice Adventure at the End of the Inhabitable World A welcome return of speaker from 2017, David Duffy will enchant us once again with his lighting of puppetry, this time illustrated by a site-specific adaptation of Kneehigh and Little Angel’s classic production, A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings , which took place on the stroke of midnight on the summer solstice, in an Icelandic abattoir. Language is no barrier Historically, Showlight is conducted solely in English but this year, located in Dijon, France and supported by French lighting manufacturer and Headline Sponsor, Robert Juliat, we look forward to welcoming many local delegates as well as international attendees. As a result, we are offering simultaneous translation of the Papers and Q&A sessions across four languages. Delegates can choose to listen – and ask questions - in English, French, Italian and Spanish, via the AI translation system, Interprefy . This instantly translates to both voice and text, which can be listened to on your headphones or read on your smartphone or iPad. Q&A sessions will also be translated on demand. Ticket holders to Showlight can request additional languages at time of purchase by contacting info@showlight.org . Don’t miss your chance to be part of Showlight yourself! Tickets for Showlight are on sale now and can be purchased from the Showlight website at www.showlight.org. A list of discounted hotels is also available ( www.showlight.org/hotels-travel ) on a first come, first served basis, so be quick to make your booking! Finally, don’t forget you can sign up to the Showlight Mailing List to hear the latest news as it breaks.
Fresh for 2025, Showlight is introducing a new attraction - an enticing programme of informative, interactive Workshops guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing! These will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 May 2025 and will be open to all delegates on a first come, first served basis, with a strong emphasis on student attendance. The Workshops will be conducted by leading experts in their field and offer unprecedented insights into subjects from the latest technology to personal development. Numbers are limited so delegates will be encouraged to sign up for their choice of workshop via the Whova App when it goes live closer to the date. Here’s the low-down on Showlight’s inaugural Workshop presentations: WORKSHOP 1: Colour and Light Led by lighting designer, author, and co-founder of Studio School of Design, Clifton Taylor, Colour and Light in the age of LED luminaires will be a practical demonstration exploring design storytelling afforded by today’s high-powered, multi-emitter LED luminaires. Topics will include agreeing on a language of colour, and the limitations and possibilities of working in LED based rigs. WORKSHOP 2: Lighting Loopholes Award-winning lighting designer, Sherry Coenen, has extensive experience working on puppetry and new writing. She will bring this knowledge to her examination of how to use non-theatrical lights in theatrical settings, theatrical lights in ways they weren’t designed for, and other lighting loopholes designed to show how giant dreams can be realised on tiny budgets and other restrictions. WORKSHOP 3: Redefining Success! Founder of an award-winning, women-owned lighting firm, Traci Klainer has over 30 years of experience and more than 100 lighting designs to her name. This workshop will explore what success in lighting and beyond really looks like – and what happens when you start your career wanting to be a Tony award winning lighting designer and end up as an Executive Producer! WORKSHOP 4: Developing your own ‘Health & Wellbeing’ workplace strategy This interactive wellness workshop will be led by the collective skills of Mig Walsh, Brant Thomas Murray, Dr Keili Camille Murray and Grace Halton. Participants will be encouraged to think about their own personal health and wellbeing workplace strategy; learn about emotional intelligence, burnout and the law and policies that can be adopted in the workplace linked to health and wellbeing, and come away with their own action plan to take back into working practice. WORKSHOP 5: Understand and Quantify the Visual Appearance and Aesthetic Rendering of Scenic "Objects" under LED Lighting This workshop will introduce the SceALED project, a university project (granted by the French National Research Agency) aimed at understanding and quantifying the visual appearance of scenic objects under LED lighting, with the intention of creating standards and practical tools for performing arts professionals. It explores how light spectra affects aesthetic perception, develops measurement tools, and applies an interdisciplinary methodology combining artists, engineers, and researchers, and offers the audience the opportunity to participate in a psycho-visual experiment. This workshop will be led by Véronique Perruchon, Noël Richard and Ludwig Lepage. More information on each of the workshop leaders can be found on the Showlight website at www.showlight.org/workshops The new Showlight 2025 Workshops are sponsored by Platinum Sponsor, Claypaky, to whom we extend many thanks for their generosity in supporting this new initiative for Showlight. Showlight 2025 tickets can be purchased now from the Showlight website at www.showlight.org Hotels can be booked at special rates at www.showlight.org/hotels-travel
The deadline for Showlight’s new Emerging Professionals Bursary/Scholarship Scheme has been extended to Monday 31 March 2025 . Aimed at early career freelance professionals to help make attendance more affordable, this is a fantastic opportunity to win a ‘scholarship’ that gives you access to some of the most creative minds in the entertainment lighting industry. Successful applicants will have free access to Showlight 2025’s full schedule of activities (ticket price normally €580.00) including the Papers Sessions, Workshops, Exhibition, Welcome Reception (in Dijon’s ornate, historic Salle des États), Company Dinners and the grand Conference Dinner in a glamorous, as yet undisclosed, location! A hotel room will also be included with the bursary and we hope to offer some assistance with travel costs too. “Showlight wants to encourage as many people as possible to be able to attend this unique conference and appreciates that, for those early in their freelance professional career, the cost of attending can be daunting,” says Showlight committee member, lighting designer and President of the ALPD, Rick Fisher. The Emerging Professional Bursaries is a completely new initiative, made possible by the generous support of Showlight 2025 Diamond Sponsor, Ayrton. It complements Showlight’s already well-established Student Sponsorship scheme to enable an even greater range of delegates to participate and enjoy this unique quadrennial networking event. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best! Showlight only comes round once in every 4 years. Submit your application now via the Showlight website at www.showlight.org/bursaries . Just send us your resume/CV and 200-word statement describing your career and interests, and why you would like to attend Showlight 2025 in Dijon this May. The Headline Sponsor for Showlight 2025 is Robert Juliat, and we would like to acknowledge the amazing support Showlight receives from all its sponsors, a list of whom can be found on the website at ( www.showlight.org/our-sponsors ). Their generosity allows Showlight to maintain the standards education, entertainment and networking expected of this unique lighting quadrennial, and we look forward to delivering another sparkling event in May.
