Students from a number of drama colleges recently enjoyed the chance to meet with a selection of leading industry professionals at the White Light Graduates Open Day, now a firmly-established annual event in the higher education calendar.
Both a practical and social event, the Graduates Open Day aims to let visitors explore some of the latest lighting products, meet their peers from other colleges, and talk to those who have already made their mark - and earned their living - in the world of entertainment lighting.
This year’s guest speakers were highly successful lighting designers Natasha Chivers and Rick Fisher, who spoke about the multi-faceted careers which have led both of them to enormous critical acclaim and the Olivier Award for lighting. A second panel, moderated by White Light’s Jason Larcombe, included industry professionals Leigh Porter, Martin Chisnall and Cy Dodimead; both sets of speakers were peppered with questions from an interested and enthusiastic set of students from LAMDA, RADA, Mountview, St Mary’s University, GSA, Rose Bruford and elsewhere.
After a break for lunch, the students then enjoyed demonstrations from MA Lighting, Martin, ETC, Strand, Goboland and Le Maitre, as well as a chance to play with products from the many companies for which White Light is the exclusive UK distributor, including Robert Juliat, LSC, Look Solutions, Rainbow, ELC, LDDE and Wireless Solutions, giving them an insight into many of the leading products currently available to lighting designers.
Open to anyone contemplating a design or technical career in lighting, whether currently a student at a drama school, at a university or still at school, full details of the 2009 Graduates Open Day will appear on the White Light website, www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk, early next year. The website also carries full details of the wide range of training courses offered by White Light, allowing anyone to keep up to date with the latest lighting technology.
Founded in 1971, White Light has been supplying lighting equipment and solutions to the entertainment industry for more than three decades. Details of the extensive range of products and services the company currently offers, including lighting hire, sales, installation and service, can be found at the White Light website, www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk.