Remixing Light

Near every light design is based off of the same basic technology.  There are the inventive shows, and plays that allow for unconventional illumination, but for ninety percent of the entertainment productions running I could name for you every instrument in use.  This changes the concept of remixing a little bit.  If we're all based off of the same platform, our artistry can be much more inter-related than we realize.  A basic wash of a play, for example, can be very similar to one for a different production halfway across the country. And in the same vein, the same play put up on the same day in two different theatres can be wildly different. In such an environment remixing is not only necessary, it is encouraged. Though there strict copyright laws protecting designers, the youth of this industry (only about 60 years, by some markers) means that new ideas continue to be produced every day. Because of theatre's naturally collaborative environment, and the frequency with which new concepts arise, inspiration for lighting designers often comes from their collaborators.