As
part of a two-event fund raiser for the American Cancer Society, volunteers
have organized a Relay for Life in Celebration, FL this Friday, April 4th. Additionally, last month at The Rep Theatre
in Orlando, FL, an Entertainment Designers Forum event was held to raise
additional donations. I was blessed to
have the opportunity to attend the Designers Forum last month with some of the
most talented and kind artists in the industry.
The Forum is a MUST-DO Event for any artist or theme park
enthusiast! If you missed it, be certain
to look for it early next year!!
This
Friday, April 4th is the start date for the Relay for Life walk/run. This year's theme is "Once Upon A Time There
was a Disease Called Cancer." All of the booths will be fairy tale themed,
according to the March 2014 issue of Celebration
News.
To Register, Volunteer, or Donate Contact:
www.RelayforLife.org or Dawn Mague
407-460-9024
Relay for Life, Celebration Florida
Date: April 4-5, 2014, 6:00 PM
Location: Lakeside Park,
631 Sycamore St Celebration FL 34747
Events:
April
4, 6:00
PM Opening Ceremony
6:00
PM
Survivor Lap, and Caretaker Lap
9:00
PM
Luminaria Ceremony of Remembrance
TBD: Fight Back
Ceremony
April
5, 7:00 AM
Closing Ceremony
As
a preliminary fundraiser, on March 7, 2014, 15 ENTERTAINMENT DESIGNERS from Walt Disney World, Universal
Studios, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and more came together for the 5th Annual
Entertainment Designers Forum Fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society
Relay for Life.
The Panel
Designers
 |
| Kim Gromoll |
Kim Gromoll-Chair Host/Moderator
Art Director Walt Disney World, Designer at
Universal Studios Orlando and Event Chair of the Celebration Relay for Life,
Organized the Forum in Memory of His Dear Friend and Colleague, Stephanie
Girard* Who Passed Away After a Six-Year Fight with Colon Cancer
 |
| Mike Aiello |
Mike Aiello-Moderator
Director of Entertainment Creative Development at
Universal Orlando, Development Team Lead in Projects for The Wizarding World of
Harry Potter-Diagon Alley and Content for Halloween Horror Nights 24
Rick Spencer-Host
Creative Manager, Art and Design Universal Studios,
Chairman of the U.C.F. Theater Department's Professional Advisory Board,
Founder of The Spencer Library, an Award-Winning Audio Publishing Company,
Author of Five Novels, Writer/Producer/Director PBS TV Series Shining Time
Station 'starring' Thomas the Tank Engine
Session 1
 |
| Session 1 Panel |
Gene Columbus
Executive Director, Orlando Repertory Theater (Forum
Event Location), Actor/Dancer, 38 Years as a Sr. Producer and Manager of
Entertainment Staffing at The Walt Disney Company
Laura Tyler
Make-up Artist, Winner Face Off Season 5, Ripley's
Sculptor, Universal Halloween Horror Nights Make-Up Artist
Eric Baker
Sr. Prop Master, Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon
Alley, Universal, Decorator Walt Disney Imagineering, Prop Fabricator
Nickelodeon
Nick Collins
Scenic Designer, Universal Studios Nickelodeon, Creative
Consultant Universal Art and Design Department, Prop Designer and Set Decorator
Walt Disney Imagineering
Cindy White
Designer, Illustrator, Art Director for Multiple
Super Bowl Half-Time Shows, Parade/Show/Attraction/Set Design, Designer for the
Orlando Rep Set for Busytown (Backdrop for this Forum)
 |
| Set Backdrop by Cindy White |
Brian Morrow
Sr. Director, Attraction Development and Design,
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Director Design and Engineering SeaWorld
Orlando
Session 2
 |
| Session 2 Panel |
Bryn Court
Lead Sculptor for the Harry Potter Movies and the
new Potter Expansion-Diagon Alley, at Universal Studios, sculptor on The Dark
Knight Rises, War Horse, Gladiator, and more (see IMDB)
 |
| Me, Bryn Court |
Robbi Lepre'
Director of Theatrical Services, Busch Gardens,
All-Around Show Management of Audio, Lighting, FX, Pyro, Scenery and Props for
Howl-O-Scream, Christmas Town and more
Charles Gray
Assistant Show Director Halloween Horror Nights
Houses, Universal Studios, over 20 years with Universal Studios as an actor at
Nickelodeon Game Labs, Beetlejuice's Graveyard Review, and Bill and Ted's
Excellent Halloween Adventure
J. Michael Roddy
Sr. Show Writer/Show Director for Creative
Entertainment Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Creative Director for over 100
live shows and events for Universal Orlando's Entertainment Division and
Halloween Horror Nights, Producer of the Documentary "The Shark is Still
Working", you may also know him as a Zombie on The Walking Dead
 |
| J. Michael Roddy, Me |
Mark Hervat
Manager, Art and Design, Creative Entertainment Walt
Disney Parks and Resorts, Freelance designer for 20 Years Prior to Disney,
Currently Leads a Team in Walt Disney World and Disneyland Creating Stage
Shows, Parades, Character Meet-and-Greets, and Press Events
Michael Burnette
Design Special FX & Prosthetic Make-Up Designer
at Universal Studios, Star Trek Enterprise, The Forsaken, Universal Soldier,
Passions, The Ben Stiller Show, Mad TV, Two Time Emmy Nominee
The
event was held at the Orlando Repertory Theatre (The Rep). It included two open-question style forums.
The donation cost was $25 for one session or $45 to attend both sessions. This
was an intimate gathering of only a few hundred audience members. This allowed for a more personal Q&A
style format. It appeared that in
addition to those of us who are theme park design fans, a lot of art students
attended the event.
 |
| Theater |
It
would be impossible for me to convey all of the fabulous discussions that
happened during this event. Please...PLEASE make a point of attending next
year's event to enjoy it yourself! Here
are just a few of the questions asked and the responses that they prompted...
In
the first session, artists were asked how
they became inspired to pursue their career? Gene Columbus, Executive Director of The Rep
and long time professional actor/dancer, talked about one of his very memorable
teachers in school. Her name was Mrs.
Fouche (pronounced foo-shay). Gene said
he was a bad student but she encouraged him in drama class. She told him, "Don't ask me to believe
what you are reading unless you believe it.
Don't ask me to believe in you unless you believe in
yourself." Mr. Columbus went on to a
professional career including appearing as a dancer in Funny Girl with Barbara Streisand and a list of other impressive
credits such as Sr. Manager of Staffing at a little place called Disney (Google
him!!).
 |
| Session 1 Panel |
Another
interesting question from the audience asked, how is design different for theme parks versus film-making? Mike Aiello, a Halloween Horror Nights
Designer and Moderator for the Forum talked about how with film, you can create
a smaller window of design. The film can
be focused to direct the audience's attention to exactly where they are
supposed to look and notice. In theme
parks, designers must create full environments and immerse the guests
completely to have the full experience.
One
of the most popular questions of the night in both sessions was, how do I (as an artist) break into the
entertainment business? Every
designer agreed that you must devote yourself to the work and enjoy it. Be
passionate. It takes time. Take every opportunity that comes your way regardless of how much it pays or how small
it seems. When you aren't working, do
things on your own to practice your skills. This was just some of the advice
given. J. Michael Roddy passionately
explained, "DO something every day toward your goal. No matter what, just
SOMETHING each day."
 |
| Session 2 Panel |
Needless
to say, spending an evening with such talented artists and performers can make
any theme park fan a bit star-struck. It is a rare opportunity to have such a
group gathered on the same stage. As J. Michael
Roddy said, "Artists support each other in all the parks. We enjoy going to see each other's things. We
admire it, appreciate it, and respect it."
It really was amazing to have them all together on such a special night.
Additionally,
a silent auction was held throughout the night with items from Universal
Studios, Walt Disney World, and several other donors. Many items were unique,
one-of-a-kind find designs from Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.
 |
| Auction Item |
 |
| Auction Item |
The
Entertainment Designers Forum Event was a night of laughs, education,
entertainment, and most notably inspiration.
Inspiration not only for the amazing support for the Cancer Society, but
also inspiration for every young designer in the audience, fan of the Arts, or
person wanting to pursue their dreams.
So, mark your calendar for early next year to attend this event! You will walk away INSPIRED!
See
Mr. Roddy, I'm DOING SOMETHING!
Contact
Info Facebook:
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Entertainment Designer Forum
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2014 Celebration American Cancer Society Relay for Life
*Stephanie Girard was a film, TV, and
theme park industry Art Director and Set Designer. She was a designer for the
Academy Award-winning film "Ray", Universal's Islands of Adventure
Grinchmas, the film "Dreamer", and the film "Leatherheads." Prior to her passing, she volunteered at the
Give Kids the World Village, toured hospitals with her certified therapy dog,
Jack, to lift patient's spirits, and raised $33,000 all by herself for the
American Cancer Society. From talking
with Kim Gromoll, and hearing his passion to continue these fundraiser events
in her memory, it is obvious that she left more than just a design legacy that
will continue on in her honor.
On
a more personal note, as a renal cancer "survivor", I would like to
thank all the designers and volunteers who make these events possible in the
hopes of finding a cure. Thank You!
Follow
Jeanie on Twitter @PrincessPapers
**Entertainment Designers Forum advertising and artwork provided by and printed with permission from Kim Gromoll.
Logo Design by Melody Matheny.
**Entertainment Designers Forum advertising and artwork provided by and printed with permission from Kim Gromoll.
Logo Design by Melody Matheny.
