Paul Christensen and his wife Donna Christensen were recently in Austin, Texas providing HD Technical Producer services for the second annual The Domain Lighting of Macy’s Great Tree presented by Cadillac, which featured appearances by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, Austin based Dan Dyer Band, the Austin Children’s Choir and the Christian Life Church Sanctuary Choir. The project, shot and broadcast in HD on Austin’s KVUE TV, was produced by Entertainment Design Group, Inc. for Simon Property Group, which owns and manages the Domain Shopping Center.
Sparks, who has been nominated twice for the 2008 MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and Best Female Video, did not disappoint the more than 10,000 patrons who jammed the upscale shopping center to attend the high energy evening of music, festivities and fireworks. The stage, awash in vibrant color, was the focus of the holiday kick off concert as Sparks, Dan Dyer and the other groups led the overflow crowd in the evening’s festivities, which concluded with the lighting of Macy’s 40 foot Christmas tree with more than 6,000 lights, 400 ornaments and five-foot star. A spectacular fireworks display rounded out the night, a fitting end to the memorable occasion.
Omega Productions worked in conjunction with Ft. Worth based Tricam Video Productions, Inc. and Tricam’s owner Craige Bandy , who directed the shoot, to provide HD technical direction for the later broadcast on KVUE. Angela and John Coley were Executive Producers, Howard Petschler Produced and Craige Bandy Directed the HD Broadcast. Gary Seputis was Technical Director for the Event. Randy Kamay served as Stage Manager. John Johns provided HD Video and was also Project Video Engineer. Fixed Camera operators were Richard Whymark and Garret Gray; Hand Held Camera Operators were Todd Everheart and Tom Post; Kenny Dezendorf provided Jib rental and Operator Services. Chyron Operator was Dennis Courtney; Dwane Muncy designed the Graphics; Chad Furrow was Teleprompter Operator. Tim Nagle and Clay Liford edited the final Broadcast while Tim Kimsey mixed the live soundtrack as A1, assisted by A2 Kevin Cochran and Matthew Wright. Baton Rouge, Louisiana based Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) provided mobile HD Television Facilities for the project with LPB’s Larry Allen serving as Engineer in Charge (EIC) assisted by LPB’s Roland Alford as Video Engineer.
We would like to thank Director Craige Bandy, Tricam Video Productions and Producer Howard Petschler for allowing us to participate in this project. Our thanks also go out to Gary Seputis and his fine crew, who assisted us with the technical production interface. In addition, we would like to express our thanks to all the fine people at Simon Property group and their many employees who helped make the event and broadcast such a success, including Shari Simon, Jacque’ Ellis, Deanna Dancy and Lauren Harris.
