Photo by Sterling Powers
Michelle is a Lighting & Video Designer and Director based in Los Angeles. She’s been involved in the field of entertainment lighting for over 20 years, beginning with flipping switches for plays and talent shows in the catwalk above her junior high school auditorium. Her love of theater led her to study Theatrical Lighting Design at Emerson college, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2000.
Since then, she has been fortunate enough to travel around the world following her passion for making beautiful and exciting moments happen onstage, now primarily in the music industry. She creates her own video content to integrate with lighting for a balanced, cohesive visual design. She loves enhancing the audience’s experience, facilitating a heightened connection with the performers, and endeavors to help make every show a special and memorable event for those who come to watch.
SKILLS
◆ Lighting Design and Visualization using Vectorworks Spotlight and GrandMA 3D.
◆ Video Content Creation using Digital SLR cameras, Go Pro, Shiny Objects, Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects.
◆ Programming – GrandMA2 is my console of choice – I own a GrandMA2 Command Wing and Cybernet computer for onPC. I have also been professionally trained and am capable on most major lighting consoles including GrandMA series 1, Hog II & III, Chamsys Magic Q, and Avolites Pearl
◆ Media Servers – have experience with Disguse, Hippo, MBox, Resolume, Catalyst, VDMX and Imagecue.
◆ Additional Skills include Projection, LED Screens, and Cameras
Touring Resumé – Design/Direction
◆ The Kills (Feb 2024-Nov2024) – Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator
◆ Father John Misty (Sept-Oct 2024) – Fill in Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator
◆ Jack White (March 2022-Jan 2023) – Lighting Director/Programmer/Operator, in collaboration with Luz Studio, Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator for all other dates
◆ Evanescence (Oct-Dec 2021) – Lighting Director/Video content Creation/Programmer/Operator, in collaboration with Lighting Programmer Andre Petrus and Lighting Designer Sooner Routhier
◆ The Raconteurs (March 2019 – Dec 2019) – Lighting Director/Programmer/Operator, in collaboration with Luz Studio for US/UK/Europe Tour; Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator for all other dates
◆ Jack White (March 2018 – Nov 2018) – Lighting Director/Programmer/Operator, in collaboration with Luz Studio, Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator for all other dates **Winner Parnelli 2018 Lighting Director of the Year award**
◆ Purity Ring (Opening on Katy Perry tour) (Sept – Dec 2017 ) – Katy Perry Rig Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator, in Co-operation with floor package design by Japanese visual artist Daito
◆ Silversun Pickups (April – Aug 2017 ) – Lighting and Set Designer/Programmer/Operator
◆ Jimmy Eat World (Oct 2016 – Jan 2017) – Lighting and Video Director/Video Design/Co-Programmer/Operator (Sarah Landau Design)
◆ Grimes (April 2016 – Sept 2016) – Lighting Co-Designer/Video Designer/Programmer/Operator (Sarah Landau Original Design)
◆ Lucius (Sept – Oct 2016) – Set and Video Design
◆ Sia (Feb 2016 – May 2016, incl Coachella 2016 ) – Lighting Director/Programmer/Operator (Michael Keeling/Seibo Production Design)
◆ Death Cab for Cutie (Dec 2015) – Lighting Designer
◆ Big Grams (Oct 2015) – Lighting Designer/Programmer/Operator (for V Squared)
◆ St. Vincent (Jan 2015 – Sept 2015) – Lighting Director/Operator (Susanne Sasic Design)
◆ Bassnectar (Sept 2014 – Jan 2015) – Lighting Director/Programmer/Operator
◆ Death Cab for Cutie Summer Festivals (July – Sept 2014) – Lighting Designer
◆ Band of Skulls (Apr – June 2014) – North American Lighting Designer
◆ Gary Numan (Oct 2013 – Apr 2014) – North American Lighting Designer, Projectionist
◆ The Dismemberment Plan (Fall 2013) – Lighting Designer
◆ The Postal Service (Mar ~ Aug 2013) – Lighting Director, some Video Content (Dan Hadley Design)
◆ Yeah Yeah Yeahs (June/July 2013) – Fill-in Lighting Designer
◆ Tegan and Sara (Feb 2013) – Fill-in Lighting Director, Media Servers, Projectionist (Tobias Rylander Design)
◆ Death Cab for Cutie (Nov 2011 ~ Aug 2012) – Lighting Designer
◆ Death Cab for Cutie (May 2011 ~ Oct 2011) – Lighting Director, Programming, Media Servers, some Video Content (Scott Holthaus Design)
◆ Silversun Pickups (Feb 2007 ~ Dec 2010) – Lighting Designer
◆ The Decemberists (Fall 2007) – Lighting Designer
◆ OK Go (Spring 2007 ~ Spring 2011) – Lighting Designer, Media Servers, Projectionist
Touring Resumé – Other Positions
◆ Depeche Mode (March ~ Dec 2023) – Disguise Operator/some Video Content Creation/LED Video Tech
◆ The Killers (Nov ~ Dec 2012) – LED Video Tech
◆ Snow Patrol (Fall 2009) – Media Servers, Projectionist
◆ Depeche Mode (Summer/Fall 2009) – LED Video Tech, Pit Camera Operator
◆ Kings of Leon (Spring 2009) – LED Video Tech, RoboCam Operator
◆ Foo Fighters (Summer 2008) – LED Video Tech, RoboCam Op, Video Utility
◆ Elton John (Fall 2005 ~ Spring 2007) – Soft LED Video Tech
Commercials/Broadcast
◆ iHeart Radio “Sophia Carson Jingle Ball Concert”(Dec 2020) – Programmer/Operator
◆ “The Holiday Beerman” Commercial for Coors Light (Dec 2020) – Lighting Programmer/Operator
◆ 5SoS Music Video for “Teeth” (Aug 2019) – Lighting Programmer/Operator (for Chris Wojcieszyn, LD)
◆ Kia “Light up the Holidays” 30s &72s commercial spots (Christmas 2017) – Programmer/Operator (for Matt Ardine, LD)
◆ iHeart Radio “Cheat Codes” concert (Oct 2017) – Lighting Programmer/Operator
◆ iHeart Radio “Jimmy Eat World” concert (Jan 2017) – LD/Video/Programmer/Operator
◆ Toyota C-HR TV Commercial, ‘Gingerbread Man, Street Festival Scene’ (Spring 2018) – Programmer/Operator (for Seibo)
◆ Sia Music Video “Cheap Thrills” (Spring 2016) – Programmer/Operator (for Michael Keeling/Seibo)
◆ Sia Music Video “Big Girls Cry” (Spring 2014) – Programmer/Operator (for Volt Lites)
Festivals:
◆ Countdown NYE 2017 – Stage Two LD/Programmer (for Steve Lieberman, SJ Lighting Inc)
◆ Boo! Halloween 2017 – Mainstage LD/Programmer (for Steve Lieberman, SJ Lighting Inc)
◆ Nocturnal Wonderland 2017 – Stage Two LD/Programmer (Miccolo Productions Design)
◆ When We Were Young Festival 2017 -Mainstage LD/Programmer (for Sid Khera, Aspect Lighting)
◆ Beyond Wonderland 2017 -Upside Down House Stage LD/Programmer (Michael Keeling/Seibo Design)
◆ Paid Dues Festival (2011 & 2013) – Mainstage LD (for Sid Khera, Aspect Lighting)
◆ RH Music’s “A Night at the Greek” at the Berkeley Greek Theater 2013 – Mainstage LD/Programmer (for Impact Lighting)
Other Misc. Non-Touring Work
◆ Fill-in House LD for iHeart Radio Theater Burbank
◆ Recent Lighting Design one-off gigs/showcases include bands such as:
Kesha, Lady Gaga (for Cory Fitzgerald), Summer Moon, SOPHIE, Dawes, The Zen Effect (Rolfe Kent), Best Coast, The New Basement Tapes, Keisza, KISS, Kitten, Icona Pop, Ramona Lisa, Pyyramids, Oh Boy Les Mecs, Vicky Cryer, The Duke Spirit, St. Vincent,
and Muse at the KROQ 2013 Pre-Grammy show (for Oli Metcalfe).
◆ Designed and fabricated new LED backdrop for The New Pornographers Tour 2017
◆ Previously employed as a House Lighting Designer at several venues in the San Francisco Bay Area including:
the Independent Night Club, The Saratoga Mountain Winery, Konocti Harbor Amphitheater/Showroom, and The Warfield.