Jellicle Juggles

So this week I've Jumped into the Jellicle Jam and had a great time being involved in one of our bigger theatre projects. I am of course referring to CATS - the Really Useful Company's touring production currently playing at the Charlotte Theatre in Seoul.

I've had a blast! Great show, great crew, fun cast and all round an enjoyable week. 

Back on the Catwalk

I'm sitting in the Big Top at Luna Park in Sydney on the first day of bump in for the Grand Final of Australia's Next Top Model. We're live on Tuesday night on Foxtel - should be a cool show with a bunch of good acts, a fashion parade segment and a heap more. It's 5.30pm and we're just about to lift the trusses up with focus time ahead of us in the next few hours. It's been a peaceful week for Mike and I with Greg and Dan overseas, but the peace is short-lived with everyone returning to Australia for a number of World Youth Day projects. Going to be good to have everyone back in the office after a few months. Rich

How many languages...

Once again team Mandy is doing a bit of travelling. This week sees Greg in Beijing lighting a conference, Dan has ventured to Seoul to spend some time on Cats, and Richard was driving back from Mittagong when I spoke to him yesterday. Some people get to go to the best places.....who can decide which one was the best. The last few weeks have been busy with some challenging projects which is great. Coming up, amongst other things, Richard is lighting Models, Dan is working on World Youth Day events and I am learning how to make Korean beer bombs. This was one of the training sessions for this investment firm's conference. Something else I know about Koreans now. Very informative. Till the next update... GY

Australian Girls Choir Turn Up the Heat at Winter Showcase.

Possibly Australia's best childrens choir in full swing at their concert on Saturday. Mandylights has worked with these girls for many years and they are always fantastic. 

Jetsetting

In the last few weeks the three of us have been jetting all over Asia to discuss some exciting new projects and to meet with some exciting new companies. We've greatly enjoyed spending time in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok and would like to thank everyone we met with for their hospitality and enthusiasm. It's been a great time for Mandylights and we're incredibly excited about working more in Asia in addition to our other projects all over the world. And on that note.... the team are looking forward to more Cats in Korea as well as upcoming events in Spain, the USA, China and the UK in coming months. We've pretty much given up on unpacking the suitcases! While all this overseas travel is proving great for the frequent flyer points, we're also still having a ton of fun on our Australian projects. Next week sees us technically directing and designing the Sydney Childrens' Hospital Gold Dinner at the Sydney Opera House - a very worthy cause that we're proud to support along with Cairellie. It's an exciting time, and we're still having fun! Till next time Rich

MTV

Just spent the last week at the Australian Technology Park as one of three programmers on the MTV Australia Awards. I've had a great time working with Tom Kenny who was the show's LD as well as gaffer Mike Grimes. It's really cool to work with people who have an amazing attention to detail and are really creative and original in what they do. So much Australian television is just boring in comparison to the looks and designs that we see overseas - it's a privilege to learn from the best! We're now heading into a couple of quieter weeks production wise which is great - the whole team not only needs a break but needs to start planning for some major projects that we have coming up later in the year. cheers rich

Revved up

Another blog from an airport as I wait for my flight back to Sydney. The Mandy boys defiantly help with the profits of the airlines. This last week has seen Richard in New Zealand while myself, Dan and Mike (with the help of some locals and Southerners) lit and technical managed a conference for Yamaha Motor Australia on the Gold Coast. Lots of musicians, bikes and jetskis wizzed around and above us at this event which covered five different rooms in 3 days of conference. Very demanding , but very cool. While up here I also had the chance to go see ZINGARA, the show at Jupiters that I programmed lights for last year. A good fun casino variety show- a nice nights entertainment !! The highlight of the show is still the Globe of Death where 5 motor bikes spin around inside a steel cage. They should have done an appearance at the Yamaha event. Back to Sydney now for meetings and planning the future... as well as doing some gigs. Till the next airport...where will it be........