Jim Draper Video 2015 Production Highlights
Jim Draper
January - May
Projects in 2015 started with back to back Citrix shows for Bellwether in Las Vegas and Singapore. We're all familiar with Vegas but Singapore was a new venue for me. The show was at the extraordinary Marina Sands hotel on the Singapore Marina. Billed as the world's most expensive casino property, it boasts three, 57-floor towers, capped by a 1,120 ft sky park - which includes restaurants and an infinity swimming pool. California strawberries and drinks at the famous Long Bar (origin of the Singapore Sling) are quite pricey. Our US staff combined with the local crew produced a great show.
The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Québec is a short walk from the Montreal Convention Centre. That venue hosted Cisco's Partner Summit, where I directed for World Stage & InVision Communications. I always look forward to working with new crews in locations I've never been to before. I always learn something new and they haven't heard my jokes before! George and Andre - pictured with me at the Mount Royal lookout - are two seasoned broadcast camera ops who were kind enough to take me on a tour of the city after the show ended.
On the set of Synergy TV in Orlando
May in Orlando for the Citrix Synergy show, produced by Bellwether. Each Keynote session was preceded by the Synergy TV show; 30 minutes of "what's coming up" in the general session with interviews from presenters and guests. Directing both the TV show and general sessions kept me quite busy.
Google I/O 2015 - Google CEO Sundar Pichai's presentation. Only part of the 500' screen fits in this wide angle jib shot. Click image for video of the Keynote.
The Google I/O event (held in San Francisco in May) brings together developers who build the latest in tech, mobile and more for the Android platform. Google wanted an "immersive experience" for the 1,000,000+ viewers of the webcast. Eight cameras - including a jib helped achieve that goal - produced by Group X and Riverview Systems. Video highlights of the conference here.
June - August
Continuing productions throughout the summer included Walmart Shareholders, produced by Proscenium and hosted by Reese Witherspoon; Stella & Dot Fashion Show, produced by CMS Communications. Minions, Storm Troopers and US Women's Soccer coach Jill Ellis at the Walmart Holiday show.
Speaking of soccer, I was fortunate to attend the Woman's World Cup final, July 4th weekend in Vancouver, BC. So many goals were scored by the US team, I even had my mobile phone camera rolling as they scored their 2nd:
Carlie Lloyd's 2nd goal at 5 minutes of the Women's World Cup final vs. Japan
September - November
- The final quarter of the year saw alumni from SF State's Radio & TV department join as we gathered to remember Dr. Stuart Hyde who passed earlier in the year.
- An impressive wall of monitors frames Cisco's GSX Conference in Las Vegas, produced by TenCue
- The cathedral like arches of the Sunset Center Theater in Carmel played host to the TED Fellows Retreat. 21 Fellows gave the typical out of the box presentations and performances that mark the outstanding TED Talks series. Produced by Michael Witlin Associates. You can view one of the talks on my Sample Projects page.
- Minds + Machines, hosted by GE, explores the industrial sector of the Internet of Things (IoT). Produced by Manifold and equipped by Riverview Systems. Day one video is also available on my Sample Projects page.
- Seems like there's always a local team to celebrate at Oracle's Open World: Americas Cup, SF Giants and this year the GS Warriors! After Oracle's Thomas Kurian had a sit-down with Warriors president Rick Welts, I grabbed a photo with their NBA Championship Trophy.
- Fortune Global Forum hosted an entertainment event at the Legion of Honor. I directed in the Touring Video truck for World Stage as Fortune Editor Allen Murray interviewed Google's Larry Page (Also on the Sample Projects page). The event opened with a wonderful performance written by Grammy winner (and former Weather Report drummer) Peter Erskine. Cellist Tina Guo and an ensemble of 14 percussionists created the global sound.
And Finally...
The last project of the year was the InVision production for Cisco's Internet of Things World Forum in Dubai, UAE. Held at the World Trade Center near downtown, the three day forum showcases the opportunities made possible by those Internet of Things. Dubai seems to be Las Vegas on steroids - huge amount of construction in the business and residential sectors. Most of the population are expatriates; our crew was a combination of Indian, Brits and Arabs who all did an outstanding job.
Select photo to enlarge, hover for desrciption
Thanks to all my colleagues and clients for your support.
Wishing you all the best in 2016!
