Robert Dickinson (lighting designer)

Last updated
Robert Dickinson
BornJuly 25, 1954
Occupationtelevision lighting designer
Years active1973-present

Robert Dickinson (born July 25, 1954) is a television lighting designer. His career, spanning decades, has focussed on awards shows, music shows, game shows, talk shows, and special events, which make up his over 1500 on screen television credits. [1] In 1990 Dickinson founded Full Flood, Inc., a consortium of lighting designers and directors of photography for the multi-camera television industry. Dickinson has been involved with many high-profile shows, including the Academy Awards, multiple Super Bowl Halftime Shows, multiple Olympic Opening Ceremonies, the 2010 Shanghai Expo, among others. [2]

Contents

Biography

Dickinson was born in the UK before moving to Kansas at the age of two. Shortly thereafter his family moved to Southern California where he remains to this day. Dickinson's break into the industry came when joining the stagehands union. He quickly moved into lighting direction, working under industry leader Imero Fiorentino. His breakthrough show Solid Gold garnered him his first Emmy win at the age of 29, and was the catalyst that lead to an exploding career in Television Lighting. [3]

In 2005 Dickinson was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. [4]

Aesthetic

Dickinson pioneered the use of moving lights in television lighting design, starting with the 1983 Academy Awards. [4] He is known for his "ceiling of light" approach, and the use of floor lights. On key lighting, Dickinson says: "I have a tendency to take risks. I don't key light in a predictable manner; I do it in an appropriate manner. " [3]

Work of Full Flood

Large Scale Events

Awards Shows

Television Specials

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, The Rolling Stones, U2, Aerosmith, ‘N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly, Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Savion Glover, Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Queen Latifah, The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman and Jim Belushi), ZZ Top, James Brown, Diana Ross, Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, The Judds and Michael Jackson

Television series

Installation

Concerts and Music Events

Live Events Adapted To The Screen

[2]

Primetime Emmy Awards and Nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1982 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic)Solid GoldNominated
1983 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Limited Series or SpecialSolid Gold Christmas Special '82Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A SeriesSolid GoldWon
1984 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A SeriesSolid GoldWon
1985 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A SeriesSolid GoldNominated
1986 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Miniseries Or SpecialThe 58th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A SeriesSolid GoldWon
1987 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Miniseries Or SpecialKraft Salutes the Magic of David Copperfield IX: The Escape From AlcatrazNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Miniseries Or SpecialLiberty Weekend Closing CeremoniesNominated
1989 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries Or A SpecialThe Magic of David Copperfield XI: The Explosive EncounterWon
1991 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries Or A SpecialThe Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery On The Orient ExpressWon
1992 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement In Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Or A SpecialThe Magic of David Copperfield XIV: Flying - LiveWon
1993 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement In Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Or A SpecialThe 65th Annual AcademyNominated
1994 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement In Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Or A SpecialThe 66th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
1995 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement In Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Or A SpecialThe Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained ForcesWon
1996 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries Or A SpecialThe 38th Annual Grammy AwardsNominated
1997 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries Or A SpecialCentennial Olympic Games: Opening CeremoniesNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries Or A SpecialThe 39th Annual Grammy AwardsNominated
1998 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, MovieFleetwood Mac The DanceNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, MovieThe 70th Annual Academy AwardsWon
1999 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) For A Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Movie71st Annual Academy AwardsWon
2000 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic)72nd Annual Academy AwardsNominated
2001 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming73rd Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingBarbra Streisand: TimelessNominated
2002 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingOpening Ceremony Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter GamesWon
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingThe 74th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
2003 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingThe 75th Annual Academy AwardsWon
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingCher - The Farewell TourNominated
2004 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingThe 46th Annual Grammy AwardsWon
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingThe 76th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
2005 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming77th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingThe Games of The XXVIII Olympiad - Opening CerempnyWon
2006 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming78th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
2007 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming79th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming49th Annual Grammy AwardsWon
2008 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming80th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming50th Annual Grammy AwardsWon
2009 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming81st Annual Academy AwardsNominated
2010 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming82nd Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy ProgrammingVancouver 2010 olympic Winter Games Opening CeremonyWon
2011 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special ConanNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special 83rd Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special The 53rd Annual Grammy AwardsWon
2012 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special 84th Annual Academy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special The 54th Annual Grammy AwardsWon
2013 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special The 55th Annual Grammy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special The OscarsNominated
2014 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special 67th Annual Tony AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special The 56th Grammy AwardsNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lighting Design: Lighting Direction For A Variety Special The OscarsNominated

[5]

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References

  1. "66th Emmy Awards Executive Producer Don Mischer Announces Full Production Team". Television Academy. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Full Flood Website, About Us". Full Flood Inc. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 Herman, Karen. "Robert Dickinson Interview". Archive of American Television. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 Lampert-Greaux, Ellen. "Q&A: Bob Dickinson". Live Design. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  5. "Robert A. Dickinson Bio". Television Academy. Retrieved 23 April 2015.