Robert Dickinson (born 25 July 1954) is an English television lighting designer. His career, spanning decades, has focused on awards shows, music shows, game shows, talk shows, and special events, which make up his more than 1500 on screen television credits. 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, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, multiple Super Bowl halftime shows, multiple Olympic games opening ceremonies, the 2010 Shanghai Expo, among other events.
Contents
Biography
Dickinson was born in the UK before moving to Canada 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 IATSE (the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), which is the union that has jurisdiction over the Motion Picture industry. He quickly moved from working as an lamp operator on films into lighting direction for television, working under industry leader Carl Gibson and eventually working with celebrated lighting designers Bill Klages and 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 a career in television lighting.
In 2005 Dickinson was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University.
Aesthetic
Dickinson pioneered the use of moving lights in television lighting design, starting with the 1983 Academy Awards. 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. "
Work of Full Flood
Large-scale events
Baku 2015 European Games opening ceremony
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games opening, closing and medals ceremonies
Shanghai Expo 2010 opening ceremony
Five Democratic National Conventions: 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996
Opening Ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai, China
Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies
Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies
Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies
Awards Shows
The Academy Awards
The Grammy Awards
The Primetime Emmy Awards
The Daytime Emmy Awards
The Tony Awards
The Country Music Association Awards
The Kids’ Choice Awards
The American Music Awards
The Academy of Country Music Awards
The Golden Globe Awards
The Billboard Awards
The Comedy Awards
The ESPY Awards
The BET Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards
The NFL Honors
The Scream Awards
The Kennedy Center Honors
The American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award
Television Specials
The Miss USA Pageant
The Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Concert at Inauguration 2009: “We Are One”
An Inauguration Celebration 2009: “The Neighborhood Ball”
VH1 Divas
VH1 Rock Honors
Christmas in Washington
Five Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows
Thirteen Super Bowl Halftime Shows featuring such singers and musicians as:
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
Conan on TBS
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Duets
Installation
The Shanghai Corporate Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010
Concerts and Music Events
James Taylor “One Man Band”
The Eagles “Hell Freezers Over”
Harry Connick, Jr. World Tour
Harry Connick, Jr. Live on Broadway
Fleetwood Mac “The Dance”
Celine Dion “These Are Special Times”
Ricky Martin “One Night Only”
Jessica Simpson “Tour Of Duty”
Justin Timberlake “Down Home In Memphis”
Willie Nelson “Willie and Friends”
Harry Connick Jr. “Christmas Special”
‘N Sync “The Atlantis Concert”
'N Sync "‘Ntimate Holiday Special”
Live Events Adapted To The Screen
Neil Diamond “Live At Madison Square Garden”
Shania Twain “Shania Up! Live In Chicago”
Cher "The Farewell Tour"
Barbra Streisand's Millennium Concert “Timeless”
The Backstreet Boys “Larger Than Life”