The Hemsley Independent Study Program

The Hemsley Independent Study Program provides financial support to lighting design students or recent graduates of a professional lighting degree program to help support independent study projects that focus on exploring distinctive ideas relating to light and lighting design that further the applicant’s artistic development while also helping to bridge their transition into the professional world. These projects would need to take place under the guidance of a professional lighting designer, artist, faculty advisor or technical specialist and encourages professional/student relationships that lead to a greater understanding of design and the design process. The Independent Study Program committee will consider grants of up to $5000. Projects can be wide ranging and should not focus on traditional assistant work or learning assistant skills.

The Application Process

An interested student or recent graduate would partner with their advisor/mentor and together they would submit a proposal to the Hemsley Independent Study Program. The student’s portion of the proposal must include a resume, two letters of recommendation as well as a statement of purpose including the following:

  • Title of project

    • The Title should be something unique to the applicant’s research.

  • What research questions will be explored through the Independent Study?

    • What is the purpose of the project and what are its goals? How will the project aid in developing the skills needed to begin a professional career?

  • How will the applicant research these questions?

    • What types of activities will the applicant engage in to complete this independent study? How does the applicant envision the relationship and interactions with their advisor?

The following should also be provided:

  • Assignments, meetings and due dates:

    • Provide a timeline of when the project will start and be completed. Provide an outline of how and when the applicant would interact with their advisor.

  • Budget:

    • Provide a detailed budget itemizing any costs that may be incurred in the course of research including transportation and living expenses (if applicable) for the proposed time period.

In addition, the advisor would need to submit a letter of commitment in support of the applicant’s intended research acknowledging that the proposal is one that the applicant should be able to fulfill and would also agree on the proposed budget.

Once the written proposal has been reviewed, the selection committee will schedule a Zoom interview.

Final Review

Following the conclusion of the independent study, the student and advisor will individually submit an evaluation of the experience including a final budget accounting.

Additional Notes

Previously selected Hemsley lighting interns are not eligible for the Independent Study Program. If an applicant receives additional financial assistance from their academic program targeted towards this independent study, that income needs to be disclosed in the application.

For further information and to email completed applications please contact:

Alan Adelman or Al Crawford hemsleyindependentstudy@gmail.com

PAST PARTICIPANTS

Alex Mannix

Mentor: Jane Cox - Winter 2013

From Alex: I was fortunate to spend nearly six months assisting Jane Cox on several different kinds of projects, from Broadway and more traditional theater, to site specific opera, to modern dance. During my mentorship, I had the privilege to work on Machinal at the American Airlines Theater, Dinner With Friends at the Laura Pels, All the Way at the Neil Simon, a pair of site specific operas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Gotham Chamber Opera, and to see the continued development of a dance piece with Monica Bill Barnes, called Three Acts, Two Dancers, and One Radio Host. Seeing how the same designer approached such different kinds of work was illuminating; I began to get a great sense of how to both stay true to your own aesthetic and to make design choices that are specific and vital to each project. It was also a great opportunity to see how to balance the workload of life as a designer, learning both to be present in the room and to continue working ahead on upcoming projects. I also had the opportunity to learn from several different associate designers, who were all very generous with their knowledge about both design and working as an associate. It was an amazing experience that continues to inform my own work. www.alexmannix.com

Brandon Bagwell

Mentor: Jen Schriever - Winter 2014/Spring 2015

From Brandon: It is truly difficult to list all the amazing things I gained from my experience with Jen Schriever during my Hemsley Mentorship in the spring of 2015. I was able to join Jen on three different productions and attend readings and other industry events when able. Jen taught me so many different things in and outside of the theatre – from design and technique conversations to more abstract conversations like where the best sushi is for dinner break. I was openly brought into the room and into conversations where I could observe, and in most cases, participate in the conversation. She not only fulfilled the role of educator and mentor, but she truly became a true friend too. I’m also grateful to say that we have been able to work together since the mentorship, and she has continued to help guide and foster me on my own path. In my time with Jen I was exposed to so many different and unique opportunities, and for that I will forever be immensely grateful to her and everyone at Hemsley Lighting Programs. www.bagwelldesigns.com

Caitlin Smith Rapoport

Mentor: Traci Klainer - Spring 2016/Summer 2016

From Caitlin: The Hemsley Mentorship Grant gave me the opportunity to work in a sector of lighting design that I was interested in, but had no practical knowledge of. Under the generous mentorship of Traci Klainer through her architectural lighting firm LUCE Group, I was able to learn hands on through site visits, focuses, meetings, and drafting for many different projects- ranging from theme parks and retail to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It was a privilege to learn from a designer whose work I admire, and an invaluable immersion in another part of our field. While there is a lot of creative and structural overlap in how architectural and entertainment lighting are conceived, the communication methods and timelines are very different. The mentorship with Traci opened my eyes to how many possibilities and methods for lighting exist, and has made me a more dynamic designer in my own work. I remain grateful, and architecturally curious. www.caitlinsmithrapoport.com

Ben Ehrenreich

Mentor: Philip Rosenberg and Jim Ingalls - Winter 2017/Spring 2017

From Ben: My Hemsley Mentorship was a unique and tailored experience that gave me the chance to learn from two incredible designers in very different situations. I followed Philip Rosenberg through his process of designing and teching a large musical in Denver, learning how he approached and overcame each challenge. I have since incorporated many lessons from that time into my own design process, from seemingly simple organizational tools in tech to the importance of thematic consistency in design choices. The other side of my Mentorship experience was with James F. Ingalls. With Jim, I joined him from preliminary idea to plot to tech as he designed a world premiere dance in Miami. Seeing how he approached his design within a rep plot has since pushed me towards making ever more efficient design choices in repertory situations -- finding the best and most dynamic choice within the given limits of a production to create a powerful end result. www.behrenreich.com

Peter Leibold

Mentor: Japhy Weidman - Summer 2017

From Peter: In the summer of 2017, I had a mentorship with Japhy Weideman (who himself is in the lineage of Gilbert) in New York City. For one month, I observed Japhy and his associate Jon Goldman as they worked on a new production of Marvin's Room at the American Airlines theatre. This experience proved to be incredibly useful, as Japhy's style and approach to lighting a show is significantly contrasting to my Grad School mentor's, Brian MacDevitt. Both approaches are fantastic and being able to witness and practice both while in my graduate studies was invaluable. In any spare time I had, I visited the City's museums to collect lighting research, which was a perfect opportunity for a young lighting designer from a rural community. I collected images of hundreds of paintings through time and categorized them into a catalog from which to pull for my own shows. Familiarizing myself with the masters gave me new insight into not only the incredible breadth of work but new and old ways to use light and ways in which to convey my ideas to the other members of my team. This mentorship advanced my education in such an incredible way, and I can't thank enough the memory of Gilbert Hemsley and those who carry on his legacy of welcoming new artists to this career. I'm proud to now have some part of the Hemsley lineage. www.PeterLeibold.com

Jeff Behm

Mentor: Bob Barnhart - Summer 2019

From Jeff: My Hemsley Mentorship Experience was with Emmy Award winning Lighting Designer, Bob Barnhart. I worked with Bob on three large television productions over the course of the summer of 2019: The Espy Awards, The MTV Video Music Awards, and the 16th Season of So You Think You Can Dance. I was also given opportunity to observe several other television specials and game shows. I actively worked as an intern and assistant to Bob and his team for three months, completing paperwork, focusing lights, balancing follow spots, and observing the call of a live and taped television show. On occasion, Bob would ask me to call follow spots and light cues in the video truck for rehearsals. He made sure I was an active participant and was learning as much as I possibly could. I was even granted the opportunity to collaborate on one of the dances on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Bob and the 22deg Team shared their wealth of knowledge willingly and often. I never felt uncomfortable asking questions. They taught me the technical skills of television lighting but also shared their wisdom into the art of networking and the social aspect of working in the business. My life and career path have been changed forever thanks to the Hemsley Mentorship Program. I have found passion in this profession and am currently working as a Lighting Director. JbehmDesign.com

Ethan Fleek

Mentor: Allen Branton - Spring 2021

From Ethan: My Hemsley Mentorship experience was with Allen and his team of Lighting Directors. I worked with the team on the 2021 iHeart Radio Music Awards for 2 months. I was involved with the lighting prep and got to oversee the load-in, tech, run and strike of the show in the famous Dolby Theatre. For me, the goal of this program was to walk out of the experience with an understanding of how to approach lighting and production design for a live televised event. The Hemsley Independent Study Program allowed me to reach this goal in more ways than I could have imagined. I was able to witness firsthand what all goes into an event this size and how Allen approached his design based on the “task list” that was created in the first meeting. I learned how his team works together with their unique roles to efficiently pull off his design. The Hemsley Program made this amazing experience possible. An experience that opened my eyes to new methods, methods that I will use forever.

Taylor Durantini

Mentor: Allen Branton - Spring 2021

From Taylor: This independent study opportunity working with Allen (on the iHeart Music Awards television broadcast) exceeded my expectations. Not only was I able to learn and observe Allen and his design strategies and philosophy, but I was able to get to know him as a person and really understand why he designs the way that he does. He really cared about making sure we were always in the moment and aware of everything that was going on, and when rehearsals got tough or the atmosphere in the room became intense, he would sit down with us at the end of the day and reflect on how the day went; what went well and what areas may have fallen short. I am excited to take all of this new knowledge and the connections that I have gathered from this experience to propel me further into my career. I love this industry and I can’t wait to work in it for the rest of my life. www.taylerdurantini.com