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. 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 award, Tony Awards, multiple Super Bowl Halftime Shows, multiple Olympic Opening Ceremonies, the 2010 Shanghai Expo, among others.
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 Kidsâ 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: âÂÂWe Are OneâÂÂ
- An Inauguration Celebration 2009: âÂÂThe Neighborhood BallâÂÂ
- 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, âÂÂN 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 âÂÂOne Man BandâÂÂ
- The Eagles âÂÂHell Freezers OverâÂÂ
- Harry Connick, Jr. World Tour
- Harry Connick, Jr. Live on Broadway
- Fleetwood Mac âÂÂThe DanceâÂÂ
- Celine Dion âÂÂThese Are Special TimesâÂÂ
- Ricky Martin âÂÂOne Night OnlyâÂÂ
- Jessica Simpson âÂÂTour Of DutyâÂÂ
- Justin Timberlake âÂÂDown Home In MemphisâÂÂ
- Willie Nelson âÂÂWillie and FriendsâÂÂ
- Harry Connick Jr. âÂÂChristmas SpecialâÂÂ
- âÂÂN Sync âÂÂThe Atlantis ConcertâÂÂ
- 'N Sync "âÂÂNtimate Holiday SpecialâÂÂ
Live Events Adapted To The Screen
- Neil Diamond âÂÂLive At Madison Square GardenâÂÂ
- Shania Twain âÂÂShania Up! Live In ChicagoâÂÂ
- Cher "The Farewell Tour"
- Barbra Streisand's Millennium Concert âÂÂTimelessâÂÂ
- The Backstreet Boys âÂÂLarger Than LifeâÂÂ
Primetime Emmy Awards and Nominations
References
External links