John Murray Productions Blog

JMP transformed the Academy of Sciences into a billowing tented dinner area where guests could be surrounded by plants, animals, and aquatic life. The trick to this set was to design around the already existing tree in the middle of the room.

The Alliance Summit was highlighted by the first official appearance of John Thompson, HP’s newly appointed vice president and general manager of channels for the Americas. Thompson, along with other top HP executives at the event, told SBM solution providers that HP is improving its channel-strategy execution and will increase contact and support with channel representatives at the local level. In this annual event held in Carlsbad, John Murray Productions painted the multi-layer backdrop to fit their flyers, and set up two projection screens on either side. We also projected moving water lights on the set to give it yet another dimension.

Designer/Producer: Scott Proctor

Artist: Nicole Ziedses des Plantes

This event was an annual convention held in the W hotel in downtown New Orleans. This was the place where physicians, dietitians, nutritional scientists, exercise physiologists, psychologists, nurses, school health professionals, and 30,000 other health scientists had the opportunity to learn current information and to discuss the technical advances for the treatment for type two diabetes. John Murray Productions designed and produced the stage set for these lectures and discussions that included multi-layered vinyl graphics applied on our square plexi-glass structures. Our producer also coordinated the lighting for the stage as well.

Producer/Designer: Scott Proctor

Starting next week, on Monday the 17th our office will be closed for remodeling. We’re vamping up our office and making it more beautiful than ever. We will be busy with this for a couple weeks, and if you can’t get through to us via phone or e-mail, this is why. We’re sorry for the inconvenience and we promise you that we will be up and running again in no time. Thanks for being patient, and we will see you all very soon.

Gen Art hosted their 5th annual fashion show called Fresh Faces, and JMP was proud to be a part of it for the 4th year in a row. This event showcased cutting-edge fashion and gave the designers the opportunity to show their work. John Murray Productions designed and built the fashion set and 65′ runway which also incorporated a reveal for interchangeable designer name frames, applied all the graphics.

We also helped fabricate and build elements for the VIP and after party lounge, including a Baileys bar and Botox booth.

Producer: Tony Irik

Botox booth in VIP lounge.

The Ebbies 2008 Awards Ceremony, put on by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on October 28th this year. John Murray Productions was asked to work with a limited budget to produce a classy set that could show off some of the sponsors, incorporate the design on the fliers, and be able to show images of the uniqueness of San Francisco in an artistic way that would make the stage interesting as well as the speakers that lit it up. We did this by using our 2 x 2 grid set on stage, and connected the mounted photos to the back, and set up video screens with pipe and drape on either side of the stage. JMP also sectioned out an area for registration and for the reception afterwards by hanging our shear drape where it was needed. This was nice because it gave viewers a sneak peek about what they were about to enter into.

Producer: John Murray, Nicole Ziedses des Plantes

The new Academy of Sciences just opened in Golden Gate Park on September 27th, and JMP was happy to be a part of this great building. We were hired to build nine permanent, interactive installations that were museum quality and kid proof. John Murray Productions built the Rafflesia flower (the world’s largest, carnivorous flower) that has a smell sensor in it that puts out the smell of dead body, the Pitcher plant that JMP built and then cut in half so it can slide open for viewers to see the cicada frozen in resin inside the plant. JMP also built the Anaconda Squeeze installation where people put their arm in the hole and the anaconda squeezes it, and there is also the Electric Eel station where viewers put two of their fingers on copper dots and it shocks them like an electric eel. We also built five interactive dive stations where artifacts were placed in clear modules, and when placed on a colored circle the plexiglass screen gives you different information about the specimen. We were also asked to build two stainless steel lids for the Mossy frog and the Poisonous Spotted lizard exhibits. If you haven’t made your way over there yet, you should definitely check out all the excitement, architecture, animals, plants, light show, aquarium, rainforest, interactive learning stations, and so much more.

Designer: the Environment and Academy of Sciences Team

Artists/Engineers: Rob Oakley/Kat Halbert (Pitcher Plant), John Murray/Nicole Ziedses des Plantes (Rafflesia Flower), Tom McCarty/John Murray (Anaconda Squeeze), Tom McCarty(Electric Eel), Rich Dibari/Rob Oakley (Dive Stations), Khabir Salahadyn (Frogs/Lizard lids)

Rafflesia Flower

Pitcher Plant

Dive Station

Anaconda Squeeze

Electric Eel

John Murray Productions worked with Rainforest Action Network to come up with the design and layout for this beautiful Gala evening. We provided our rental Glo Bars, 2 x 2 plexi grid set, our 22ft. tall fabric light columns, stage, screen, and dance floor for this event. JMP also managed the spectacular scenic lighting with the help of our friends over at Phoebus Lighting. Our producer also recommended the usage of our clients old vinyl banners to be hung as a backdrop for the stage to incorporate their reusable, sustainable ideals that make their company so important.

Designer: Tony Irik and Rainforest Action Network

Producer: Tony Irik

JMP worked together with Mosaic Event Management to put on the Canalys event that took place on Oct. 14th at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay. We were asked to design and build a keynote set on a limited budget, which included rental flat walls, two screens, two screen surrounds, a lectern, and graphics.

Producer: Tony Irik

It may have been on a concrete urban plaza beneath a baking sun and towering office buildings, but for thousands of East Bay Catholics, this was truly holy ground.

In one of the rarest and most solemn liturgical celebrations of the Catholic faith, the new Cathedral of Christ the Light was officially dedicated on Thursday, September 11th. The occasion was marked with special rites reserved only for such sacred occasions. Visiting bishops and cardinals from across the country and the globe, including Cardinal William Levada from Rome, were welcomed by priests, nuns and parishioners from all 84 parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

JMP acted as the event/logistical coordinators. We assisted by drawing the floor-plan and bringing in audio, video, and staging. We also designed and printed directional signage to make sure everyone got where they needed to be. We cooperated with the security teams and volunteer services as well, to make the procession and dedication run smoothly.