JOHN MURRAY PRODUCTIONS, Inc. Blog

JMP worked with Jack Morton Worldwide in creating the look for the new Samsung Galaxy product launch and training event to be held in several cities across the United States. In efforts to emphasize the smartphone’s portability, we were asked to create ten custom 3 wheel bikes on which the trainers could ride around the showroom floor, with a laptop computer affixed to the front platform. JMP fully customized the generic mountain bikes, with a front loading hinged platform and storage container featuring the company’s branding. The client was very pleased, and we had a lot of fun in the process!

JCK Las Vegas, the jewelry industry’s premier trade event, took place this June at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. JMP came back for the second year in a row to transform several suites at the Venetian hotel into mini showrooms for Movado, Ebel and Concord. The transformation began with drapery  covering the interior walls. Flat walls provided the structure for the posh sets which included the clients’ branding, and up-lit shadow boxes to highlight their latest products. High quality printing of the company’s ad campaign on canvas flats really reinforced the brand imaging in the customized suites.

Earlier this year, Cupertino High School was named the winner of Dell’s nationwide Super Prom contest, and John Murray Productions, Inc. was proud to partner with Cupertino’s socially conscious Class of 2010 whose $100k cash prize was used to create the prom of their dreams. The school beat out 77 others across the nation with the class project “Kenya Dream?” that senior’s showcased with a a 60-second online video. All prom ticket proceeds were then donated to upgrade the facilities at a middle school in Kenya. JMP partnered with lighting designers at Got Light? and sound designers at SpiderRanch productions to create the environment for the SuperProm, which was indeed super including a full concert stage production, 30′ tunnel reveal, and lighting effects.

The Berkeley Repertory Theatre held their annual fundraising gala this April at the Roda Theatre, and JMP was proud to be a part of the event. Working in conjunction with event planner Marjorie Randell-Silver of Copper Leaf Productions, we learned that budget constraints can result in boundless creativity.  Inspired by the concept of bringing the audience onstage, the theatre was transformed by using stage decks to elevate guests to stage level.  Balloons in various sizes dotted the ceiling, with excerpts from the theatre’s most recent plays projected on their surfaces. Bold use of color also added to the effect, with the entire lobby and patio windows covered in a translucent green vinyl covered with text.  The event was a huge success, raising over $137k for the theatre.

One of the greatest benefits of working in our industry is the ability to partner with clients whose mission we stand behind. JMP is honored to work with National Nurses United for their annual conference, which took place in Washington DC this May. In conjunction with Metromedia Productions and lighting designer Tim Miller, JMP participated by transforming the International Terrace at the Washington Hilton into a nurses zone for networking, shopping, and education. We were also responsible for the scenic production of the various stages used for the general session and continuing education sessions.  Click here to learn more about this fantastic event.

Cisco’s annual Partner Summit was held this April at San Francisco’s Moscone center. For 20 years, Cisco customers and global partners have met to discuss ideas and visions for the future and John Murray Productions, Inc. was there to create the environment for the event.  Utilizing our 2′x2′ tile set, a custom arrangement of our tiles in the shape of the Cisco logo created the ideal backdrop for the noted speakers.  We also incorporated our custom 6′ circular screen on which a power icon and Cisco logo was projected. Black milano drape and a 40′x16′ cyclorama completed the set.

The 2010 California Democratic Convention was held at the Los Angeles Convention center this year, and John Murray Productions, Inc. was brought in to create the look for the event. The scenic production included custom fabricated table and screen surrounds, branded dimensional signage, and drapery. The convention was a huge success, and the client very happy. We look forward to working with them again next year on the annual convention.

COLAS,  the world’s largest international road construction company called upon John Murray Productions, Inc. (JMP) to coordinate staging and scenic elements for their semi-annual summit held at the San Francisco Marriott this past February. The purpose of the convention was to discuss new technology and safety in the road building industry world wide, and JMP was contracted to create the environment for this huge conference.  The job involved creating numerous environments within the hotel, including a theater for 300 guests with raked seating, a giant rolling performance stage, and a custom made “floating” Golden Gate Bridge model that greeted guests on their way into the ballroom. The Marriott’s enormous ballroom was transformed with 10,000 square feet of drapery, printed graphics and projected imagery.  John Murray Production’s talented fabricators also created a realistic ore cart that held raw asphalt for the elaborate display of materials used in modern road construction.

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce held their yearly City Beat Breakfast at the Marriott Marqui, and John Murray Productions, Inc. was asked, once again, to create the environment for the Chamber’s annual event. Based on the Chamber’s theme of the city rising in the twenty-first century, silhouettes of some of San Francisco’s most notable landmarks against a foggy sunrise created a vibrant background for the Chamber’s keynote speakers, including Mayor Gavin Newsom and Vice President of Microsoft Corporation, Chris Weber. John Murray Productions provided the scenic fabrication using five custom designed 4′ x 10′ flats, as well as overseeing technical direction and stage management for the filmed event.

The annual Ace Awards were held this January at San Francisco’s Palace hotel. John Murray Productions, Inc. worked in conjunction with the designers at InVision Communications and Legrand Designs to create the environment for the two day event, which featured 24′ x 12′ backdrop of interwoven stainless steel mesh panels and 10′ tall brushed aluminum columns flanked by custom steel framed projection screens. The result was a multi-faceted surface which allowed for dramatic light changes, thanks to lighting designer Chris Legrand. For the second day of the event, John Murray Productions, Inc. fabricated a custom built retro television frame for the surrounding screens.

photos courtesy of Chris Legrand

http://legranddesign.com