JOHN MURRAY PRODUCTIONS, Inc. Blog

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.

This years Fashion and Compassion fundraiser for HIV/AIDS found inspiration from the renounced NY artist Kieth Haring.

JMP was asked to design and produce supporting scenic elements for the Cocktail reception and Gala Night that would support a more urban, minimalist feel. Scenic elements included an entrance treatment of subway turnstyles and a faux subway wall, five bar environments, a large dance floor statement which included a 17′ x 17′ mobile and over 3200sq/ft of double-sided white flatwalls. We also supplied more of our rental Glo-wall panels to create two freestanding internally lit obelisks, and for room partitioning at the Cocktail reception area.

Designer: Tony Irik

Producers: Tony Irik, Scott Proctor

For this years Movado booth JMP was asked to design and build an environment that followed the theme of Kieth Haring, and also allowed them to showcase some of their Art watches and incorporate their branding by utilizing a large working clock borrowed from a Movado Store. This clock was flanked by two hand-painted graffiti walls with Movado-inspired and designed text/logos. The Vitrine case was built using our Glo-wall set with a laminate top, and also were built out of acrylic with Raku LED panels for under-lighting. JMP fabricated and custom-painted all elements and installed the set in San Francisco and Los Angeles for Macy’s Passport.

This years CK booth was styled on their new fragrance Secret Obsession and followed the stark minimalist design from CK. John Murray Productions produced all elements including a large freestanding plexi wall, or rental Glo bars, a custom craps table, and custom drapery and carpet.

JMP recently completed work on the 2008 California Nurse’s Assembly and the National Nurses Organizing Committee event, “RN Trailblazers” which took place at the SF Marriott from September 25th through September 28th. JMP designed the stage set, all of the scenic elements including the Advocacy area where nurses were able to make direct contact with state and national legislators and, Union Store where members were able to purchase CNA/NNOC apparel. JMP also produced all of the signage including thirty-two 4ft by 8ft images depicting key individuals in the history of nursing who have made the profession what it is today, and imagery from seven of their most successful campaigns. One thousand RN activists from around the country converged in San Francisco for the Assembly to plan the next phase of patient advocacy with leaders in the nursing, labor, and political worlds.

The event loaded into the SF Marriott Thursday night on the heels of Oracle Open World which gave us only 2-and-a-half hours to install staging, lighting, drapery, graphics and a stage set for the opening reception that began at 7:00 PM. Two hours later work began to transform the ballroom overnight for the Plenary sessions that would continue during the weekend, and to install all of the unique decor elements in the ballroom lobby (Advocacy area, Union Store, and three one-on-one areas.) Then immediately after the opening plenary session, the stage and set were transformed again for Friday evening’s dinner with Pancho Sanchez as live entertainment. Friday’s dinner set was again followed by an overnight re-setting of the plenary stage set. The coordination of the vendors, and the attention to detail during this 36 hour period resulted in a flawless presentation to our client, and a seamless presentation to all in attendance.