Many lighting designers have been tasked with lighting a corporate campus, but it’s rare for that campus to include rides, attractions, and theatrical performances that range from brand-new technological marvels to beloved, decades-old experiences. After 25 years of work in theme parks, Jason Badger has become a master of this craft – as well as a Principal Show Lighting Designer for WED Imagineering.

He told us about his work on Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Tron Lightcycle Power Run as well as a few other key attractions. He also provided detailed information on how the preproduction and tech process for attractions works, as well as the kinds of control systems and networks they require.

It hasn’t all been mouse ears for Jason, though; while he focuses on theme parks and corporate theater now, he’s worked in almost every part of the business as a programmer or lighting designer, from theater to opera to television to special events to single and multicamera shoots. We’ll discuss more of the work he’s done in those areas, as well as his work with environments and fountains, on the next episode.

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