In developing his company, Visions In Light Productions, Brian James Leslie makes his return to the Special Events and Lighting Design arena... In a new state, a new town and with new vision

For the past 6 years, Brian has built a web development division of his very successful visual design company focusing on special on-line services for individuals and companies in the arts.

“We implemented the web development division of Visions to allow vendors with products and services in the Arts to get what they need as Industry professionals within the realm of web services, not what a Web Programmer thinks you should have. With a Lighting Design and Art Production background we are in tune with the ‘visual presentation’ on many levels. This allows us to clearly understand your needs without any communication barriers.”

With this web feature firmly established at Visions, Brian has now focused his talent and energy back to his first love, painting with light.

Since the mid 1980’s Brian has been designing "lightscapes" for a variety of venues from Nightclubs and Mountainsides, to Studio Attractions and Movie Premier Galas. Moreover, Brian has designed various showcase performances for celebrity bands such as Guns N’ Roses as well as the more intimate engagements for artists such as Tori Amos.

“The transition from Music Events to Special Events seemed so obvious to me. Upon teaming up with multi-talented event coordinators, the challenge was to create something out of nothing. A mood, a feeling, the ultimate in atmosphere... to me, that's what it's all about.”

This collaborative effort has transformed massive structures into intimate settings for hundreds or thousands of guests and modest hotels or restaurants into exotic wonderlands.

“Each event is like building a sand castle... You create your masterpiece for one moment in time and in the early morning the tide washes it away leaving only its memory.”

It is, however, Brian’s imaginative use of color, from the most subtle pastels to the boldest primaries that will envelope a guest at an event.

“The proper balance of color will transform a simple dining affair into a culinary masterpiece, enhance and give dimension to décor as well as flatter the various guests attending the event. To me it’s always been more than just throwing up strokes of color on a wall, it’s the right lighting in conjunction with the right motivation”.

Brian has worked with some of the most influential visionaries in theatrical lighting. In the early 80’s Brian was under the wing of his friend Joe Tawil, President of GAM Products, where the first (off the shelf) stainless steel gobos/patterns were created and are still designed and produced today.

“I find that the greatest challenge in design is exploring innovative ways to express joy and excitement. Everything from new industry products to clever methods of execution, push the lighting envelope even further.”

In the early 90’s, Brian worked closely with developers Dave Cunningham and Greg Esakoff, creators of the revolutionary Source Four Ellipsoidal luminaire, now the premier lighting industry standard in static theatrical lighting fixtures. Brian provided the development team with vital “in the field” information as an independent lighting designer.

“This was a remarkable invention… here was a new lighting fixture that would put out more white light than a 1kw ellipsoidal with a new 575w lamp and a heat conductor directing the heat out through the back of the fixture, saving gel, perishable food displays, even ice sculptures. In 1992 I introduced the ETC Source Four to the Special Event world and the lighting rental industry, (This was prior to it’s winning of the Product Of The Year Award at LDI.) starting with John Chuck and friends at Entertainment Lighting Services (ELS) in North Hollywood, California.”

It is his love for the theatrical and his inquisitive nature that fuels Brian with a passion for designing with light. Brian has illuminated venues from one end of the event spectrum to the other, from backyard themed cocktail parties to gala and corporate events for thousands. His client list spans from CEO to celebrity including Marvin Davis, GTE, Miramax Films and Universal Studios, just to name a few. He continues to work with some of the top Party/Event coordinators in the Industry never compromising integrity and always striving for excellence.

"The way I see it, lighting defines not only a space but the common thread joining the conscious with the subconscious evoking human emotion."

Contact Brian Leslie for your next event.

(260) 450-4846