I am a Los Angeleno, born and raised, and I admired the entertainment industry even before I was a part of it. I’ve been fortunate to build a successful career in Los Angeles as a Lighting Designer, contributing to some of the most exciting and high-profile projects of the past 35 years. From scripted series to live telecasts to reality competition shows, I’ve worked alongside incredibly talented people, making magical moments. I love what I do, the people I do it with, and the city we call home.
For the past five seasons I’ve served as Lighting Designer on the technicolor explosion of artistry and self-expression that is “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which has been proudly made in Los Angeles since 2009. At a time when productions are increasingly leaving Los Angeles, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has remained firmly planted, holding onto its LA roots and much of the dedicated crew who helped build the iconic show.
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Many of us have worked in production for decades. We’ve come up through the ranks, mentored by veterans who shaped this industry and were lighting stages with carbon arcs and tungsten sources. Our crew includes gaffers and key grips whose parents, and even grandparents, were in the industry. We’ve got camera operators who started out as PAs in the early days of reality TV, and passionate, young talent—many making the move to Los Angeles to break into the business— who hope this will be the first of many projects in a lifelong career. We’re the kind of workers who have long formed the backbone of this industry town: generational, skilled, and deeply invested in its future.
The work is hard, the pace is fast, and the expectations are high. Each week “RuPaul’s Drag Race” delivers something spectacular, whether it’s a Broadway-style musical, a scripted acting challenge, a high fashion photo shoot, or a lip sync smackdown for the ages, we’re constantly raising the bar. We are artists who want to create something timeless—a moment that people will remember, and that might even change their lives.
That level of creative ambition is made possible because of LA’s unmatched production ecosystem: the best crews in the business, cutting-edge rental houses, experienced collaborators, versatile sound stages, and reliable industry partners. These local, world-class resources allow us to be bold, flexible, and efficient.
Much of the success of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” can be credited to World of Wonder’s commitment to producing the long-running series in Los Angeles. They’ve proven there is no better place to make award-winning, culturally resonant television than right here at home. Their continued investment in LA’s production community not only helps sustain jobs and businesses, it preserves the legacy of craftsmanship, collaboration, and creative excellence that defines this town.
Production is in LA’s DNA. Let’s keep it that way.
