Beyond The Limelight

Lighting and production designer Jon Trincas joins us to trace his path from experimenting with early lighting desks at school to touring internationally with Steve Angello and leading large-scale production and lighting designs at Zeal.

Jon also gets practical about atmospherics, including the challenges of using fog and haze in extreme environments. Along the way, we discuss strategic imagination, explore Zeal’s integrated approach to design, production, rental and content, and hear how bringing in a “brain trust” can challenge ideas before they go live.

Watch the full episode to learn how the same atmospherics distribution setup can sound like lunch in the UK and something far more ominous in the U.S. Is it a “smoke sausage” or a “Tube of Death”?

More about Zeal: https://wearezeal.co

Explore previous Beyond the Limelight recaps: https://www.masterfx.com/blogs/beyondthelimelight/ 

Lighting and production designer André Petrus joins the show for a conversation with Vince and Ryan about creativity, entrepreneurship, and building a lasting career in live production. In this episode, we trace André’s journey from operating cameras as a kid to touring with Taylor Swift, designing unforgettable experiences at Red Rocks, developing a newfound skill as a concert photographer, and launching Ear-Goes. Along the way, we uncover the importance of embracing opportunities, continuing to learn, trusting your instincts, and never being afraid to ask.

Beyond the Limelight takes you behind the scenes with some of the industry's most experienced and innovative minds. We share exclusive knowledge, real-world experience, and practical advice to help you build a successful career in production and inspire the next generation to do the same.

Explore recaps of previous episodes: https://www.masterfx.com/blogs/beyondthelimelight/ 

Master FX founder Vince Camerano distills 12 years of entrepreneurship into five lessons for entertainment leaders: be kind, respond to urgency, recover from rejection, stay adaptable, and give great work time to grow.

Aaron and Tyler of Performance Lighting share how a new chapter, a bold rebrand, and a people-first culture are helping the company honor its roots while creating better experiences for clients, crews, and audiences.

World-renowned lighting designer Sooner Routhier reflects on career growth, creative collaboration, and the habits that sustain great work. Plus: a look inside the award-winning Muse Simulation Theory tour.

Production designer Chris Lisle looks back on three decades of touring and design, sharing lessons in resourceful creativity, road-ready systems, mentorship, and the human side of building a sustainable live-event career.

Filmmaker and content director Valentina Vee shares how self-directed learning shaped her career, why purpose matters more than attention, and how creators and brands can approach meaningful stories with authenticity.

DX7 Design CEO and Head of Creative Tom Sutherland explains how handwritten letters opened early doors, why global culture strengthens design, and what it means to dream big while respecting the teams that make ideas real.

E2i Design founder Josh Holowicki explains why technology should serve the mission, how education improves every installation, and why strong partnerships begin by aligning culture, goals, budget, and the desired audience experience.

Lighting director and Limelight Wired founder Rane Renshaw explores the improvisational craft of nightclub lighting, the value of cross-disciplinary experience, and why accessible, relatable education makes the industry stronger.