James Killen
Rigger, Production Manager and Lighting Technician.
What you should know about me
My personal philosophy
Email: James@showservices.co.nz
Website: Showservices.co.nz
Phone: 022 120 9873
– I believe that there is no obstacle that can’t be over come with the right mindset.
– I believe that respecting team members, clients and suppliers goes a long way to creating relationships that are both lasting and mutually beneficial.
– I believe that being genuine when dealing with others is the key to maintaining great personal and working relationships.
– I believe that being as organised as possible helps prevent most on-site “emergencies” and gives people the capacity to react to last minute changes that inevitably pop up during setup, shows and packouts.
– I believe that we are always learning new things, or new ways to do old things, and that if we aren’t learning we aren’t growing. This might mean that mistakes are made, but that growth comes from these mistakes.
Skills I bring to the table
Leadership entails many things. Keeping the team onside while also having to sometimes have difficult converstations can be a real challenge, but I have found that most people respond well when receiving feedback when presented in a respectful way.
In terms of delivering jobs on site, the key is to always be one to 3 steps ahead of the team to ensure smooth transitions from one task to the next.
In this industry, sometimes you are a team leader, other times you are doing as you’re told. I find this to be a very easy transition to make. Being proactive is key to being a helpful team member. If I don’t know what to do next, I ask someone who knows.
Alternatively, within a management team situation clear communication is key to providing a good base from which direct reports will have clear direction without conflicting information from other management members.
I am proficient at using Vectorworks and drawing technical plans. I have found it to be an essential tool for larger complex jobs, particularly when coordinating multiple departments within one event.
In past roles I have been responsible for the production and enforcement of H+S paperwork and procedures. I genuinely believe that risk mitigation should be done at the planning stages of any job. Being onsite where the pressure to deliver is greatest is potentially the worst time to be making H+S decisions.
To this end, I am also very confident in my ability to bear the pressure of having to make any hard decisions in terms of delivery vs the safety of me and my team.
I have been rigging for more than 10 years, as such I am confident in my rigging skills and knowledge to be able to have reasonable and informed discussions over what is best practice, what is safe, and what is a definite “no go”.
I sincerely believe that pro-active communication is key to the successful delivery of events. If an email does not illict a response, I will text and call within reasonable time frames in order to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Recent Work History
2021 - Present
Metro Productions
– Technical Manager
This is a role that has been designed for me, though the responsibilites are not too different from my previous time at Metro Productions.
Key Skills and Responsibilities in addition to previous requirements:
– Working with the Operations Manager to ensure smooth delivery of jobs and events.
– Managing the Technical aspects of high profile jobs such as the Wellington ANZAC Day Celebrations, the Vaxxathon and the Queens Jubilee.
– Implement new H+S reporting systems.
2019 - 2021
NW Group
– Head Of Production
This was my largest role yet and I learned a lot around team management, development of new processes and streamlining of current ones.
Key Skills and Responsibilities:
– Delivery of multiple productions in multiple venues, utilising the team of Production Managers in my team.
– Assigning Production Managers to incoming jobs and events.
– Supporting Production Mangers with the delivery of their jobs.
– Occasionally managing productions and events when my team had too much on their plate.
– Communicating with all stakeholders for incoming events to ensure smooth delivery.
– Reviewing and making suggestions of changes for in-coming events regarding rig loads.
– Being a point of contact for Venues Wellington and assisting with their many auxilary requirements.
– Working with the GM on reviewing job applicants.
– Investigating Health and Safety incidents and implementing solutions to prevent repetition of them.
– Maintaning Health and Safety inductions on a yearly basis and for new crew.
– Professional development for all staff and crew.
2017 - 2019
Mambo show Services
– Project Manager/ Director
Mambo Show Services is my own company. This obviously entails finding clients, discussing with them their requirements and limitations around both fiscal and time budgets.
Key Skills and responsibilities:
– Calculate complex loads imposed on buildings by entertainment systems.
– Develop and implement health and safety plans and associated documentation.
– Design complex rigging systems.
– Contracted to New Zealand Festival to erect, dismantle and otherwise onsite management for the installation and pack down of the Pacific Crystal Palace.
– Collect and deposit money into accounts, disburse funds from cash accounts to pay bills or invoices, keep records of collections and disbursements, and ensure accounts are balanced.
– Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
– Maintain scheduling and event calendars.
– Schedule and confirm appointments for clients.
– Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information with other organizations.
– Develop or maintain internal or external company Web sites.
2008 - 2016
Metro Productions
– Technician/Senior Technician/Special Projects Manager
Key skills and responsibilities:
– Design and install temporary and permanent truss systems suitable to client requirements.
– Prepare and submit budget estimates.
– Schedule the project in logical steps and budget time required to meet deadlines.
– Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction of temporary outdoor structures.
– Obtain all necessary permits and licenses for outdoor events.
– Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites, to ensure that proper procedures are being carried out.
– Create and implement opportunities of professional development for technical staff.
– Run installation and packout crews, delivering results in a timely fasion to a high standard.
Other Experience
Shows and Events:
World Of WearableArt - Head Rigger
Being Head Rigger on World of WearableArts for 4 years from 2015 has taught me patience, how to build a team, effectively communicate with both production management and creative clients, while also being able to deliver a high-quality product within given time constraints.
Edinburgh Tattoo in Wellington - Head of the Rigging team
This was a role I really enjoyed! We made a castle in the Wellington Stadium. I lead the team that attached the pre-fabricated castle pieces to the scaffolding sub-structure, ensuring that the safest and most optimal procedures were followed while working at heights.
Film Work:
Avatar - Onset Rigging
– Worked with the rigging team to build and install scaffolding, trussing and motors for scenic elements.
Survivor USA – Lighting Assistant
– Performed minor repairs and routine cleaning of lighting equipment.
– Notified supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
– Positioned and focused lighting equipment for the various camera shots.
– Ensured lighting systems were weather-resistant and robust.
– Ensured all electrical systems were safe and fit-for-use.
– Kept track of all lighting system DMX addresses.
– Dimmer load calculations.
The Hobbit - Lighting Rigging Techncian
– Lighting power draw calculations.
– DMX addressing.
– Safe rigging and installation of large lighting systems.
– Operated large EWP equipment.
Examples
Testimonials
