Video Village Feature
Camaron Benjamin
Britany Phillips sat down with Lighting Director and Visual Creative, Cam Benjamin to go in-depth about his creative process, preferred gear, favorite places to visit and most memorable project. Check out the Q & A style interview to learn more about the up and coming Designer & Creative and how the House of Worship segment has adapted during the Covid-19 Crisis.
Where are you located and where do you often travel for projects?
I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and have lived here my entire life; only 22 years.
What’s your favorite city to travel to and why?
So far, Atlanta and Nashville have been some favorite places to visit just because of visiting friends and good hangs in those cities.
What opportunities do you hope your work will afford you in the next couple of years?
I hope my work will get me opportunities to go learn some of the XR tech/designing.
What got you started in designing visuals for churches? Do you design for other markets?
I started young in the church. I was about six years old, playing the drums in kid’s church and volunteering until I started to mess with production and lighting. I eventually got on staff as a Lighting Designer, and a few years later became the Lighting Director. While working as the LD, I noticed the need for custom video content and started making visuals. I’m now creating visuals that have been used for a live audience of 60,000 people in the Mercedes Benz Stadium. As of now, I’ve mainly worked within the House of Worship market but looking forward to working in new environments and different music.
What are your preferred programs to design with?
Wysiwyg by Cast Software. It is fairly simple to build 3D environments and the Pre-Viz programming creates a pretty spot on showfile.
What type of video equipment do you prefer? Brand?
For creating content: I use After Effects.
For content playback: Resolume has been solid.
LED Product: ROE
What type of lighting equipment do you prefer? Brand?
Console: GrandMA2 Spot: Robe Esprite, Robe T1, Elation Fuze
Spot, Robe Spikie
Wash: GLP JDC1, GLP FR10, Martin AuraXB
What’s been the most exciting gear and/or software that’s emerged recently? (ie. Notch, disguise, etc.)
Disguise, Unreal Engine, and XR tech is insane. I can’t wait to learn more.
How does your design & creative process typically work for your projects?
I start with looking through a Pinterest board, just looking around and scrolling. Eventually an idea or concept that I want to use comes to mind and I try to base that idea in all aspects. Like using a-lot of beam fixtures, wash fixtures, no fixtures, led, projection.
What has been your most memorable project to date?
I have done a-lot of amazing things at Victory Church with tiny budgets, but one that is memorable for me was a project in Dallas, Texas. It was held at the Winspear Opera House and it was the first design I created out-of-state. I had to build with Pre-Viz and timecode and pretty much walk-in and run the show.
What is your ultimate dream gig?
What is something you hope all people see and value in your work?
I hope people see that lighting design is not just flashing lights. Lighting and production design supports music and lyrics so that you can feel and see the music, not just hear it.