Mike Brister

Work Experience

Show Control Manager at Thinkwell Group, Los Angeles, CA May 2015 – Present Technical Manager at Thinkwell Group, Burbank, CA Sept 2011 – May 2015  Show Control design and management for the Audio, Video, Control, and Lighting Department.  Medialon, AMX, Crestron, and Alcorn-McBride programming.  Programming and installation of show control for Warner Bros. FunZone at Studio City Macau and Warner Bros. Hollywood, Stage 48.  Specializing in parkwide control systems, show control, automation, ride systems, research, and documentation.  Creation of Unity 3D-based real-time simulations (pre-visualization) of ride and attraction designs.  Technical design and management (from blue sky to detailed design drawing packages) for 50+ projects including Monkey King Theme Park, Warner Bros. Fun Zone, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Korea, Eontime World, The Making of Harry Potter, HALO Theme Park, and Jurassic Dream Theme Park.  Designed and co-designed new ride and show technologies and submitted two of them for patent.  Designed and programmed interactives and augmented reality applications in Unity 3D.  Wrote live show creative treatments for the Monkey King Theme Park, designed optical illusion artwork for two unannounced projects, and designed the ride and scene layouts for a platoon dispatch, trackless dark ride.  Worked on multiple attraction projects with trackless vehicles, platoon dispatch, and prototype ride systems.  Wrote VBA scripts to streamline document production and wrote the new CAD standards documentation.  Department Co-trainer for all new Technical employees from 2011 to 2015.

Augmented Reality Designer at 7StarSun, Los Angeles, CA Oct 2013 – Apr 2014  Designed and programmed augmented reality overlays for Adam Yasmin's art installation.  Designed and programmed augmented reality for the Wonderland Unbound interactive event at USC.

Various Roles for Living Worlds Program by WDI R&D, Glendale, CA Feb 2013 – Mar 2013  Worked on Semi-Finalist, Devin Flanigan's “Clockwork: Los Angeles” entry for Living Worlds.  Created 3D models, concept artwork, technical support, and illusions for a time-traveling ARG puzzle game played in Downtown L.A., using augmented reality, elaborate sets and special fx, ride systems, and live stunt performers.

3D Modeler and Simulation Programmer at Journey Back Into Imagination Feb 2011 – Present  Creating a Sketchup and Unity 3D-based simulation of the original E.P.C.O.T. Center Journey Into Imagination pavilion using only photos, videos, and a few blueprints for reference. This is a personal hobby and nostalgia project.

Automation Technician at Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, NV and Hollywood, CA May 2007 – Jan 2013  Automation operator and programmer for IRIS (opening team), The Beatles LOVE, and Mystère.  Automation operator for TV and film shoots: Worlds Away 3D, The Amazing Race, and American Idol.

Show Control Programmer at ShowGO FX (previously Logic Box), Las Vegas, NV Oct 2006 – Jan 2010  Designed and programmed control systems for clients including Universal Studios Singapore and Cirque du Soleil.

Music Composer at Tinderbox , Las Vegas, NV Nov 2008 – June 2009  Composed music for video game marketing and documentary.

Show Control and Special FX Crew Chief at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL Apr 1998 – Mar 2007  Led the Show Control team for Fantasmic! from 1999 to 2000 and 2002 to 2004.  Choreographed and programmed the dancing fountains for A Taste of Fantasmic!, a short show using existing show elements in case of a weather cancellation.  Led the Show Control and FX team for Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show from installation in 2004 through 2007. Coordinated installation and testing of show control, lighting, automation and pyrotechnics between WDI, Entertainment, Maintenance, Stunt Team, Birket Engineering and Show Technicians.  Wrote and illustrated safety and operations manuals for Show Control and Special FX. Created operations policies in accordance with Walt Disney World Safety regulations and pyrotechnics laws.

Show Designer for WDW's Creative Idea Forum, Lake Buena Vista, FL June 2001 – May 2006  Wrote and presented seven proposals for Walt Disney Entertainment-based attractions and live shows, including Raven's Mansion, House of Villains, The Incredibles Olympics, Mickey's Funhouse, and 's Inc.

Lighting Designer / SQS at , Lake Buena Vista, FL Oct 2000 – May 2004  Work included architectural lighting design, attraction rehabs, focus calls, documentation, show quality reviews and moving lights programming.  Wrote a moving lights class for WDW Maintenance.

Show Control Programmer at WDW Ride and Show Engineering, Lake Buena Vista, FL 1999 – May 2005  Programmed show control systems for projects including Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show, Fantasmic!, Live Show IR Captioning, Ohana, Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree and Disney Cruise Line’s 7-Day Cruise program.  Systems included AMX, Medialon, Media Matrix, WonderWare and Walt Disney Imagineering’s LCUs.

Previous Work Experience Mar 1989 – Mar 1998 Nov 1996 – Mar 1998 Moving Lights Programmer for IATSE Local #720, Las Vegas, NV June 1997 – July 1997 Lighting Programmer for Lowey & Company, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles & San Jose, CA Sept 1995 – Nov 1997 Head of Lighting and Video Projection for Debbie Reynolds Hotel, Las Vegas, NV July 1994 – Sept 1995 Puppeteer and Performer for Excalibur Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV Nov 1993 – July 1994 Puppeteer for Kaleidoscope at MGM Grand Adventures Park, Las Vegas, NV Aug 1992 – Nov 1993 Lead Technician and Relief Stage Manager at Six Flags Astroworld, Houston, TX Aug 1992 – Oct 1992 Character Performer for Hobby Airport Expansion Project, Houston, TX Apr 1992 – Aug 1992 Puppeteer and Lead Dancer for Sid & Marty Krofft Productions, Houston, TX July 1990 – May 1992 Escape Artist Act Designer for Outrajus Productions, Houston, TX Mar 1991 – Oct 1991 Live Show Manager for Splashtown USA, Spring, TX Mar 1990 – Oct 1990 Live Show Supervisor / Manager for Splashtown USA, Spring, TX Mar 1989 – Oct 1989 Puppeteer and Technician for Splashtown USA, Spring, TX

Skills, Hobbies, Interests, and Other Shiny Objects Fiction Writing, Simulation / Game Engine, Augmented Reality, 3D Modeling, Attraction Design, Music Composition, Theme Parks, Science and Science Fiction, Critters

Software Experience Unity 3D (C# and Javascript), Sketchup, Maya, Photoshop, Vuforia, Medialon, AMX, Crestron, VBA, Alcorn-McBride, eChameleon, AutoCAD, WinCC Flex, WonderWare, Walt Disney Imagineering’s MSC / LCU System

Recent Training 2014 Medialon v6 Programming 2013 Alcorn-McBride Programming, DAQRI Augmented Reality Bootcamp 2009 Medialon v5 Programming, OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Safety and Health 2003 Medialon v3 Programming