Prelite was created in February of 2000 by Tom Thompson and Norm Schwab. The idea came out of the desire to have a comfortable place to use emerging technologies to previsualize lighting prior to being in the venue. Tom had been using previs software, carrying around his system in a flightcase and setting up wherever it was convenient. He knew there was a market for a studio where designers could get away from the distractions, the interruptions, and the lack of concentration that occurs when working in a chaotic environment.
Prelite's mission is to provide a studio where previsualization and creativity can take place in an environment that is dedicated to the process of your show and your show only. You are the center of the universe. The work lights don't come on until you tell them to. The Act Curtain only comes in when you tell it to.
The idea of this calm place for creation continued when in June of 2001, Prelite opened a sister studio in New York City. Prelite NY was created by Kim Grethen and Rodd McLaughlin. Similar to Tom Thompson's experience, Rodd had also been carrying around a previs system in a suitcase to shows knowing all along that a studio was the way to truly provide this service.
Since that
time, Prelite Studios have been involved in a wide variety of projects with tremendous
success. Our clients have been able to provide significantly higher quality shows than was
previously possible due to time constraints and have shown their clients that
previsualization is not only an important tool - it's a necessary tool.