current
tv and the John Lautner Foundation
The
innovative new cable and satellite tv network, current, is
headed by former Vice President Al Gore and managed by young,
experienced, and enthusiastic producers. David Neuman, President
of Programming, is a Lautner fan, having lived in the Sheats
apartments when he was going to school. The experience left
an impression that he could not shake, and when presented
with the challenge of creating a completely new type of studio
for the network, he looked toward Lautner's "chemosphere".
After
many meetings with foundation board members Chris Carr, Frank
Escher, and Duncan Nicholson, the network and foundation
agreed on the terms of a contract for the use of the chemosphere
design as a studio space. In return for a yearly fee to the
foundation, the network gained the rights to use the plans
to build a studio modeled after this famous residence.
Foundation
board members felt that the design would not be compromised
by this unique use if it were re-created as an exact duplicate.
Thus Carr, Nicholson and Escher oversaw the set onstruction,
to assure that the representation was worthy of the name.
The majority of the set is constructed of authentic materials.
One exception is the floor - the original material, slate,
could not be used because it would not form a smooth surface
for camera dollies. Amazingly, the set was constructed in
just over two weeks!
Other
terms of the agreement include the mentioning of the set
and its architect on air from time to time and the foundation's
right to use the space for occasional functions when it is
not needed by the network.
The
relationship between the two entities is called a "partnership" by
current tv (see http://www.current.tv/partners/),
but it isn't a legal partnership, simply a friendly arrangement
that works for us both.
 Is
it real? Lighting of the photographic screen in the
background can be varied to simulate different times
of day.
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 Advisors
and other foundation supporters enjoy a meal overlooking
Burbank...
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But wait...it isn't Burbank.
It's a large curved screen. The photographs
used to create this screen were taken from
close to the actual chemosphere.
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 Eric
Lloyd Wright talks with Karol Lautner Peterson while
Ramone Munoz and Steve Zeitzew converse in the background.
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