HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD Amphitheater Documentary Project CITY OF PALM DESERT
I min DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
_'° 5 :
STAFF REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Jeff Winklepleck, Parks and Recreation Planning Manager
Date: September 27, 2001
Subject: Consideration of proposal from Fun+Mental Media for the Palm Desert
Amphitheater Documentary Project
Recommendation
A. That the City Council endorse the concept of a documentary of the
Civic Center Amphitheater remodel; and
B. That the City Council direct staff to continue working with the
appropriate committees to develop a project description and scope of
work for the preparation of a documentary; and
C. That the City Council direct staff to proceed with an RFQ for the
documentary after an acceptable scope of work is defined.
II. Executive Summary/ Discussion:
The Amphitheater subcommittee (Councilmember Benson, Councilmember
Spiegel) met with Fun+mental Media, Interactive Design Group, and staff to
discuss the concept of producing a one-hour documentary of the Civic
Center Amphitheater remodel with a possibility of airing the piece on PBS,
the Discovery Channel or the Learning Channel. The subcommittee
recommended that Fun+mental Media prepare a proposal and present the
concept to a joint meeting of the Art in Public Places Committee, Civic Arts
Committee, and the Promotions Committee.
On Tuesday, September 18, 2001,the concept and proposal was presented
to the committees for endorsement.The proposal is to complete a 6-8 minute
C:\amphitheaterdocumentary.wpd
Staff Report
Amphitheater Documentary Proposal
September 27, 2001
video preview and a one-hour documentary for a total cost of $272, 800.
The first phase of the proposal includes an expenditure of$40,920 for filming
the remainder of the design development phase of the Amphitheater
remodel.After review,the committees adjourned to their respective meetings
to discuss and make a recommendation. None of the committees supported
the proposal as presented especially since the Amphitheater remodel has
not been approved for construction.
Staff recommends that the City Council endorse the concept of the
documentary for the Amphitheater remodel, direct staff to work with the
appropriate committees to develop a project description and scope of work
for the documentary. Fun+mental Media is not a sole source provider,
therefore the City is required to go through a qualifications based selection
process prior to selecting a firm. In order to meet this requirement, the
request includes that staff be directed to proceed with an RFQ after an
acceptable scope of work has been defined.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Concur:
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JEFF I LEPLECK (CHARD.J/FOLKERS, P.E.
PARKS & RECREATION ACM FOR DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING MANAGER SERVICES
Reviewed and Concur: Reviewed and Concur:
HIL DRELL CARLOS ORTEGA
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CITY MANAGER .f..f- � P.' ux.+_"�-�
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
By Minute Motion: 1) Requested APPROVED DENIED
staff look at program that would RECEIVED OTHER ��
document important Palm Desert
milestones and return to the MEETIKI DATE -.. Z
Council with same; 2) rejected AYES: 1 %ud1/ %il ��mops; f >
the proposal from Fun+Mental. NOES: , Zvi-Avr J) , I
ABSENT: V A Ali J
ABSTAIN: /
VERIFIED BY: 6_42' ,J( A,d)
Original on File with Cy erk's Office
;-. CITY OF PALM DESERT
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ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/COMMUNITY SERVICES
,fa/_ INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
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To: Jeff Winklepleck, Park and Recreation Manager
From: Sheila R. Gilligan, Assistant City Manager for Community Services
Date: September 19, 2001
Subject: Recommendation From The Promotion Committee Relative To Amphitheater
Documentary
The Promotion Committee attended the presentation on the making of a documentary on the proposed
new Amphitheater. While each expressed strong support of the innovation of this project and the City's
foresight to move forward on something this unique in design, it looked at the making of the
documentary from a marketing point of view. The Committee voted unanimously against the City's
spending $272,800 for this project in that it is not a marketing project and will not produce any
significant marketing benefit.
However, the Committee held considerable discussion relative to the importance of documenting all
City projects for historical record if nothing else. To this end, it voted unanimously to recommend to the
City Council that a program be developed to do just that. Councilwoman Benson pointed out to the
Committee that the Amphitheater is one of many projects coming down the road; i.e. the Conference
Center, Fred Waring Drive, a new housing project, and even perhaps the City today versus what it
might become in the future as a result of the General Plan.
The Promotion Committee does budget and provide for a videographer at all special events so that
there is documentation of these activities; this type of footage is easilyused again in advertisingand
9
promotion efforts.
I am sure you will be hearing from the Civic Arts Committee and the Art In Public Places Committee. I
recognize that this needs to go forward to the City Council for final decision and wanted to make sure
that the Promotion Committee's thoughts and comments were included in your report. Minutes of the
meeting will be available within the next two weeks.
•rPI et me�lcnow I Q %require further information.
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HEILA R. GILLIG 1
Assistant City Manager for O munity Services
SRG:kr
CITY OF PALM DESERT
CIVIC ARTS COMMITTEE
ADJOURNED MEETING PRELIMINARY MINUTES
September 18, 2001
Council Chamber Conference Room
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Maureen Thompson called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present
Maureen Thompson, Chair
Jeanette Lucas, Vice Chair
Mel Benjamin
Evelyn Bennett
Donna Jean Darby
Dianne Funk
Sloane Halloran-Lewis
Paul Magloff
Janet Muller
Peggy Steen
Absent
Michael Barnard
Norma Bussing
Staff
Senior Management Analyst Patricia Scully
Community Arts Manager Carolyn Miller
Public Art Technician Catherine Walker
CIVIC ARTS COMMITTEE
ADJOURNED MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2001
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PAGE 2
* *********************** *************************************
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. CONSIDERATION OF CULTURAL VALUE OF PRODUCTION OF
AMPHITHEATER REDESIGN DOCUMENTARY
Upon a motion by Member Paul Magloff, second by Member Janet
Muller, by unanimous vote the Committee recommends to the City
Council that it decline to authorize an expenditure of $272,800 of City
funds to produce a documentary memorializing the design and
construction of the amphitheater remodel as the cost is not justified in
terms of cultural value to the City.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Thompson adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
fi
A RICIA SCULLY
Senior Management Analyst
• *14
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THE PALM DESERT AMPHITHEATER
DOCUMENTARY PROJECT
Proposal submitted by
Rob Mikuriya
Executive Producer
Fun+mental Media
626 . 793 . 8579 (o)
626 . 806 . 6855 (c)
rob@funandmental . com
September 18 , 2001
THE PALM DESERT AMPHITHEATER DOCUMENTARY PROJECT
Proposal Presented to The City of Palm Desert
by
Rob Mikuriya
Executive Producer
Fun+mental Media
Sep 18 , 2001
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Production of a one-hour broadcast-quality documentary about the
Palm Desert Amphitheater renovation project and one 6-8 minute
video preview of the project .
PROJECT DURATION
Approximately 1 . 5 years divided into two phases .
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Palm Desert Amphitheater renovation is a truly unique and
exciting endeavor that affords an excellent opportunity to produce
an engaging and dramatic television program that documents the
project from concept through first performance.
The story is compelling because :
• The amphitheater design is one-of-a-kind and historical .
• The participants are engaging and charismatic .
• The process of designing and constructing the amphitheater is
fascinating and informative .
• The City of Palm Desert is a unique community that has a
special connection to the arts .
The documentary will explore the process by which something grows
from an idea into a fully functioning reality . We will answer the
question : What does it take to make something like this happen?
Our story will unfold through the words and images of the people
involved . This connection with the human aspect will help create
an emotional bond to the story and the project itself .
Palm Desert Amphitheater Documentary 2
We will take the viewer behind-the-scenes of the process and
inside the thoughts and actions of the key people involved . Along
the waywe will discover the answers to manyquestions : What
does
an architect do? What does a city planner do? What about a
structural engineer , a plasma steel cutter , an electrical
contractor , etc . ? What role does the city government play in the
process?
The story will be told from three viewpoints :
• The Creative Story : The inspiration , the role of the
architects , the design development process , the needs and
purpose of the city .
• The Nuts and Bolts Story : How the vision becomes a reality ;
the challenges of structural engineering , Dimic Sheet Metal ,
Shade Concepts , etc .
• The Story of a City : The City of Palm Desert and its
dedication to bringing the arts to the public , the vision and
guidance of the City Council and other city managers , the
benefits to and response of the residents of Palm Desert .
Production will involve the taping of interviews and supporting
footage with key personnel at Interactive Design Corporation(IDC) ,
as well as key individuals with the City of Palm Desert , Dimic
Sheet Metal , Grayner Engineering, Shade Concepts , etc . These
interviews will be combined with video footage capturing all
aspects of the design , planning, fabrication , construction and
implementation phases . We will also incorporate images of project
models , drawings , site plans and blueprints .
Major focus will also be placed on the City of Palm Desert : its
history , its people , and its special connection to the arts .
Throughout the documentary the tree design itself will serve as a
constant and eloquent metaphor for the process . Some key
descriptive words that will guide our thinking as the project
progresses are : roots, growth, progress, evolution, unfolding,
vitality, beauty, shelter, protection, nurturing.
Palm Desert Amphitheater Documentary 3
PRODUCTION STYLE
The style of the documentary will be fast-paced with an emphasis
on visually engaging content . A picture is still worth a thousand
words , so we will constantly strive to communicate to our audience
in a strong visual way .
We will also endeavor to capture the real situations that occur
during the project , complete with the drama created by conflict
and resolution . . . problems and solutions . . . failure and success .
Therefore , we will try to shoot as much of the actual day-to-day
activities as possible . This is the " real stuff" that will make
the program compelling.
Professional narration may be used to help bridge story elements
and provide clear and succinct exposition when necessary.
However , it is our goal to keep narration to a minimum and mainly
use the voices of the people involved to tell the story .
An original music score will be composed and produced specifically
for the program . It will be utilized to heighten dramatic moments
and propel the story forward .
The documentary will be divided into three parts based on the
classic three-act drama . The first act introduces the people
involved and sets up a challenge for them to overcome - design ,
construct and implement a new amphitheater with a daring new
design. The second act involves our "heroes" as they encounter
obstacles and solve problems in their efforts to meet the
challenge . The third act finds them successfully accomplishing
their goal and savoring the rewards of their endeavor .
Total running time for the program will be 52-58 minutes depending
on eventual broadcast requirements .
Palm Desert Amphitheater Documentary 4
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
The production of the documentary will be conducted in two phases :
PHASE t of the project will document the design development work
being done by IDC , Grayner Engineering , Dimic Sheet Metal and
Shade Concepts . We will also shoot interviews with key
individuals with the City of Palm Desert and demonstrate how the
new amphitheater fits into the city ' s current art and cultural
programs .
At the end of Phase 1 , we will deliver a 6-8 minute video preview
of the project that will unveil the plans for the new
amphitheater , give the viewer an early look into the process
involved , and introduce all the key individuals and companies
participating. This exciting and fast-paced preview will serve to
engage the public ' s interest and create tremendous awareness and
anticipation in the project while it ' s still in the early stages
of development .
PHASE 2 will continue to document the project at key stages until
fabrication and construction begins in September 2002 . At this
point we will begin a more rigorous shooting schedule and also
begin time-lapse photography of the construction site .
Production will continue until the first major performance at the
new venue (Apr 2003) , which we will capture on tape . Editing of
the one hour documentary will begin near the end of the
construction period and continue , with predetermined approval
points , until the final broadcast version is approved and
mastered .
A more complete schedule will be determined as the project
progresses and more detailed information is available.
Palm Desert Amphitheater Documentary 5
BROADCAST DISTRIBUTION
There is a strong likelihood that this documentary could be
licensed for broadcast on a major network such as PBS , The
Discovery Channel , The Learning Channel or The Travel Channel . The
producer is committed to helping secure suitable broadcast
distribution for the completed documentary .
While it is difficult to predict the eventual outcome of a
documentary such as this , it is the goal of the producer to make a
compelling and informative program that will engage public
interest on a national and international level .
The documentary could also be shown at public gatherings and
duplicated (VHS or DVD) and marketed to interested groups and
individuals .
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES
The expanding world of digital communications has created a
multitude of options for the distribution and outreach efforts of
programs such as this . Here are some additional ways in which the
program' s material could be utilized :
• Edited versions for use in news releases and electronic press
kits . These short video segments could also be streamed over
the internet on the city ' s website .
• Weekly or biweekly progress reports with stills and short
video segments could also be produced for use on the city ' s
website.
• An interactive website created specifically for the
amphitheater renovation project and later the new amphitheater
itself . A user would be able to access information in the
form of text , graphics , stills and video about any aspect of
the project that is of interest . For instance , they
could
find out more about the fabrication of the steel support
beams , or how the architects came up with the design concept ,
or how the city plans to utilize the venue .
Palm Desert Amphitheater Documentary 6
• Interactive CD- ROMs or DVD-ROMs could be produced and marketed
to schools , teachers and other interested parties . These
would include the documentary in its entirety , plus additional
footage that was not part of the original program. Here a
student could find out more about a specific element of the
story that wasn ' t contained in the final program, i . e. more
extensive interviews with the architects , structural engineer ,
city planner , etc . All of these elements could be tied to
curriculum with study plans , activities and teacher guides .
Fun+mental Media can be retained to consult on or produce any of
these options for an additional fee .
COST AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The cost for this production is S272 . 800 , payable as follows :
• 15% upon signing of contract
• 15% upon City of Palm Desert approval of Amphitheater Project
in December 2001 .
• 20% upon completion of Phase 1 (including delivery of the
completed preview video) and start of Phase 2 .
• 30% upon start of fabrication/construction in Sep 2002
• 10% upon approval of the offline edit
• 10% upon delivery of final edited master
This price includes :
All Production Management and Creative Fees including:
Executive Producer fee
Director and Writer fees
All Production Costs including:
• Camera and sound crew for 45-50 shooting days over 1 . 5 years
• All rental costs for camera , sound and lighting equipment
• Specialized time-lapse photography services during
construction
• All videotape raw stock and other expendable items
• All travel , meals and lodging for crew
Palm Desert Amphitheater Documentary 7
All Post-Production Costs including:
• All costs and fees associated with the editing of a 6-8 minute
preview video and a one-hour broadcast quality documentary .
This amounts to a total editing time of 15 weeks .
• Organization , logging, transcribing and storage of over 50
hours of video production footage .
• Editing facility and equipment rental
• Motion-control camera services for stills , blueprints and
other flat art
• Design and production of graphics and titles
• Videotape Mastering to Digital Betacam format
• Composition and production of an original music score
• Audio Mixing/Sweetening
• Delivery of final video master with dubs in VHS and other
formats to be determined by client .
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The video will be shot primarily on Betacam SP , with additional
shooting on DVC format cameras .
The final video will be mastered on Digital Betacam and the audio
digitally mixed in stereo at CCI Digital in Burbank , CA .
Submitted on September 18, 2001
by
Rob Mikuriya
Executive Producer
Fun+mental Media
475 N . Daisy Avenue
Pasadena , CA 91107
626 . 793 . 8579 (o)
626. 806. 6855 (c)
rob@funandmental . com
2002
ID 0 Task Name Jul I Aug I Sep I Oct I Nov I Dec Jan I Feb I Mar I Apr I May I Jun I Jul
1 ',PHASE I PHASE I
2 C Design Development Design Development
3 E Documentary Approval 10/4
$40,920(15%) • Documentary Approval
4 C City Council Final Approval 12/6
$40,920(15%) • City Council Approval
_ I
5 E Construction Documents Constrution Documents
6 8-min. Promo Video Complete 4/1
$54,560(20%) ♦ Promo Video
7 PHASE II
8 t Bid Bid
V
9 C Fabrication/Construction
10 cE First Performance
11 C Post Production
12 E Off-line Edit Approval
13 Final Master Video
Task Summary Rolled Up Progress
Split Rolled Up Task L External Tasks �u
Project:Documentary Proposal Schec L
Date:Mon 9/17/01 Progress 11111.11111MININNINIM Rolled Up Split Project Summary
Milestone ♦ Rolled Up Milestone
Page 1
2003
ID 0 Task Name Aug I Sep I Oct I Nov I Dec Jan I Feb I Mar I Apr I May I Jun I Jul I Aug I Sep
1 %i,PHASEI
2 Ea Design Development
3 M Documentary Approval
4 E City Council Final Approval
5 aL"j', Construction Documents
6 8-min.Promo Video Complete
7 !PHASE II PHASE II
8 C Bid
9C Fabrication/Construction Fabrication/Construction
$81,840(30%)
10 C First Performance 4/7
e.ening Performance
11 Post Production Post Production
12 E Off-line Edit Approval 6/2
$27,280(10%) • Edit Approval
13 Final Master Video 8/
$27,280(10%) • Final Video
Task L Summary Rolled Up Progress
Project:Documentary Proposal Schec Split �.....M Rolled Up Task External Tasks ;y
Date:Mon 9/17/01 Progress Rolled Up Split Project Summary 91111111.1111.1111.11.
Milestone ♦ Rolled Up Milestone O
Page 2
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•
ROB MIKURIYA
Producer/Director/Writer
ROB MIKURIYA
ROB MIKURIYA is a talented and multifaceted producer ,
director and writer .
He is the creator of two of the most popular series in
PBS Video history , The Eddie Files and Futures with
Jaime Escalante. Both were awarded the George Foster
Peabody Award , broadcasting ' s highest honor .
He was the producer , director and writer of two highly
acclaimed , award-winning primetime specials , Math. . . Who
Needs It?! and Living and Working in Space, both of
which aired on PBS .
He also stands on the leading edge of interactive
television as the Executive Producer of The Eddie Files
New Media Project, a groundbreaking digital prototype
based on the popular series .
Rob ' s new media projects have been presented at many
events including: NAB (2000) , Digital Coast 2000 , eTV
World (2000) , Iowa Public TV ' s DTV Symposium (2000) ,
QuickTime Live (2000) , PBS Interactive TV Workshop
(2001) and TVision (2001) .
Recently , Rob produced and directed Catch The Wind, a
gripping look at a team of engineers and technicians at
the Jet Propulsion Laboratory struggling , over the
course of a year , to design , build and launch a
technically challenging weather satellite .
Rob recently left his position as Senior Producer and
Head of Media Production at The Futures Channel (a
digital video/content company) to start his own company
called Fun+mental Media (pronounced "fun and mental") .
Fun+mental Media ' s purpose is to utilize the emotional
power of television and the interactive power of the
Internet to create original programming that is both
entertaining and educational .
The company currently has several programs in
development for traditional broadcast , as well as
interactive projects for digital television and
broadband distribution .
Mikuriya 2
Rob has received numerous awards for his productions and
is a two-time recipient of the George Foster Peabody
Award , the most distinguished honor in American
broadcasting.
Other Awards and Honors include :
The Parents ' Choice Gold Award
The Chris Award (3) - Columbus Film Festival
The Crystal Award (2)
Gold Plaque - Chicago International Film Festival
Gold Medal (2) - Worldfest
Gold Special Jury Award - Worldfest
Gold Cindy (6) - Association of Visual Communicators
The ACT Award - Action for Children ' s Television
The Environmental Media Award
The Robert Townsend Social Issues Award
Blue Ribbon Award (4) - American Film and Video Festival
The Gold Camera (3) - U . S . International Film Festival
The Gold Apple (4)
Silver Medal (2) - New York Film Festival
Gold Plaque - Intercom
The School Television Hall of Fame
CINE Golden Eagle (10)
And over 50 others .
Rob has also written and directed numerous award-winning
corporate image films for clients such as Nissan , Mazda ,
Yamaha Motorcycles , Mattel Toys , Pioneer Electronics ,
Golf Digest Magazine , The City of Los Angeles , The
Japanese-American Cultural Center and many more .
Rob holds a BA in Biology from the University of
California at San Diego (UCSD) and a BFA in film from
Art Center College of Design .
He resides in Pasadena , California with his wife Tracy
and their four children .
Contact at :
626 . 793 . 8579 (o)
626 . 806 . 6855 (c)
rob@funandmental . com