Daniel Flannery

A major creative force in entertainment industry, Daniel Flannery has created award-winning visual, aural, theatrical and media productions around the world. He is celebrated as a visionary and pioneer of emerging entertainment technologies and a master storyteller. A career in which he began as a scenographer, his ability to translate words and music into compelling, iconic visual images, has been the hallmark of his creations. His involvement begins with a project's initial creative conceptualization and extends through completion. A Daniel Flannery production exemplifies an authentic cohesive vision deeply integrated into concept, design, and direction, creating an immersive and emotional experience for the audience. Flannery is engaged in creating and developing original content for live productions, new media, film and television, location based entertainment, world expo attractions and major world events. He is always exploring creative means to produce immersive and interactive entertainment experiences often resulting in new and evolving technologies. Flannery is Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Micoy Entertainment a Los Angeles based company with technology and patents to deliver Volumetric 3D Stereoscopic content in spherical environments. Flannery directed 'Majid and the Secret of Life', the first-ever film with this revolutionary technology for the Kahramaa Awareness Park in Doha Qatar. In 2013 Flannery produced and directed 'Illusions', a live stage spectacular presented nightly at the Grand Theatre in Changzhou China. This production showcased over 100 performers from around the world on a stage with grand spectacle and the largest theatre LED installation in the world. 3D Stereoscopic imagery and grand opera style scenography produced an epic immersive experience. For O.C.T. Flannery produced 'E' (Elements) a live stage spectacular presented nightly at the Huaxia Cultural Arts Theatre in Shenzhen China. This was the first theatrical production commissioned by the Chinese government to be created by foreigners in China. In 2005 he teamed up with Oscar Winner, Eugenio Zanetti to produce 'Movistar Magica', a major theatrical spectacle sponsored by Telefonica with a cast of over 500 and a stage larger than a football field. This popular show toured Colombia, South America and played to sold-out venues. In event entertainment, Flannery worked directly with David Wolper to conceive and direct the 'Closing Ceremonies of the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics'. He was also the creative vision behind the 'Super Bowl XX' half-time show at the New Orleans Superdome, and 'Mardi Gras in the Superdome'. A pioneer in the creation of water based attractions, Flannery produced 'Water Fantasium' for the Dairinkai Pavilion at the Osaka 1990 World's Fair, which was voted the Fair's leading attraction. For the 1993 World's Fair in Taejon, Korea, Flannery created and produced the popular 'Fantastic Odyssey', which became a permanent attraction for more than 20 years at Lotte World in Seoul. Flannery was a designer on 'Aquacade', the most popular attraction at the New Orleans World's Fair in 1984 where he also served as design consultant to the site architects. In 1995, Daniel Flannery created a show for Geopolis at the Tokyo Dome, 'Cosmic Symphony' and which operated daily for 12 years. From 1980-1982 Flannery collaborated with two-time Oscar winner John Truscott to consult on the design of the Victorian Art Centre (Now the Melbourne Art Centre). The centre houses and opera house, concert hall, studio stages, galleries and restaurants. Flannery's partnership with Truscott continued with the Brisbane World Expo. Truscott served as Artistic Director to the expo and Flannery as producer and designer for attractions and the site-scape. In the themed entertainment industry Daniel Flannery has an extensive history of developing intellectual property for the major studios. For Universal Studios Flannery served as conceptualist, scenographer and lighting designer on many attractions including 'E.T.', 'Back to the Future', 'King Kong' and 'Conan'. He created the original 'Nighttime Lagoon Spectacular' under the artistic direction of Steven Spielberg. He was also the principal lighting designer for the entire architectural and site-scape of both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. For Warner Bros. he conceived a nighttime lagoon show with a symphony of classic animated characters. And Flannery served as scenographic consultant to Disney's Imagineering for 'American Adventure' and 'Kitchen Kabaret' at E.P.C.O.T. As the Director of Photography for the popular television series, 'Roseanne', Flannery revolutionized sitcom lighting design and received four Emmy nominations. For feature films, Flannery served as Theatrical Lighting Design consultant to Bob Zemeckis and Peter Bogdanovich on several projects including 'Forrest Gump', 'Death Becomes Her' and 'Noises Off'. In 1977, Flannery conceived, designed and directed the 'Original Star Wars Concert', a spectacular "Visual Symphony" at the Hollywood Bowl. This was the first event of its kind, creating a genre of entertainment that continues today. He conceived, directed and produced with Erich Kunzel 'Symphantasy I' and 'Symphantasy II', a nationally televised extravaganza with the Cincinnati Pops and a host of national celebrities, including George Clooney and Kelsey Grammer. Flannery designed the lighting for many productions on and off-Broadway, including original plays presented by the Chelsea Theatre Company. After relocating to Los Angeles in the late 1970s the challenges Flannery began designing and directing popular entertainment such as the 'Sonny and Cher Concert' tours and a special project for the king, 'Elvis Forever', a stage production show in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Born and raised in New York, Flannery is a graduate of the prestigious designers program at Lester Polakov's Studio and Forum of Stage Design. He also studied directing at the renowned HB Studio and filmmaking with Scott Bartlett at Columbia University in New York City. Committed to the importance of education and professional mentor-ship, Flannery has lectured and taught classes at (USC) University of Southern California, (UCLA) University of California Los Angeles, Art Center College of Design and State University of New York in Albany. Today Mr. Flannery is a Professor in Theater & Dance at the (UCSB) University of California Santa Barbara. He has been a member of countless guilds, unions and trade organizations, including Producer's Guild of America (PGA), International Cinematographers Guild IATSE Local 600, Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers SMPTE, United States Institute of Theatre Technology USITT, Themed Entertainment Association TEA and International Entertainment Buyers Association IEBA. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Motion Picture and Television Fund for the Golden Boot Awards, honoring those in entertainment who have made significant contributions to the genre of the Western.