(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Roadcases, a company recently formed by lighting designer Paul Dexter and tour manager Larry McNeny to produce and distribute a history of production touring from the perspective of industry professionals, is in its early stages of development for a cable TV series.
Dexter and McNeny have teamed with Incue Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company specializing in HBO First Looks, behind the scene 'making of' specials, promos, documentaries and electronic press kits. Recent projects include the 25th Anniversary Special Edition of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s "Pumping Iron", "American Pie Revealed" and a behind the scenes look into "NYPD Blue."
Dexter, a frequent contributor to production industry magazines, wrote an article called, "Is there Life After Rock'n'Roll Touring?" and notes that after touring and going out into the real world "with rock'n'roll attitude" was a huge shock. "I need freakin' therapy now, and I've discovered that I'm not the only one," he quips.
Dexter and McNeny met on Ozzy Osbourne's "Diary of a Madman" tour in 1981-82. McNeny was the tour manager, Dexter was Osbourne's lighting designer.
In January 2004, McNeny asked Dexter if he would be interested in developing a cable TV pilot that would feature road tales told first hand, interview style, by touring road crew.
"The character and personalities of people that tour are unique", says McNeny. "We want to capture the accounts of some of the earlier tours before some these guys can't remember what happened."
Dexter adds, "The way to really make it grow and ensure that the stories include every aspect of our production history, from inception (let's say from 1968), to today, is to log on to www.roadcases.org , register your name, forward the link to someone you know in the business and ask them to register on the site, too. "This is a worldwide endeavor".
Sponsors for Roadcases are TMB, Brown United, Syncrolite and Jan-Al Cases. — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
