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...Resume... Ralph Nielsen
E-mail: ralph@possumeggs.com
Production Design,
Coordination & Management

E-mail: ralph@possumeggs.com

 Summary   -  A creative problem solver who is concerned with the bottom line.

 Management - Solid background in planning, estimating, design, production and production installation with small & large crews, up to 350 persons. Highly skilled crew motivator. Consistently under budget.

 Production - Broad knowledge of production techniques and materials. Plastics, coatings, fire retarding and concrete are some of my specialties.

 Experience

2013-2015 – Sr. Art Director – Hershend Family Entertainment – Fire Chaser Express. Dollywood R & R 2014, Dollywood Parking Expansion, Dollywood DreamMore Resort Hardscape, Lightning Rod, Dollywood R & R 2015

2012-2013 – Project Manager Theming  - Universal Orlando – Harry Potter

2011- Field Art Director/Production Designer – Zodd/Universal – Transfomers the Ride

2009 to present - Production Lead - Technifex - various projects in work.

 2008-2009 - Design Development of Various Projects for Disney, Universal/Singapore, Jurupa Aquatic Center and others as Art Director (Scenario Design).

2008 - Field Art Director River Battle - themed water ride at Dollywood (Hershend Entertainment).

2005, 2006 & 2007 - Project Creative Director, Mystery Mine - themed rollercoaster at Dollywood (Hershend Entertainment)

2005 & 2006 - Design/Build Contractor Timberlake Exhibit at The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Cherokee, NC - self-employed, contract.

2004 & 2005 - Design/Build Contractor Gift Shop Renovation at The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Cherokee, NC - self-employed, contract.

16 years total with Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Productions & Buena Vista Construction Company(partial listing)

- Prop Boats (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Tokyo DisneySeas
- Artificial Tree and Foliage (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Tokyo DisneySeas
- Animal Kingdom, Tiger Temple, Architectural Ornamentation (Field Art Direction)
- Toon Town (Field Art Direction, Facades) at Tokyo Disneyland
- Typhoon Lagoon rehab (Design & Production) at Disney World
- Show Quality Enhancements (Design & Production) at Disney World & EPCOT
- Tower of Terror (Hardscape Design & Production) at the Disney/MGM Studio Tour
- Artificial Tree and Foliage (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Euro-Disneyland
- Honey I Shrunk The Kids (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at the Disney/MGM Studio Tour - Spectra F/x
- Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular (Hardscape Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at the Disney/MGM Studio Tour
- Roger Rabbit (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at the Disney/MGM Studio Tour
- Typhoon Lagoon (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Disney World
- Artificial Tree and Foliage (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at the Disney/MGM Studio Tour
- Star Tours (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Tujunga
- Tiki Room rehab (Field Art Direction, Rockwork) at Tokyo Disneyland
- Artificial Tree and Foliage (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Disney World - WDW Decorating
 - Artificial Tree and Foliage (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at Tokyo Disneyland
- Artificial Tree and Foliage (Design & Production) Sr. Show Production Designer at EPCOT Center
- Sub Ride Rehab (field Art Direction) at Disneyland
- 20,000 Leagues under the Sea Rehab (field Art Direction)
- Ornamental Plasterer (Model/Mold Maker) at Disney Studios
- Ornamental Plasterer (Model/Mold Maker, Production Foreman) at Disney World

 Other Theme Park,  Museum Experience and Themed Environments  -- (partial listing)

- Technoman for the Health Adventure, Asheville NC - self-employed
- The Tunnel of Blood Crawl Through Artery for the Health Adventure, Asheville NC - self-employed
- Regional Forestry Interpretive Exhibits for The North Carolina Department of Environmental & Natural Resources
                Sr. Show Production Designer Unchained Duck Studios
- Delta Expansion Project Rock Work (Field Art Direction) at The Opryland Hotel, Nashville - self-employed
- Marriott Inn Themed Restaurant (Cincinnati, OH) - self-employed
- Windjammer Themed Restaurant (Cincinnati, OH) - self-employed
- The Ocean Reef Yacht Club, an exclusive private club (themed Bar) (Key Largo, FL) - self-employed
- Museum Of Science and Planetarium (Miami, FL) staff member
          Coral Reef Habitat - Orchids of the Everglades - Florida's Poisonous Plants - Giant Ground Sloth Sculpture (full size)
          The Florida Mangrove Habitat - Fox, Possum, Raccoon & Mink Habitats - & others 

Motion Picture and Television Production Experience, Props & Practical Effects  (partial listing)

Unsolved Mysteries - Dare Devils - Bandit - Christy - Coca Cola - Wendy's - Burger King - Joy - Ivory Soap - Zest - Kentucky Fried Chicken - Kodak - Kool Aid - Subaru - Thunderball - Wells Fargo Bank  - Go For Broke - The Black Hole - Airport - Herbie Goes Bananas - The Muppet Movie - The Wiz - Raise The Titanic - Beer Drinkers In Space - Star Trek - Battlestar Gallactica - Watcher In The Woods - The Incredible Hulk - The Lone Ranger - and many others.

Blue Ridge Motion Pictures 

Studio Production Designer, Blue Ridge Motion Pictures, Asheville NC

Haywood Community College

Adjunct Professor, Film & Video Production and Technology

Skills

Creative problem solver performing best under adverse conditions. Work crew motivator. Inspiring people person with hands on experience in most scenic production trades.

Understand and use AutoCad, Illustrator, In Design, Photoshop, Final Cut, Premiere, MS Office & Planning & Scheduling.

Design and Build Scenery, Practical Effects,  Robotics, Audio/Video & Film production. Can use a wide variety of power & hand tools.

Education

Florida State University - with Graduate Level – Archaeology and Anthropology.

Misc.:  Taxidermy, Plastics Technology, Oil Painting, Mural Painting, Video Production & Sound Engineering,
Subtropical Nature, Mayan Studies. And many Business Management courses.  

Education -
Florida State University - Graduate Level - Archaeology, Anthropology & Oceanography

Misc.:  Taxidermy, Plastics Technology, Oil Painting, Mural Painting,
Video Production & Sound Engineering, Subtropical Nature, Mayan Studies.
And many Business Management courses.  

Recognition -

Biography included in:

Marquis' Who's Who
Marquis' Who's Who in Entertainment
Marquis' Who's Who in the American South and Southwest 

Have published:

Many how to articles in trade magazines for motion pictures, museums, zoos, aquariums and theme parks.

Have been included in the human-interest sections of:

The Asheville Citizens Times
The Miami Herald
The Bristol Times News
The Tomahawk
The Johnson City Press
The Mountain Times
The Boone Times
The Kingsport Times
The Gainesville Reporter
The Tallahassee Democrat 

References - On Request     mtnear@possumeggs.com

 

 

Last Modified 07/25/07