Hello! My name is Kelley and I’m a master electrician. More specifically, the master electrician for Fringe Central. Originally from Florida (no, not Disney World. North Florida), I’ve spent the better half of my life traveling around the US doing lighting for theatre, opera, dance, television, concerts, and events.

Two months after I moved to LA, I was hired to be the Fringe Central ME for HFF15 and nothing blew up, so they keep hiring me. Most of my work is done before Fringe officially opens but during the festival I can be found at Fringe Central making sure everything turns on, assisting with Cabaret, and telling people no, they can’t plug in all their various devices. I’m thrilled to be working on my third season of Fringe and can’t wait for another awesome summer of theatre.

That’s pretty much it. I’m a stagehand, I hate talking about myself.

I’ve worn many hats for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Bartender, Bar Manager, Food and Beverage Director, Front of House Director, FringeTV Host, FringeTV Producer, but most importantly, I carry Ice. I’ve carried ice every year. Also kegs or cases. I’ve carried them. Sold them. Probably to you, reader. 

Who are you?

Hi, I’m Matt Kamimura. You may remember me from such Hollywood Fringe parties as Step and Repeat: The Musical and Prom 4: The Revengening.

I’ve been a photographer practically my entire life. My first grade photos were Polaroids of my friends and of my toys. So many things have changed since then!

Now I have a digital camera to take pictures of my #fringeships and I’m the event photographer at Funko. Ok, so maybe the more things change the more things stay the same.

Haha!

How did you get involved with Fringe?

The first time I was involved with Hollywood Fringe was way back in the way back and since I’m already in my WABAC, let’s queue flashback:

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It was a dark and stormy night.

the record skips and scratches to a stop

Wait…

Actually, it was a bright and sunny #HFF15 day. I had just completed being a volunteer nerf herder at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim and was on my way to buy tickets to my friend’s #HFF15 performance. I saw the volunteer tab on the Hollywood Fringe website and the rest is HFF history; we liked each other so much that neither of us wanted to let go.

What do you do with the Hollywood Fringe Festival?

I am the terror that flaps in the night. I am the flash of light that leaves those little spots in your eyes. I am the STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER!

What are your plans as staff photographer?

The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world!

Any challenges that you expect to face?

Sleep, the final frontier. These are the dreams of the Fringe photographer Matt Kamimura. His five-week mission: to explore strange new performances, to seek out new #fringeships and new tacos, to boldly nap where no photographer has napped before.

Really?

Really. Today, I took a nap under a tree before a photo session with some Fringers.

Anything Else?

Fourscore and seven minutes ago, your photographer was brought forth upon a most excellent adventure conceived by our new friends at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. These great Fringers are dedicated to a proposition which was true in my time, just as it’s true today.

Be excellent to each other.

And… PARTY ON, DUDES!!

Veteran Fringers Brandon Baruch and Corwin Evans presented Workshop IV: How to Tech Your Fringe Show on Monday, May 15, at Sacred Fools Theatre.

Brandon and Corwin have put a folder of resources online for #hff17 participants to use and it has a LOT of really useful information. View it all here.

We are excited to announce this year’s lineup of Sponsored Awards to be presented at the Fringe Awards Ceremony at The Ricardo Montalbán Theater on the final day of the festival. Thanks to all the organizations partnering with us to present these special awards! 

Sponsored Awards are presented by outside organizations to commend like-minded artists. You can see this year’s list here. Make sure you check each award’s submission requirements before contacting the award sponsor for consideration.

The other awards we hand out at the Award Ceremony are the Community Awards (lovingly known as “The Freaks”). These awards are given out to the best shows in each category (“Best in Ensemble Theatre”, “Best in Comedy”, etc.) as voted by the Fringe community. Additionally, “Freaks” are presented for top International show, best world premiere (the “Fringe First” award) and the highest award: an overall winner crowned “Top of the Fringe”. Fringe community members, including participants, who see shows & leave reviews on hollywoodfringe.org will receive ballots during the last days of the festival via email.