This Is My Job: Laserist

George Dodworth's company, Lightwave International, is one of the biggest laser-providers for movies and concerts. He tells PM what it's like to shoot lasers for a living.

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George Dodworth

Canonsburg, PA.

Age: 37

Years on Job: 16

The first time George Dodworth saw a laser light show, he was mesmerized. The 11-year-old decided right then to create his own. Twenty-six years later, Dodworth's company, Lightwave International, is one of the biggest laser-entertainment providers in the world. He has fashioned special effects for Hollywood movies, designed light shows for Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Madonna, and projected Nike's logo onto a mountain for the Fiesta Bowl. As an electrical engineer, Dodworth is involved in every aspect of his craft, from building the equipment to devising new ways to control the beams. The hours can be grueling, but the lifestyle glamorous. "You meet the biggest stars, directors, and lighting designers," he says. "But we just go in humble and do our jobs."

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1. Lasers

Inside a laser projector, a variety of lenses, beam splitters, and electronics controls the beam of light. By mixing high-efficiency solid-state diode lasers in six colors—blue, cyan, gold, green, red, and violet—Dodworth can create 2.8 trillion­ color variations. Electrical signals control tiny mirrors inside the projector that move at 60,000 times per second, allowing Dodworth to "draw" animations.

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2. Goggles

A rogue beam can harm eyes, so Dodworth dons goggles coated with metal oxides that reflect the bandwidth of light used by lasers. At shows, beams are typically required to be 10 feet above the audience. But by using equipment that keeps power low, moves beams quickly, and limits pulses in a given time period, Dodworth can safely direct effects into a crowd. "Don't try this at home," he says.

3. Computer

Dodworth uses special laser software to create his effects. Customized hardware on the computer converts his digital code into analog signals that manage the color of each beam and its movement.

4. Mirrors

On show day, Dodworth installs and aligns lasers, as well as 4- to 12-inch silver-coated mirrors that direct beams. He rotates each mirror into position with fine-pitch screws—100 turns per inch—as he guides the source beam remotely with an iPad app.

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