Jesus Solis on the art and science of AV
There's an internal rhythm to every creative endeavor, from crafting a story to creating an immersive experience. And the moment you find that rhythm, the work takes on a life of its own — a force invisible to any outsider who's yet to hear its breathing.
Jesus Solis is the founder of Theme Park AV, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based AV integrator that serves clients worldwide, and modestly refers to himself as an Audiovisual & Show Control Engineer. But that's a definition, not a description. Jesus is an engineer with a remarkable ability to spot and exploit the storytelling rhythms that make immersive experiences resonate with audiences. Perhaps it's because of a bachelor’s degree in Music Production and Engineering combined with a career that began as an Entertainment Stage Technician at Walt Disney World — whatever he has, it works.
Jesus and Efren Molina, AV design and show control engineer, rig a Christie Jazz Series projector.
Why early collaboration matters
And as Jesus explains, the earlier his team is involved, the better it works.
"I don’t believe there’s such a thing as being involved too early. The earlier we can collaborate, the stronger the final outcome. While we’re always glad to join a project at any stage, being part of it from the beginning gives us the best opportunity to help bring our client’s vision to life." And Jesus says that's true for creative and technical reasons. "Technically, we have the experience to know what the project needs, but from an operational and creative standpoint, the earlier we get involved, the sooner we can anticipate what might be needed down the road." In other words, Theme Park AV helps guide clients toward the best creative and technical solutions while steering them away from potential challenges that could limit their vision later on.
The belief that a change of plan shouldn't have to mean a change of equipment has often led to Jesus' specifying Christie solutions because, he says, Christie designs their products to be flexible and resilient from the start. He also says it’s why Theme Park AV's latest projects have made use of the new Jazz Series and Griffyn® Series projectors "These projectors have a long-lasting quality unlike anything else. The equipment is really easy to work with, which helps make the integration process faster. And our clients were really happy to know we chose Christie as our technology partner for their project."
Blending art, science, and emotion in AV
Removing barriers to creativity is a recurring topic in any conversation with Jesus, and he says it's always been the aim of Theme Park AV to make technology and techniques widely available. "One of our goals was to build a company that delivers technology that enhances storytelling while staying mindful of budget. Yes, we work with some of the largest clients and theme parks in the world, but we bring the same level of care and quality to smaller projects, too. We believe quality shouldn’t cost extra — it’s one of our core principles."
It's an approach that's certainly been paying off, with much of the company's business coming through recommendations and word of mouth. Recent projects include museums, science centers, and restaurants alongside work for a couple of properly famous brands who aren't ready to say anything just quite yet. And it's meant that the rather specialist skills of Jesus's partner and Theme Park AV co-owner, Holly, are increasingly in demand.
Theme Park AV recently installed Griffyn Series and Jazz Series projectors in a 1,200-seat immersive auditorium for a client in Branson, Missouri.
A fellow graduate of Berklee College of Music, Holly has many years of experience as a Board-Certified Music Therapist. This gives her a clinician's understanding of how music influences well-being, communication, and emotions. Clearly, such skills have an immediate application in the immersive world of themed entertainment — as Jesus is keen to point out. "At the end of the day, everything we do is about creating inspiring experiences for people. We want guests to walk into a space, leave the outside world behind, and step into an environment that’s been intentionally designed to engage their senses. Holly has an incredible ability to shape sound and music in ways that connect emotionally, turning audio into a storytelling tool that moves people. With her insight, we bring together art, science, and emotion to create experiences that truly resonate."
Theme Park AV is most certainly a company to watch; they have the kind of track record and unexpected combination of specialist skills that will make them a trusted partner to many. But more than that, they have a truly inventive attitude to the business of ProAV, bringing their skills and abilities to companies of all sizes.
