Marking a 25-year milestone since incorporating in 1994, Entertainment Design Corporation (EDC) has led an established history of ground-breaking projects over the past quarter century. To carry EDC forward into its next 25 years, EDC Chairman Jeremy Railton has announced his new leadership and creative team: Mark Dannelly as President overseeing production and operations, and Jefferson Elliot as Creative Director.
As President of EDC, Mark Dannelly brings extensive technical direction and project management experience to the design, development, production, and construction of permanent themed environments, location-based entertainment, exhibits, multi-sensory immersive experiences, theatrical productions and live shows, providing the vision and experience to plan, design, and construct massive experiences on a global scale. With nearly 20 years of experience in themed entertainment Mark has managed projects from creative through install for major theme parks and experiences including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration Nighttime Spectacular, and Universal Orlando’s The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts mapped projection show, among dozens more.
“EDC’s legacy of incredible projects and innovative thinking under Jeremy Railton’s creative vision speaks for itself. What has us all excited are the amazing projects EDC is creating that will be revealed in the coming months and years. Through partnerships with extraordinary clients and developers, our renowned team of creative professionals and producers look forward to bringing game-changing experiences to life,” says Dannelly.
Creative Director Jefferson Eliot’s career in themed entertainment includes stints at Rethink LE as Senior Creative Director and Art Director, at The Riva Group as Senior Art Director responsible for the overall design of Motiongate Dubai, and early on with Landmark Entertainment as Concept Designer/Art Director/Master Planner for theme park projects in Asia. Under his own shingle JECD he developed concepts for Universal Studios and Golden Harvest Films (HK). Prior to themed entertainment Jefferson worked in television as production designer on Shelly Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre.
Milestone projects created by EDC include master planning and attraction design for Motiongate and Bollywood Dubai theme parks, the creation of the iconic Crane Dance at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore, the design and installation of the overhead LED Fremont Street Experience (Las Vegas) that led to the creation of The Place in Beijing, production design of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremony, set design and media design for Barbara Streisand, Cher, and Nicki Minaj world tours, art direction of numerous live shows onboard Princess Cruise Lines, and much more.
EDC’s Chairman Jeremy Railton reflects, “Looking back over the past 25 years I am truly amazed and blessed at all the wonderful projects EDC has created, but one thing is for sure, we have many more spectacular experiences to bring to this world. I am so thrilled to introduce our current creative team headed by our new President Mark Dannelly and Creative Director Jefferson Eliot, and with the help of our extended team at EDC we will continue to bring joy to people around the globe.”
Railton has brought his design talents and limitless imagination to some of the most significant artists, events, and productions over the last 25 years resulting in receiving four Emmy Awards, five Thea Awards, the Themed Entertainment Association’s Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievements, and numerous other industry accolades. From his start as a Hollywood production designer, Jeremy began working the live show route and as an art director and set designer in television, winning an Emmy for the eclectic world of Pee Wee’s Playhouse to art directing the Academy Awards.
In Jeremy’s spare time you can find him at his retreat in the Sierra’s creating and building, by hand, The Three Rivers Nature Lodge, a California nature experience five miles from the gates of Sequoia National Park, home to the world’s largest living thing – the General Sherman Sequoia tree. “I’m having the time of my life applying all that I have learned over my career to develop and enhance 60-acres of beautiful and pristine California, to be used for private meetings and celebrations surrounded by untouched nature. I hope you will all join me here soon,” remarks Jeremy Railton.
