ISU alum collects his first Emmy

Feb. 7—When Andrew Law won an Emmy Award for outstanding lighting design/lighting direction for his work on "Dancing With The Stars — Semi-Finals," he texted his mentor, Indiana State University theater professor Michael Jackson, a message of solidarity — "We won."

"Finding out I had won an Emmy was simply incredible," Law said via email. "It felt like the years of hard work and commitment had paid off, being recognized by one of the most prestigious industry bodies. ... It made me think about all the people that have played pivotal roles in getting me to where I am today."

Law, an ISU alumnus, included a photo of himself clutching his Emmy trophy at the Jan. 7 ceremony in his text to Jackson, who says it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

"Andrew is one of the most likeable people I have ever met," Jackson said. "The majority of success in the entertainment industry is being easy to work with, someone that other people like to have on set. And showing up on time. Andrew is dependable, and a fun person to have around, and a tenacious hard worker. He's done the work and taken the risks."

Law said that on the morning of the ceremony he found out that he was the only member of the lighting team attending the ceremony, so he'd have to take the stage alone if he won.

"Fast forward to that evening and there I am making what felt like the longest walk up to the stage to collect the statuette," he said. "In the moment, all I could think about was making sure I didn't forget anyone's name in the acceptance speech. It's safe to say I was terrified, but after a couple of seconds on stage I spotted RuPaul — seated in the audience clapping and cheering me on which immediately put me at ease."

Law has also worked on several seasons of "RuPaul's Drag Race," a job he enjoyed immensely.

"Working on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' stands out as being the most fun," he said. "From the queens, to the crew, and most definitely Ru. It's a show about drag queens — it doesn't get more fun than that."

By contrast, "'Dancing with the Stars' was by far the most challenging show I've ever worked on," Law said. "The show itself is a beast from a lighting stand point. It takes a crew of 15 people for lighting alone. Then when you factor in all the other elements including video, scenic, art, sound and choreography, it is a sensory overload in the best way possible, particularly when the live show comes together and is enjoyed by millions of viewers."

Law credited Jackson and ISU for his success today.

"It was at ISU where my understanding and passion for the technical side of lighting started to blossom which ultimately lead me there," he said. "My first day of 'Introduction to Theater' was where I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Jackson. I was curious, excited to learn, and asked lots of questions which I think Michael noticed, resulting in him encouraging me to apply for our Summer Theatre Program — Crossroads Repertory Theatre."

Law admitted that he once avoided going near a lighting console.

"It seemingly needed a different language to understand," he said. "I can happily say that it was Michael that helped me overcome my hesitance and actually start working on how to master this piece of equipment."

Law made for an ideal mentee, Jackson said.

"Andrew's own efforts, his curiosity about lighting, his friendships with his peers and his overall attitude — combined with a spirited personality — made him easy to guide," he said. "When we met, I was a new professor and Andrew was a new college student. We were both fascinated by light, as a medium for shaping perception and telling stories. He was hungry to learn and I was happy to share my experiences. I felt compelled to help him because he was so personally invested in pursuing a path into the entertainment industry."

Jackson was almost as excited about Law's victory as the winner himself.

"It's super cool — I am proud of him," Jackson said. "Awards are nice, but I know that he is the same person who I met 16 years ago in Terre Haute. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to help him get to where he is today."

Other productions Law has worked on include "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," "The Kelly Clarkson Show," a number of Disney specials and and "Disney Fam Jam," another dance contest program.

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.