David Niles Director/Director
of Photography/Designer
Colossalvision
Manhattan-born designer David Niles has earned a distinguished reputation for his work in television production, design, and management. He was first to pioneer the commercial applications of High Definition Television and today is recognized as the foremost authority on HDTV production.
From 1972 through 1987, Niles operated abroad in Paris, France, where he founded and designed his video production facilities Captain Video and VOIR. Innovative studios (and mobile production facilities) have been a specialty of Mr. Niles and here with his firm of 200 employees he produced advanced computer generated graphics and turn-key video productions for CBS, NBC, ABC, HBO, NHK, ESPN and many others. While in France he earned the prestigious "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres" for creating the "on-air look" of all three French television networks.
Mr. Niles acquired HDTV equipment for the Paris studios in 1985 and immediately went into production with commercials that were transferred to film for distribution in motion picture theaters throughout Europe. With this business he established the first successful commercial markets for HDTV.
In 1987 Niles returned to New York to design 1125 Productions, his second facility for HDTV production. 1125 Productions was recognized as the most advanced state-of-the-art video facility in the world. The landmark HDTV production piece, a movie of the week for CBS entitled the "Littlest Victims" was lensed and posted entirely by 1125 Productions.
Three years later the famous Ed Sullivan Theater became the next home of Mr. Niles and his HDTV production company. Following complete renovation of the theater, he wrote and produced the Broadway show, "Dreamtime" which played 140 performances at the Sullivan Theater. Here, he also filmed Aerosmith and Crosby Stills and Nash for MTV Unplugged; Tony Bennett, Mick Jagger, Jackie Mason and many other great artists for their initial HDTV productions.
Mr. Niles has been awarded numerous symbols of recognition by his peers, most notably an Astrolabium and numerous citations from the Montreux Electronic Cinema Festival and an Emmy Nomination for his production work on the "Liza Minelli Special" from Radio City Music Hall. Hundreds of articles have been written about Mr. Niles and he has appeared on all the major US television networks utilizing his unique vantage point in debating and commenting on emerging video and HDTV technologies.
In 1995 Niles met Scott Worthington of the Worthington Group and together they formed magic(window)group, a company focused primarily on the creation and production of HDTV for large-scale venues. This alliance produced programming and special events for Macy's and its parent company Federated Department Stores, Merrill Lynch, Nortel/Bay Networks and EMC2. Their creation and production of "Show Me New York" an HDTV/theatre travelogue spectacular gave visiting tourists a thrilling immersion in the sights and sounds of New York City. They produced another critically acclaimed HDTV installation in the Macyland attraction at Macy's Herald Square flagship store.
Early in 1998, Colossalvision was established by Niles and Worthington. From their new studios, built and designed by Niles located at 26 Broadway in the heart of Silicon Alley, they provide clients with the highest standard of HDTV production and post-production.
Most recently, he consulted and directed the redesigning of Madison Square Garden studio into HDTV production facilities and has begun consultation and design of HDTV facilities for Radio City Music Hall.
