Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Bellar Pilukas.
Hi Dani Bellar, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began as a Theatre Kid, performing in shows and falling in love with storytelling. After a degree in theatre, I worked across the country in various roles. A brief stint in banking brought a swift promotion, but it wasn’t my calling and I quit in the same meeting. I pivoted to a Stage Manager/Automation Operator role on a cruise ship, refining my skills in system fixes and programming.
Cirque du Soleil beckoned, recruiting me for the Asia Pacific tour, where I became their first female Head of Automation. Following a year on tour, I moved to Vegas as a Stage Manager for Cirque du Soleil.
My unique blend of Stage Manager, Automation Tech, and programming experience took center stage when I joined TAIT as an automation programmer. There, I crafted rock and roll shows and oversaw large-scale projects, blending technical expertise with entertainment flair.
A decade ago, I found my way to LA, joining Disney as an Imagineer. I played a pivotal role in programming rides like Pirates of the Caribbean in Shanghai and led a team for Galaxy’s Edge, including Rise of the Resistance— strong stories backed by technology is the heart of Imagineering.
In 2020, I ventured into Virtual Production with Lux Machina, contributing to projects like House of the Dragon, Hijack and the soon to be released Masters of the Air. The new technology being used for production offers such a leap forward in the stories we can tell.
Recently, I decided I wanted to expand my reach beyond Virtual Production and Imagineering. I co-founded Bellar Pilukas Consulting with my husband (also a Theatre Kid), we bring experience from Cirque, TAIT and WDI and are excited to bring our unique perspectives to companies looking for a way to merge storytelling and technology.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth. I started in Automation as one of the very few women in the field. I have had to prove myself over and over again…and then sometimes Jon Bon Jovi says, “I want that little redhead girl back out here. She makes it work”. I don’t mind proving myself. I know I have the skills.
I found the pandemic to be really hard. I went from going 110 miles an hour (opening Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for WDI on both coasts was amazing work but put everything else in my life on hold) to dead stopped. In the end, it was an amazing time of figuring out who I was, separating that from what my job was, and thinking about what I wanted for my future. During the production slowdown of 2023, due to the strikes, I was able to revisit those questions and reaffirm what I wanted to do and who I was. That process significantly led to the decision of founding a company. So, I think it was a benefit to have had that time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Producer, and I figure out how to tell stories with technology.
I am most known for my work in Virtual Production and with Walt Disney Imagineering. I was part of the core team on Rise of the Resistance and led the show programmers at WDI. Show Programmers program the audio, lighting, video, and animatronics in an attraction as you ride along, but we also figure out how to keep the show running, accommodate for things that might go wrong or break, and keep a solid show. I have a unique talent in understanding the flow of an attraction very early on, I can anticipate where there might be a concern and muster a plan to fix it. I have a deep understanding of all the pieces of technology that come together to make very complex projects work, and I can use that with my understanding of creative asks to find the “right” choice. But my real skill, I love to work with teams, I love understanding what everyone brings and knowing how to get others to bring their skills to the table. We deal with so many personalities in this business, and everyone’s voice is important, so knowing how to bring those voices out makes us all so much more successful. I have done very little by myself – all of my really cool accomplishments have been as a part of a greater team.
My skills with technology, creative and team building have been really important in Virtual Production. As new technology has entered the fold, we have required a new set of staffing and language (we can’t even agree on the glossary of terms!), and that has brought my skills out. Figuring out individual contributors, bringing them together in a team, using technology to tell stories. Sign me up!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Say yes! Even when it is a bit scary, even when you are not sure you are the most qualified. Say yes, and give it a shot. Believe in yourself.
Always learn! Figure out how it works, ask the person who is the expert, and start helping with the little stuff. I started programming show control years ago because I asked a question – and the programmer got sick, so I became the programmer.
Travel will change the world! Go, talk to new people, listen to a perspective so far from yours, talk about community in China and religion in India, and coffee in Brazil. Talk about the big stuff and the little stuff…listen to those who have experienced a world you cannot yet imagine.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bellarpilukas.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danibellarstage/
Image Credits
The Rise photo with the Storm Troopers and the team were distributed by Disney. The rest are my photos.
