Faces of 4Wall - Wells Hunter

Behind every perfectly lit event, seamless LED installation, and awe-inspiring production moment is a team of dedicated professionals who bring it all to life. At 4Wall, we take pride in showcasing the passionate individuals who make our work possible. In this edition of Faces of 4Wall, we're spotlighting Wells Hunter, LED Department Lead at our Boston location. From humble beginnings in high school theater to leading repairs and maintaining performance-ready gear, Wells' story is one of growth, creativity, and quiet authority. Read on to discover how a love for the arts, a knack for problem-solving, and a giant tub of peanut butter pretzels fuels their journey.

What's your name and title?

Wells Hunter, LED Department Lead

What 4Wall location do you work at, and how long have you been with the company?

I have been employed at 4Wall Boston since June of 2018, but I was first hired by ALPS in 2015.

What was your "aha!" moment that made you realize this was the industry for you?

I don't remember what show it was, but seeing my work on stage mixed in with everyone else's drove home how collaborative theater has to be. Once I learned that you're never alone on a job site, I knew it was the place for me.

Describe your career path within this industry.

I started doing shows with my high school, and was lucky enough to be part of the host team for the Massachusetts Drama Festival. I moved on to study technical theater at Bridgewater State University, and did freelance work in the city whenever I had the time. I met a lot of ALPS employees during this time, and ended up working for the Actor's Shakespeare Company for a season as a production assistant. When the freelance scene got to be too chaotic for me, I moved to ALPS full-time as a shop tech. Since then, I've been very happy sticking with this group, and being bought by 4Wall has only expanded my opportunities.

If your job had a tagline, what would it be?

Well, since my job is to bring fixtures back to factory standard appearance: "Enforcing conformity, but in a fun way!"

What's the most unexpected or bizarre thing that has happened to you on the job?

I work for a local theater part-time as well, and during the pandemic we had a bunch of movies using the theater as a filming location. The owner wanted a crew in the building to get the crew whatever they needed, so I got to have a sleepover in the theater while they did a full evening of shooting.

When you explain your job and/or this industry to family members who have no idea what it is, how do you do it?

I ask them what the last live event they went to was, and I tell them that I help with everything happening AROUND the stage, not on it. Then I mention that we do weddings and birthdays, just to give them a better idea of the scope we cover.

What's one thing people think is easy about your job-but in reality, it's way harder?

Knowing when something has gotten bad enough to need replacing. Sometimes it's easy, like a burned out circuit, but sometimes you're trying to see if one fixture is a slightly different shade of green, because the designer said it didn't match, but I don't see anything wrong, and the replacement part is super expensive, how big of a difference is it really? Then I go to Richard, our resident repair tech, and ask them to give me the odds.

If you could trade jobs with one person at 4Wall for a day, who would it be and why?

Richard, because they get to fix problems all day by fiddling with electronics, and that sounds like fun.

What's your secret weapon on a long, hectic day?

A 360 degree speaker slung over my shoulder with tie line, a 60 0z water bottle, and many shelf stable snacks.

What's a project you worked on that made you the proudest?

Every time I got to go on site and work the Joey O'Donnell fundraiser, I was overwhelmed by the pride I felt for our industry. Charity events are necessary for so many valuable causes, and seeing every vendor come together to make it happen was always awesome. The people bringing in food, the people setting up sound, the security guards clearing the end of the mall, and the people with the money who made it happen: we were all there doing our jobs, but we were also doing our part supporting cystic fibrosis research at the same time. I love being part of something meaningful, something that can change lives, and every event we send out has the chance to do that.

What's a piece of industry advice that sounded like nonsense when you first heard it but turned out to be absolutely true?

"Slow is fast." I always assumed that advice was for students, and that as soon as I entered the workforce, I would be encouraged to go as fast as I could. I'm grateful for the managers and safety officers who each made sure to tell me that there's nothing more important than being careful. An injury will slow you down WAY more, after all.

Are there any life hacks at your job that would surprise people?

Some of the specialty tools I've received over the years might as well be life hacks. The Light Source makes a mega-combo wrench that totally changed the game when I took it to my first focus call. So in short, look for theatrical supply stores, because they'll have every tool you wanted but didn't know existed.

What's the wildest request you've ever gotten from a client, and how did you make it happen?

I'm usually the small but vital problem-solver. The issues I resolve aren't huge, but I like to think my creativity helps me see things from a different angle.

What's a mistake you made early in your career that taught you a valuable lesson?

I made the mistake of not owning up to a mistake and hoping it wouldn't be noticed. Now I know the one rule to earn people's confidence: admit when you messed up. If your manager knows that you'll admit your mistakes, they'll generally be more forgiving of them. It's hard to fix a mistake that no one knows about.

What's one trend with equipment that you're excited about?

I'm excited to see what comes next for LEDs, because as batteries and diodes get smaller, we may see more complex arrays, more intricate lenses, different reflector shapes? But the world of video is also going absolutely insane, with curved panels, crystal clear images, and faux green-screen/video mapping for television sets.

What's a skill you've developed on this job that you never expected to need?

Authority. I thought I could get through life never needing to correct anyone, but sometimes you need to be able to stop someone from hurting themselves or damaging equipment.

If you could go back in time and give "Day One You" a piece of advice about this job, or life in general, what would it be?

Accountability is key; make sure you don't make promises you can't keep, and always admit when you don't know something.

What's one career goal you're working toward right now?

Right now, my main goal is to continue expanding my knowledge base. Any opportunity to stop and listen and observe, I'm trying to recognize them and capitalize on them.

What's the best part of working at 4Wall?
The constant movement of people and gear. Having massive shows going out means we get to meet a lot of professionals from all over the country, and all of them have tips, tricks, and stories that they're eager to share.

Describe your job in three emojis.
😬👍😝

What's your go-to karaoke song after a long event?
Holdin' Out for a Hero

What's your favorite guilty pleasure snack on the job?
A giant tub of peanut butter pretzels

If your work life had a theme song, what would it be?
Technologic by Daft Punk

What's the last song that you listened to?
Love is a Battlefield, covered by The Klingon Pop Warrior

Anything else that you'd like to add?
Theater is an industry that is constantly growing and changing, and I love that I get the opportunity to grow and change along with it. The future is expanding faster than I can follow, but the arts will remain.