LIGHTING AND WHAT IT’S USED FOR?

Remember a Slider or posh button cannot change Natural light so Non-natural lighting can be more useful and affective than just the average sunlight.

Wherever you are if on a set or off set any thing could happen but in lighting the dangers are also present. The lights are very heavy and can become a risk to Actors or other staff on set so in theater or outside lighting that hangs on a stand or roof with a hook or clamp needs a safety chain whit out the chain it can be very dangerous because in some cases the lights are rigged up high of the ground and for any resin the metal hook might full of so a safety chine is usually used just in case of any faulty clamps or hooks.

The lights get very hot and lights can go out at any time but don’t replace a light without the power off and the light cooled down or you could get a heat burn or electrocuted from the power.

Remember you will also need special gel to place in the lights to get a different color affect the same applies if using a shape > Gobo’s.   You need something that is resistant to heat.

If any strange things happen to the lights close them off at the lighting desk and the power source before you look at them!

Lighting desks come in different styles but there all used to change the contrast/Brightness of the light/s. The desks are evolving from Manual sliders to more computerized desk systems with memory to save the lighting settings. Don’t worry there’s always going to be a job to do like Light mantling and checking equipment. The desk will always need a reliable person to keep a close eye on the changes but its beast to have a person there just incase the light desk has any problems during the performance. The name of the person that’s in charge of the lights are called:

“Lighting Manager/s”.

Protractor – Huge and is used for long range usually has about 4 changing sliders and can be fitted with Barn doors. Good for wide range light.

Lanterns – can have burn doors and are smaller than Protractors they are good for individual spotlights.

Small floor lights – are good but limited in the direction of light. They don’t have bun doors but some of them you can place color filters or gobo’s on them.

All of the above light can be filtered throw the light desk and can all have color gels or gobos.

The Gel is coloured paper that tolerates heat and can very colours > similar to cellophane.

A Gobo is a metal shape cut out to give a paten or shape.

These slide in at the fount of the lights.

You need to work with a range of different people to get ideas and to start designing.

Some light designing can take several months just to get to the start of designing because of set preparations and other delays. If you’re a Lighting designer or manager you need to be careful in choosing the colours - don’t over throw the set colours or costume colours.

If you don’t have a lot of skills in this you’ll need to test different colors to different materials.

Once the stage/set is ready the light plan can be developed you will need a floor plan of the set/stage. Get tracing paper and trace the light hanging rods and other stands and draw the lights on the rod or stand after draw in the angle of the light that you want to affect the stage.

This plan then is given to the person whom rigs the lights and then there hang in the right spot and cheeked with the designer.

EJs FilmsTM

© March 15, 2004

DRAMA

SUBJECT: LIGHTING