LIGHT OF THE PARTY Production name: The Afterparty S2 Production type: Television series Cinematographer: Ross Riege Gaffer/chief lighting technician: Cameron Smith Director: Various Overview of The Afterparty and your approach to lighting: The series is a ‘Rashomon’-style murder mystery, retelling the same sequence of…
VOYAGE OF ADVENTURE Production name: One Piece Production type: TV series Cinematographer: Nicole Hirsch Whitaker ASC (episodes one and two) Gaffer: Wiseman Dinizulu Director: Marc Jobst Overview of the production and what was the visual approach you adopted in terms of lighting: Marc and…
Light Source Film is a beacon of transformation that has evolved far beyond its humble beginnings just over a decade ago. The brainchild of lighting technician Aaron Keating, Light Source Film was originally set up as a portal to help…
A close-up look at the latest lighting trends. The first thing that gaffer Julian White brings up is that, despite the fanfare still surrounding new releases, LED lights are no longer a new technology. “The first time I used an…
The question of whether a virtual production stage’s videowall counts as a lighting device is still vexed, even as the technique in general becomes a comfortable part of the mainstream. One of the people who is perhaps best placed to…
DP Hamish Doyne-Ditmas reflects on the fixtures of yore and how filmmakers can pair classic techniques with modern technology. Film and television is an unusual art form in that much of the most respected work has been done with tools…
Beautiful but fleeting, natural light often presents DPs and gaffers with their greatest challenges. “Natural light is interesting because you can’t really control it,” states Roger Simonsz BSC. “You have to remain very flexible.” Simonsz prefers not to use artificial…
Sustainability must be factored into all aspects of a production from the outset, from environmentally friendly ways to light a show through to finding greener ways to travel. Some of the things a film or television production can do to…
There’s a certain subset of lighting techniques that film schools can’t teach. Cinematographer Owen McPolin ISC sheds some light on the creative thinking and resulting methods used when illuminating spaces. Even the highest-end shows will eventually present a camera team…
From RGBW LEDs to traditional tungsten, from wireless consoles to simple textiles, the tools of the lighting department are many and varied. A range of working gaffers share their must-haves and go-to items with us. “Keep it simple,” is Julian…
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