Pete Romano ASC explores the tech milestones and lighting kit developments that have impacted his work as a specialist in underwater shooting. Working underwater combines several tricky factors. There’s often no, or less, natural light, space fades to blue over quite short distances even when it’s spotlessly clean, and taking lighting down there is, well, … Read more
Sources that appear in frame are an important part of a DP’s palette, but balancing the light is an artform in itself. When it comes to practicals, collaboration between the cinematographer and the art department begins early. “It starts in pre-production when we are looking at locations or talking about sets that are going to … Read more
The quality and efficiency of studio lights may have improved since Hollywood’s golden era, but safety remains non-negotiable. The tragic and untimely death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury to director Joel Souza after a gun was mistakenly discharged by Alec Baldwin during the making of Rust in 2021 brought on-set safety back into … Read more
Gaffers Carolina Schmidtholstein and John ‘Biggles’ Higgins take us on a guided tour of how they approached lighting productions of various genres and sizes with creativity and originality to realise the director and cinematographer’s visions. Camera departments constantly juggle a thousand challenges, but there’s one goal that’s almost universally sought, but rarely discussed in isolation: … Read more
There remains no set route into film and TV production, especially in the craft grades. Looked at one way that means you can enter the industry from pretty much any angle, but those wanting to build a career in lighting will find many barriers in their path. “There are lots of people who love movie … Read more
The DP/gaffer relationship is one of the most crucial yet arguably one of the least recognised collaborations in filmmaking. More than an expert technician, the gaffer helps the DP to turn the director’s vision into reality. “They are a partner in crime,” says Greig Fraser ASC ACS, who worked with gaffer Perry Evans on projects … Read more
The last decade has seen incredible developments in the field of lighting thanks to the constant pursuit of power and sophistication. When things move as fast as lighting recently has, it’s easy to feel almost ambushed by change. That’s something people feel keenly in an industry which expects them to maintain an intimate familiarity with … Read more
VELVET introduces two new fixtures this September to join it KOSMOS series of unique LED Fresnels. VELVET has been a reference for LED lighting in cinema since two Spanish DPs (Javier Valderrama and Toni Hernandez) founded the company in 2008 in order to work with the light they dreamed of. VELVET has the best lumen/watt … Read more
Sunbelt Rentals is among the companies making a large-scale investment in energy saving lighting to help productions to meet their carbon reduction targets without compromising on lighting quality. Advances in LED lighting technology has progressed exponentially in recent years. This in part is due to leading equipment manufacturers consulting with industry gaffers and DOPs to … Read more
Tommy Maddox-Upshaw ASC achieves skin tone accuracy from prep to set with Rosco DMG Lights. Cinematographer Tommy Maddox-Upshaw ASC was introduced to Rosco’s DMG Lighting fixtures by gaffer Wayne Shields on the 10-part Paramount+ drama The Man Who Fell To Earth, which was largely shot in the UK. Since then, he has used these unique … Read more
Panalux’s proprietary innovations, extensive inventory and breadth of support enable cinematographers to bring their visions to light. “When you’ve got a big job, Panalux has to do it,” says cinematographer Ben Smithard BSC. “I know they’ll always have what I need.” The lighting provider’s massive rental inventory includes solutions from all the major manufacturers backed … Read more
Litepanels’ Gemini Hard panels push up the power to help gaffers make the day. It’s easy to think of big changes in lighting technology as a recent phenomenon, but gaffer Michael McDermott has spent 45 years working on productions including Quantum of Solace and Game of Thrones, and his experience tells a different story. “Up … Read more
Find out how Godox’s innovative lighting solutions aim to simplify the filmmaking workflow. The corporate mantra of Godox is to embrace creative possibilities, empowering creators to shape their artistic signatures effortlessly. “Our holistic system ranges from compact tools for handy use, to game-changing fixtures with ample power, providing a boundless canvas for imagination and creativity,” … Read more
Gaffer Wayne Shields reveals how he uses Astera Tubes on Back in Action, Deadpool 3 and Apple TV+ series Disclaimer. “I can generally suss out how the DP likes to work after a couple of weeks shooting,” says gaffer Wayne Shields. “Most of the work is done in prep but their style of shooting, the … Read more
Child actor turned gaffer and businessman Harlon Haveland shines a new light on his career. Family has played an integral role in shaping Harlon Haveland’s career, both in front of and behind the camera. His captivating journey in the film industry began with an iconic childhood role. Back in 1990, at just eight years of … Read more
Being able to obtain shading and distortion metadata is vital to fast, accurate and complex shot creation for VFX and virtual production. Tracking metadata efficiently from capture downstream through post-production has long been a vexing issue and one the rapid rise of Virtual Production has thrown into sharp focus. Often, metadata doesn’t make it downstream … Read more
In response to ever-increasing demand, lens specialist True Lens Services is expanding into a smart new space – in the same village where the company’s story began 20 years ago. Having the right working environment is important in ensuring employees are happy and efficient. This is even more of a priority when the work is … Read more
To accommodate the multi-dimensional needs of DPs, Shift 4 Cine is the latest innovative offering from one of London’s longest-running, independent rental houses. It’s been a project 10 years in the making, gathering an experienced team, collecting top-of-the-range tools, to bring an adaptable and stylish cinematography unit to fruition. Established in 1989, Shift 4’s new … Read more
Whatever the creative and technical requirements of a shoot, Pixipixel’s extensive range of lenses is a filmmaking treasure trove. Since being founded in 2003, equipment rental company Pixipixel has built up its portfolio from stills photography to lighting for both still and motion picture shoots to cinematography cameras. This led naturally to lenses for filmmaking, … Read more
Panavision’s vast lens inventory enables cinematographers to find the perfect match for their creative vision. With the variety of sensor sizes available today in addition to the continuing use of 35mm, 65mm and 16mm film, “filmmakers have got more choice than ever,” says Terra Bliss, managing director for Panavision UK and Ireland. “There’s a high … Read more