Hola!
Howdy!
Greetings!
Happy Fathers Day to all the meaningful men who are/ have been in our world!
Super great line-up today.
Beginning with:
FILM CREW 101
Behind the Scenes. This piece is about Set Lighting (which I worked on for 27 + years as a Best Boy – yep, my title was Best Boy. Industry term).
QUICK QUESTION
What’s my favorite memory of my dad?
I have 2:
In the summertime, Dad would buy a giant bag of oranges and lemons and hand juice them (old school style) into a pitcher and make the BEST orange/lemonade!
Our dad was larger than life. As in real life. His forearms were the size of many people’s calves. He wasn’t fat – he was – formidable. He could be the sweetest guy on the planet or he could be intimidating depending on the situation. Yeah, we always felt he had our backs – and he did. Mom told us that when they were dating and first got married – Dad did push-ups with her sitting on his shoulders. Yep, that kind of strong! Yours?
STORY OF A GENIUS SAYS GOODBYE
Is so full of great thought + heart + peace.
RECIPE FOR BUBBLE FUN
If you’re hanging out with your dad or remembering him.
THANKS ALL FOR SLIDING BY TODAY
We so appreciate ya + love + friendship + sharing + caring.
READY?
SET.
HERE WE GO!
ENJOY THE READ.
FILM CREW 101
TIPS, TRICKS & SECRETS TO SUCCESS
FROM MOTION PICTURE PROFESSIONALS
SET LIGHTING
Production calls this department Electric. However, the correct title is Set Lighting and Film Electricians are Lighting Technicians. Many hands make Lights work.
Here are the hands:
CHIEF LIGHTING TECHNICIAN
aka C.L.T. / GAFFER
Is one who has figured out the mystique of Lighting a Set. It’s not Rocket Science, but it does take a skilled eye to excel. A confident CLT is calm and comfortable in his environment, realizes the DP (Director of Photography) is not likely to mention him at the Academy Awards, and is patient and kind because he remembers when he was a third.
Besides running a Crew, his responsibilities include:
- Tech Scouting Locations
- Ordering the Lighting Package for a Project
- Hiring a Crew
- Determining Extra Man Days and Equipment Add-On’s
- Designing Lighting Rigs and Cable Runs
- Working Closely with the DP Lighting the Set
- Stands Next to the Camera All Day Ensuring the Lighting is as it Should Be for Each and Every “Take” for Scenes Throughout the Course of a Shooting Day
- Gives Heads-Up to Best Boy for Upcoming Scenes Needs from Department or Time to Start Wrapping the Truck to do a Location Move or Wrap for the Day
- Delegating Tasks to Lighting Techs
- Light Meter Readings
- Spot Meter Readings
- Focusing Lamps
- Working with the Key Grip Shaping Light
- Orchestrates Condor Operators via Radio Communication Going Up in the Air to Light Night or Day Scenes
- Collaborating with the 1st AC on Lens Settings
- Choosing Color Correction Gels
- Lighting Night Exteriors/Musco Lights/Condors, etc …
- Maintaining Lighting Continuity from Scene to Scene
ASSISTANT CHIEF LIGHTING TECHNICIAN
aka A.C.L.T./ BEST BOY LIGHTING
Was at one time known as the elite On-Set lighting tech, the most talented of the lighting crew in operating lamps and stealth set-etiquette. Modern day Best Boy Lighting is better described as Best Boy Clerical and power shopper. This 2nd-in command individual is seldom on Set as Off-Set duties are demanding.
They include, but are not limited to:
- Mountains of Paperwork, Time Cards, Gear Lists, Documenting In and Out Times of Crew, Scouting
- Prepping the Truck Before a Show and Wrapping the Truck after a Show
- Loading and Unloading the Truck on Location
- Inventory Patrol
- Organizing Additional Crew and Gear
- Calling Day Players with “call times” for next day’s shooting schedule
- Organizing Power to the Set and Metering the Distro Boxes
- Often Oversees Rigging and Splinter Units
- Communicating with Teamster Production Van Driver (aka – twin power plants)
- Close Communication with Chief Lighting Technician/Grips/Teamsters/Production
- Placing additional Tow Plant Generators when needed
- Signing off and Watching Condors “Fly” in the Air Making Sure Cable has been Properly Secured and Ballasts are Not Compromised on the Ground + Watching the Same When Condors Come Down Safely at the End of a Scene/Night Shoot
- Liaison between Production and Set Lighting Department
- Responsible for Lost and/or Damaged Gear
- In Charge of Ordering Expendables – Gels + Diffusion, Gloves, Clips, Tape, Rubber Matting, Cleaning Supplies …
- Power Shops with Petty Cash
LIGHTING TECHNICIANS
LT’s/Juicers/3rds
The backbone of the Set Lighting Department.
Their tasks include but not limited to:
- Running and Wrapping Lots of Cable – Most of it Very Heavy
- Laying out Power Distribution Points
- Setting Lamps and Their Accessories
- Adding Color Correction Gel + Diffusion to Lamps
- Providing Other Departments with Courtesy Power
- Working Closely with Grips Rigging Lamps + Condors
- Taking Lighting Carts and Gear to the Set and Wrapping the Same at the End of Night or on a Location Move
ADDITIONAL LIGHTING CREW
Depending on the size and nature of a film project there may be many other technicians working with or apart from Main Unit.
- Dimmer Board Operator
- Second Unit Crew
- Rigging Crew
- Theatrical Lighting Technicians
- Specialty Lighting Operator(s) / Fisher Light, Balloon Lights, etc …
THE SET LIGHTING DEPARTMENT DOES NOT
- Light Crew Parking
- Illuminate the Lunch Tent on Night Shoots
- Provide Security Lighting
- Wire Neon Fixtures
- Wire Practical Lamps for Art Department
- Light the Hair/Make-Up/Talent Trailers
- Wire Props or Set Dressing that Require Electricity
- Supply Power to Catering
- Charge Batteries for Other Departments
- Operate a Mobile Generator on a Project that has Teamsters
- Run Power for/and Light Base Camp
note:
In some parts of the U.S.A., I.A.T.S.E. mandates that Set Lighting Technicians perform the last two items listed above.
~ Film Crew 101, Tips, Tricks & Secrets to Success from Motion Picture Professionals
By Peter and Cheryl Clarson
PIC 1
Day Shoot on a show currently shooting in South Carolina lighting a scene happening on the inside from the outside.
Lamps + Diffusion on Crank-O-Vator stands that go super duper high. And a Scissor lift rigged with lamps on a piece of truss. Also, lighting the inside Day Scene from the outside.
~ photo courtesy, Mark Mims
PIC 2
Troy Anderson, Rigging Gaffer prepared for a GIANT exterior night shoot. Yep, those are a whole bunch of “big gun” lamps (as we refer to them in the business) — 18ks + 20ks on the top of the ridge in addition to the ones right behind Troy on the ground – getting ready to fly in the air when time.
~ photo courtesy, Troy Anderson
PIC 3
Well, sometimes Set Lighting has to tie-in to local power at a location. It’s a little sketchy. But the brave have done it!
Not recommending it. Peter always tried to get whomever was the maintenance guy of said location to do it instead of asking the guys to do it, or he’d do it himself. Production is not patient with these sorts of things. They just want lights to work. NOW!
PIC 4
Interior “mood lighting” – minimal lighting – on a set.
That’s Peter – scene is lit – reading “sides” and thinking forward to prepare for upcoming scenes scheduled for the rest of the day.
QUICK QUESTION
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE
MEMORY ABOUT YOUR DAD?
A GENIUS SAYS GOODBYE
Mr. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, great Latin American writer, has said goodbye to the public life due to complications in his health.
He has sent a letter to his friends — and thanks to the Internet — we are all able to share it.
I recommend you read it, because this short text written by one of the most brilliant Latin American writers in the past years is really inspiring.
It goes like this:
If for an instant God forgot that
I am just a puppet, and He gave me one more piece of life,
I would sleep less and dream more.
I would continue more where others have stopped
and I would rise when others sleep.
If God allowed me one more piece of life, I would dress simpler,
would wallow in the sunlight, leaving uncovered,
not only my body but also my soul.
I would prove to men how wrong they are to think that they stop falling in love as they get older,
since they actually start getting older as soon as they stop falling in love.
I would give wings to the children,
but I would leave the child alone
so that he could learn to fly on his own.
To the old, I would show them
how death comes not with the ageing process, but with forgetting.
So many things I have learned from you.
I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain,
forgetting that is how we climb that matters.
I have learned that when a newborn grabs his father’s thumb,
he takes a hold on him forever.
I have learned that a man has the right to look down on somebody,
only when he is helping him to get up.
So many things I have learned from all of you.
Always tell what you feel and do what you think.
If I knew that today would be the last time that I will see you, I will embrace you and be the guardian of your soul.
If I would know that these would be the last minutes
that I will see you, I would say to you
“I love you” and not assume that you would know it.
There is always morning where life gives us
another opportunity to make things good.
Keep always close to you, your dear ones, and tell them
how much you need them and love and take care of them.
Take time to say, “I am sorry,” forgive me,” “please,”
“thank you” and all the lovely words you know.
Nobody would remember you if you keep your thoughts secret.
Force yourself to express them.
Show your friends and dear ones how much you care about them.
~ from my fabulous email collection
this one circa 2016
BUBBLE FUN
Homemade GREATNESS.
Construct Bubble Fun Wands out of wire hangers or other heavy duty wire.
((Think a simple circular ring with a little bit of a handle to hold. – Pro Tip – go ahead and make a couple. Different sizes.))
- 1/2 CUP DISH SOAP (Joy or Dawn works best)
- 5 cups cold water
- 2 TBSP white corn syrup (for more durable bubbles)
Gently stir ingredients together and put in an appropriate container to fit your handcrafted bubble wand.
Blow some bubbles and laugh with all the cool Dad memories!
Note:
Not for drinking. (Duh!)
What an amazing issue! Loved learning more of the responsibilities you and Peter had when working on Set Lighting (I must say, you’re the cutest Best Boy I can imagine!). The list goes on and on. And. On. I never imagined the huge wattages needed to provide accurate lighting. Or the gymnastics required to lift them into place. This whole Film 101 is such an education in explaining the mind boggling details involved in every scene. Whole new appreciation. . .
I guess one of my favorite memories of my dad is how he couldn’t keep the tears at bay when he walked me down the aisle at my wedding. He was very tender and sentimental.
Gosh, I’d almost forgotten the fun we used to have blowing bubbles. My mom used to make a solution using liquid dish detergent and we would “blow” the afternoon away.
Have a superb weekend! Until Monday. . .
Great film crew lighting photos! Great Fathers Day pictures also!
Loved the knowledge I gained from your Film Crew info. As for the Film Crew power cable, anything beyond our 50 ft outdoor extension cord would be too much for me to roll up or hide in a corner, I’m with Carol on wonderful Dad’s. Mine thought I could do no wrong, and I happily did all I could to live up to it. I hurt for people who didn’t have such a chance.