Lighting Technician - Film Lighting Technician

Film Lighting Technician

Officially called the Electrical Lighting Technician (ELT), or the Rigging Electrical Lighting Technician (RELT), are also called or known as Set Lighting Technicians, Lamp Operator, Electrician, Electric, Spark or a Juicer.

The Lighting Technicians on a motion picture set handle all of the electrical needs as well as place and focus all of the lighting under the direction of the Gaffer (Chief Lighting Technician).

Lighting Techs also...

-Study the script and consult with the director to assess what lighting is required

-Discuss production requirements with the camera operator

-Select lights and equipment to be used and organize any additional equipment

-Set up, focus and operate light fixtures and equipment

-Control consoles and auxiliary equipment

-Choose and combine colors to achieve the desired effect

-Operate the lights during the performance

-Use manual or computer control consoles to control lighting throughout a production

-Use devices such as barn-doors, scrims and other attachments to control lighted areas

-Perform routine maintenance functions such as replacing lamps and damaged color filters or patterns and maintain lighting equipment in safe working conditions

-Explore new techniques and special effects

-Placement and focus of lighting fixtures for any given scene to be photographed.

-Distribution of power and work lights around the set and support areas (including actor's trailers, portable production offices, catering, etc.).

-Management of electrical generators.

-Providing electricity to all support services and departments on the set.

Also specialty duties are called upon the lighting technician such as...

-Follow Spot Operator

-Console/Dimmer Board Operator

-Fixtures

-Manual/ Poor Mans Operator

Hours of work also vary. For example, those employed by large television productions generally work more than 40 hours a week,60 hours or more are not uncommon. Technicians and other crew members typically work a 12 hour day.

Depending on script requirements, stage and locations bring on their own requirements for lighting and effects. Out of state, or country to get the right look in a script is not uncommon. Location work always brings on its own challenges. Weather is always a factor when going to a location. Technicians are like scouts and have to be prepared for all kinds of weather as per the season.

Working conditions for lighting technicians vary a great deal from one job to another. Lighting technicians generally spend a lot of time on their feet and the pace of work can become hectic. Last-minute changes are often required and safety precautions must be observed when handling hot lamps, climbing ladders or working on high voltage electrical cables and equipment. Lighting technicians are routinely required to lift and carry the heaviest and more dangerous equipment compared to the other departments and office staff.

The film set electrical department hierarchy is as follows:

• Electrical Lighting Tech/ Rigging Electrical Lighting Tech.reports to the Best Boy or the Assistant Chief Lighting Technician (ACLT)whom reports to the Gaffer or the CLT, who is the head of the department. The Rigging Best Boy or Rigging Assistant Chief Lighting Technician reports to the Rigging Gaffer or the Chief Rigging Technician who is the head of the rigging, but not the department. Both rigging heads reports to the ACLT and CLT of the department. The Gaffer or the Chief Lighting Technician is the Head of the Set Lighting department and reports to the Director of Photography (Cinematographer) to make decisions on the creative lighting on the set (or on location), and is responsible for executing those decisions. A budget deciphered from the production schedule, script and vision mandates the types of lights and how to proceed with rigs.