Month: September 2018

Is Outdoor Lighting Really Necessary for Your Production?

Posted on by J3551CA

You may think that when you are filming outside, that the natural sunlight will be enough to light your set.  The truth of the matter is that natural sunlight is not always enough to make your set shine.

The use of artificial lighting outside is just as important as it is when filming inside.  Every scene needs to be correctly illuminated from every angle to create ambiance and enhance the action.

If you are unsure of how best to get your outdoor lighting working well, try these tops tips from the experts at the award-winning Frank Gatto & Associates:

  1. Work with What You Have

While we agree that you do need extra lighting to enhance your film shoot or live event, you can still find ways to make the natural light work in your favor.  The big blazing ball of light in the sky does have its uses when it comes to location shots, and while you cannot control its position or intensity you can move the action down on the ground to make the most of it.  Where you stand will affect the way the footage looks, so move into the shadow if the light is too bright or shoot with the sun behind or to the side to create a more dramatic effect.

  1. Harness the Magic

Every photographer and cameraman worth their salt knows all about specific times of the day when the sun casts a magical light over everything below.  The “Golden Hour” as it is known, is a short period of daytime just after sunrise or before sunset, during which the daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky.  If you can position the action down below just right, you can create intense lighting effects using nothing more than the sun at its highest point. Be ready, however, with your lighting rigs or stand-alone equipment to continue your filming as the light fades or changes.

  1. Be Bold

If you are holding an outdoor event during the day, the sunlight will mean that your audience can see the action on stage, but will they be able to “feel” it?  Festivals, concerts or sporting events often need much more than just a soft light to be a success. Add colors and strobes that dance to the beat, or pyrotechnics that explode when a goal is scored.  All of these effects require the addition of state-of-the-art lighting equipment and a competent team of technicians to make it happen.

  1. Control the light

Whether you are using portable lighting equipment or relying on the light from the sun, it is important that you are able to control the light and the shadows it casts as much as possible.  An experienced outdoor lighting crew will know exactly how and when to use light blockers, flags, reflectors, and bounce boards to control the direction of the light and add ambiance to your set or stage lighting.

  1. Be prepared

Any changes in the natural light can wreak havoc on your filming schedule.  Cloud cover, early sunsets and even changes in atmospheric conditions can all alter the way the light appears on film.  To limit time lost to poor lighting conditions have a portable lighting set up with you on the day.  Tripod lights, diffusers, and reflectors, as well as a variety of camera lenses, should help to protect you against poor natural lighting conditions.

Whatever you are planning to capture on film or whatever kind of outdoor event you are holding, Frank Gatto & Associates have all the experience you need to ensure that the light is always just right.  Call us today at (561) 368-0101 to find out more.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

How to Light Your Event – Safely

Posted on by J3551CA

Lighting an event is not just about impressive effects or wild light shows, it is also about keeping the perfumers, crew, and audience as safe as possible from huge lighting rigs and other equipment.  Accidents happen, and as a professional lighting company, it is our job to ensure that our lighting rigs and equipment is always 100% safe on every occasion.

Because we work on a wide variety of high-volume projects and events throughout the US and internationally it is always important to us that we always operate under the highest level of safety.  If you are worried about the safety of any lighting devices at your event, follow our checklist to ensure that you are always protected:

  1. Plan your lighting in advance

Just throwing a few tripods on stage and hoping for the best is never going to have the successful outcome you are looking for. It’s not just the way they look that will be a problem, but without proper planning, there is nothing to stop your performers from crashing into them or tripping over dangerous cables.  A lighting plan will not only ensure that the lighting looks on point throughout the production, but also ensure that every piece of lighting equipment is safely positioned on the stage, well maintained and safe to use.

  1. Check your equipment

This should obviously go without saying, but sometimes the pressure of pulling together a live event can see important safety checks overlooked.  At the very least, you should ALWAYS check the condition of the following:

Plugs

The cable clamps should hold the cable outer sheath firmly; the color code should be correct, and the wires should be fully inserted.  You should also ensure that the terminals are always tight.

Lighting Bars

Check that the lighting bars have at least 3 fixing points so that the bar can remain in position if one fixing fails.

Safety Chains

Always fit a safety chain directly between the luminaire and the bar or suspension point. You should also be sure the never simply rely on just a hook clamp or bolt and check that all accessories such as barn doors, color frames, and color changers are secure and cannot fall out of the guides.

Fire Precautions

Some lights can get incredibly hot and pose a risk of catching fire.  That is why you should never enclose a spotlight in scenery, and always ensure that the spotlight is at least 0.5m from the nearest flammable object. To protect yourself further, you should always be belt o locate the position of the nearest fire extinguisher when working on stage and find out how to use it in an emergency.

Fuses

When a theatre lamp reaches the end of its life, the filament frequently collapses on itself, causing a short circuit which blows the fuse. When this happens, you must never replace it with a larger one.  Always replace the fuse with one of the same size. If a fuse does fail, there could be a problem with the circuit so be sure to investigate this further before you change the fuse.

  1. Cable safety

Even if your electrical lighting equipment is in tip-top condition, having a performer trip over an exposed cable can result in injury and upset your production.  Always ensure that extension cables are tidy and are not left trailing across an entrance on stage. It is particularly easy to trip over a trailing cable in the darkness, and if that cable is connected to a spotlight on a tripod stand, it could result in an accident.

  1. Rigging Procedures

Climbing up high above the stage, with a spotlight in one hand and a color filter in the other is never a safe way to proceed.  Climbing rigging should be left to professional lighting crew only, but even then, they should look to use a tower that can be firmly locked in place, or at the very least a secure locking ladder with a fellow crew member stood at the bottom to prevent it slipping.

Call in The Professionals

Of course, the safest way to ensure that your lighting equipment is 100% safe for any event is to hire a team of lighting professionals to supply and work the lighting for you.  Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we can provide top of the range lighting equipment that is planned and operated by fully qualified and highly experienced members of staff.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Have Your Own Lighting Equipment? We Can Provide the Crew for You

Posted on by J3551CA

If you are arranging an outdoor event, an awards ceremony or a studio production, you will have your work cut out for you.    Ensuring your lighting kit, audio recording equipment, camera operators and even performers are all working well and in harmony can be a daunting task.

When it comes to illumination, you need lighting that will enhance all of the action on the stage or screen, and no matter how much equipment you may own, getting the lighting design and operation just right is key to the most effective lighting for your production.

Here at Frank Gatto, we can provide you with a first class, highly experienced team of lighting operators and technicians who can make your lighting work for you.  That way, you can concentrate on the rest of the production, knowing that your lighting is always in safe hands.

What Does A Lighting Crew Do?

Our lighting technicians use their skills to prepare, rig, operate and maintain all of the stage and studio lighting and effects you need to make your production the very best.  They will also be able to produce a wide range of lighting effects that are usually seen in live theatre productions and in studio setups, and seamless transitions from one effect to the next.

Our technicians are on hand to assist with every aspect of your lighting requirements and they can work with everything from operating basic spotlighting through to strobes, lasers and even pyrotechnics that meet your exact specification.

Working with You to Achieve Perfection

From the outset, our lighting crew is on hand to assist with every aspect of your production.    They will work closely with the lighting designers, sound technicians, the director, and the stage manager to create a collaborative approach to complete lighting solutions.

By combing their skills with those of the other professionals working at your event, they can create a perfect live event or studio experience.

Comprehensive Lighting Solutions

Our crew will work with you to interpret the lighting designer’s plan and vision.  Once they understand your design goals, they will get to work on the creating the technical plan required to make it happen.

Rigging and lighting will be erected in the appropriate positions to highlight the action for the audience or on screen, and our lighting crew will liaise with performers and other crew to keep them in the loop.

Taking their cues from the producer or stage manager, our crew will program consoles and load automated color change systems in advance of your opening night, so that every lighting effect and transition is completely seamless.

It’s not just the way the lighting looks that is important to your production, you also need to ensure that all of your lighting equipment is safe and well maintained.

Our crews are will check that all your equipment is in safe working order and can help with front-line electrical duties when required. They are also well versed in current health and safety regulations and always work to ensure that the lighting in every production strictly adheres to them.

If you would like to hire our experienced and professional crew to take charge of the lighting at your next event, speak to our team today at (561) 368-0101 to see how we can help.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Why Choose an Emmy Award-winning Pro for Your Event?

Posted on by J3551CA

Whatever product or service you are looking for, it makes sense to choose a provider who is at the top of their game, right?  Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we are delighted to offer our Emmy Award-winning services to all of our customers.  With over 30 years experience in the entertainment industry, and with some of the very best lighting directors and technicians on our team, it is no surprise that our award-winning services are always in demand.

But don’t just take out word for it! We have been awarded the highly acclaimed accolade for best Lighting Designer/Director Award not just once, but an impressive 3 times so far!  And we are not planning on stopping there either.  Our services are always first class, meaning that there are still plenty of opportunities for us to win more awards – perhaps even while we are working for you.

What Is an Emmy Award?

The Emmy Awards are designed to recognize excellence in the television industry and are the equivalent of some of the most highly revered awards across the industry including the Academy Awards for film, the Tony Awards for theatre and the Grammy Awards for music.

The Emmys are given across all sectors of the American television industry, meaning that it is not just actors and actresses that take-home awards.  Every aspect of the production process is also recognized, and anyone that is talented enough to receive one really should be considered a true artist and one of the best in the business.

What Makes Award-Winning Lighting Design?

Lighting design can make a world of difference to the look and feel of any production, either live or pre-recorded.  The Emmy Awards recognize the skills required to produce first-class lighting design by awarding the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Series to one television series each year.

Our technical know-how, and ability to continually contribute to the success of live events using innovative lighting techniques and cutting-edge technology has led to us scooping up a variety of awards so far.

Why Choose Our Award-Winning Lighting for Your Next Production or Event?

Cleverly crafted lighting design, using a wide variety of state-of-the-art lighting techniques is what makes our lighting so effective it is award-worthy in its own right.

Great actors, spellbinding scripts and high-end performances all make for amazing television, but the light and sound that takes place throughout the production, are usually the unsung heroes of the show.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we are consistently breaking new ground within the lighting design profession.  Using a canny combination of experience combined with our obsession with ever-evolving lighting technology and digital desk operation, Frank and his team have everything in place to continue to produce award-winning lighting for many years to come.

If you are focusing on the world stage, we have worked with some of the biggest names in the business including world-renowned networks and companies such as HBO, ABC, ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, Telemundo and Univision.

For more intimate affairs, we are adept at providing superior lighting systems for network television lighting, corporate industrials, award ceremonies, and sporting events.

You want your production to be the very best, and to do that you need the assistance of some of America’s finest lighting professionals.  Call us today at (561) 368-0101 to find out more.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.