Category: Articles

The Top 10 Ten Film Schools In The World

Posted on by J3551CA

Illuminating The Way With The Top 10 Ten Film Schools In The World

Becoming a professional lighting technical or director requires many years of experience that can only be gained by working on set. But in order to succeed in this highly competitive sector, you would also benefit from a qualification from one of the many respected film and cinematography schools in the world.

To become competent in the skilled art of lighting, you need to understand how to use illumination to add depth and ambiance, as well as how lighting works with cameras and on-set production as a whole.

Cinematography Classes

Cinematography is the art of storytelling in film and video.  It encompasses much more than just the way the cameras are used and covers every aspect of production including lighting. Many great lighting directors have studied the art of cinematography in detail and are able to use this knowledge to create the perfect lighting configuration for the cameras to work with.

If you are considering a career in cinematography and set lighting, these are the top 10 schools in the world that offer the lucky few the opportunity to study the craft in detail:

  1. The National Film and Television School, London

The NFTS offers the only specialist 2-year Cinematography course in the UK and is considered to be one of the best film schools in the world.  With extensive facilities and access to Britain’s thriving movie and TV industries, BFTS is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to study at a Masters level.

  1. Wesleyan University, Connecticut

Not one of the most well-known schools in the US, the Wesleyan’s Film Studies program is giving bigger schools a run for their money. Film department founder Jeanine Basinger makes her film majors learn to write, direct and edit a movie by hand, thus teaching them every single aspect of how to make great movies.

  1. Columbia University School of the Arts

With Oscar winners and established directors working as professors, this Ivy League university is considered one of the foremost film schools in America.  With James Schamus heading up Focus Features and Milos Forman, Barbara De Fina and Mira Nair on the staff, students have a rare opportunity to learn from the best.

  1. The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague

FAMU is the fifth-oldest film school in the world and one of the most prestigious. Offering classes in both Czech and English, it draws foreigners looking to study there from all over the world.

  1. California Institute of the Arts

CalArts was founded by Walt Disney and now occupies 11 acres’ worth of square footage,30 miles north of Los Angeles. It is famous for training animation talent, but also offers a class in dramatic narrative, documentary and experimental live action.

  1. University of California Los Angeles

UCLA has prestigious alumni that include the likes of  Francis Ford Coppola and Alexander Payne, and producer Peter Guber is a member of the teaching staff.  The school is one of the most prestigious in the world and is moving towards specializing in “humanistic storytelling and global diversity”, setting it apart from the competition.

  1. New York University Tisch School of the Arts

The Tisch School is highly acclaimed and has previously proved a direct route to the top for gritty artists like Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. Graduates of the school also have the opportunity to compete for a $200,000 prize to complete a debut feature film – a bonus that none of the other schools offer.

  1. Beijing Film Academy, China

The Beijing Film Academy is China’s most elite school for film direction, production, and writing. Only accepting around 500 applicants every year, it is incredibly difficult to get into and was once the old stomping ground of directors Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.

  1. University of Southern California

USC probably has more graduates working in the industry than any other school in the world and has a huge amount of the support.  Regularly contributors include such luminaries as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Zemeckis, meaning it is able to offer state of the art facilities to all of its students.

  1. American Film Institute

As well as being the most selective film school in America, it is also the best.  It is a smaller school than UCLA and USC, and most of its “fellows” are in their mid-twenties and upwards, but for first class, specialist tuition, the AFI teaches on the finer points of directing, producing and writing to some of the finest new talents in the world.

With over 30 years experience behind us, and working with some of the most talented lighting technicians in the country, Frank Gatto & Associates have all the skill you need to light your next event.

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.

            

Show Your Best Side – Why Lighting Matters On Camera

Posted on by J3551CA

The correct lighting is essential for producing first class, highly usable footage.  Whether you are making a movie or recording a live event, the lighting that you use makes all the difference. It enhances the way the performance looks and the way it makes the audience feel.  It can create the illusion of depth by using a combination of highlights and shadows,  that help the viewer to really capture the essence of the footage, as well as giving them the best seats in the house.

Specially designed lighting will ensure that you have the right level of exposure throughout and will ensure that your audience is able to see everything that is unfolding before their eyes.  Outdoor events, as well as indoor lighting, can all be dramatically enhanced to give maximum impact when you use the services of a qualified lighting specialist on set.

Lighting is not only useful for ensuring that every aspect of the production is easy to see, a professional lighting expert can also use tricks and illusions to create mood and feeling.  Using the right combination of light placement and “hard” or “soft” light sources, a lighting director will be able to unsettle the audience for dramatic moments or lift the mood with glorious onscreen images.  “Hard” lighting creates sharp and distinctive shadows to accentuate tension and drama, while “soft” lighting adds warmth and ambiance.

Good Lighting Is The Key To Successful Video Footage

Carefully crafted lighting will increase the sharpness of the action and be the difference between a good video, and one that looks really poor quality on screen.

Badly lit footage will also need far more work in the editing suite.  Footage that is too dark will need to be re-shot, adding extra time and expense to your schedule, and in some cases, can even mean missing out on parts of the action.  Using the wrong lighting can lead to unnecessary costs and a longer production time, which could have been prevented.

The lighting design helps to set the mood for any movie scene or television pieces,  as it conveys the plot and creates the right atmosphere. The key to using the right lighting is to enhance and engage with the basic concepts of the “Three Point Lighting” system. This system consists of three different lights, which are placed in front and behind the object to ensure maximum exposure.

The Key Light is placed next to the camera and shines directly onto the object.

The Fill Light is opposite the Key Light and is used to fill in shadows and leaving the object well lit.

The Back Light is placed behind the object and gives it more depth.

This is the standard method of lighting that is used in all kinds of productions, from small-scale videos to live events that are watched all around the world. Once you have the mastered the basics, there are many more ways to enhance the look of on-screen action to capture the most perfect cinematic moments.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we have over 30 years experience of designing the ultimate lighting configuration to enhance every type of TV or movie shot.  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 A Film Set Like A Pro

Posted on by J3551CA

If you have a yearning to produce a Hollywood blockbuster or your televisual debut, you may not even have thought about how best to light your set.  With your script written, actors on standby and cameras ready to roll, you may think you are ready for action.  But, in reality, lighting is an integral part of any film or television production, and one that is sadly overlooked by those that are new to the industry.

Whilst we don’t want to stifle your creativity, no production will be worth the paper it is written on if you can’t illuminate the set sufficiently to add atmosphere or simply allow you’re on-screen action to be adequately seen

If you are serious about your first film you will need to hire lighting professionals, but as a quick guide, here are the kind of lighting basics that you will need to consider:

Key Light

This will be the primary light of the scene and will offer the most intense and direct light on set. It will be used to illuminate the main focus of the scene, whether that is a subject or actor.  It will be the primary light in a three-point lighting set up and can be used to create a dramatic mood if it is placed to the side or back of an actor.

Fill Light

The fill light is used to illuminate the shadows created by the key light.  Fill lights are easy to create and can be as simple as a reflector that bounces the light back up onto your subject.

Back Light

A back light hits an actor or object from behind and is usually placed higher than the object it is lighting, giving the scene more shape and depth.

The key light, fill light, and backlight all come together to make up a three-point lighting setup.

Sidelight

A sidelight comes from the side parallel to the actor and is used for creating dramatic moods and revealing texture.This type of lighting uses strong tonal contrasts between light and dark to light three-dimensional forms

Practical Light

These lights don’t light up the set but are actual working lights within the scene itself. It could be a lamp, a TV or even police lights in an action scene.  These increase the depth of the scene and are usually dimmer that stage lights to prevent glare.

Bounce Light

A bounce light is a light that has been reflected using a specially designed piece of equipment, or by simply facing a light towards a wall or ceiling.  Bounce lights are very flexible and you can create a key, fill, backlight, and even illuminate objects in the background simply by using reflective material.

Whatever kind of lighting you need for your filming occasion, Frank Gatto & Associates can provide state of the art lighting equipment for events of all kinds.  We are one of the biggest in the business, but not so small that we don’t remember what it feels like when you are first starting out.

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.

            

Behind The Scenes, But In The Thick Of The Action

Posted on by J3551CA

No doubt about it, being involved in the entertainment industry is a buzz! Becoming a Hollywood star may not be for you, but for many people working in the industry is completely achievable if you enough talent and dedication to get you noticed.

Big television productions aren’t just about the big names in front of the camera.   There are armies of support staff behind the scenes who come together to make the magic happen.  From runners and caterers to costumiers and cameramen, everyone involved in a production has a vital part to play.

Not quite ready to become the next big thing?  Here are just a few of the important roles that take place behind the scenes:

Sound Engineers

Sound engineers have a very important part to play, after all, unless you are making a silent movie, the sound needs to be crystal clear without being deafening.   It is their responsibility to set up and operate all of the audio equipment that is right for the particular type of industry or production they are working on.   It will also be up to them to connect all the wires and cables and set up and operate sound and mixing boards throughout the audio recording.   They can be responsible for mixing the audio when the production has been recorded and added voice-overs where necessary.  They work with microphones, speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, and recording equipment to ensure that the sound levels are always just right.

Camera Operators

Camera operators are responsible for filming what will be shown on the screen.  Whether they are in a studio environment, or out on location, the skills they require are more or less the same.  Advances in modern technology have changed the way in which camera operators record footage.  What was once dependent on shooting and editing rolls of film, is now mostly recorded using digital cameras and editing software.

Most camera operators work in teams to ensure that every angle of the drama is captured perfectly.  They work closely with the Director or Producer as they need to follow directions that give the order of the shots.  They may also have assistants who help to set up the camera equipment and find the best angles from which to shoot.  If they are shooting a live event, they must be able to make adjustments at a moment’s notice and follow the instructions of the show’s director.

Costume Department

The costume department is responsible for creating the look and mood for actors and actresses in film, television and stage productions.  By undertaking extensive research and learning more about the characters on screen they add authenticity to every production. They will either buy the clothes, make them themselves or commission them to be made by a fashion house or design team.

From the costume designer, through to dressers and even those who are simply responsible for ensuring that the right clothes are on the right hangers, the wardrobe department plays an important role in bringing characters to life on screen.

Makeup Department

The makeup department ensures that all performers have suitable makeup and hairstyles before they appear in front of a camera.  They work across all types of productions and are usually freelance artists that bring their own equipment with them. They work to a brief that has been provided by the producer, and work along side the costume department to create the right “look”.

Whether they are simply adding basic makeup to keep presenters or performers looking fresh and shine-free under studio lighting, or using prosthetics and special effects make up for movies, they are highly skilled and talented artists in their own right.

Set Designers

A set designer is in charge of designing and creating sets for films, television, and theatre productions.  Working from rough drawings that are provided by the production team, they design and build realistic looking scenery for the production.

From working with miniature three-dimensional models of the set, to building believable backdrops for the actors to work with, set designers ensure that the scenes we see on screen look as authentic as possible.

Lighting Department

Effective lighting is essential for every type of production.  The lighting team are one of the most important crews on set and are involved in every stage of the production.  From the outset, they will make extensive preparations before recording days, including script reading and taking part in discussions about the type of lighting that is required.

They will work with the rest of the crew to discuss the logistics of the production, and usually prepare a lighting plan which provides information about the position, type, and color of all the lights to be used.  They will be on set on a daily basis and will set up and operate the lights that have been chosen for each shot, as well as add any lighting effects using equipment in the gallery. During recordings or live transmissions, any final adjustments are made as and when required.

Frank Gatto & Associates have almost 40 years experience of working with some of the best crews in the business.  Providing first class lighting solutions is what we do best.

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.

            

Make Your Event Your Biggest And Brightest Yet

Posted on by J3551CA

The way in which lighting is used in event planning can completely change the mood and atmosphere of any occasion.  Get it wrong and your venue could look dark and unwelcoming, get it right and it could just be your biggest and brightest yet.

From small scale parties to huge corporate occasions, experienced lighting experts will be able to pull together a series of expert lighting hacks that will completely enhance the look and feel of your event.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we have many years experience of providing the perfect lighting solutions for every kind of event.  We painstakingly plan every aspect of our client’s lighting requirements in advance to ensure that we always provide the best lighting experience possible.

We also understand that you don’t always need big, expensive rigging to create unique or amazing effects, our creativity and imagination goes a long way to help transform your event or venue with lighting.  We work with a huge variety of lighting options and know all the best ways to make your event shine.  Here are just a few ways we can help with your event lighting:

  1. Plan Your Lighting Solutions

A team of lighting professionals will work in collaboration with you to establish the concept for your event, and how best to provide lighting that enhances the atmosphere and mood of the venue.  We will undertake a site visit and organize logistics with the venue to ensure a cohesive approach to your event lighting.

  1. Provide Bespoke Solutions

Because lighting is an integral part of event planning, a professional lighting company will be able to identify the most cost-effective ways to add style and grandeur to any space.  With a full-color spectrum at our disposal, we can provide lighting that is as subtle or bold as you need it to be.  By utilizing different styles we of lighting we can ensure that your event really is as amazing as you want it to be.  Whether you need festoon and fairy lights to create a calm romantic atmosphere or brightly colored uplighter that dance along with the beat, only a professional lighting company can provide you with lighting that really rocks!

  1. State Of The Art Lighting

A professional lighting company like us will have access to some of the best lighting in the industry  From huge spotlights to LED lighting and everything in between, we will provide you with state of the art lighting that you may not be able to access or afford on your own.

Whatever type of event you are organizing, make sure that you don’t leave your lighting to chance.  From television studios to huge outdoor sporting events, Frank Gatto & Associates have provided awe-inspiring lighting for a huge variety of events on a national and international scale.

So you can be sure that whatever you need to light up your event, we’ve got it covered.

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.

            

Big Events Need Even Bigger Lighting

Posted on by J3551CA

As a nation, we love a big occasion. The bright lights, the loud music, the roaring cheers from the crowd — we literally cannot get enough of it.  Of all the events we love the best, nothing beats world-class sporting occasions.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we have been honored to supply first-class lighting for some of the biggest sporting events in the country, sometimes even the world!  We light up the sports fields and arenas so that you can see all the action.

Frank Gatto – Proudly Lighting Up The ESPN

As a global cable and satellite sports television channel, ESPN shows some of the biggest sporting events from all around the world.  With exclusive access to games, tournaments and championships, as well as behind the scenes action, ESPN is a world leader in broadcasting the best-loved sports in the world.

Our lighting Directors and Technicians are among the best known and most respected in the industry, which is why we are regularly asked to provide lighting for ESPN, whatever the occasion.

From Friday Night Fights to Game Day and College Basketball, and everything in between, we supply the lighting solutions that make help make ESPN the biggest in the business.

Baseball

Frank Gatto & Associates were asked to provide the lighting for the 2017 World Series, meaning we were in the spotlight to ensure that every inch of the action was seen by nearly 19 million viewers for every game, the highest ratings the sport has seen since 2005.

Boxing

Boxing arenas are usually housed in large buildings, and the ring and viewings areas are designed to pack a punch!  The lighting is particularly important in these types of settings, as it’s not just about the fight, it’s also about the show.  We can be seen on the set of HBO Boxing, Showtime Boxing, UFC Miami and were even there to illuminate world-class title matches like Mayweather vs. Canelo and Mayweather vs. McGregor.

Football

Huge outdoor events are also a specialty of ours.  Floodlit fields need the very best lighting to capture all of the action, whilst halftime shows need a light show that wows! Here at Frank Gatto, we have worked alongside media giant NBC to illuminate their soccer games so you can see the magic happen.

Super Bowl

The biggest and the best, the Super Bowl is the pinnacle of every player’s career and one of the most watched television events in the country.  We were truly honored to provide lighting for the Super Bowl in Miami, Fl that was watched by a staggering 85 million viewers, and have been involved ever since.

Whatever the occasion, Frank Gatto & Associates have got it covered. We provide state of the art lighting solutions for television and sporting events both in the USA and the world.

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.

            

LED’s – Saving The Environment One Light At A Time

Posted on by J3551CA

These days, environmental concerns are far higher than ever before.  So many items that we use or purchase in day to day life are designed to reduce negative effects on the world around us and its’ natural resources.

This is also the case when it comes to the lighting we use here at Frank Gatto & Associates Inc, both in our own homes and as a commercial lighting supplier.  LED has transformed the ways in which we can provide efficient and reliable lighting systems, while still being kind to the environment.

In fact, LED lighting has a huge number of benefits over traditional lighting sources, when it comes to saving money and lowering our own carbon footprint.  Here are just a few of the reasons why LED lighting is so much better for our environment.

  1. LED Lights Are More Energy Efficient

LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than traditional fluorescent and incandescent lights. 95% of the energy in LEDs is converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat. This means that less energy is used, which in turn reduces the demand from power plants and decreases greenhouse gas emissions.

  1. LED Lights Do Not Contain Toxic Elements

Some forms of lighting, like fluorescent strip lights, for example, contain noxious chemicals like mercury and need to be disposed of properly.  LED lights do not contain any toxic elements, making them safer to use and easier to dispose of.  Using LED’s also help to reduce the cost and energy required to have mercury-based light sources taken away by specialist contractors, saving the need for additional transportation and road pollution.

  1. LED’s Use Less Light

Because the quality of light distribution in an LED light is focused, they do not emit lights in all directions like traditional bulbs do, often wasting light that isn’t needed.   This means that less LED light is required to achieve the same level of brightness given off from fluorescents and incandescent lights, which in turn helps to reduce energy consumption and light pollution.

  1. LED Lights Last Longer

An LED light can last up to as much as six times longer than other types of light including fluorescent and incandescent lights.  This means LED lights offer lower carbon emissions all around. Fewer lights to buy means less manufacturing processes, packaging materials, and transportation.

  1. LED Lights Do Not Increase Noise Pollution

The unique way in which LED lights work means that they do not generate any vibrations or humming noises when they are operated.  This, in turn, means that using LED lights can help to reduce noise pollution from the environment.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates we care deeply about the world around us and are always looking for ways to produce first-class lighting solutions that have a minimal effect on our environment.  As class leading lighting professionals, we have scoured the lighting sector to acquire the very best LED lighting technology to help protect our environment as well as continue to make us a leader in the televised sports lighting arena.

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 Use Light and Sound to Tell a Story

Posted on by J3551CA

If you are putting on a production, making a movie or planning a performance of any kind, just booking a stage and some actors are often not enough.  The same applies to any organized events that you are hoping to capture on video.  A sporting event may be the highlight of your year, but it your video playback is dark or silent you will automatically lose the enjoyment of re-living those special moments.

Because we don’t just watch what is going on with our eyes, we need to recreate all our senses when it comes to recording live video too.  Great sound recording and effective lighting are all necessary to film high-quality footage, whatever the event.

The Importance of Quality Sound Recording

When used well, sound can evoke emotions, establish settings, develop characters, and advance the plotline of a story.  Throw in some background music and you can dramatically enhance the feel of a video within seconds.

Sound can work in subtle ways and can sometimes even go unnoticed.  Poor quality sound, lines that can’t be heard, or background music that is too loud, however, will always be noticed and can detract from the quality of your video.  Good sound helps to build up the atmosphere for the audience and every single piece of audio should be carefully planned and created, in the very same way the script and production will be.

Dialogue is not just enough to make a well-produced piece.  You should always consider the use of foley sounds as well as a score that rises and falls with the atmosphere of the story. Background sound is also vital if you wish to produce a believable piece of work.  A street scene, for example, will need traffic noise, people talking and other everyday sounds that you would hear in real life. Even quiet scenes will need audio enhancement.  A scene in a forest would still require the sounds of birds, the wind in the trees and footsteps on the ground to resonate with the audience.

When making your film, plan your audio as carefully as you do the other aspects of the overall production.  A film score and a foley script should be prepared before you start filming.

Why Lighting Is the Second Most Important Ingredient

Just as sound helps to tell the story, so does the correct use of lighting.  A well-lit set not only helps with the practicalities of great filming, it also adds depth and interest to every shot.

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of video production because it helps to set the mood for the video.  Shining light on specific objects or people helps to focus the viewer on to the intended spot, while lighting effects can transform the way people and objects appear in a scene.

Lighting should never be a distraction and should always blend seamlessly into the scene surroundings.  Because lighting has so many facets and can be used in a variety of different ways, many videographers use a three-point system to describe the way lighting helps to tell their story. By using these three main types of lighting, the main subject in a scene can be properly illuminated and highlighted.

Key Lighting – that focuses on the main person or object in the scene and illuminates them to reduce shadows and make them stand out from other people or objects

Fill Lighting –  that helps to eliminate shadows and is used to “fill in” all dark areas.

Back Lighting – to provide a direct contrast between a specified person or object and the background environment.

Using all the above will help you to create a story that is watchable and believable and can transform a run of the mill piece of video into a first-class film experience.

Frank Gatto & Associates are television and event lighting specialists with over 30 years experience.  If we can help with the lighting for your next event, contact our team today at 561-368-0101.

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.

            

Breaking Into the Televison Business

Posted on by Frank Gatto

“Breaking into the Television Business” was published in The newsletter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2006

When I broke into the TV business fresh out of school, I had gotten a job at a television station in a very small market. My first opportunity came when a new show needed to be lighted and no one else wanted to touch it with a ten-foot pole. I stepped in and said, I can do it, and I did do it. After that I was considered the lighting expert of my station. I really did not know that much about lighting but what I did know was far more than anyone else in my group. Now all I needed to do was to get better at lighting and I did that by using what I call the improvement method. It is simple. Look at your work and ask yourself. What can I do to make it better? Keep doing that and you will get better and eventually among the best in your business. Ozzie Smith, recently inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame said it best at his ceremonial speech, “It’ s not good enough, if it can be made better”.

Frank Gatto served as president of NATAS, Suncoast Chapter in 1980-82. He is also a three time Emmy winner, a Silver Circle recipient and a proud WTVJ alumnus. Frank now owns a Television Lighting consulting firm based in Boca Raton, Florida. His client list includes all of the major networks.

Frank Gatto

Lighting Dimensions

Posted on by Frank Gatto

As seen in the Lighting Dimensions, May 2003 Issue:

The explosion of light and sound in the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas galvanizes the already-rowdy crowd of 14,000 into a screaming, waving mass of hysteria as the cacophony of sound and light washes over them. Behind the octagonal ring, nicknamed the “Octi”, and up a 50’ (15m) ramp, is the entrance from which the combatants in this almost-no-holds-barred fighting extravaganza appear to do battle. A dazzling display of lighting effects, lasers, and pyro welcomes each fighter. High up in the arena, one man coordinates it all: George Smith of Frank Gatto & Associates. His goal is to make the show as exciting on Pay-Per-View TV as it is live – no mean trick, given the different demands of each experience.

The Las Vegas event, held last November, was the 30th Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), most of which have been lit by Smith. They are similar to boxing events, made up of eight bouts, with five four-minute rounds. The fighters use very light gloves, are allowed to use their feet, and can wrestle as well. It’s a wild show, to say the least.

Even with so much experience, Smith says each venue presents unique challenges. “I usually map out my plan on a laptop, during my flight to the venue,” he says. “Our challenge on the Vegas show was the size of the fighter entrance and the video screens. Since the promoter wanted smaller screens, we had to redesign the lighting so the fans could see the action on the screens.”

After setting up his control location, with lighting boards (in this case, two Avolites Sapphire consoles), TV monitors, and computers, Smith programs his lighting cues while his staff hangs the rig, consisting of 56 moving lights (24 High End Systems Cyberlights® and 32 High End Studio Colors®) and conventional units (166 ETC Source Four PARs, 28 Source Four ellipsoidals, 60 PAR-46s, and 12 Altman 9-lights). They also handle an extensive rigging package, from Total Structures, with hoists and motors. As the octagonal ring is built, TV cameras are set up, and pyro staff place the finishing touches. Smith choreographs 17 pages of lighting cues, one page for each fight, plus the opening. (Also included in the equipment package are two DF-50 hazers from Reel EFX and five Antari Heavy Foggers.)

After the opening, Smith follows the live TV direction on headset, as the fighting takes its bloody course. He must also react to unexpected events, making sure that celebrities are well-lit at ringside. “Lighting a live event for fans in the stands and also handling TV lighting is a big challenge,” says Smith, adding, “Tonight, we knocked their socks off!”

Smith, a native of England, worked mostly in live events like rock concerts until he met Frank Gatto in 1987. Gatto, a graduate of the NYU Design Department, worked his way through affiliate TV stations, eventually working on ABC’s Monday Night Football, the World Series, ESPN’s SportsCenter, and other news and sports programs. Speaking of Smith, Gatto says, “George reached out to me to learn more about TV lighting and it’s been a great collaboration. He made UFC what it is today, with exceptional lighting design for the past 30 shows.”

Eric Moffitt